Another wasted season should lead to major changes for Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals hit the quarterback lottery in 2020 when they selected Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. On an individual level, he has met pretty much every expectation anybody could have had for him as he has become one of the best quarterbacks — and players — in the NFL.

But with Sunday's ugly 24-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Bengals fell to 4-10 and were officially eliminated from playoff contention in the AFC and will miss the playoffs for the fourth time in Burrow's six years. 

That is unacceptable and not close to good enough, given how good Burrow has been when he has been on the field.

Changes have to come, and they have to be significant before an obviously frustrated Burrow pulls a Carson Palmer and forces his way out, or pulls an Andrew Luck and just walks away from the game.

Bengals changes need to be significant 

The one thing the Bengals can not do is lean on the fact that Burrow missed a significant portion of the season and fool themselves into thinking they just need him to be healthier. That is not the problem. The Bengals still lost multiple games in his absence when they scored 39 or more points, and after Sunday's game are now just 17-15 in the past 32 games that Burrow has started. 

The problems run far deeper than just Burrow missing time in most seasons. 

A new head coach might be on the horizon as Zac Taylor may have run his course. 

They also need to reconsider the very nature in which their roster is constructed.

They have badly neglected a defense that has been one of the worst in the NFL for three years now. They have also failed to give Burrow an offensive line that can adequately protect him, no doubt contributing to the injuries that have sidelined him so often in his career. They invested significant salary cap resources and money into the trio of Burrow and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, without any of the foundational pieces around them (offensive line, defense), to take advantage of having such a potentially dynamic passing trio. 

It is an organization that needs a total house-cleaning. Having a quarterback this good should make you a yearly contender. The Bengals have not been a serious contender for more than three years. That is not acceptable. They can not keep trying the same thing next season and expecting it to go any better.