The long, grueling climb out of the 0-3 hole the Cincinnati Bengals found themselves in has officially begun. With their first win of the 2024 season—a 34-24 victory over Andy Dalton and the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte—the Bengals have taken a crucial step forward.
There was an air of desperation leading into the Week 4 matchup. Another loss would have all but torpedoed their playoff hopes. Statistically, it wouldn’t have been impossible, but with only one team ever clawing back from 0-4 to reach the playoffs, mock drafts might have become a more realistic focus.