'Too little, too late.' Bengals find glimpse of hope with Joe Flacco but not enough to win

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin – The Cincinnati Bengalsfell to 2-4 on the year and are riding a four-game losing streak after losing to the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 12.

Quarterback Joe Flacco's second-half performance was a bright spot in Cincinnati's 27-18 loss in Green Bay.

The Bengals trade for Flacco was the organization's big effort to try and save the season. And despite coming off a loss, this addition gives everyone − players, coaches and fans − the glimmer of hope they needed ahead of arguably the biggest game of the Bengals' season to date.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor made it clear the performance wasn't good enough from the Bengals' offense in the first half or Cincinnati's defense in the second half. The Bengals are searching for their first complete game of the season, but it looks like Flacco could be a much needed lifeline.

Bengals must start to score points in the first half

Cincinnati's inability to score points or move the ball effectively in the first half of their last four games is costing the team games. The Bengals trailed 10-0 at halftime in Green Bay and only manufactured four first downs in two quarters and totaled just 65 yards.

"It's too little too late, that first quarter sets us back too far," center Ted Karras said.

In addition to not putting points on the board, when the Bengals have to punt as much as they are, it forces Cincinnati's defense to be on the field more and it's showing up at the end of games. When the Bengals need the defense to be fresh in the fourth quarter and come up with game-winning stops, they've been unable to do so.

The Bengals have scored a total of nine points in four first halves. Cincinnati was able to find momentum in the second half and score 18 points thanks to wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and Flacco's connection. Chase − who was sick during the week and limited to just 12 reps with Flacco − caught 10 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.

Flacco threw completed 29 of his 45 attempts for 219 yards and two touchdowns. His quarterback rating was 90.9 in his first start for the Bengals.

“Well, I thought as an offense we settled in, you know probably sometime in the second quarter," Flacco said. "And I thought that we were able to get over the hump in that quarter but we came out and played a good second half. But usually against a good football team, playing one good half isn’t going to be good enough. But we gave ourselves a chance there at the end and did some good things but just not enough early on.”

For the Bengals to start winning games, they must find out how to play better in the first half.

"Next game, we got to start off like the second half," Chase said.

Cincinnati's defense must get stops late in games

When the Bengals lost quarterback Joe Burrow for at least three months, every player on the team was going to need to step their game up. Burrow covers up a lot of the Bengals' deficiencies with his play.

The pressure was going to get ratcheted up for Cincinnati's defense, which faced criticism after last season and the firing of Lou Anarumo.

There are times where the Bengals defense is doing their job well enough to give the ball back to Cincinnati's offense. At the same time, the Bengals aren't playing their best when the team needs it most. The Bengals were facing a third-and-eight with 2:32 remaining while trailing the Packers 24-18 and instead of making a stop to force a punt, the Bengals allowed a 31-yard play. Green Bay then moved down into field goal range and the Packers extended their lead to 28-18 and the Bengals ran out of time and opportunities to win the game.

"Just sick after that loss because each half, I thought the defense in the first half gave us a chance," Taylor said. "The offense just had four possessions that didn’t generate any offense and give us a chance there to take a lead, take a tie into halftime. In the second half the offense came out I thought played well and the defense couldn't quite get off the field. So when we talk about complimentary football that is what we are talking about and it wasn’t overall good enough."

The Bengals rank No. 30 in points allowed per game (30.5) and No. 31 in yards allowed per game (394.2). Cincinnati's poor offensive play has contributed to the defensive performance, but it shouldn't excuse it. Across the board on defense, the tackling hasn't been good enough and needs to improve in a hurry.

“I think that will show when we watch the tape," Taylor said of the tackling not being good enough. "To my eye I noticed, I don’t know how many, but I noticed some, and credit to their group. They have a good offense and they attack you in a lot of different ways. They have physical runners and certainly as we watch the tape we will see if that is something that we have to do a much better job of.”

It's worth noting the Bengals made a significant personnel move in starting rookie linebacker Barrett Carter over Logan Wilson. Defensive coordinator Al Golden opted to make the switch and give Carter more reps. He wore the green dot in his helmet and was responsible for getting the defense lined up in the right positions. With Carter getting the start, the Bengals are now starting two rookies at linebacker with Demetrius Knight continuing to start.

“I think that says more about Barrett (Carter) than anything else," Taylor said. "Barrett has just been an ascending player and it’s time to see what he can do in a full-time role. We have given him bits and pieces over time and it was just time to throw him into the fire and let him go. Logan (Wilson) still has his role that he will play."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals offense with Joe Flacco shows signs of hope vs. Packers