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Have the Bengals backed themselves into a corner?

By Russell S. Baxter

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 31: Head coach Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on in the first half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 31, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 31: Head coach Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on in the first half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 31, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) /
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Zac Taylor’s club has split its first eight games this season. But it’s who the Cincinnati Bengals have lost to that may raise some concerns down the road.

The Cincinnati Bengals capped off a strong stretch run in 2021 with a magical postseason stretch that resulted in an appearance in Super Bowl LVI. The team had no answers in the fourth quarter for Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp in the team’s 23-20 setback to the Los Angeles Rams.

This year, the defending AFC champions stumbled out of the gate with consecutive three-point losses to the Steelers and Cowboys, respectively. Both of those setbacks came on the final play of the game as Pittsburgh came up with a game-winning field goal in overtime and Dallas got the job done with a three-point kick on the final play of regulation.

So a team that finished 10-7 a year ago and won the AFC North for the first time since 2015 is off to a 4-4 start. The team’s 32-13 Monday night loss at Cleveland was somewhat disturbing because the Cincinnati defense was pushed around for the first time all year. The 32 points allowed was a season-high for Zac Taylor’s team.

The performance was particularly bewildering considering Joe Burrow and company (who were without wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase) were coming off a convincing 35-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. But the bottom line is that Cincinnati is already 0-3 vs. their AFC North rivals this season.

Following this Sunday’s visit from the Panthers, the Bengals have their off week. Then the remaining schedule is interesting in the fact that the club plays two straight road games (Steelers and Titans), then a pair of home games (Chiefs and Browns), then back to the road for Weeks 15 and 16 (Buccaneers and Patriots) and then host the Bills and Ravens in Weeks 17 and 18.

Of course, it’s those rematches with Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Baltimore that are key. Taylor’s team can do no better than 3-3 within the division. And that could make it difficult to repeat as AFC North champions. And if the team doesn’t do better vs. the conference (2-3 in 2022), getting back to the playoffs could be a challenge as well.

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