Bengals Fall to Packers in Flacco's First Start

The Bengals played their best game in weeks, but it still wasn't enough to avoid a two-score loss to the Packers.

Joe Flacco’s first start for the Cincinnati Bengals was the best game the team had played since Week Two, but it still wasn’t enough to avoid a 27 - 18 loss to the Green Bay Packers.  With their fourth-consecutive defeat, the Bengals have now tumbled to 2 - 4 on the year, and despite the one game sample from Flacco indicating clear improvement at the quarterback position, the Bengals have shown once again they simply aren’t good enough across the board to be competitive in 2025.

During the four-game skid, the Bengals have fallen behind by double-digits by halftime in every game.  Adding Joe Flacco may have upgraded the quarterback position by a slight degree, but it doesn’t mistake the fact that the Bengals are a bad football team.  In all phases, in every way, they are bad.  This loss to the Packers was another example.

Just once this season have the Bengals managed more than 55 rushing yards, and just one have the Bengals surrendered fewer than 118.  They’ve been outgained in total yards by every opponent.  The special teams are inconsistent and the role players aren’t making a difference on either side of the ball.

The injury to Joe Burrow remains a game-changer, but further injuries are sapping the Bengals’ limited ability to compensate for Burrow’s absence.  Superstar pass rusher Trey Hendrickson left the game before halftime and didn’t return, and with he and rookie Shemar Stewart both sidelined, the Bengals have struggled mightily to generate a consistent pass rush.  An already weak offensive line has been banged up too, and it’s struggled in both the run game and in pass protection since day one.

With the Bengals’ season slipping away with a painful inevitability, it’s time for more changes.  Benching Browning for Flacco was a good start, but clearly it’s not enough.  Mediocrity has been tolerated for way too long.

For starters, it’s time for Mitchell Tinsley to get a shot at slot receiver.  The Andrei Iosivas experience has had its moments, but he’s clearly not a reliable player, as his three drops today demonstrates.  With both Ja’Marr Chase, who caught ten passes for 94 yards and one of the most spectacular touchdown receptions you’ll see, and Tee Higgins, who finished with five receptions for 62 yards of his own, pass catching opportunities for other receivers are going to be limited.  Iosivas has proven time and again he can’t make the most of his few chances, and it’s worth seeing what the undrafted Tinsley, who shined in preseason, can do.

Similarly, it’s time for the Bengals to move on completely from Cam Taylor-Britt.  The third-year corner is already seeing the field less than ever, but seeing it less would be in the Bengals’ advantage.  The list goes on – left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., defensive tackle B.J. Hill, and safety Jordan Battle should all feel uneasy about their playing time moving forward.  Linebacker Logan Wilson’s playing time has been cut dramatically.

It’s time to see what some of the younger players can do.  Rookie Jalen Rivers has been solid since being pressed into duty at right guard, but it might be worth seeing what the collegiate left tackle could do in Brown’s stead protecting Flacco’s blindside.  Swapping second-year right tackle Amarius Mims to the left side could also be an option, given that might be in the Bengal’ plans down the line anyway.  Second-year corner Josh Newton saw the field down the stretch last year, and should definitely be seeing all of Taylor-Britt’s snaps.  Hill needs to see his playing time ceded to Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson.  The linebacker position should be manned by rookies Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter for the rest of the season.

After one week, it’s clear trading for Flacco was the right move to upgrade the Bengals at quarterback, but not remotely enough to change the Bengals’ future.  They’re destined for a season of misery.  The offense, defense and special teams have way too many flaws. They aren’t good enough in any phase to compete without Burrow, and given the way the Bengals are playing, there probably won’t be any reason to bring Burrow back.  After six weeks, it’s safe to say the Bengals have wasted another season of Joe Burrow, and it’s fair to wonder how many more of those they have left.