Williams: Cincinnati Bengals finally win in Cleveland. So why aren't you more excited?

CLEVELAND – Congratulations to the Cincinnati Bengals . They finally won a game in Cleveland during coach Zac Taylor’s tenure.

Otherwise, it’s hard to make much, good or bad, of the Bengals’ 21-14 snoozer of a win at Huntington Bank Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Browns are an absolute dumpster fire , and the flames were shooting 100 feet into the sky along the banks of Lake Erie long before Cleveland got down to its emergency quarterback on Sunday. The Browns are the worst team in the NFL.

But that’s Cleveland’s problem, and you’ll take a Battle of Ohio win anytime you can get it. At least that’s what you tell yourself.

Bengals beat Browns, playoff chances after 2-4 start

You want to feel better about the Bengals, who’ve now won two straight games. You really do. You want to believe they’re on the journey to the improbable turnaround after the 1-4 start. You don’t want to be overly negative. But you feel weird not being super pumped after this win, don’t you?

“We’ll just take them how we can get him,” Taylor, in his sixth season, said. “We found a way to win, and that’s all that mattered coming out of here.”

It’s OK to feel this way. Truth is, the Bengals aren’t much different than they were a month ago. They may not be any better. They may not be any worse. They’re stuck in neutral. They have no real identity seven weeks into the season. That’s more than enough of a sample size to determine this team likely isn’t destined for a magical run down the stretch.

You’re fighting yourself. You know deep down the Bengals aren’t going to beat good teams the way they’ve played the last two weeks. Then you rationalize it, you tell yourself the league has ugly wins every week, you'll take a road win any way you can get it and that the Bengals were losing these types of games in September.

Joe Burrow and Bengals' offense vs Browns

The Bengals always expect Burrow to bail them out, and perhaps that’s why he’s been holding onto the ball too long at times the past couple of games. Perhaps he’s trying to be perfect. It hasn’t helped that Cincinnati’s high-priced offensive line has shown signs of regression.

Burrow has been sacked seven times over the last two games, including three against the Browns. More potential bad news: Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., the Bengals’ best lineman, left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury and didn’t return.

The Bengals’ running game is improved, but it’s not good enough to take over a game. Burrow said ahead of the game that the Bengals could look to run the ball more. They ran it six times in the first half, and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was the leading rusher before halftime with 11 yards on one carry.

The Bengals’ supposedly Super Bowl-built offense has been painful to watch the last two weeks. It mustered two touchdowns Sunday, both in the third quarter. Burrow looks like a guy who is feeling the pressure of trying to carry a franchise on his back.

Bengals' offense on third down vs Browns

Cincinnati had 86 yards passing and was 0-for-6 on third downs in the first half. The Bengals can get away with that kind of offensive futility against a team like the Browns, who simply can’t move the ball and waved the white flag on the 2024 season when they traded star receiver Amari Cooper to Buffalo last week.

That first half made you want to take a nap or go do some yard work the rest of the afternoon. The Bengals did wake up and gave everyone a glimpse of what we thought they’d be doing all game, every game: Throwing the ball downfield.

Burrow to Chase for an 18-yard touchdown. Burrow to Tee Higgins for a 19-yard connection. Burrow again to Higgins for a 25-yard score.

“Huge sparks for us at the right moment, and guys we can always count on,” Taylor said.

It’s both beautiful and maddening when Burrow, Chase and Higgins are clicking. They remind Bengals fans of the Super Bowl run. They allow Bengals fans to dream of another Super Bowl run.

But the dreams have been few and far between this season – and very short. Burrow, Chase and Higgins haven’t clicked consistently this season. That’s the maddening part.

Dang it! There you go dwelling on the negative again. Just stop complaining about a win and hope things improve next week.

Contact columnist Jason Williams at jwilliams@enquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Williams: Cincinnati Bengals finally win in Cleveland. So why aren't you more excited?