Updated AFC North standings as Bengals exit bye week

The bye week couldn’t have gone worse for the Cincinnati Bengals when it comes to divisional results.

While the Bengals got some much-needed rest for the likes of Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins and Chidobe Awuzie, the schedule couldn’t throw the team a single win in the form of outside results.

All three AFC North teams won in Week 7, keeping the Bengals firmly in last place:

• Baltimore Ravens (5-2) (2-1 DIV)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (42) (2-0)
• Cleveland Browns (4-2) (1-2)
• Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) (0-2)

It’s not the end of the world in Week 8, but at least one of those results going the other way would have helped.

That creates a situation where the Bengals really can’t afford a road loss to San Francisco next weekend that would put them back below .500, especially considering total record will be so important come playoff time.

The Bengals play four more divisional games as part of what is the second-toughest remaining schedule for any team this year.