How the Cincinnati Bengals can win the AFC North in 2020
3. The Bengals need to solve the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
Escaping the AFC North basement doesn’t figure to be an easy task for Zac Taylor’s club. Keep in mind that the Bengals are a disappointing 6-21 in their last 27 contest since opening the 2018 season with a 4-1 record.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Over the years, the club has held its own in the division with the exception of the team from the Steel City. Dating back to 2011 when the club began its run of five consecutive playoff appearances, Cincinnati owns a 9-9 record vs. the Baltimore Ravens and a 12-6 mark against the Cleveland Browns.
But it’s been a much different story when comes to Mike Tomlin’s team in Pittsburgh. Currently, the Bengals are in the midst of a nine-game overall losing streak vs. the Black and Gold, including a home playoff loss in 2015. In fact, Tomlin’s club has its last seven outings in the Queen City.
Yes, the Ravens have won the division each of the past two seasons and the Bengals have actually dropped their last three games in that series. And three of Cincinnati’s six losses to the Browns since 2011 have occurred over the past two years.
But those facts simply don’t compare to the club’s miserable 3-16 record versus the rival Steelers the past nine seasons looms very large.