Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor’s record in postseason games, in prime time, and against Pittsburgh — all areas that had been tripping points for those in the organization who preceded him — are among the best in franchise history.
But Taylor’s record in games played in Cleveland is tied for the worst. Another loss Sunday would make him the only Bengals coach in franchise history to not only start his career with five straight road losses to the Browns, but it would make him the first to have a five-game losing streak against the in-state rivals at any point during his career.
“I never think about that. Ever,” Taylor said with a thick curl of sarcasm.
How Rare Is Zac Taylor’s Losing Streak at Cleveland?
Taylor made it clear he is well aware of his winless record in Cleveland as the Bengals prepare for the 100th renewal of the Battle of Ohio on Sunday.
The Bengals are 0-4 in Taylor’s first four trips to FirstEnergy Stadium. Two other Bengals coaches lost their first four road games against the Browns — Paul Brown and Dave Shula. Brown won his fifth trip home and finished 1-5 against his former employer. Shula never got a fifth try.
The fourth consecutive loss for Taylor was the fifth overall for the Bengals, dating back to Marvin Lewis’ final season in 2018. Cincinnati has never lost six in a row at Cleveland since the rivalry began in 1970.
In each of Taylor’s first three visits to Cleveland, the Bengals were underdogs, including the 2021 season finale when they were locked into the No. 4 seed, and everyone knew they would be resting their starters (except for Ja’Marr Chase playing five snaps, just long enough to catch two passes for 26 yards and break Chad Johnson’s single-season franchise record for receiving yards).
The Bengals were 5.5-point underdogs in that game and lost 21-16.
On Taylor’s first trip to Cleveland in 2019, he was coming off his first win as a head coach the week before, snapping an 0-11 start. The 5-7 Browns were 6.5-point favorites against the 1-11 Bengals and won 29-17.
The 2020 game marked Joe Burrow’s first road start, a Thursday night contest in Week 2. The Bengals were 6-point underdogs and lost 35-30 despite Burrow throwing for 316 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions, although he did lose a fumble in the shadow of his own end zone in the third quarter that the Browns converted into an easy touchdown to stretch their lead from 8 to 15 points.
"@Kareemhunt7 is WIDE open!"
Both of Kareem's TDs vs the Bengals ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/gXi8af7DTZ
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 21, 2020
Last year was the only time a Taylor-led team was favored at Cleveland. The Bengals were 4-3 and 3-point favorites against the 2-5 Browns in a Monday Night Football tilt on Halloween. Cleveland won in a rout, 32-13.
“There have been tough ones up there,” Taylor said. “I’m trying to think back to every situation we’ve been in. A Thursday night game, a Week 18 game before the playoffs, a Monday night game last year. I barely remember the first year. It was late in the season. It was a close game. They’ve all been different experiences.”
Taylor is 5-2 in postseason games, which tops Bengals coaches in both wins and winning percentage.
He is 4-6 in prime-time games, and that .400 winning percentage is the best among Bengals coaches with at least three contests (Bruce Coslet was 1-1).
And Taylor is 4-4 against Pittsburgh, making him the fourth coach in team history to be .500 or better against the Steelers (Sam Wyche 10-4, Forrest Gregg 5-2, Bruce Coslet 4-3).
But winning in Cleveland — where few coaches have struggled, at least not for long stretches — has been elusive.
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Not only would another loss Sunday make Taylor the first Cincinnati coach to start 0-5 in Cleveland, but he would be just the seventh NFL coach since the league went to the current division alignment in 2002 to lose at least his first five road games against a division opponent.
- Gary Kubiak (Texans) 0-7 at Indianapolis
- Rex Ryan (Bills) 0-7 at New England
- Adam Gase (Dolphins) 0-5 at New England
- Todd Bowles (Jets) 0-5 at New England
- Frank Reich (Colts) 0-5 at Jacksonville
- Jim Schwartz (Lions) 0-5 at Green Bay
“Certainly, we need to play better and coach better,” Taylor said.
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