Bengals fire defensive coordinator, 3 other assistants after missing playoffs

CINCINNATI — The defensive issues that contributed to the Cincinnati Bengals missing the playoffs led to major changes on Monday, when four assistants were fired — three on that side of the ball. “We’ll start that process immediately, evaluating where we need to go and who we want to bring in to take us to the next level.” Those moves were hardly a surprise after Joe Burrow had the best statistical season of his career, leading the NFL in passing yards and touchdown passes, but Cincinnati finished 9-8 and fell short of the AFC’s seventh and final playoff spot. “It’s on me, as the head coach, to make sure we come out of the offseason, we come out of training camp, ready to hit the ground running from game one,” Taylor said. We just weren’t able to find an extra win there early in the season that would put us in a better spot.” Decision time The Bengals have big decisions to make this offseason regarding contract extensions for receivers Tee Higgins, who played this season under the franchise tag, and Chase, who was in talks about an extension during the preseason, while also addressing the team’s other needs. “From about the halfway point in the season, every game was do or die for us, and you lean toward putting the ball in Joe’s hands in those situations,” Taylor said.