JOSE ANGEL RUEDA
PHOTO: ANDY LYONS | AFP
In just three years, the Bengals went from being the worst team in the NFL to play the final of the American Conference. The league competition system allows for these kinds of stories, however the work is not done alone.
In Cincinnati, the name of head coach Zac Taylor has become relevant with the passing of the seasons. Since his arrival in 2019, the coach has dedicated his efforts to outlining a careful reconstruction strategy that finally bore fruit this season.
The Bengals’ turnaround was meteoric, but it wasn’t easy. After 16 seasons, owner Mike Brown made the decision to end Marvin Lewis’s tenure at the helm of the team. In his place came a young trainer by the name of Zac Taylor. He had no experience as a head coach, but had shown qualities in various developmental positions on teams like the Dolphins and Rams.
Taylor’s debut campaign was not easy. It was still the days of Andy Dalton. The head coach sought to cover his quarterback’s back with guard Jonah Williams, taken with the 11th pick in a draft that wouldn’t feature many impact players. The result of his first season was not what was expected, ending with a poor record of 2-14. The Bengals finished as the worst team in the league, however, that circumstance would allow them to speed up the rebuilding process. The same thing happened in 2020, when they finished 4-11-1.
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JOE BURROW ARRIVED
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PHOTO: ANDY LYONS | AFP
With the first pick of the 2020 Draft came Taylor’s true show. He didn’t have to think long about choosing Joe Burrow, a talent with the potential to become his franchise quarterback. Time proved him right, in just his second season, the quarterback has shown all his leadership to lead his team to the conference finals.
Burrow, however, hasn’t done it alone, but has been supported by other players drafted by Zac Taylor over the past two seasons. In that 2020 Draft, the Bengals drafted receiver Tee Higgins and linebacker Logan Wilson in the second and third rounds, respectively, both of whom are an important part of Cincinnati’s success this season. The offense with six touchdowns and 1,091 yards, while the defense had four interceptions and forced a fumble.
For 2021, Taylor again bet on reinforcing his offense with his first pick. This is how Ja’Marr Chase arrived, as the fifth overall selection, a receiver who is called to be the offensive rookie of the year with his 1,455 yards and his 13 touchdowns. Even via Draft, they also recruited kicker Evan McPherson, a key player in the victory over the Titans, in the divisional round. Taylor’s decisions were not without controversy, many asked to invest high rounds in reinforcing the line to take care of Burrow, who was seriously injured in his rookie year after receiving a heavy blow, but the coach was clear that to transcend he had to have a top-tier offense, and he wasn’t wrong.
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FREE AGENCY
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PHOTO: ANDY LYONS | AFP
The good work of Taylor and owner Mike Brown was not only reflected in the Draft, but also in free agency. Cincinnati bet big to strengthen its defense. Thus came defensive end Trey Hendrickson from the Saints. The player has shone with 15 sacks this season. Also performing well have been Larry Ogunjobi and BJ Hill, who came over from the Browns and Giants, respectively. On the perimeter they backed up with the likes of Vonn Bell and Elli Apple.
One of Taylor’s pending tasks is to reinforce the offensive line. During the divisional round, Burrow was sacked nine times, while in the regular season he recorded 51, the most in the entire league.
Continue with: This is how the conference finals will be played
IMPACT PICKS
YEAR PLAYER POSITION
2020 JOE BURROW QB
2020 TEE HIGGINS WR
2020 LOGAN WILSON LB
2021 JA’MARR CHASE WR
2021 EVAN MCPHERSON K
IMPACT REINFORCEMENTS
YEAR PLAYER POSITION
2021 TREY HENDRICKSON DE
2021 LARRY OGUNYOBI DT
2021 BJ HILL DT
2021 ELI APPLE CB
2020 VONN BELL S
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Bengals, from being mocked in the NFL to Super Bowl contenders