The Cincinnati Bengals: An NFL tragedy

The 2024-25 NFL season has been anything but kind to the Cincinnati Bengals as they currently sit in 10th place in the AFC. The team is currently 4-7 on the season. Six of those losses have come by seven points or less, leaving Bengals fans, such as this writer, more frustrated than ever. Frustrated mostly because the Bengals are playing at an extremely high level and yet they continue to live up to their nickname “The Bungling Bengals”.

Bengals quarterback, Joe Burrow currently leads the NFL in yards passing and touchdown passes. Burrow isn’t the only player excelling this season, as wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is on track to receive a rare triple crown and Trey Hendrickson continues to thrive on defense, with more sacks than any other player currently this season.

When comparing The Bengals' stats with those of the Super Bowl LVIII Winner, The Kansas City Chiefs, it is no surprise to this immensely frustrated fan that The Bengals rank miles above.

Pat Mahomes currently has 2,404 passing yards and 15 passing touchdowns to Joe Burrow's 3,028 yards and 27 passing touchdowns. In even more impressive news, if you combined the receiving yards of Xavier Worthy and Travis Kelce you would have fewer receiving yards than Ja’Marr Chase alone, who currently has 1,056 on the season.

When comparing the Bengals' performance to other teams this season such as The Lions or The Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati still performs at the same level if not higher than all these teams. On paper, The Bengals should be golden and yet they can’t even crack bronze.

Burrow has become the second QB in NFL history to lose consecutive starts when throwing for at least 350 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in a 34-27 loss to the Chargers this past Sunday night.

The Bengals rallied from 27-6 down to tie the score in the fourth before Evan McPherson missed two field goals and the Bengals punted in the final minute to set up the Chargers’ game-winning drive.

This last-minute heartbreaking finish is anything but uncommon for The Bengals, as the team just cannot seem to find a strong finish, but why is that? For a team that is performing at such a high caliber and yet their record says otherwise.

Frustrations and tensions are running high, as Burrow expressed in The Bengals' most recent press conference anger and disappointment in how this season is playing out.

It’s hard to say what really is wrong with The Bengals this season. Is the blame on the inadequate coaching staff who are wasting their star players' prime season or could it possibly be those frosted tips? The world may never know.

Brooke Casey is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email bec5457@psu.edu.