The Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2025 season expecting to contend in the AFC but instead finished 6–11, missing the playoffs for a third straight year. Despite some late-season wins and consistent production from key offensive pieces, Cincinnati struggled to stay competitive across the full schedule. Defensive issues proved decisive throughout the year, repeatedly undermining the team’s ability to convert strong individual performances into wins.

Following the conclusion of the regular season, Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was asked whether head coach Zac Taylor and the coaching staff still have his confidence. Chase did not offer a direct endorsement or critique of the staff. Instead, he framed his response around his own preparation and role within the offense.

“I am very confident in myself,” Chase said. “I’m confident in the plays for me to get open.”

The answer was measured and left room for interpretation, arriving at a moment when Cincinnati’s leadership structure has come under increased scrutiny after another losing season. Chase stopped short of expanding further, but his remarks came after a year in which his individual production again stood in contrast to the team’s overall results.

Chase completed the 2025 season as one of the NFL’s most productive wide receivers. He finished the year with 1,412 receiving yards, 125 receptions and eight touchdowns, ranking third in the league in receptions and fourth in receiving yards. The 25-year-old delivered seven 100+ yards games and his consistency across the season remained a defining feature of Cincinnati’s offense.

The 2025 campaign also added to Chase’s growing list of historical accomplishments. He became the first player in NFL history to record at least 80 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards, and seven receiving touchdowns in each of his first five NFL seasons. He also extended his streak to five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and posted 100 or more receptions for the third straight year, further separating himself from prior benchmarks in franchise history.

Despite that production, the Bengals were unable to build sustained success around it. Chase accounted for a significant share of the team’s offensive output, but Cincinnati lacked complementary consistency elsewhere and frequently entered games needing near-perfect execution to win.

While Chase continued to perform at an elite level, Cincinnati’s defense struggled throughout the year. The Bengals finished 31st in total defense, allowing opponents to move the ball with little resistance. They ranked 26th in passing defense, surrendering 233.8 passing yards per game, and finished last in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing 147.1 rushing yards per game.

Scoring defense was equally problematic. Cincinnati ranked 30th, giving up 28.9 points per game, a figure that consistently placed the offense in high-pressure situations. Those defensive shortcomings erased margins for error and often negated strong offensive performances.

The Bengals will hope to address these shortcomings in what appears to be one of its most crucial offseasons in recent memory.