The past two weeks have been brutal for Jake Browning and the Cincinnati Bengals offense, but coach Zac Taylor's confidence in the quarterback isn't shaken.
"I've got a ton of confidence in Jake," Taylor said, via the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I'm unwavering in that. I've seen the best of Jake. I know that we can do a great job supporting him to where he can go win games for us. So, I feel extremely confident in Jake Browning."
Browning replaced Joe Burrow in the second quarter \of a 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. He threw three interceptions that afternoon but also added two touchdowns and generated 241 passing yards. That was the offense anticipated after he took over the full-time starting gig: some mistakes and turnovers, but moving the ball.
Instead, the offense went in the tank the past two weeks.
Cincy has been outscored 76-13 in two games with Browning as the starter. He has thrown for 140 yards and 125 yards, respectively, with one touchdown and two interceptions. In the two starts, he has completed 63.5% of his passes with a 66.6 passer rating -- only recently benched veteran Joe Flacco (60.3) and rookie Cam Ward (63.9) have lower passer ratings in 2025.
"It's not an evaluation of Jake Browning. It's an evaluation of all of us on offense," Taylor said. "We all have to do our part to put ourselves in the best position possible to go score points, and that's me giving Jake everything he needs, giving the linemen everything they need. Really, first and foremost as the head coach, it's not a reflection on one player. It's on me. And so I've got to get ourselves in a better position to be able to go."
The blocking has been as porous for Browning as it was for Burrow, and the run game continues to be a non-factor four games into the season.
Perhaps you can attribute the two poor games to playing on the road against strong defenses. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has given better QBs fits in his career. The Broncos might own the best defense in the league, and are easily top-5.
Browning will get a chance to prove it Sunday at home against a Lions defense that is banged up, including putting starting cornerback D.J. Reed on injured reserve Wednesday.
"None of us are playing well enough, none of us are coaching well enough," offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said. "It seems like the boring answer, but it is true. We've got to do everything around Jake to help him, and then we need Jake's best. We've seen Jake and what he can do when he is playing at his best, and we've got to get him there."
The Bengals aren't ready to scrap the Browning experience just yet. If the lopsided losses continue, Taylor might have no choice if he wants to avoid losing the locker room.
However, it's not as if the other options at this point are surefire. Brett Rypien is currently the backup. Sean Clifford and Mike White reside on the practice squad. Veteran backups like Kirk Cousins and Russell Wilson will be discussed as trade options, but if the Cincy season spirals, is the front office really going to shell out draft assets for an aging stopgap who isn't guaranteed to turn anything around?
