[jwplayer 725kCG4I]
Coming off a two-game streak, the Cincinnati Bengals entered Sunday looking like a team capable of playing with the Baltimore Ravens and playing the playoff spoiler in the process.
Instead, the Bengals coughed up a franchise record in rushing yards on the way to a 38-3 beatdown.
The Bengals offense was hardly on the field all day and ineffective when there, while the defense was historically bad to close out a lost season before major changes.
Some notes and thoughts below.
Quick Hits
— Bengals got rolled on the ground over the game’s first drive, coughing up 54 rushing yards over seven minutes. A flag on the Ravens ruined the drive, but it seemed like a sign of things to come.
— Second drive for the defense was more of the same as the Ravens went up 10-0 after a 43-yard score. Baltimore drummed up 138 yards over the first two drives — not exactly a good start for coordinator Lou Anarumo, who could be on the hot seat.
— Ravens outpaced the Bengals 152-4 in yardage in the first quarter — not a typo.
— Another not a typo: Cincinnati didn’t have a first down on offense until roughly four minutes left in the second quarter while getting outgained 255-15.
— Near halftime, Zac Taylor opted for a field goal on a fourth-and-short while down 17-0.
— Ravens punched it to 24-3 on the back of 236 rushing yards by the mid-third quarter. Anarumo’s defense just didn’t have a response against an offense looking like it was getting primed for its first postseason game.
— Offensively, Brandon Allen tried to push the ball to A.J. Green a few times, though most of those were closer to being picked off than caught.
— Speaking of pushing the ball into the endzone, the Bengals were trying to get Green the franchise touchdown record in the third quarter and Allen instead lofted one of the worst passes of the season, which was easily interceptable. He finished with a passer rating of 0.0.
— Anarumo’s defense broke a franchise record before the fourth quarter.
— Elsewhere, a Tee Higgins injury ruined the rookie’s chance at his own franchise record.
Key Stat
404: Rushing yards by the Ravens. Cincinnati defenders didn’t look interested in filling the right gaps and when they did, guys like Germaine Pratt got bowled over en route to allowing the most rushing yards in franchise history.
Game Ball
Trayveon Williams: The backup running back just seems to spark every time he touches the ball. He got four chances Sunday, yet turned it into 74 yards.
Top Takeaway
Change time: The Bengals are already firing several coaches, per a report. But Sunday’s showing makes it worth wondering if the entire staff will be shown the door instead of just an assistant here or there. Presumably, there needed to be some signs of life after two wins, not a historic flop. Monday — the usual day for letting coaching staffs go — awaits.
[listicle id=40030]