CINCINNATI (AP) — The Bengals are at a crossroad.
A 35-7 loss in Pittsburgh on Sunday essentially eliminated Cincinnati from the AFC North race. The Bengals (7-5) are two games behind Baltimore (9-3) and Pittsburgh (9-3) with only four to play. The team that finishes second in the division is in line for one of the two AFC wild card berths.
The Bengals now are tied with three other teams for the other wild card. Denver and Oakland are tied for the AFC West lead at 7-5 — one of them will end up vying for the wild card. The New York Jets and Tennessee Titans also are 7-5.
Cincinnati’s challenge is to get over that humbling loss and get ready for the depleted Houston Texans (9-3) on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.
