The Cincinnati Bengals reached a breaking point Sunday in Chicago.
Their defense collapsed in the final moments as the Bears drove 75 yards for the winning score with just 17 seconds remaining.
The 47-42 loss marked Cincinnati’s sixth defeat in nine games and dropped them to 3-6 on the season.
It was another late-game meltdown that exposed the same defensive problems that have plagued this team for years.
Analyst Zach Gelb did not mince words when discussing the Bengals’ latest failure during a recent podcast appearance.
He pointed to a pattern that has defined Cincinnati’s struggles across multiple seasons, regardless of personnel changes on the defensive side of the ball.
“Regardless of who the quarterback is. Regardless of what wide receivers are healthy or not. The offense is really damn good. The defense sucks. And they blamed Lou Anarumo last year. Now they’re bringing Al Golden, and it still sucks. Zach Taylor should be out as the head football coach of the Bengals,” Gelb said.
It's the same old story with the Bengals and Zac Taylor needs to go at the end of the season. pic.twitter.com/tBdRrLDznz
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) November 3, 2025
Gelb argued that a head coach must be accountable for the entire roster, not just the offensive unit.
Three consecutive seasons of poor defensive performance should have been sufficient evidence to prompt a coaching change.
He rejected the notion that Taylor deserves protection because of his offensive background or the remaining year on his contract.
Cincinnati cannot fix its defensive issues without leadership that prioritizes both sides of the ball equally.
The Bengals allowed 576 yards against Chicago and have now squandered multiple fourth-quarter leads this season.
Their defense has failed to improve despite changing coordinators from Lou Anarumo to Al Golden during the offseason.
The problems persist regardless of scheme adjustments or personnel moves.
Firing Taylor midseason may not provide immediate solutions to Cincinnati’s defensive struggles.
However, maintaining the current structure could mean another wasted year of elite offensive production.
Injuries have been cited as a contributing factor, but that explanation loses credibility when the same defensive breakdowns occur week after week.
Even with Joe Burrow healthy, these systemic issues would remain unresolved under the current coaching staff.
NEXT: Joe Flacco Makes NFL History With Bengals