Heading into their bye week, the Cincinnati Bengals have reached a crucial point during the season where it is time for them to determine whether or not they are contenders or pretenders. In their last three games, the Bengals are 1-2 with two losses in overtime, including one to the Baltimore Ravens who are currently part of the three-way tie for second place in the AFC North.
Over the last three weeks, we have seen the once very deep defense fall victim to injuries, most notably the likes of Leon Hall, Rey Maualuga, and Geno Atkins, causing the signing of some unproven youngsters to try and fill the holes. The Bengals appeared to be in a free fall.
However, this past week the Bengals have shown something that they rarely do, resiliency. Despite two overtime losses in the previous weeks, a recently struggling quarterback, and an embarrassing loss at Cleveland earlier this season, the Bengals defended their home turf in the battle for Ohio. They set a franchise record for most points scored in a quarter with 31 in the second, headlined by two Andy Dalton touchdowns and both a blocked punt and fumble returned for TDs. They appeared to Blitzkrieg Cleveland after being shutout in the first quarter. The Bengals never relinquished this lead, finishing 41-20.
Despite Andy Dalton not looking better this week than he has in the past two, and despite injuries plaguing the defense, the Bengals won this week and that’s something to celebrate. They are still undefeated at home, they have a three game lead over everyone else in the AFC North, and they have a date with a struggling San Diego team in two weeks, with every game left on their schedule is easily winnable, and home field advantage in the playoffs will be key, but be sure to keep a lookout for the Kings of Jungle when playoff time comes around, these Bengals are for real.
-Eli Wilz
