Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor presto-changoed a Super Bowl-contending football team into a non-playoff also-ran in just 17 weeks.

Some think Zac Taylor wouldn't go that route because he could be on the hot seat next year. "Why would Taylor hire a guy that could eventually be his replacement?"That's a line that multiple people have used over the past few days.

Joe Burrow has made it clear he wants the big three to stay together. Now the Bengals need to see if they can make it work.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor sends a message to the rest of the NFL if his team makes the playoffs after their Week 18 win

Following their 19-17 win over the Steelers, the Bengals' locker room was loud, players were hugging, music was playing and Zac Taylor made a point to personally congratulate everyone who played a role in the team's five-game winning streak that has kept their playoff hopes alive with one day remaining in the 2024 regular season.

In a strange coaching decision from Zac Taylor, Brown was instructed to go down without scoring a touchdown in order to burn clock late in regulation. Brown did so and got hurt, causing him to get replaced by Khalil Herbert for the rest of the game.

Sheldon Rankins' season is done after just seven games played and 18 tackles (one sack). Cincinnati can save $10.5 million against the salary cap by releasing him this offseason. Taylor was mostly mum on the injuries as they get one more day to recover compared to last week.

The Cincinnati Bengals made several coaching shakeups following their second straight season with no playoffs, including the firing of defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.

Historic seasons from Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Trey Hendrickson aren’t enough to get Cincinnati into the playoffs.

Zac Taylor

Bengals players are on the couch now, just like us, and disappointment shrouds the city like a heavy heap of shredded cheddar on a cold coney.