I think we need to realize our identity

We are not the same team we have been over the last three years. We are going to have to score points. We're going to need to go no huddle, spread the field, and try to out score people. The defense is no longer dominant/capable of closing games for us. We've seen this since the super bowl. We are going to have to put points up and then play defense with the blitz and pray for pressure on the QB.

The defense is fine, but when you are on the field that much you wear down, the offense is suppose to be about ball control and eating the clock enabling the defense to play downhill and fast creating havoc and turnovers. When they get tired you start missing tackles and being a step late. That's what we seen going on in the second half.

I'm struggling to see how the defense was on the field as long as everyone thinks they were. From the point of the game that the Hawks went up 24-7 until it was tied at 24-24 (AKA when the team crapped the bed), the defense was on the field 5 times and the longest they were on the field was 5:49. The other 4 drives? 1:18, 1:38, 1:48, and 2:17.

Yes, if the offense would have just gotten one more first down in the 4th quarter, there likely wouldn't have been enough time for Cincinnati to tie the game. But if the D is gassed after that amount of time on the field, they're going to give up a lot more points later in games.

If only a couple more seconds ran off the clock on that sack, The Bengals run out of time and no field goal to send it to OT

^ shouldn't be in that position regardless. If the refs make the right call on the return then Bengals score a TD on that possession

I agree with the OP to an extent. We need the passing game downfield. It clearly opened up the running. Then we went away from it being to scared to play football

We wanted to nurture a lead despit showing in multiple games that it is a bad idea.

The identity we need is one of an assassin. We need to stop beating teams down then helping them back up. Finish the job, coaches. You think Belichick or McCarthy give a damn if they embarrass their opponents? You think Lewis cares that he embarrassed you?

We don't have an identity right now.