Who Dey playing next? That’s the question on every bookmaker’s mind. Well, that’s because if Cincy’s defense woes are anything to go by, then the odds are always stacked against them to give away freebies to the offensive heavyweights. I mean, against the Steelers, the D-line surrendered 34 points (that’s just getting outta hand), letting Pitts roll to a 44-38 win. Joe Burrow and the offense put up a fight, but let’s face it—when your defense is a sieve, it’s GAME OVER.

That’s three straight games giving up 34 or more points, tying a franchise record. At this point, even Chad Ochocinco might be tempted to switch his allegiance—or at least grab some extra tissues.

Speaking of Ocho, he was on Shannon Sharpe’s Nightcap podcast, and things got emotional. Yup, he ain’t switching allegiance. Been a Cincy loyal from day one (and devoted 10 wonderful seasons to the city), so it had to get emotional. “We gonna be alright,” Johnson said, tears streaming down his face.

Sharpe didn’t let him off the hook. “No y’all ain’t,” he fired back, adding that the Bengals might bounce back in 2025, but 2024? Not happening. Sharpe twisted the knife, joking, “Everybody in Cincinnati doing nothing but eating chili and hot dogs.” It’s savage, but is he wrong? At 4-8, this season is a far cry from the Bengals’ Super Bowl dreams.

Sure, Burrow is putting up MVP numbers—leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns—but that’s not much comfort when your defense ranks 30th in points allowed. They’ve been leaking more than a busted pipe. Burrow’s wrist injury from last season also raises questions as the weather gets colder, but it’s the defensive side of the ball that’s truly melting down.

Sharpe didn’t mince words about the Bengals’ struggles, and neither should fans. The defense isn’t just a problem—it’s the problem. And while Ocho’s passion for the team is admirable, even he has to see the writing on the wall. Unless Cincy can patch those leaks, Burrow’s efforts are just going in vain.

And as expected, even he is running out of excuses to save face for the D. After the latest loss, JB made it clear things need to change, and fast. He basically took the reins behind the mic and said: HEY, WAKE UP. Time to stop talking and start playing. The offense can only do so much when the defense keeps spotting opponents 30+ points. The Bengals have five games to turn things around, it’s win all or wraps.

Joe Burrow lays down the action plan for the next 5 games

Joe Burrow isn’t one for sugarcoating things… Even if he was, he’s way past that. Maybe he’s running out of cool! The Sunday’s gut-punch of a loss to the Steelers was his tipping point. The Bengals are 4-8, staring at a three-game losing streak, and Burrow knows this isn’t the vibe for a team that once talked about Super Bowl runs.

“We haven’t been good enough to win games. It starts with your division,” he said. The message was clear: Cincinnati needs to wake up, fast. But it’s not just Burrow’s play—it’s the entire team dynamic that’s under the microscope. But JB is the man with the plan now… He has even taken those reins from HC Zac Taylor, who said: “We need to put our best foot forward on Monday Night Football.” Thank you for the straight talk, Zac, but your QB has mapped it out for the rest of the season.

Burrow laid it down plain and simple: “The next six weeks will say a lot about who we can count on and who we can’t,” he said, making it CLEAR as a crystal that this isn’t just about salvaging the season. This is about figuring out who’s ready to ride or die for this team moving forward. That’s the kind of QB leadership you want when the chips are down.

As if he wasn’t already leading the pack with 30 TDs for just 5 INTs in over 3000+ YDs, now he is doing so off the gridiron as well. Imagine going into every game knowing you have to play perfect football. It’s exhausting and, frankly, unsustainable.

Burrow isn’t talking playoffs—he shut that conversation down real quick. “Furthest thing from my mind,” he said bluntly. What’s on his mind? Figuring out who’s ready to step up. Five games left. That’s five chances to show the fans, the franchise, and each other that this team isn’t just about piling up offensive stats.