Bengals lock up first pick in 2020 NFL Draft with 38-35 loss at Miami

The Cincinnati Bengals lose in overtime to the Miami Dolphins 38-35, securing the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals managed to not screw it up, despite their best efforts and despite trying to win. Against the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati got the game to overtime before losing when Jason Sanders kicked a game-winner that locked up the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Give both quarterbacks credit. Andy Dalton and Ryan Fitzpatrick posted some gaudy numbers as each might be auditioning for jobs in other NFL cities in 2020. For his effort, Dalton would finish the wild day with 33 of 56 for 396 and four touchdowns. Fitzpatrick would untimely have the better afternoon, completing 31 of 52, for 429 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. The Dolphins would kick a field goal late in overtime to lock up a win, and insure the Bengals the top overall pick in the draft.

Cincinnati will close out the 2019 season at home against the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland, who lost at home 31-15 to Baltimore, is in a tailspin of their own, having lost their last two games. Week 17 won’t mean much, but given the first overall draft pick is secured for the Bengals, fans can rest easy knowing that either Joe Burrow or Chase Young is theirs for the taking.

Some interesting storylines in Week 17 will include the potential for the last home game for Dalton and potentially A.J. Green. Both are at interesting crossroads in their respective Bengals careers’ and are rumored to possibly be on the move before next season. With Cincinnati in a full-blown rebuild, both fan-favorites could be looking at home game finales.

At 1-14, the Bengals clearly underperformed in 2019. They will host a Browns team in Week 17 who was a media pick for a playoff run. Instead, both are looking at bottom division finishes.