The end result of the Cincinnati Bengals’ Week 11 game against the Washington Football team didn’t matter.
A 20-9 loss was background noise to the devastating Joe Burrow injury, which saw him leave the field on a cart.
With six games left, the spotlight swings to the future. Before it does, here’s some instant analysis from the loss, plus commentary on what comes next.
Quick Hits
— The script was very strong for the Bengals right out of the gate on the first drive. Burrow started 5-for-5, worked in a lot of targets and some RPOs to keep Washington guessing.
— All of the above was a moot point though with Randy Bullock clanking a 34-yarder off the upright. Washington immediately bounced back with a drive of 70-plus yards to go up 7-0.
— That’s two weeks in a row William Jackson gave up a big play through the air. Hardly the end of the world and Terry McLaurin is elite, but it’s worth pointing out.
— Burrow remained accurate despite some major hits from Chase Young and others, eventually lofting a score to A.J. Green…only for Bullock to miss the extra point.
— Naturally, Bullock redeemed himself by hitting a field goal of 50-plus yards. It’s far from the first time he’s whiffed on the easy stuff and made the tough ones, which puts the coaching staff in a tough spot.
— First-half tallies? Bullock 1-of-3 with a missed extra point, meaning seven points missed in a 9-7 game. Bengals had 247 total yards and 19-plus minutes of possession.
— Everything went out the window in the third quarter when Joe Burrow needed a cart to leave the field after suffering a knee injury and the team quickly ruled him out.
— Things were disastrous after Burrow’s exit, as expected. Not just because Ryan Finley can’t do what the starter can, either — the team was just dejected and quickly coughed up the lead.
Key Stat
11: Passing first-downs for the Burrow-led offense in the first half. The team kept if efficient before things unraveled after the Burrow injury. That’s what the team will have to especially rely on now as the offense gets fully handed over to Ryan Finley.
Game Ball
Tyler Boyd: The No. 1 wideout had eight catches on eight targets in the first half and did what he could the rest of the way.
What to Fix
Everything: Typically, this section focuses on one point from the game. But with Burrow out, it turns long-term: It’s time to have some frank discussions about the franchise’s inability to properly build the roster. Big change starts at the top.
Top Takeaway
On to the next: A rebuilding season around Burrow has fully turned into a lost season now. From here, it’ll feel a lot like last year, where the draft positioning is more interesting than the action on the field.
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