CINCINNATI (AP) Three cornerbacks injured
http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/geron-christian-jersey , a linebacker and a running back in concussion protocol. The Bengals paid a price
for their acrimonious, season-dooming loss to the Steelers on Monday night at
Paul Brown Stadium.
What’s left of their roster and their playoff hopes will be on the line Sunday against a Bears team that long ago was ready for hibernation. There will
be a lot of empty seats as two teams go at it, looking for one day’s
respite.
”This part of the season is a challenge every year, good or bad,” Bears coach John Fox said. ”People remember what you did in December. It doesn’t matter if
you’re in the thick of things or not.”
Article continues below ... When it’s all over, the Bengals (5-7) most likely will remember last Monday night as the worst indignity in another disappointing season. They blew a
17-point lead to their bitter rivals, who pulled one out – yet again – on a
last-second field goal for a 23-20 victory .
Cincinnati came out of the physical game with significant players hurt
Cheap Taron Johnson Jersey , including three cornerbacks, linebacker Vontaze Burfict and running back Joe Mixon.
Burfict got a concussion and was carted off the field after receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster leveled him with a blindside block and then stood over him in a
taunting pose, drawing a one-game suspension from the NFL.
Bengals safety George Iloka initially got a one-game suspension for hitting Antonio Brown in the head on a touchdown catch, but it was rescinded and reduced
to a $36,464.50 fine.
Although the Bengals aren’t mathematically eliminated – a 5-7 team has reached the playoffs as a wild card in three of the past four seasons – they’re
basically running on empty.
”Just win out,” defensive end Carlos Dunlap said. ”We can’t overlook this one.”
The Bears (3-9) are in a deep slide as they make only their third visit to Paul Brown Stadium. They’ve lost five in a row, their longest losing streak in a
season since they dropped their last five in 2014. They dropped eight straight
in 2002.
Much of their focus is on rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky
Authentic Lucas Duda Jersey , who is struggling in one of the NFL’s worst offenses and is 2-6 as a starter. He went 12 of 15 for only 102 yards during a
15-14 loss to the 49ers last week, but Fox praised the performance as a step
forward. The Bears rank last in total offense, yards passing and passing
attempts.
”People have gone through a lot worse, a lot worse seasons and come out on the other side,” said Trubisky, whose passer rating is sixth-worst in the
league. ”You try to look at those success stories. You can just always believe
you’ll beat the odds.”
Some things to watch Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium:
DALTON’S INTERCEPTION STREAK: Andy Dalton hasn’t thrown an interception since the Bengals’ 29-14 loss at Pittsburgh on Oct. 22. His streak of six games
without an interception ties for second-longest in club history, as does his 176
pass attempts without getting picked off. Neil O’Donnell went seven games and
238 attempts without one in 1998.
STEELERS HANGOVER: Another season-crushing loss to the Steelers left the Bengals with only the smallest of playoff chances
Authentic Taylor Hall Jersey , and they know it. Several of them called the Monday night game a must-win situation. With one less day to prepare, it’ll be
interesting to see how much enthusiasm the Bengals have left.
WHO’S AT CORNERBACK: Starters Adam ”Pacman” Jones (groin) and Dre Kirkpatrick (concussion) were hurt in the loss to Pittsburgh, as was Darqueze Dennard
(knee). Two safeties also are hurt, so the Bears’ woeful passing game will be
facing a secondary that’s patched together.
BLOCK OUT: The Bears’ offense took another hit during the week when right guard Kyle Long was placed on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury. The
three-time Pro Bowler has also dealt with a finger issue this year and was
placed on IR last year because of an ankle injury.
The Bears will be missing a key blocker, which doesn’t bode well for Trubisky or Jordan Howard, who has run for 6 and 38 yards the past two games against
Philadelphia and San Francisco.
WHAT HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE? The Bengals are only 3-3 at home this season, playing in front of small crowds. Their Monday night game drew 56
Authentic Jarrod Dyson Jersey ,029 – many of them Steelers fans – leaving 10,000 empty seats. It’s likely to be worse for the final home games against the
Bears and the Lions on Christmas eve.
—
AP Sports Writer Andrew Seligman in Chicago contributed to this report.
—
For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
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