The final season for Cincy before Burrow's massive contract starts to impact their salary cap and they'll start to lose some of those great WR's on offense... and it's not looking good.

I don't think 0-3 is a death blow, it's a huge hole to dig out of but Burrow going on IR is definitely a death blow

0-2 is only a 11% chance of making playoffs.

Since 2002 only 1 team that has started 0-3 has made the playoffs.

Only 6 teams in in the superbowl era have made it to the playoffs starting 0-3.

If Cincy goes to 0-3 missing the playoffs is all but guaranteed.

They go 0-3 they have a short stretch of easier games but then play Buffalo and SF, Jax, and KC in the 2nd half of the season.

Play the Ravens and Browns again as well. They have zero margin for error.

They may have a Stefan Diggs on that roster. Looks like time is going to tell

yeah don't get me wrong going 0-3 would be very very bad, they're in a dogshit spot. but I would think going 0-3 would give them a marginally better chance to salvage their season than like Burrow getting injured in week 5 because he's playing with a calf injury and going on IR for 7 weeks or whatever. like there is the extra playoff spot that gives them a tiny window at 0-3, it'd take a lot falling their way though

either way it's week 3 and it's already a must win. i guess they could pray burrow doesn't get injured further and sit him for the tits and the cards

It already did last week with Dobbins and this week with OBJ. They just have the fortune of being that much better than everyone else in that division that it’s not as noticeable.

You’re assuming sitting burrow for one week will heal his calf and then he’s fine.

If the bengals were smart at all they would put him on IR, trade Tee Higgins, tank all year and draft Marvin Harrison Jr.

Yeah that's true too. Could the bengals without burrow beat the tits? It's probably closer than they would want but yeah 1 week probably isn't enough.

Bengals are pretty much ****ed either way

I think they should start Burrow and call a dozen or so designed QB runs.

They're in a tough spot for sure. If they did that, the fans would riot and fling their skyline filled feces all over PBS

Just not sure how the AFC will shape out. I don't think it'll take 10 wins to get to the playoffs.

Too early to tell, but I think you're right, especially with 3 wildcards

Also they are 0-2 with both losses being against AFC North teams... including a loss at home vs. the Ravens.

Last year when they started 0-2, one of their losses was to an NFC team.