On Sunday, October 26, 2025, the Cincinnati Bengals hosted the New York Jets at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati and suffered a heart-breaker, 39-38. The result was one of the more maddening losses of the season for Cincinnati. Here’s a full breakdown of the good, the bad, and yes — the ugly.
1. **Offensive production still showed life**
1. Quarterback Joe Flacco completed 21 of 34 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions.
2. The Bengals moved the ball and accumulated 398 total net yards.
3. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase had 12 receptions for 91 yards — showing he’s still a weapon even in a chaotic game.
4. Running backs contributed: Samaje Perine rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown, and Chase Brown added 73 yards and a score.
5. The Bengals jumped out to a strong start, taking a 10-0 first-quarter lead and a 24-13 lead at halftime. All in all, the offense gave hope that this team can still move the ball and score, which matters.
2. **Red-zone efficiency early**
1. Flacco’s two touchdown passes came relatively early — one to Tee Higgins (44 yards) and one to Chase Brown (19 yards) — helping build the lead. That kind of execution gave Cincinnati a platform to win.
3. **Some defensive flashes**
1. In the first half, the Bengals’ defense held the Jets to 13 points and seemed to have control. They also forced some early stops. – Especially coming off earlier losses, it was good to see the Bengals defend reasonably in stretches.
1. **Letting a manageable lead slip away**
1. Despite leading 31-16 entering the fourth quarter, the Bengals allowed the Jets to score 23 points in the final quarter and lost by one.
2. Time of possession: The Jets held the ball for 33:40 vs. the Bengals’ 26:20. That kind of edge often factors in late-game breakdowns. In short, you build a lead, but you must finish the game. The Bengals didn’t.
2. **Defensive collapse when it mattered most**
1. The Jets ran for 255 yards (and 254 was noted in some accounts) and executed key plays in the fourth quarter.
2. The Bengals failed to create turnovers or big plays in the red zone late. According to Bengals notes: “someone’s got to step up … create a turnover … win offensively explosive play … never happened for us.” The defense simply didn’t hold up when it mattered most.
3. **Special teams / situational miscues**
1. The play that killed them: a sack of Flacco on the game-deciding drive, setting up the Jets’ final score.
2. Fourth-down and late-game sequence miscues hurt.These details really add up, especially against a team that came in 0-7.
1. **Blowout on paper, razor-thin on result**
1. It’s one thing to lose a close game; it’s another to lead by 15 points in the fourth quarter and still lose. That magnifies every mistake.
2. Some outlets are already calling this the worst loss of coach Zac Taylor’s era. The ugliness is in the collapse.
2. **Moral victory turned bitter**
1. For a team like the Jets to earn their first win of the year at Cincinnati? That stings. The Bengals became the spoiler.
2. The Jets’ running game, led by Breece Hall (133 yards, two rushing TDs plus a passing TD), overshadowed the Bengals in the final quarter. When the “winless” team comes back and beats you — that’s a problem.
3. **Playoff implications and larger narrative**
1. Cincinnati fell to 3-5 with this loss. According to standings at the time, this drops them behind many AFC competitors.
2. The lack of defensive identity and late-game resilience raises deeper questions about this roster’s championship or even playoff viability.It’s ugly because it forces reflection: Is this team built for big moments?
The Bengals showed that their offense can still function and that they can build leads. But the fundamental issue remains the same: finishing games and defending when it counts. A 15-point lead entering the final quarter should translate into a win, especially at home. Instead, it turned into a gut punch.
If Cincinnati wants to salvage the season and make a push, it must learn from this game:
* Defend the fourth quarter with the same intensity as the first.
* Create turnovers and big plays when the opponent is mounting a surge.
* Clean up situational football (third-down stops, sacks allowed, red-zone defense).
Otherwise, this loss won’t just sting today — it might echo for the rest of the year.
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