In the most unimportant game of the season, the fourth preseason game is usually the least-watched contest for any fanbase. Why would you want to sit down for three hours and watch reserves play other reserves and other players that may never play in the NFL again?
Because you care, if you are one of the maniacs who do watch.
Regardless, the implications of this game for a good portion of the Bengals roster were huge, as this represented the last major opportunity for rookies and young veterans to make their case for the team they’ve been practicing with for the last month.