The Bengals rank last in the NFL in total defense (413.0 YPG) and second-to-last in scoring defense (29.5 PPG) as they travel to Cleveland for a Week 16 matchup.

Analysis: Cincinnati had one of their better defensive outings of the season in last Sunday's win against Oakland, as they allowed 16 points and 297 yards of offense while forcing two turnovers. It only took facing one of the worst and most depleted offenses in the league to garner such a performance, but still, progress in progress. The last meeting with the Browns came Week 12 and Cleveland scored 35 points through the first three quarters to hand Cincinnati a lopsided defeat. The Browns rank in the…read more

Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is nursing a concussion as Sunday's game against Oakland inches closer.

Analysis: Burfict's presence would certainly give the Bengals a boost, but probably to no avail. Cincinnati draws an Oakland offense in Week 15 that has endured its struggles. Yet, it seems more stars would have to align for the Bengals to begin warranting our serious attention. Cincinnati currently sits on a throne of disappointment as the league's worst-ranked total and scoring defense (421.9 YPG, 30.5 PPG). Some teams warrant matchup plays depending on the opposition. Cincinnati is one of the few…read more

Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick is nursing a foot injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Chargers.

Analysis: Regardless if Kirkpatrick plays, the Bengals are another defense to avoid in Week 14. Much of the season has been a struggle in Cincinnati, and while injuries are certainly responsible for the backwards slide, the defense has been (nicely put) lackluster in 2018. The Chargers have been somewhat overshadowed by their LA counterpart this year, but they're not a team to sleep on this week. Even without Melvin Gordon (knee) the Chargers hung 33 points on the Steelers during last week's 33-30…read more

The Bengals boast the league's worst-ranked total defense (439.6 YPG) entering Week 13 action.

Analysis: It's been a struggled to say the least for Cincinnati in 2018 and perhaps rock bottom was met following last week's 35-20 home loss to the Browns. The defeat marked the fourth time in the last five games in which the Bengals allowed 34-plus points. At 5-6, Marvin Lewis' squad is not out of contention for a wild card berth, but things appear to trending in the wrong direction...fast. Sunday's pivotal draw against Denver will featurew a pair of 5-6 teams with everything to lose. Although not…read more

The Bengals enter their Week 12 game against the Browns allowing a league-worst 449.2 yards per game.

Analysis: The Bengals managed to break a string of three straight games allowing 500-plus yards of offense in last week's 24-21 loss to the Ravens, but still managed to allow 265 yards rushing, including 117 to rookie QB Lamar Jackson in his first career start. Middle linebacker Preston Brown (knee) has now been placed on injured reserve while Nick Vigil continues to nurse a knee issue, as the injuries have debilitated the group of linebackers. The Browns offense has been inconsistent this season with…read more

The Bengals surrendered 509 total yards of offense during last week's 51-14 loss to the Saints. Cincinnati takes on the Ravens in Week 11.

Analysis: On one hand, it seems as though nobody has discovered the formula for slowing the Saints' offense. Even so, Cincinnati's Swiss-cheese defensive efforts have been a recurring bug. The poor defensive showing marked the third consecutive game in which the Bengals have conceded 500-plus yards of offense. Likewise, Marvin Lewis' squad has yielded at least 28 points in each of its last four contests. The only way for Cincinnati to win is apparently to score on each possession, otherwise it's a lost…read more