It sure didn't feel as though Baltimore Ravens fans would have much room to laugh at their divisional foes a few weeks. After all, the Ravens were 1-5 and looking like they'd possibly finish in the AFC North cellar for the first time since 2021.
Well, that's not the case anymore. The Ravens have won back-to-back games and looked pretty dang good in those victories, meaning they're 3-5 and have a fighting chance to compete for a division title in a rare off year for the AFC North.
Meanwhile in the division, things for the Cincinnati Bengals have gone from good to bad to really bad to better to really bad again in just a matter of weeks. The Bengals started 2-0, finally getting off to the fast start they had been unable to achieve in previous years. It came at a price, however, as Joe Burrow was lost for three months after sustaining a toe injury in Week 2.
After the Bengals learned Jake Browning wasn't the guy they were hoping he'd be at quarterback, they went out and got former Ravens Super Bowl winning quarterback Joe Flacco to try and save their season. Flacco's been fine for them but the Bengals defense has sputtered in an absolutely hilarious way in the past two weeks.
Flacco and the Bengals offense have done their part in back-to-back weeks, scoring enough points to win the game. The defense, however, hasn't been able to get many stops and it's cost their team dearly. The Bengals lost to the lowly Jets in Week 8 by a score of 39-38 and then fell to the Bears on Sunday despite putting up 42 points (the Bears scored 47).
it's gotten so bad for the Bengals defense that the offensive players are no longer able to keep quiet about it. Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was furious following the game, as he was caught saying, "One f***ing stop" on his way to the locker room following the loss.
Ravens fans are loving Ja’Marr Chase’s latest shot at the Bengals
Chase wasn't the only member of the Bengals offense to shoot daggers at the Cincinnati defense though. Bengals running back Chase Brown couldn't hide his disgust with his defense's (lack of) performance and wasn't shy about expressing it.
"It sucks. [...] What the f***? What the f***? [...] I'd be lying if I said it didn't set us back from where we want to be. Our mentality was 3-0 going into this bye week, and we could've easily done it. That's the sickening part. [...] We just gotta play complementary football. We put the ball in the end zone, and go up a point at the end, finish the f*****g game. Just end it."
When two key members of the offense are this openly frustrated by how the defense played, it's not a good situation. Fortunately for Ravens fans, it's wildly entertaining. Here's to hoping this train wreck continues for the Bengals.