The Bengals Have 3 BIG Problems That Need To Be Fixed...

The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-1 after a frustrating loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and while it's far too early to panic about this team, there are some legitimate concerns that need to be addressed. John Sheeran breaks down the three biggest problems facing the Bengals after three weeks of the 2026 NFL season — and explains why these aren't simply reactions to one bad game. The first concern is the secondary. Cincinnati invested heavily in its defensive line during the offseason but made relatively few changes to the secondary. Against Pittsburgh, Jalen Davis and Jordan Battle were both exposed, with each allowing a touchdown early in the game. Davis struggled with his recovery speed and had difficulty setting the edge against the run, while Battle's aggressive play style once again caused him to lose his depth in coverage. With Jalen Davis now dealing with a hamstring injury, Dax Hill could see more time in the slot, while Takeo Davis could receive more opportunities on the outside. The second concern is the Bengals' recurring pre-snap penalties. Cincinnati has now committed eight offensive pre-snap penalties over the last two games. That's simply too many for a team led by Joe Burrow. The frustrating part is that the Bengals' offensive line actually played well against Pittsburgh's defensive front. Amarius Mims, Orlando Brown Jr., Dalton Risner, Dillon Fairchild and Ted Karras all had stretches of strong play. But the Bengals continue to make drives harder than they need to be by committing unforced penalties. The third concern might be the biggest of all: Cincinnati's inability to close games on offense. Through three games, the Bengals have had eight fourth-quarter drives and none have resulted in touchdowns. When Cincinnati needs a drive to put a game away, the offense too often relies on Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins to make an extraordinary play rather than consistently creating easy completions and separation. That puts enormous pressure on Joe Burrow and the offensive line. John explains why the Bengals need to find an "easy button" on offense — quick, high-percentage plays that move the chains without requiring Chase or Higgins to make a superhuman play. There are also plenty of positives. John doesn't believe the Bengals' defensive line is a major concern. Dexter Lawrence has played well, Cassius Howell continues to develop and Cincinnati should get better production from Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen and Myles Murphy. The running game and pass protection have also been encouraging, and Joe Burrow has largely played excellent football. So should Bengals fans panic after the loss to Pittsburgh? No. But the Steelers did expose some issues that Cincinnati cannot afford to ignore. John Sheeran breaks down the three biggest concerns facing the Bengals after Week 3 and what Cincinnati needs to fix before facing the Jacksonville Jaguars. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, analysis, game reactions, player breakdowns and everything you need throughout the 2026 NFL season. #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL 0:00 The Bengals have REAL problems after Pittsburgh 0:32 The Bengals are 2-1 — don't panic 1:35 These aren't just Steelers problems 2:08 Concern #1: The Bengals secondary 2:43 Jalen Davis and Jordan Battle got exposed 3:13 Davis' recovery-speed problem 3:24 Jordan Battle's recurring issue 4:01 Is Jordan Battle's job in danger? 4:21 Jalen Davis' injury changes things 4:50 Concern #2: Bengals' pre-snap penalties 5:07 The Bengals have 8 pre-snap penalties 5:27 The offensive line actually played well 6:23 The Bengals can't keep making these mistakes 6:56 Why this is now a REAL problem 7:14 Concern #3: The Bengals can't close games 7:20 Zero fourth-quarter touchdowns 7:59 Pittsburgh exposed the same issue 8:22 Why the Bengals struggle to close games 8:36 Where is the Bengals' "easy button"? 9:19 Joe Burrow needs easier throws 9:45 This has happened too many times 10:02 The Bengals' pass rush is NOT a concern 10:42 The Bengals offense is actually in good shape 10:57 The WR depth is a concern 11:23 The 3 biggest Bengals concerns 11:32 Should Bengals fans panic? Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: https://google.com/preferences/source... Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: https://atozsports.com/games For more Bengals coverage: https://atozsports.com/nfl/cincinnati... Facebook:   / bengalsfans4life   Twitter/X: https://x.com/AtoZSportsNFL Instagram:   / atozsportsbengals   TikTok:   / atozsportsbengals   #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball