It might be time to start worrying if you’re the Cincinnati Bengals. Their hot start feels like it’s in the rearview mirror now that they lost to the New York Jets in Week 8 and the Cleveland Browns in Week 9.
While the loss to New York stung more since they were facing an unknown quarterback in Mike White, the loss to the Browns hurt them much more in their division. Cleveland and Cincinnati are now both 5-4 but since the Bengals are 0-1 against their in-state rivals, they’re technically in last place in the division.
Crazily enough, it was just a couple of weeks ago where Cincinnati was the No. 1 team in the entire AFC — not just the AFC North. They were explosive both on the ground with Joe Mixon and through the air with Joe Burrow and Ja’marr Chase lighting up everyone.
In Week 9, they had some flashes as Burrow went for 282 yards but a couple of drops from Chase were costly and Burrow had two interceptions, including a 99-yard pick-six on the opening drive from Denzel Ward.
It’s not time to count them out but the early concerns that Zac Taylor might not be the guy to lead this team are rearing their heads again. They can’t afford to fall much farther behind.