As A.J. Green fumes, could changes be coming on offense?

Andy Dalton walked into a mostly empty Cincinnati Bengals locker room, his hands pressed together under his chin as he wandered over toward A.J. Green.

The two quietly talked, before walking down the long hallway and turning toward the parking lot slowly, stride for stride.

Neither has experienced a drought quite like this in their career – at any level. When they return walking the other direction back into this locker room to begin practice for Green Bay on Monday, it’s fair to wonder what will be different. All they know is something needs to be.

A frustration bubbled to the surface in the postgame of the demoralizing 13-9 defeat Thursday, completing two games without a touchdown.

“We are playing like sh-- right now,” Green said, not stopping there. "We got to find a way to get our playmakers the ball. That's it. It's a superstar-driven league. You are not going to win without them."

The last time the Bengals went back-to-back games without a touchdown was the 2008 season. Those teams could blame the loss of starting quarterback Carson Palmer. This group is figuring out who to blame. There are many targets.

Dalton continued to miss throws and though he didn’t have a turnover -- unlike his five-turnover debacle in Sunday’s shutout – the problems inevitably start with him. It wasn’t but two years ago Dalton was in the MVP conversation. The offensive line continued to struggle, but the quarterback of the first two weeks barely resembles the 2015 version.

As for a move to AJ McCarron, Marvin Lewis stood behind Dalton after the game.

“No, I’m not worried about Andy,” Lewis said, before stating specifically the quarterback’s job is secure at this point. He was then asked if Dalton has taken a step back. “No, I don’t think he’s taken a step back. I think we have to continue to let Andy do his thing.”

From there the arrow points directly to offensive coordinator Ken Zampese. One year finishing 24th in points per game and spending on offseason trying to fix red zone woes, the Bengals are 0-for-6 inside the 20, with three no scores against Baltimore.

The Bengals have never fired a coordinator mid-year in their 50 seasons. The only moves at either coordinator spot came due to head coach firings forcing upward movement.

OC Bruce Coslet took over as head coach when Dave Shula was fired in 1996. DC Dick LeBeau was promoted to head coach in 2000 upon Coslet quitting three games in.

After the game, Lewis didn’t want to touch that direction.

“We’re not going to sit here tonight and (harp) on that and talk about that right now,” Lewis said.

What will be talked about was Green at his locker after the game rightly wondering why the ball never made it his way on the final drive, or much at all after halftime.

Green provided the lone explosive play of the game, a 50-yard reception over triple coverage in the second quarter. Yet, in the second half of a one-score game he was targeted four times, with two completions for three yards.

“Being one of the leaders of the offense I feel like – no disrespect to nobody else – that ball should be mine somewhere somehow,” Green said of the team's final drive. “That’s my mentality. In those situations, I want the ball. As the leader of the offense, you should be like that. I wanted that ball.”

On Sunday, the game ended with Green throwing his helmet in frustration. This one ended watching Alex Erickson targeted three times.

“Obviously, you want the ball in his hands as much as possible,” Dalton said. “You have your best player out there you want him to be a focal point. We are going to have to look at it and see what we can do differently.”

Between often repeating that “it’s tough,” going through this drought, Green dropped in that he can only run the plays that are called. He’s not going to be pounding his chest demanding anything.

“That’s not me, personally,” Green said. “My body of work speaks for itself, I don’t feel like I have to go beg for the ball.”

He put the onus on his group and offered suggestions. Typically, when Green talks everyone listens.

“This offense doesn’t go without us, we have to be involved more early," Green said. "Get (Brandon LaFell) the ball early, get John (Ross) the ball earlier. As one of the leaders of the offense, I feel we need a spark and need the ball in my hands somewhere, somehow. You have to find a way to get me the ball and we are not doing that right now.”

Fans who spent the last 120 minutes of play booing this group are frothing to read into any comments in regards to the coordinator or even further up the ladder. Changes to coordinators are unique but not rare across the league midseason. Six offensive coordinators have been fired mid-year in the past two seasons.

Year, Team: Old OC -- when move made -- new OC

2015, Rams: Frank Cignetti – 13 games -- Rob Boras

2015, Dolphins: Bill Lazor – 11 games -- Zac Taylor

2015, Lions: Joe Lombardi – 8 games – Jim Bob Cooter

2016, Bills: Greg Roman – 2 games – Anthony Lynn

2016, Ravens: Marc Trestman -- 5 games -- Marty Mornhinweg

2016, Jaguars: Greg Olson – 8 games – Nathaniel Hackett

Oddly, last year the Buffalo Bills fired OC Greg Roman after one season plus two games, his last a loss on Thursday Night Football in Week 2.

Those places are not Cincinnati. A move being made is without precedent for this organization. Of course, so is going two games without a touchdown to start the season in the Marvin Lewis Era.

Whether in the coaching staff, simplifying the bevy of rotations at skill positions, altering the plan of attack or just listening to Green and getting him the ball, there’s little doubt assessing necessary changes were on the top of the mind of everyone associated with this offensive group as they walked to the parking lot on Thursday night.

We shall see how many come.

“I don’t really have the answers,” said tight end Tyler Eifert, targeted once in the opener and not until the final two minutes of the second quarter Thursday. “But we have to find a way. We are just too good for this. We got to find a way to make it work because it would be terrible to see this season go all for naught if we don’t find a way to get it right. We all have to look in the mirror and be accountable. The performance tonight was unacceptable and we have to find a way to be better.”