Baltimore loss means Cleveland Browns still in AFC North race

Bumbling Bengals blow their chance for a first-place tie

The Bengals are not out of reach from the Browns, because they fumbled their way to a 41-22 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Remember, the Browns already beat the Bengals once, so they would have an edge if it winds up being a tie.

Cincinnati isn’t as bad as the score would indicate. Joe Burrow continues to get his completions and his yards, but they added some inopportune fumbles that took away points and gave them to Los Angeles. In terms of yards, they were about even, 363 total yards for the Chargers versus 357 yards for Cincy.

The Bengals had four turnovers (two fumbles and two interceptions) versus three for the Chargers. Not only that, but the Bengals allowed six sacks. Burrow is number two in the NFL with 36 sacks. Lamar Jackson is numero uno with 37. Mayfield is not far behind with 29.

Part of it is that they live in a rough neighborhood. The tough kids, like Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt, are going to pick on them. In any case, getting sacked 50 times a year is usually not survivable.

Burrow grossed everyone out by dislocating a finger versus the Chargers and the TV cameras caught him calmly resetting it himself. Ker-chunk! He has provided proof positive that he is a very tough kid, but the Bengals are going to have to figure out how to keep him upright more often. Come on, man, how can Ben Roethlisberger be the healthiest quarterback in the division?

The point is, even though Mayfield is playing hurt and nowhere near 100 percent, there’s absolutely no reason to pack it in and give up and start having fantasies about draft picks. This entire division is one with beat-up quarterbacks who are taking too many sacks.