The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t play Sunday, and they made more progress in the AFC North race than they’ve made in the past three weeks combined.
With the Bengals set to close Week 13 out on Monday Night Football and the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens having the week off on a bye, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns were up to represent the division.
Both teams took a loss to NFC West clubs, and gave up ground in the AFC Wild Card race to the Bengals.
The Steelers fought a determined James Conner and the Arizona Cardinals during an ugly afternoon in Pittsburgh. Two separate weather delays only delayed the inevitable when the Cardinals pulled off a 24-10 road victory in a city they haven’t won in since 1969.
Out on the West Coast, the Browns had Joe Flacco throw the ball over 40 times straight off the couch in an eight-point loss to the Los Angeles Rams, who entered the NFC Playoff Picture with five weeks to play. It was the second loss in a row for the Browns, who also played out west last week in Denver.
Both teams are 7-5 and would still make the playoffs if the season ended today, but a win for the Bengals against the Jacksonville Jaguars would put them one game back at 6-6. The final stretch of the season will not be easy for any team trying to catch the Ravens in the division.
Not only did Pittsburgh drop one at home, quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered an ankle injury that took him out for the game and potentially the next few weeks. Mitchell Trubisky played the majority of the game in his place and figures to start for the time being.
Flacco is the fourth quarterback Cleveland has trotted out this year with Deshaun Watson out for the season and Dorian Thompson-Robinson dealing with a concussion.
Quarterback issues are obviously nothing new to the Bengals this year, and it’s become a problem for their biggest rivals as well. A disappointing season may end up becoming an interesting race to the finish because of it.
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