The Cincinnati BengalsThe 2024 season has been a rollercoaster of near misses, epitomized by their recent Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The loss, which brought their record to a disheartening 4-7, left quarterback Joe Burrow visibly disappointed as he addressed the media. The recurring theme for the Bengals this season has been their inability to close out close games, with six of their seven losses decided by a touchdown or less – a bitter trend that has exposed their struggles at critical moments.

Joe Burrow is heartfelt about the team’s season

Reflecting on the season, Burrow described it as his most frustrating yet, attributing the team’s plight to repeated failures to perform under pressure. Discussing the nature of these defeats, Burrow said, “It speaks for itself.” He emphasized the need for improvement, saying candidly, “You just got to make the plays, you just got to make the plays. In the longer term we are not a good enough team for that; our margin of error is small. So we have to make those plays. I have to make those plays, we all have to make those plays. This recognition underlines the challenges facing a team teetering on the edge of playoff irrelevance.

Sunday’s game summed up the Bengals’ season in microcosm. After trailing 27-6, Cincinnati staged a historic comeback to tie the game at 27. However, the effort fell short as the Chargers broke through for a go-ahead touchdown with less than 20 seconds left. A desperate Hail Mary pass to Tee Higgins offered a glimmer of hope, but narrowly missed its target and sealed the Bengals’ fate.
This recurring inability to close out close games has not only undermined their play-off ambitions, but has also put the spotlight on the team’s small margin for error. While Burrow’s determination remains evident, the Bengals must find a way to capitalize on critical opportunities if they hope to salvage their season.
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For now, Cincinnati’s story remains one of potential overshadowed by missed opportunities, with each brief loss a grim reminder of what could have been. The path forward requires resilience and precision: a tall order, but not impossible for a team led by a quarterback as tenacious as Burrow.