In a hard-fought battle in Kansas City on Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals came up just short against the Chiefs, falling 26-25 on a game-winning 51-yard field goal by Harrison Butker. Despite the loss, the Bengals were able to take away some positives from the game.
Head coach Zac Taylor expressed his satisfaction with how the team fought against a tough opponent on the road, saying, “I liked how we fought on the road against a really good team.” Defensive end Sam Hubbard echoed this sentiment, noting that while there are no moral victories in the NFL, the team showed they can compete with anyone. Hubbard remarked, “Never moral victories, but I think we can beat anybody. We proved that today…There’s no reason to panic. We take what we did today and build off it.”
This defeat marks the third consecutive year that the Bengals have started the season 0-2. However, history shows that they have been able to overcome slow starts in the past. After a 0-2 start in 1988, the Bengals went on to reach the AFC Championship Game. Last season, they finished with a winning record despite losing their starting quarterback to injury.
Looking ahead, the Bengals have an opportunity to turn things around when they face the Washington Commanders next weekend. A win in that game could go a long way in proving that this team can still achieve their goals for the season. With 15 games left to play, there is still plenty of time for the Bengals to right the ship and make a push for the playoffs.
