Are the Cincinnati Bengals still alive for a playoff berth this season?
This is a team that opened at home and lost to the New England Patriots, a real bad sign for a team with high expectations. Then, in Kansas City, they got clipped by a point and while down in the dumps over that result lost another one at home, this time to the Washington Commanders on a Monday night.
Oh and three is not where to start a drive to the playoffs.
After cashing their free space on the National Football League schedule, beating the Panthers in Carolina, the Bengals had their first opportunity to climb back into the AFC North Division race. They hosted the Baltimore Ravens, who also came into the game with a surprising record that included a pair of losses in their first two games.
A win here, and the Bengals catch the Ravens and look to close on the division leading Steelers.
They didn’t. An ill-advised late interception and overtime field goal miss concluded with the Bengals losing their fourth game in five decisions.
The Bengals won their next two games over weaklings, the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns, before they had another chance to show they were in the race. If they could beat the talented Philadelphia Eagles, they could show the football world that they are not out of it.
They didn’t. The Eagles coasted to a win against the seemingly overmatched Bengals, 37-17. After the game, the hometown fans filed out of Paycor Stadium pretty well convinced this was not going to be their team’s year.
A win over another weakling followed, 41-24 over the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Cincinnati faithful had a flicker of hope that with a win three weeks ago over their division rivals, the Ravens, Cincinnati could vault back into the race.
They lost again. Baltimore took advantage of Cincinnati mistakes and Joe Burrow and company were pinned with another one-point loss against a quality opponent, 35-34.
Okay, maybe all is not lost. If they can only win on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers, they can close on one of the teams ahead of them in the AFC Wild Card hunt.
Bengals lose again. They made it exciting, overcoming a three-touchdown deficit to catch Jim Harbaugh’s team in the fourth quarter only to allow a late touchdown and notch another loss, 34-27.
That has to put a nail in the coffin in regard to Cincinnati reviving this horrible season with a postseason berth. Yep, I’d say so. Every time they had a chance to get back in the race, they failed. Now out of it, they host the first place Steelers in a game Pittsburgh needs to keep their slim margin over the Baltimore Ravens. What do you think?
I’ll tell you what I think.
When the Bengals needed a win to keep their hopes alive, they failed every time. Now all that is left is the motivation to dent their opponents' prospects.
That, my friends, is pure motivation on steroids. The Bengals don’t have any pressure on them, they eliminated that with losses every time it counted. Now all that is left is the opportunity to take their frustrations out on someone still in the hunt.
And they will.
Qoxhi Picks: Cincinnati Bengals (-2½) over Pittsburgh Steelers