Zac Taylor calls Bengals players out after shocking loss to Jets

The Cincinnati Bengals held a 38-24 lead over the then-winless New York Jets with 10:21 remaining in regulation of Sunday's game at Paycor Stadium. Cincinnati then shockingly surrendered 15 unanswered points to suffer a 39-38 home loss that dropped the Bengals to 3-5 on the season. 

After the game, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor publicly called his players out. 

Zac Taylor rips Bengals for "never" stepping up in big moment vs. Jets

"Someone's got to step up and make a play," Taylor said during his postgame comments, per the Bengals' website. "Someone's going to (have to) make a point either way just to separate that game for us — create a turnover, getting on the ground, third down, win offensively explosive play in the game — just never happened for us."

The Jets failed to score a touchdown over their previous two games heading into Sunday, and outsiders assumed as recently as Friday that Gang Green was planning on benching starting quarterback Justin Fields in favor of backup Tyrod Taylor. Taylor was ruled out ahead of Sunday's contest because of a bone bruise in his knee, and Fields then completed 21-of-32 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown. 

Meanwhile, Jets running back Breece Hall rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns before he used his arm to help the Jets grab the lead with under two minutes left in regulation. 

"We just needed somebody to rise up and make a play," Taylor continued. "Someone just hold the fort down. I didn't see enough of that. ...I think someone needs to step up and lead the group. That's what I'm waiting to see. Someone step up and lead the group and take some accountability over there, and get this thing going the right way."

Bengals players accept responsibility for loss to Jets

ESPN stats show that the Bengals began Monday allowing a league-worst 407.9 yards per game and a league-high 31.6 opposing points per contest this season. Following Sunday's defeat, Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill told ESPN's Ben Baby that he has "got to do more on my part" to "bring along the guys each and every day." 

"I'm the oldest guy in the [defensive back] room, so I'll take on that role and make sure we're all right in the back end," Bengals safety Geno Stone added. "But at the end of the day, as a whole defense, everyone has to step up and play better."

The Bengals will look to put Sunday's disappointment behind them as they prepare to host the Chicago Bears (4-3) on Nov. 2. As of Monday morning, ESPN BET had Cincinnati as a 2.5-point home underdog for that game.