The Bengals’ defense, aside from Trey Hendrickson, maybe Logan Wilson and maybe one or two other players, is a unit of failed draft picks and free agent signings across the board. After an atrociously bad season in 2024, the Bengals’ front office acted this offseason as if they just got unlucky last season and thought that with a few small fixes, they would be better. That thinking doesn’t work. It’s one thing to be rational. It’s another to be too rational.

“I think someone needs to step up and lead the group,” Taylor said via ESPN’s Ben Baby. “That’s what I’m waiting to see — someone to step up and lead the group and take some accountability over there and get this thing going the right way.”

The truth is, the Bengals have allowed 27+ points in six straight games. Six straight. There’s a reason they’re 2-5 in those games.

“We never got a chance to break that game open like we felt we were capable of,” Taylor said.

Really? The Bengals led by 14 other 15 points on four different occasions Sunday, and they lost 39-38 to a New York Jets team that came into today 0-7. Not to mention, their top two wide receivers were out.

The Jets totaled 502 offensive yards for only the fifth time since 2000, according to ESPN Research. The last time that happened was against the Bengals in 2021, when New York was spearheaded by a career performance from backup quarterback Mike White. It was also the first time this century that the Jets have racked up that many yards and scored at least 35 points.
How does one even begin to explain that?

“I’m the oldest guy in the [defensive back] room, so I’ll take on that role and make sure we’re all right in the back end,” safety Geno Stone said. “But at the end of the day, as a whole defense, everyone has to step up and play better.”

Darn right. If you thought the defense was bad last season, it’s worse this season. Significantly worse. There’s no pass rush, no run stopping, no coverage, no anything.

How this team is 3-5 and won against Pittsburgh last week, I have no idea.