The Cincinnati Bengals were technically on a break in Week 10, but couldn’t catch a break in the media after the 3-6 start to the season.
While the Bengals insisted they were sticking with what got them to the bye week, both along the coaching staff and at the trade deadline, those outside the organization were insisting that major change is a must.
Chief among those naysayers was former NFL head coach Jon Gruden, who popped up in a viral video cracking jokes about how the Bengals would have a good defense on the bye week.
“The Cincinnati Bengals this weekend are going to play the best defense they played all year,” Gruden said. “They’re not going to miss a tackle. They’re not going to blow a coverage. They’re going to play the best defense of the year.”
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Harsh…yet fair. The Bengals’ defense under Al Golden has been a failure, to put it lightly. The unit is currently on pace to be one of the worst ever as a youth movement faceplants. This included benching captain Logan Wilson before trading him to Dallas, among other low marks.
While the Bengals were resting on the bye week as Gruden said, some of their former defenders who probably should’ve never left were putting on great performances for other teams in primetime.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Former NFL coach slams Bengals during bye week
Reporting by Chris Roling, Bengals Wire / Bengals Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
