The Cincinnati Bengals are officially on the clock for the 2020 NFL Draft

The Cincinnati Bengals lost another game to open the 2019 NFL season 0-4, falling to their AFC North Rival, Pittsburgh Steelers 27-3.

For those looking for a pathway to the 2019 NFL Playoffs, take a deep breath, sigh, and look forward to college football for the next two months. More simply put, the future of the Cincinnati Bengals lies in how a quarterback may play in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Eugene Oregon, or maybe Athens, Georgia.

Hey, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

The Bengals lost another football game to run their record to 0-4. Up next is an interesting team in the Arizona Cardinals, also winless at 0-3-1, but with a quarterback who will give the Bengals defense fits next Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.

As for Monday night in Pittsburgh, it’s another loss and the beginning of another do-over. Find whatever bright spots you want, and there are some, but limping home to Cincinnati winless fits squarely into the prognosticators who predicted such a season. Bottom line, the Bengals are going nowhere fast, and if tonight is any indication, wins may be no more than two or three.

Andy Dalton was pedestrian and nothing special on a night he needed to me. He’d finish 21 of 37 for a paltry 171 yards and zero touchdowns. He would add one interception for good measure.

Most maddening for Bengals fans is that his counterpart, Mason Rudolph would be better. He would not just lead Pittsburgh to a critical win, but also win the stat sheet. The Oklahoma State alum would complete 24 passes on 28 attempts, for 229 yards and two touchdowns.

With the win, the Pittsburgh Steelers climb out of the AFC North cellar as they prepare for a division showdown with the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens lost in Week 4 to the Cleveland Browns 40-25.

The Bengals head home looking for their first win as they host the Cardinals in Week 5.