“Should be fired”: The NFL world remained dissatisfied with Bengals head coach Zac Taylor’s clock management during the game against Broncos | NFL News – Times of India

The Bengals and the Broncos played an entertaining match during Week 17 with great moments and touchdowns. The Bengals won, however, as they outdid Denver 30-24 after an overtime Tee Higgins score. The match happened under the Cincinnati sky. After the win, Cincinnati stands at 8-8, still holding on to its hopes of making the postseason. Things looked hairy for Zac Taylor’s team, however, especially after Denver made it to the end zone in the final moments of regulation.

The clock management by Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was in question

In the final seconds of the game, Bengals nearly lost their chance for the postseason with a 17-17 game; however, Cincinnati recovered the ball with a Bo Nix interception. Chase Brown tried to set up the game-winning Bengals field goal, but was injured, which stopped the clock. At this point, Cincinnati chose to go for a broken touchdown instead of a time-sapping strategy, giving the Bengals the game-winning field goal attempt.

The clock management by Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was in question after overtime was enforced by the Broncos. On an interception by Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, the Bengals took the ball inside the five-yard line of the Broncos and utilized their last timeout. Bengals running back Chase Brown wisely slid to reach the end zone.
The Bengals, despite Brown’s injury, elected to take the ball and score a touchdown on second down, despite the Broncos having taken their final timeout of the game. They did so immediately, giving the Broncos the ball with more than a minute left to play. The Broncos drove down the field and got to 4th down. With the game tied, quarterback Nix made an incredible touchdown to Marvin Mims, sending it into overtime. If the extra timeout was not granted, perhaps Nix could not have made the magic at the end of regulation.
The Bengals won overtime against the Broncos, but the NFL world remained dissatisfied with Taylor’s clock management after the game. One fan wrote on Twitter, “I have no idea how Zac Taylor has a head coaching job. Another guy who has no clock management and situational awareness.” Another wrote, “Zac Taylor and the entire Bengals coaching staff should be fired before the overtime for that absolutely idiotic clock management.” A third wrote, “zac taylor going for the TD and giving denver 90 seconds with one timeout for a game tying drive surely this won’t backfire!”
Taylor defended his decision after Brown’s injury, stating that his mindset changed postgame. “The injury changed everything,” Taylor said. “We were going to be able to kick the walk-off field goal with about 10 seconds … we were telling Chase to slide at the one because we figured they were going to let us score there, which he did. Unfortunately, got his ankle so they charged us with the timeout, so then that changes everything.”
He further added, ‘Now you’re in a second and goal at the one. You can down it and make sure they use their timeout and then try to score a touchdown from there on third down and maybe kick it on fourth, but you saw our red zone against them.”
Also Read: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix’s 51-yard cannon against the Cincinnati Bengals was the longest throw of 2024
Cincinnati’s Higgins overcame the game and bailed out questionable time management by Taylor and a missed field goal by Cade York. The win would still not inspire confidence, though, in Bengals fans, as they prepare to enter Week 18 to take on the Steelers in what could be a vital matchup.