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The Bengals can still make the playoffs. It’s a measure of respect for Joe Burrow and Lou Anarumo that nationally, the Men are still included in the postseason photo. They’re like the kid in the 6th-grade class picture: Top row, far right, shirt-tail out, picking his nose.
Um, what, Doc?
They’re not exactly saying “Cheese!’’ But they’re not avoiding the camera, either.
So you’re saying there’s a chance, right?
Of course. No team in the Any Given World of the socialist NFL should be waved off after three games of a 17-game season. Even if history suggests Armageddon. We won’t detail the numbers here, because numbers are boring and depressing and maybe you knew already that since 1990, 165 teams have started a season 0-3 and nine finished with a winning record. Four made the playoffs.
All that said, maybe we’re asking the wrong question about the Bengals. Maybe the Bengals have not earned our optimism. They’re 9-11 in their last 20 games, 9-12 if you include their L in the ‘22 AFC title game.
Our question: What will it take for the Bengals to reach the playoffs?
Question we don’t want to ask, but maybe we should:
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