Zac Taylor Details Bengals Struggles Against Patriots After Watching Tape

Cincinnati came out flat to start another NFL season.

Sep 8, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor after the game against the New England Patriots at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images / Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

CINCINNATI — Zac Taylor met with the media on Monday and reviewed some of the biggest problems he saw on game tape following the Bengals' 16-10 upset loss to New England this past Sunday.

The Bengals missed a whopping 13 tackles and coughed up the turnover battle 2-0, while also amassing just 224 total yards. It was a tough luck day mixed with bad play that included two lost fumbles after losing just two all of last season.

"We allowed them to dictate the game," Taylor said about the tough start. "We got down 10-0 and 13-0 at halftime it was very clear it's gonna be a limited possession game. And so then they get to dictate the flow. They get to play coverage. They have a two score lead. And so you have to do a better job earlier in the game, really, the first three possessions, gaining control. And so then you can dictate how the game's gonna be played. And so it's as simple as that, we didn't give ourselves those opportunities early in the game, in any phase, and and so then you get the second half, and turns into a game you didn't want to play."

Cincinnati has to flush that outing quickly and get ready to pull off an upset of their own this Sunday in Kansas City.

"The start, we're all accountable for that. I go to bed feeling awful," Taylor said about a third-straight 0-1 start to a season. "Joe (Burrow) goes to bed feeling awful. There's plenty of other players that feel awful about the little things that they could have controlled that would have been better earlier in the game.

"So it's not something we predicted would happen. We thought we'd be off to a tremendous start, 21-0. It's how confident you feel going into the game, and when it doesn't go that way, there's no one that feels worse about it than the men walking off that field. And so again, you're sick your stomach, you don't sleep, you're miserable all night. And now, as this day goes and you start getting ramped up for Kansas City, the excitement starts to build to get a new opportunity and put our best foot forward and put that one behind us."

Bookmark Bengals Talk for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more! For more on the Bengals, subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

You May Also Like:

Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Tackle McKinnley Jackson Changes Jersey Number Ahead of Regular Season Opener

Zac Taylor Announces Trent Brown, and Dax Hill as Starters Ahead of Bengals Opener With Patriots

Zac Taylor Dives Into Plan Against New England If Ja'Marr Chase Sits Out

Joe Burrow Sheds Light on Arm Strength Ahead of Bengals' Season Opener

Zac Taylor Expects Ja'Marr Chase to Play Against New England

Look: Cincinnati Bengals Announce Roster Cuts, Finalize Initial 53-Man Roster

Report: Cincinnati Bengals Preseason Standout Maema Njongmeta Makes Initial 53-Man Roster

Cincinnati Bengals Rookie Daijahn Anthony Appears to Make 53-Man Roster

Ja'Marr Chase Expressed Desire to Stay With Cincinnati Bengals Long Term Earlier This Year

Joe Burrow Has Brief, But Direct Message Following Bengals' Preseason Finale

Postgame Observations: Cincinnati Bengals Fall to Indianapolis Colts 27-14

Joe Burrow Highlights Health, Offensive Ideas: 'Our Stuff Is Marrying Up Well'

Watch: Bengals Safety Jordan Battle With Pick Six Against Anthony Richardson and the Colts

Report: Bengals to Play it Conservative With Myles Murphy Following Knee Injury

Mission Accomplished: Bengals Star Quarterback Joe Burrow Completes First Normal Training Camp

It's Official: Evan McPherson Signs Contract Extension With Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals Undrafted Rookie Linebacker Maema Njongmeta's Impressive Preseason Continues

-----

Be sure to keep it locked on All Bengals all the time!

Subscribe to the All Bengals YouTube channel

Follow AllBengals on Twitter: @AllBengals

Like Our Facebook Page

Subscribe and follow the ONLY Daily Bengals Podcast

Follow on TikTok