The Cincinnati Bengals came back to work on Monday after their Week 6 bye, and Zac Taylor had a simple answer when he was asked what matters most in an AFC North game. “The turnovers is what screams at you,” he said. “That leads in field position.”
Taylor said the staff did two things over the off week. “We just looked at ourselves, got ahead on Baltimore,” he said. “I think two things that made sense in a Week 6 bye.” Cincinnati is 3-2 after a 31-24 win over the Miami Dolphins and plays at the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
“Putting the complete game together”
He did not think the Bengals have played a full game yet. “I think certainly we’ve had our moments in all three phases that you feel like this is who we’re gonna be, and now it’s just putting the complete game together in all three phases,” Taylor said. “I don’t know that it’s uncommon coming in October and feeling that way.” He added: “I feel like that’s coming.”
Asked to sum up the offense in a sentence, he said the aim is to put the Bengals “in a great position to score points on every drive. That’s our number one key right now.”
With no second bye on the schedule, Taylor said he will not hold players back on Sundays but could cut some practice work for veterans. “We’re going to do everything we can to win,” he said. “Does it change the workload during practice? Potentially. We’re never shy away from helping guys during the week that maybe don’t need the physical reps, and we need them healthy on Sunday.” Cincinnati plays the Falcons in Madrid in Week 9.
Young back in the mix, Howell sick
Rookie receiver Colbie Young, who hurt his knee on the first offensive play of the Week 3 loss to Pittsburgh, is ready to rejoin the rotation. “He’s looked as good as he’s looked in a long time,” Taylor said. “Last week he had a good week on what he could handle from a rehab perspective. So this week, to get him back involved, he looked good running around today. So I think it’s good to finally get him back and feel like he’s closer to 100 percent health.”
Tight end Tanner Hudson is out for the season with a torn pectoral, and Taylor said the tight ends and receivers will share the work he leaves. Hudson often lined up at the F spot, a role Taylor said the bigger receivers can also play. “To lose Tanner and get Colbie back in some ways does help, because in some ways they can play some similar roles in some situations,” he said. “We feel like we’ve got a lot of people with a lot of different strengths that can all play at a high level in both those rooms.” He said Erick All Jr. tries to bring his physical style after the catch.
Safety Kyle Dugger is “progressing along,” Taylor said, “so we’ll kind of see where he’s at.” He had a one-word answer about rookie edge rusher Cashius Howell, who did not take part on Monday: “Sick.” Linebacker Jack Kiser, claimed off waivers after Swayze Bozeman went on injured reserve, was someone the club had watched since the draft. “He’s got good rapport with several of the guys on our staff, so he understands the defense,” Taylor said. “Someone whose tape we’ve always liked.”
Minter, Hendrickson and the Ravens
Taylor praised Jesse Minter, the Ravens’ first-year head coach. “Really smart,” he said. “Did a great job when he was with the Chargers. You can just tell he’s somebody in the industry that has always been well thought of, and players have always had the respect for him. So it’s no surprise that he’s jumped right into the fray and is doing well over there.”
He will also see a familiar face across the line. Trey Hendrickson, who spent the last several seasons as the Bengals’ top pass rusher, had a sack in his first game back for Baltimore on Sunday. “He’s a good player,” Taylor said. “They got a lot of good players on their defense, and we got to put together a great plan and be able to execute it.” He stressed tackling against a physical run game and a quarterback, “whoever plays,” who is “obviously elusive.” Lamar Jackson is day-to-day with an ankle injury.
The last daylight game in Baltimore
Sunday’s game is a 1 p.m. kickoff, and Taylor said the last time he remembers seeing daylight in Baltimore was October 24, 2021. The Bengals won that day 41-17. Joe Burrow threw for 416 yards and Ja’Marr Chase caught eight passes for 201. Taylor said he remembers a lot about that week, including Samaje Perine’s 46-yard touchdown run late in the game. “That was one of the bigger games I think we’ve ever won in my time here,” he said. “We thought we were a good team, and it kind of solidified that for us.”
He does not think this team needs that kind of win to believe in itself. “That was still a relatively young team for us,” Taylor said. “I don’t think this is a team that has to have that. I really want it.”
He said he sometimes shows the players the standings, but not every week. “It takes one week to change that narrative, change how you feel,” he said. “It’s still too early for that stuff to matter right now.”
The Bengals visit the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, October 25, at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
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