Just as the Cincinnati Bengals felt the tone of their season shifting back toward optimism, disaster struck Sunday.
The disaster was a fourth-quarter meltdown that saw the Bengals' defense collapse, allowing the New York Jets to score 23 points in the final period and break 500 yards in a stunning 39-38 win over Cincinnati.
The disintegration of the defense prompted a players-only meeting.
"I don't know what was talked about -- nor should I -- but it does feel like the fact that was called is a sense of urgency there, as there should be," Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden said Monday, via ESPN. "Because we cannot do that to the offense and special teams again."
What Cincinnati's defense did was surrender 181 rushing yards in the final two quarters to the Jets, who repeatedly gashed the Bengals' defense and propelled an unlikely comeback that was equal parts disappointing and embarrassing for the host team. When the dust settled on the shocking comeback, the Bengals walked off as the unfortunate team responsible for New York's first win of the 2025 season.
The last winless team in the NFL finally notched a tally in the win column by taking the fight to a Bengals defense that has been mired in struggles for much of the season. Entering Monday night of Week 8, Cincinnati ranks dead last in yards allowed per game (407.9) and rushing yards allowed per game (151.9), and 30th in passing yards allowed per game (256). The Bengals also own the league's worst scoring defense, surrendering 31.6 points per game.
As the Bengals approached the 2025 season, most knew what Cincinnati had in its offense. The major concern resided on the defensive side, where Golden arrived from Notre Dame to replace Lou Anarumo and attempt to revive a unit that was a sieve in 2024.
Much of the concern was in the pass rush, which fortunately welcomed back Trey Hendrickson after a prolonged contract dispute. But even the most stubborn skeptics likely couldn't imagine the unit being this bad.
New York's performance was historic: The Jets' 23 fourth-quarter points were the most scored by a Jets team since Week 8 of the 2000 season.
Jets running back Breece Hall -- responsible for 133 rushing yards and two rushing scores Sunday, plus the game-tying touchdown pass to tight end Mason Taylor that led to the game-winning extra point -- wasn't even born the last time New York accomplished such a feat.
The defensive results would be seriously concerning for any NFL club. For these Bengals, it's the continuation of a problematic unit that cost them a handful of wins last season when Joe Burrow and Co. were lighting up scoreboards just to stay in the game.
Coach Zac Taylor stressed a greater emphasis on fundamentals, believing an improvement in that department can patch up the many holes in this defense. Golden, meanwhile, pointed toward the explosive plays that have proven devastating for Cincinnati's chances of victory.
"We cannot, for whatever reason, we cannot get rid of the inconsistent ones that break your back," he said. "I have to break through there and give them a path to success there -- that's on me -- and just eliminate those plays because there's really great things on the other side of that."
The "great things" are evident in the play of cornerback DJ Turner, who entered Sunday on a hot streak, compiling a run of performances that garnered national attention. Rookie linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. has made plays in his first season and leads the Bengals in tackles after eight weeks. Hendrickson entered 2025 with consecutive 17.5-sack seasons and while he has only four to his name through eight games this season, he remains their top pass-rushing threat who commands attention from opposing offenses.
But those contributions aren't nearly enough to make up for the many mistakes this unit has made. Sunday's massive disappointment -- a loss that seemed almost certain to result in a win when the Bengals owned a 38-24 lead with 10:21 left to play against a team owning a bottom-quarter offense -- shouldn't surprise most, given this has been Cincinnati's reality for more than a year.
But if the Bengals intend to overcome the loss of Burrow and claw their way into a playoff spot, they must fix the errors on the defensive side.
"It's not about pointing fingers," Golden said. "It's not about that. It's about what can we do better, what can I do better and how do we get it corrected so we don't have to experience that again."
