Bengals Face Primetime Snub for Third Time in Four Years
CINCINNATI — The spotlight will not shine on the Bengals in Week 16 this season. Reports emerged on Monday indicating that Cincinnati has been flexed out of its scheduled Sunday Night Football matchup on December 21, making way for a game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens. Instead, the Bengals will now travel to Miami for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
This latest adjustment marks the third time in four seasons that the Bengals have seen a game removed from prime time. Similar shifts occurred in both 2022 and last year, reflecting a struggle for the franchise during the Joe Burrow era. With playoff aspirations fading, Cincinnati has been fighting for postseason hope every year since 2022.
Currently, the Bengals find themselves with a mere 3.4% chance of making the playoffs. Their fate could be sealed if the Ravens secure a win at Paycor Stadium this Sunday. Complicating matters further, the Bengals may have to play without wide receiver Tee Higgins, who is currently in concussion protocol after sustaining an injury against the Patriots.
Joe Burrow has expressed admiration for Higgins’ resilience throughout this challenging process. “Tee’s a tough guy,” Burrow stated. “I think he has gotten tougher over the years. Back in the day, he would get hit, and I would hold my breath because he would lie there for a second and then pop back up. I think everyone remembers that. Now I think his pop-up game is pretty good. That’s good to see. Doesn’t scare me quite as much. He’s as tough as they come, and he’s going to continue to make these big-time plays in big-time spots.”
With the game against Baltimore set to kick off this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, the Bengals are left to navigate their uncertain path, hoping to reclaim their spot among the league’s elite while facing the harsh realities of their recent performances.
