It’s been said that no NFL team is as bad, or as good, as they were the previous week.
The Cincinnati Bengals are hoping that rings true after suffering the worst loss in franchise history in Week 4 to the Minnesota Vikings, 48-10.
The Bengals (2-1) are now looking to bounce-back but have the tall task of a road primetime matchup against the Denver Broncos (1-2) Sept. 29.
Can the Bengals respond to the adversity? History shows us that under Zac Taylor, Cincinnati has played competitively following a lopsided defeat but will have to do it in Denver without starting quarterback Joe Burrow.
Here’s how the Bengals have done following the five biggest blowouts under Taylor.
1. Ravens 49, Bengals 13 (2019, Week 10)
Next week: Raiders 17, Bengals 10
The Bengals went into their bye week with a birthday benching of Andy Dalton, then Lamar Jackson turned into Harry Houdini with a dazzling 47-yard touchdown run in the biggest blowout of the Taylor era before the Minnesota Massacre.
The Ryan Finley-led Bengals fell to 0-10 the following week after a close loss in Oakland.
2. Ravens 38, Bengals 3 (2020, Week 17)
Next week: N/A
With Burrow sidelined (knee) and Brandon Allen under center, the Ravens racked up a team-record 404 rushing yards against a Bengals defense missing several starters to clinch a playoff spot. A.J. Green was held without a catch on six targets in his final game with the Bengals.
Cincinnati finished the year 4-11-1 and entered the offseason with the No. 5 pick in the Draft, which they used to take Ja’Marr Chase.
3. Steelers 36, Bengals 10 (2020, Week 10)
Next week: Washington 20, Bengals 9
Part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 11-0 start to the 2020 season included a 26-point drubbing of the Bengals behind four touchdown tosses from Ben Roethlisberger.
The following week, the Bengals led at Washington, 9-7, in the third quarter before Burrow suffered a season-ending knee injury.
4. Browns 41, Bengals 16 (2021, Week 9)
Next week: Bengals 32, Raiders 13
The Bengals’ run to an AFC title and Super Bowl appearance included a tough two-week stretch before the bye week. Cincinnati fell on the road to the Jets, then returned home and lost to Baker Mayfield’s Browns by 25 points.
The Bengals snapped the skid with a 32-13 victory over the Raiders in Week 11 behind 19 fourth-quarter points.
T-5. 49ers 41, Bengals 17 (2019, Week 2)
Next week: Bills 21, Bengals 17
Taylor’s home-opener turned into a disaster as the eventual NFC-champion 49ers churned out 571 total yards in a 41-17 blowout.
Cincinnati went on the road the next week and led the Bills in the fourth quarter before falling in the final minutes.
T-5. Steelers 27, Bengals 3 (2019, Week 4)
Next week: Cardinals 26, Bengals 23
In a matchup of 0-3 teams, the Steelers’ defense set the tone in a primetime affair by permitting just 175 total yards, forcing two turnovers and sacking Dalton eight times. With Roethlisberger out (elbow), backup quarterback Mason Rudolph completed 24-of-28 attempts for 229 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bengals rallied from a 14-point hole the next week at home against Arizona, but the Cardinals hit a field goal as time expired to get Kyler Murray his first career NFL win.
T-5. Ravens 27, Bengals 3 (2020, Week 5)
Next week: Colts 31, Bengals 27
Don “Wink” Martindale’s defense sacked Burrow seven times and Patrick Queen returned a fumble for a touchdown in an ugly afternoon for the Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cincinnati followed that up with a near-upset of Indianapolis on the road, but Phillip Rivers threw three touchdowns to hold off the visiting Bengals.
T-5. Titans 27, Bengals 3 (2023, Week 4)
Next week: Bengals 34, Cardinals 20
Cincinnati’s early-season struggles were the biggest storyline after the Bengals put up a dud in Nashville, failing to find the end zone for the second time in four games. The Bengals gave up 27 unanswered points after an early field goal and Cincinnati fell to 1-3.
The Bengals got back on track the next week, beginning a four-game winning streak with a 34-20 victory over Arizona, highlighted by Chase’s big day (15 catches, 192 yards, 3 touchdowns).
Cincinnati Bengals history following 20-point losses under Zac Taylor
Overall, the Week 4 loss to Minnesota was the 14th time the Bengals have lost by 20-plus points under Taylor.
In the previous 12 occasions (taking out the 2020 loss to Baltimore because it was the season-finale), the Bengals are just 4-8 in games following a 20-point loss. However, they’ve been competitive contests with seven of those losses decided by one possession. The lone exception is the 2020 loss at Washington when the team lost Burrow for the year.
The good news? The Bengals have lost back-to-back games by double digits four times in the Taylor era, but it hasn’t happened since 2020. The bad news? Three of those four instances involved a backup quarterback with Burrow injured and the team is in a similar spot ahead of Monday Night Football with Jake Browning under center.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How have the Cincinnati Bengals responded to blowout losses under Zac Taylor?
Reporting by Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
