The gulf between expectations and reality is wider now than ever before.

There’s not much left to say. The Cincinnati Bengals are exactly who they were before entering their Week 12 bye: a team that can score almost at will but features a defense incapable of stopping an effective offense. Despite making adjustments during the bye, the Bengals haven’t changed a thing.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ offense did their part, putting up 38 points against a strong Steelers defense. The Bengals’ defense, however, allowed the Steelers to score 44.

For context, no Steelers offense has scored more than 40...

Is this the end of the Cordell Volson era?

There may not be many easy solutions for the Cincinnati Bengals (4-8) this year, but it seems Zac Taylor has begun the evaluation period by benching Cordell Volson for Cody Ford against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On Monday, the head coach revealed that Ford would probably stay on the left guard.

As you can see in Ben Baby's post, Taylor feels that Ford has earned the right to play. The coach didn’t want to diminish Volson's contributions.

Ford didn’t have a great outing against the Steelers, but perhaps he will show himself...

This team has left everyone with a whole lot of questions and no answers.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ 44-38 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers left many speechless.

Where do we even begin with this team?

Front office?

Coaching?

Talent?

Let’s hit on each of them.

This front office has given the fans a lot of mixed feelings over the last few years. From letting Jessie Bates and DJ Reader walk, among others, to extending Logan Wilson and Joe Burrow, and from not touching free agency and trades to making some of the best free agent acquisitions and trades in franchise...

Can the Browns keep playing spoiler?

The Cleveland Browns are flying off the high of their upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers last week all the way to Mile High to face the Denver Broncos. Can they keep sneaking wins against playoff teams?

The Browns at 3-8 aren’t really playing for anything more than their pride and jobs. That didn’t stop them from beating the Ravens and Steelers in their last five games. Next on the docket is the Broncos, occupying the last Wild Card spot in the AFC.

Cleveland’s defense has been a driving force in its wins. A guy...

Irwin is being let go, for now.

The Cincinnati Bengals have signed linebacker Shaka Heyward off the practice squad to the active roster and waived wide receiver Trenton Irwin, the team announced on Monday.

Heyward, a first-year player, was originally a college free agent signee of the Bengals in 2023. He spent all of last season and the first 13 weeks of this season on the team’s practice squad. He was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for Cincinnati’s Week 11 road loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Irwin, a fifth-year player, played in seven games with...

The Bengals lost to the Steelers 44-38 in Week 13 to drop to 4-8. Check out their complete schedule and results for the 2024 season. All times are Eastern Time.

The Cincinnati Bengals are 4-8 through Week 13 of the 2024 NFL season. They sit in third place in the AFC North. The Bengals lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 44-38 this past week.

Joe Burrow deserves so much better.

The Cincinnati Bengals (4-8) essentially ruined their playoff chances by getting torched by Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) at home, losing 44-38.

Bengals fans and players are no doubt frustrated and exhausted at this point. But with another loss comes even more wisdom. So what did we learn?

Orlando Brown Jr. still isn’t healthy

The big left tackle has been solid since coming to Cincinnati, especially to start this season.

But in his return from a knee/fibula injury, Brown Jr. looked stiff and slow.

Following the game, he ended up with...

The Bengals’ playoff hopes are on life support.

Where in the world do the Cincinnati Bengals go from here? The NFL Playoffs? Don’t talk about Playoffs!

Regardless, let’s look at the latest playoff picture in the AFC.

Note: this story was written before the completion of Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.

AFC Playoff Picture

1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1, clinched playoff berth)

2. Buffalo Bills (10-2)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)

4. Houston Texans (8-5)

5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)

6. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)

7. Denver Broncos (7-5)

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)

9. Miami Dolphins (5-7)...

The Bengals address the fact their season likely won’t be extended to the playoffs.

Bengals Week 13 Postgame Quotes
"I'm not going to say they gave up 44 (points) — you give up 37 points. You've just got to find ways to get stops. That starts with tackling. Credit to their offense. I thought they did a great job. I thought Arthur (Smith) had a great plan and they executed it, kept us off balance, kept themselves in really manageable second downs and that shows by the score."

Bengals vs. Steelers Postgame Recap | Stats, Notes and Quotes
The Bengals...

Clown behavior.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens gave the Cincinnati Bengals fits Sunday, catching three passes for 74 yards and a touchdown to help send Cincy to 4-8 on the season, but he also made a fool of himself.

In the win, Pickens committed two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

He first was flagged for taunting after dropping the football on Bengals’ linebacker Germaine Pratt after picking up a first down.

Then, he was flagged for firing finger guns at the crowd.

Despite picking up a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, Pickens was not ejected from Sunday’s game.

[Pro Football Talk’s...

Can the Bills keep rolling when the 49ers come to town?

Sunday Night Football will see the Buffalo Bills host the San Francisco 49ers. We may be in for a snowy treat as 20 inches of snow fell in Buffalo yesterday into today. There is also snow in the forecast for the game.

The Bills have become the team on par with the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC again after ending their undefeated season prior to the bye week. Now they get to come out at home with an disappointing 49ers team on deck.

Quarterback Josh Allen has willed...

The Bengals’ season was essentially ended by their bitter rivals on Sunday afternoon.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ season is essentially over. In yet another must-win game and this time in the AFC North, Cincinnati just couldn’t keep up with the Steelers’ offense. Here are the best and worst in the Bengals’ 38-44 loss to the Steelers.

Winners

Chase Brown:

With the Bengals in “catch-up mode” and having their offense off of the field for much of the latter half of the game, Brown’s stats and contributions got overshadowed. He was an all-around weapon again, garnering 100 total yards (70 rushing,...