After yesterday’s loss, it’s gut-check time as far as making the playoffs

The Cincinnati Bengals 24-21 loss at the Baltimore Ravens yesterday was frustrating, disappointing and any other synonymous word you can think of.

Everything I was worried about going into the game- not matching the Ravens desperation, not being able to contain Lamar Jackson and the Bengals offense not being able to move the ball down the field without A.J. Green- sure enough showed themselves throughout the game.

I’ll start off by reminding everybody that this was a critical game; it wasn’t just another game.

Your preparation doesn’t have to change for any particular game, but your sense of urgency definitely needs to be greater in the kind of games like the one yesterday.

As has been the case over the years, the Bengals did not come out with the sense of urgency required to win this game.

Even before last week’s game against the Saints, it was this game against the Ravens we knew could be the one that determines the Bengals playoff hopes.

You would think that a team potentially fighting for playoff positioning and with the opportunity to bury the opponent’s chances would come out looking to do just that, right?

Well, that did not happen yesterday.

The Ravens came out and ran the ball straight down the Bengals’ throats, which is exactly what a team fighting for their playoff lives should do.

It took Cincinnati four possessions to get going on offense after they punted on three straight possessions to start the game.

I understand A.J. Green was out for the second straight game, but if Andy Dalton wants to take the next step in his career towards being an elite quarterback, he needs to start making the most of situations like not having Green as his primary target.

This is his eighth year in the NFL, but these last two weeks he’s been playing like he’s in his fourth or even just his second.

I will acknowledge that he gave the Bengals chances in the second half to win the game, but two of those drives were courtesy of great field position.

On the drive where Dalton got the Bengals to the Ravens 35, he needed to get them further than that given Randy Bullock’s inability to consistently hit from long-range.

A great quarterback has a feel for every aspect of the team, and I don’t think Dalton does.

He needs to know the Bengals defense has been struggling all year and that the offense needs to put up points to win games, and he also needs to know that Bullock struggles from kicks beyond 50 yards.

Then there’s been what has been this team’s biggest weakness the entire season; the defense.

Yesterday the Bengals defense, led by Marvin Lewis, gave up 117 rushing yards to a quarterback making his first career start and an additional 115 rushing yards to a rookie running back.

We all knew who Lamar Jackson was as a quarterback before today, but watching him just torture the Bengals defense made me think I was watching Patrick Mahomes against the Bengals all over again.

Also, does anybody remember the end of the first half? When the Bengals had a holding penalty as they were punting and then Jackson rolls out of the pocket to find wide receiver Chris Moore for a 23-yard gain which led to a 56-yard field goal from Justin Tucker?

That’s three points that should not have been given up. The Bengals by three points.

Less than 1.5 months ago, the Bengals were 4-1 and alone in first place in the AFC North.

Since then, they have lost their division lead, four out of their last five games and control of the AFC’s second wild card.

I don’t know if the Bengals are going to make the playoffs, but I do know there’s a lot of frustration right now as a Bengals fan.

On a positive, they are technically still tied for the second wild card with the Ravens, Titans, Colts and Dolphins.

Plus, the Bengals have an easy schedule coming up with winnable games against the Browns twice, Broncos and Raiders.

That should be four wins right there, and just maybe if the Bengals can steal a win at the Chargers, that will put them in a great position to make the playoffs.

Because we don’t want them to go into Pittsburgh in week 17 with the scenario of them having to win to get in the playoffs.

But right now, this team does not feel like a playoff team after today’s frustrating loss.