The Bengals have struggled to find their identity since Joe Burrow went down in Week 2 with a toe injury. Four straight losses followed, three of them by 13 points or more.
Enter Joe Flacco, who appears to have Cincinnati back on course after his turn-back-the-clock performance in Week 7 against the Steelers. In just his second start with the Bengals, the 40-year-old Flacco threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-31 win.
Next on their schedule? The winless Jets (0-7) and a quarterback who shall be named later. Head coach Aaron Glenn has yet to announce a starter for Sunday’s game at Paycor Stadium.
Jets Still Contemplating QB For Week 8
The Jets are in quarterback purgatory. At least publicly, they are still contemplating their options for Week 8.
Justin Fields was benched after a rough first half Sunday against the Panthers. His replacement, veteran backup Tyrod Taylor, didn’t fare much better. The Jets managed just 220 total yards and failed to score a touchdown for the second straight week, losing 13-6.
On Monday, Glenn said he was still undecided on a quarterback moving forward.
“That’s something that I want to continue to look at,” Glenn said, via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. “Again, it’s early on Monday. I said this yesterday, there’s a lot of thought that goes into that.”
Few Answers for Jets’ Struggling Offense
In the first half against Carolina, Fields completed 6-of-12 passes for just 46 yards. He also had 22 yards rushing.
That poor performance came on the heels of a dismal showing during a Week 6 loss to the Broncos in London, in which Fields threw for only 45 yards on 9-of-17 passing.
Unfortunately for Gang Green, Taylor wasn’t able to provide much of a spark. Taylor completed only 10-of-22 passes for 126 yards. He also threw a pair of interceptions.
Through seven games, the Jets rank 29th in total offense (271.3 yards per game) and 27th in scoring (18.4 points per game).
Making matters worse, there isn’t a clear answer at quarterback. Fields has been a major disappointment since signing a two-year, $40 million deal with New York in the offseason, and Taylor is 36-year-old journeyman who hasn’t been used as a full-time starter since 2017.
Bengals’ Defense Has Been Among NFL’s Worst
Sunday could be a prime bounceback opportunity for the Jets’ stagnant offense. The Bengals are 31st in both total defense (394.4 yards allowed per game) and are allowing the second-most points per game (30.6).
Despite that, Cincinnati remains on the cusp of the AFC North race.
Resurgent Bengals to Face Jets Mired in QB Controversy in Week 8