‘Have One More Drink’ – Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor Urges Fans to, Uh, Hydrate on Saturday

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor’s weekly news conference was nearing the end of a usually long 23-minute session today when he was asked about the uncertainty the Minnesota Vikings have at quarterback and the importance of home-field advantage.

“Thank you, Dan. I like this,” Taylor said to Bengals radio play-by-play announcer Dan Hoard. “I’m glad you reminded me of this.”

Bengals Coach Zac Taylor Urges Consumption, Volume From Fans

Taylor said he didn’t know if Joshua Dobbs or Nick Mullens was going to start for Minnesota and pointed out the team also has some injuries along the offensive line. He went on to say that if the person three seats down from you in the row can’t have a conversation with you, then everyone is doing their job when it comes to crowd noise.

“That’s essentially what the quarterback is trying to deal with when he’s trying to communicate with the tackle, make a last-second communication with a receiver,” Taylor pointed out. “If they can’t hear him, they can’t make that check.

Then he offered this challenge to the fanbase, which lit up social media:

“I do challenge our fans — we’ve got outstanding fans — to drink one more drink and rush into the stadium, and be as loud as you can humanly, possibly be when Minnesota’s offense is out there and help our guys,” Taylor said.

“That is a critical element that we get this home-field advantage. If we were playing in Minnesota, it would be a real problem. And so Minnesota is here; let’s make it a real problem for them.”

Zac challenges fans to drink one more drink before coming into the stadium and be as loud as possible Saturday.

Says if the person 3 seats down can't talk to you, everyone is doing their job.

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) December 12, 2023

Taylor was careful to use the word “drink.”

He did not openly advocate for extra alcohol consumption, giving himself and the team an out if anyone were to complain about such a message.

Taylor could have been referring to the process of lubricating the throat, or, in the wake of Jake Browning having to leave last week’s game due to cramping, the simple process of hydrating.

But the ultimate message could not have been clearer. The Bengals are urging fans to be loud to disrupt an already challenged Minnesota offense that scored just three points last week in a 3-0 win against the Las Vegas Raiders and 10 points in its previous game, a 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears.

MORE: Sixth Seed in the Playoffs Awaits the Bengals This Weekend

“It’s critical in a December game like this with a team coming on the road against us, and third downs in particular, that’s where the communication is really stressed,” Taylor said.

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