It’s not even about the Giants.
The Bengals are 1-4, but they have played some good teams really close. The Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens are the odds-on matchups for the AFC Championship game, and Cincinnati lost to them by a combined four points.
Which brings me to the first key…
Resilience
This team has not been able to overcome its mistakes or scrap out one of these close games. In fact, at times, it has let mistakes snowball. It needs to find the ability to step up and make the plays that count to win rough.
Defensive Attitude
Yes, there have been problems with tackling. Yes, there have been breakdowns in coverage. Yes, the pass-rush has been lacking. Those things matter, but what’s more important is the mindset. They need to be able to step up and make the plays that matter. We’ve seen them do it here and there, like the goal-line stand against the Carolina Panthers, but then there have been the letdowns.
Which brings me to my next key…
Consistency
Joe Burrow said it: “I have to be perfect.”
This team has too many letdowns and makes too many mistakes. They need to lock it up. This is particularly an issue on defense, where one player making a mistake can result in a touchdown,
Youth Movement
Amarius Mims and Erick All have been a big part of this offense’s success in 2024. Defensive rookies like Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson need to step up to improve this unit’s overall performance. Both could be a big help against the run, and Jenkins has some upside as a pass-rusher. In addition to the rookies, second-year players like Myles Murphy, DJ Turner, and Jordan Battle need to make their presence known on defense. Murphy could be a big boost to a pass rush that has been a one-man-show. Turner will need to shine in the absence of Dax Hill at cornerback. Both starting safeties have struggled, but Battle was impressive in his rookie campaign. He could be the answer they are looking for.
One Foot at a Time
It isn’t going to be easy to dig their way out of this whole. They have to take it one game at a time, one play at a time, and just focus on executing.