The Bengals suffered another one-score loss on Sunday, and the team now sits at 4-7 as a result. The bye week could present the opportunity to make changes in the lineup and/or on the sidelines, but that will not be the case. 
“I think we all watch the game and we can see it’s just coming down to one play in every single game,” head coach Zac Taylor said (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer). “So why would you make a big wholesale change? That to me is just panic. That’s not what we’re about. We believe in what we’re doing.”
Quarterback Joe Burrow leads the league in completions (274), yards (3,028) and touchdown passes (27) through 11 games, but that effectiveness has often not translated to wins in 2024. Cincinnati was beaten handily by Philadelphia in Week 8, but otherwise the team’s losses have been decided by an average of 3.8 points. That lends itself to continuity amongst the coaching staff; Taylor and Co. nevertheless certainly have a number of areas to improve on during the bye.
The Bengals rank 28th in the league in points allowed, and the team has amassed underwhelming totals against both the pass and run this season. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has been in place since Taylor’s HC tenure began in 2019, and his unit posted a sixth-place finish in scoring defense in 2022. A repeat of that showing was not expected this year – nor would it be necessary for sustained success given the level of Burrow’s performances – but an uptick in play after the bye would help Cincinnati’s chances of a late wild-card run. Anarumo has drawn head coaching interest in the past, although 2024 has likely not helped his stock.
Taylor operates as the offense’s play-caller, so the role of offensive coordinator is one which is also unlikely to receive considerable attention over the coming days. Dan Pitcher is in place as OC after Brian Callahan took the Titans’ head coaching gig this past offseason. The Bengals have not been effective on the ground in 2024, but their passing efficiency has left them sixth in the NFL in scoring and ninth in total offense.
Special teams have generally been a strength under Taylor, but the kicking game has been an issue in 2024. Evan McPherson (who landed a three-year extension this summer) has connected on only 15 of 21 field goal attempts this season, a critical factor given the team’s close losses. A rebound in that regard could go a long way toward a late-year playoff push. In any event, Cincinnati will maintain the status quo coming out of the bye.