Firing DC shouldn't prevent Bengals from putting HC Zac Taylor under the microscope 

Moving on from Anarumo makes some sense for the club. This season, the Bengals (9-8) tied for 25th in the league in points allowed (25.5). Last season, they finished 21st (22.6 PPG) in this category. However, firing Anarumo shouldn't keep Taylor off the hot seat. 

In his first four seasons with the Bengals, Taylor and Co. made two AFC Championship Games and Super Bowl LVI, where they lost to the Los Angeles Rams, 23-20.

Since then, the club has underachieved, missing the playoffs for two straight seasons. During this span, Taylor is 18-16 and has failed to win close games. Cincinnati went 4-7 in one-possession games this season. 

He can't pin the postseason drought on a lack of talent. This season, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow led the league in passing yards (4,918 in 17 games), and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase finished with the most receiving yards (1,708 in 17 games). Meanwhile, Cincinnati edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson had the most sacks (17.5 in 17 games).

"A team with all three of those should never miss the playoffs," CBS analyst/former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt said Sunday on "The NFL Today."

The Bengals started 1-3, which proved costly. Slow starts have become a trend under Taylor. The Bengals lost two of their first four games in 2022 and three of their first four in 2023. 

With a talented roster, the Bengals should be competing for Super Bowls. Next season, Taylor must show he's not preventing the team from reaching its potential.