Cincinnati Reds or Cincinnati Bengals: Who wins a championship first?

David Bell vs. Zac Taylor

This should be fun. Both David Bell and Zac Taylor had their first crack at the head job last year. Bell’s Reds finished the season 75-87, while Taylor’s Bengals ended their season with a 2-14 record. The Reds had an eight-game improvement from the 2018 season and the Bengals earned the first pick in the draft by having the worst record in the entire league.

It seems pretty cut and dry. From a coaching perspective, obviously the Reds are in a better situation heading into next season than the Bengals, right? I’m not ready to crown the Reds as the clear winners in this scenario just yet. Both coaches showed flaws.

David Bell’s coaching staff transformed the Cincinnati Reds pitching into one of the best in the league, but the Reds were 12th in runs scored. With a core group of hitters like Eugenio Suárez, Joey Votto, Jesse Winker and Yasiel Puig, Reds fans expected better production from the Reds lineup. Appropriately, the Reds and hitting coach Turner Ward parted ways.

Zac Johnson was brought to the Bengals organization because he was part of one of the NFL’s best offensive attacks in 2018. Johnson had been part of the Los Angeles Rams coaching staff, and was expected to bring an explosive offense to the Queen City. Cincinnati’s offense fell on it’s face, ranking 26th in total yards and 30th in points per game.

While neither coaching staff excelled last season, the presence of Derek Johnson on the Reds bench was a difference maker for Cincinnati’s pitching in 2019. Reds fans are eager to see what Johnson can do in Year Two. While Taylor is likely to snag an elite-level quarterback in the first-round of the NFL Draft, it’s unlikely to see a rookie turn things around that quickly.

Advantage: Reds