Breaking down the Bengals' loss to the Lions, by the numbers, with QB Jake Browning's reaction.
Arguably the most fight the Cincinnati Bengals put up in their 37-24 loss to the Detroit Lions at Paycor Stadium happened at the postgame podium.
Head coach Zac Taylor opened his press conference by taking the blame for the Bengals' slow start on offense.
"That's my job. I call the plays on offense. I put this thing together," Taylor said. "I have to be better for this football team."
Quarterback Jake Browning later stepped to the microphone and faced the music after throwing three interceptions for the second time in four games.
"I appreciate him (Taylor) saying that, but I need to play better. There's literally no hiding from that. I don't care if every person on the team says they need to play better, it starts with me playing better at the quarterback position," Browning said. "That's not on him. It's on me. I need to stop throwing interceptions."
Browning, who now ranks second in the NFL in interceptions (8) only behind the Raiders' Geno Smith (9), had two crucial picks with the Bengals pinned deep in their own territory.
Those led to short Detroit touchdown drives of 17 and 28 yards as the Lions opened up a 28-3 lead.
"I threw three picks that were just bad and there's no hiding from that. It was bad football from me," Browning said. "Trying to force things that aren't there and as a result just completely screwing over the team. It hurts. There's no way to hide from it. I did not play well enough to give our team a chance to win. It's brutal."
The Bengals' offense found the rhythm they've been seeking since Browning led the team to a comeback win over Jacksonville in Week 2. The Bengals scored 21 fourth-quarter points to climb back into striking distance before the Lions put the game away late with a touchdown drive.
"I got into a rhythm late in the game that kind of made it seem like it was closer than it was," Browning said. "I played awful today. I need to play better."
Even when asked about his best throw − a 15-yard touchdown to Ja'Marr Chase on the first play of the final stanza in between a trio of defenders − Browning wanted nothing to do with the praise.
"I appreciate the layup, trying to talk about a good throw, but I didn't have enough good throws today and that's why we lost," Browning said.
Bengals quarterback Jake Browning: "I feel a great responsibility to get back on track."
With 10:03 remaining in the third quarter, a chorus of boos poured over from the 66,115 fans in attendance at Paycor Stadium, which was predominantly blue as the Bengals' plan to "stripe the jungle" went south as the Lions built a 25-point lead.
"I feel like I let the whole team down. I feel like I let the fans down," Browning said. "There's no hiding from that."
Browning said his sense of urgency was high leading up to the matchup with Detroit, which could explain the need to press and force some early throws into non-existent windows that led to the big deficit.
With all signs and coach-speak pointing to Browning leading the team in Week 5 against Green Bay, the 29-year-old backup-turned-starter said he'd leave no stone unturned in an attempt to save this season.
"I feel a great responsibility to get back on track. I need to find ways to improve and I will. I'm never gonna fold. I'm gonna spend a lot of time here in the facility this week trying to find ways to get better and put us in a situation where we can win some games," Browning said. "Whether it gets better or not, that’s to be determined, that’s the unknown, but it will not be because of lack of effort and lack of dedication to trying to get better and put our team in better positions to win.”
Cincinnati Bengals offense: By the numbers
19: The Bengals went 19 consecutive drives without a touchdown before Browning hit Ja'Marr Chase for a 15-yard score in the fourth quarter to cut the Lions' lead to 28-10. Those 19 drives included 14 punts, three turnovers and a pair of field goals.
60: The Bengals have been outscored by 60 points (69-9) in the first half over the last three games combined and 28-3 overall in the first quarter.
No. 32: The Bengals rank dead last in the NFL in rushing offense at just 57 yards per game. Against the Lions, Browning was the team's leading rusher (31 yards) while Samaje Perine and Chase Brown each had 27.
2.5: Brown's yards-per-carry this season. Over the three-game losing streak, Brown has carried 28 times for just 70 yards.
18: Number of snaps the Bengals offense has taken with the lead this season. Those 18 plays have netted just 2 total yards.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals QB Jake Browning on loss to Lions
Category: Football
