CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals walks across the field in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Paycor Stadium on September 29, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Max Scherzer has perfectly brutal NSFW description of Mets playoff exit
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor made a call to go for it on fourth-and-goal in the second half against the Ravens and his decision got torched after the loss.
Just after the two-minute warning on Sunday Night Football, the Cincinnati Bengals took a 17-16 lead over the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. But that 1:58 remaining on the clock was more than enough time for Lamar Jackson to lead the offense down the field and get Justin Tucker into gimme range for one of the best kickers in NFL history.
He converted the 43-yard attempt as time expired, giving the Ravens the lead and ultimately the win. And while Jackson’s efforts leading the drive and Tucker’s kick secured the win for Baltimore, all anyone could talk about was the late-third-quarter decision by Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.
After a long Cincinnati drive, Joe Burrow faced a fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line. Rather than taking a near-free three points in a game the Bengals were trailing in, Taylor elected to go for it. But an ill-fated shovel pass from Burrow hit the turf and, instead, the club turned the ball over on downs.
Those three points given up to go for the touchdown proved to be pretty important after the final score was 19-17 in favor of the Ravens.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor roasted for fourth-down decision vs Ravens
That wasn’t lost on NFL fans watching the primetime contest and they let Zac Taylor have it after the conclusion of the game.
You know what would be cool? Those 3 points we had when Zac Taylor was busy playing NFL Street 2
— Kofie (@Kofie) October 10, 2022
The Bengals are 4-1 if Zac Taylor could get out of their way.
— Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) October 10, 2022
Zac Taylor opted for a Philly Special and a shovel pass to WR5 from the 2-yard line tonight instead of seeing if his $40M running back getting six yards a pop could punch it in and it cost the Bengals what could’ve been a massive win.
— Matt Edwards (@MattEdwards) October 10, 2022
The Bengals were a Zac Taylor away from winning that game.
— Chris Bailey (@Kentuckyweather) October 10, 2022
Zac Taylor deserves this L. If you are offered 3 points – TAKE THEM.
— Christopher Lehman (@FijiSims) October 10, 2022
Also Zac Taylor going for it instead of taking 3 points is looking even more stupid. They’d be up by 4 and would’ve forced the ravens to need to score a touchdown. He’s a damn idiot #rulethejungle
— David (@DKathary_) October 10, 2022
Burrow not getting this ball back. This one’s on Zac Taylor. Not taking 3 easy points
— Shawn Cresap (@cresap21) October 10, 2022
Life lesson Zac Taylor always take the points. You lost because you decided not to take those 3 points
— MJF 4 World Champ🧂🌍 (@Honestyybreaker) October 10, 2022
In the analytics boom of the NFL, the book says to go for it in that situation, so it’s hard to totally fault Taylor’s decision without heavily relying on hindsight.
With that said, it was also the plays that he called on that same drive that were making fans furious. And now that last year’s AFC representatives in the Super Bowl are a meager 2-3 to start the season, the fact of the matter is that Zac Taylor is going to be more under the microscope than ever before.
