The Bengals and one-score games do not like each other.
The Cincinnati Bengals lost to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football in Week 11. It was their second loss to the Ravens this season. Baltimore is considered one of the better teams in the AFC, so it is a good gauge for if the Bengals can compete at a high level.
If they’ve shown anything against the Ravens, it is that this team is capable of playing efficient football, but mental errors and untimely plays after forced them to 0-2 in the season series and now 4-6 overall on the season.
After 10 games, let’s dive into where the national media has them placed.
ESPN — No. 17 – Up from No. 19
Chase is having his best year yet, which is saying something considering he has been a Pro Bowler in all three of his NFL seasons. He leads the league in receiving yards (981), receiving touchdowns (10) and yards after the catch (451). If Chase averages 140.6 yards over the final seven games of the regular season, he’ll break the NFL single-season record set by Calvin Johnson in 2012. For a team that must be built around him and quarterback Joe Burrow moving forward, the pairing is setting a very strong foundation. — Ben Baby
CBS Sports — No. 16 – Up from No. 17
They are the best 4-6 team this league has seen in a long time. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase are special. But they must win the next two against the Chargers and Steelers to have a playoff chance.
FOX Sports — No. 15 – Up from No. 17
The tide has to eventually turn for Cincinnati, right? I’m choosing to believe so. Four of the Bengals’ six losses have come against top 10 offenses by DVOA. They don’t play another offense nearly that explosive the rest of the season. Plenty of time for a rally.
NFL.com — No. 18 – Up from No. 20
Thursday’s crushing loss — in which a 14-point lead evaporated, along with a chance for the Bengals to reach .500 — left a mark that likely is still smarting. It makes the sledding awfully tough and the odds long; they likely need a win at the Chargers this Sunday night to feel at all good about their playoff chances. Joe Burrow is having a phenomenal season, even with Tee Higgins missing five games so far, but this team insists on being its own worst enemy at times. Chase Brown’s fumble woke up a lifeless M&T Bank Stadium and opened the door for the Ravens to come back. Cam Taylor-Britt missed a tackle on Tylan Wallace’s 84-yard TD, then failed to haul in what would have been a critical interception of Lamar Jackson when the Bengals badly needed a stop late. Every loss has included at least two or three of these kinds of back-breaking moments.
USA Today — No. 15 – Up from No. 18
WR Ja’Marr Chase is the only player in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to have multiple games with at least 250 receiving yards and two TDs. Cincy is 1-1 in those contests.
The Ringer — No. 15 (explanation in the column)
Sporting News — No. 16 – Up from No. 19
The Bengals keep getting awesome play from Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase and remain a dangerous offensive team. But it all comes down if they can fix their defense in time to sneak into a wild-card spot.
Sharp Football Analysis — No. 15 – Down from No. 14
Pro Football Talk — No. 18 – Same as last week
As playoff hopes go, Sunday’s losses by the likes of the Colts and Broncos balanced out the disappointing loss to the Ravens.
Yahoo! Sports — No. 16 – Same as last week
What happened to Lou Anarumo’s defense? A few years ago he was the hot defensive coordinator in the NFL. Now he runs a defense that contributed to Cincinnati going 0-2 vs. Baltimore this season despite Joe Burrow throwing for 820 yards and nine touchdowns in those two games.
