CINCINNATI -- A few thoughts on the Cincinnati Bengals' 24-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium:
What it means: The Bengals haven't shown any consistently good play this year. Just when they won two straight games, they succumbed to one of their ugliest losses inside Paul Brown Stadium in recent seasons. As the Bengals snapped a 14-game regular-season undefeated home streak, their prime-time bugaboo reared its ugly head once again. In eight regular-season night games since Andy Dalton and A.J. Green were drafted, the Bengals are now 2-6. The Browns' 21-point win marked the largest margin of victory the Browns have had in a game in Cincinnati since a 34-0 win in 1987. This loss also drops the Bengals to second place in the AFC North.
Stock watch: Two weeks ago, Dalton was the hero, leading a game-winning drive in the final four minutes of the Bengals' win over the Ravens. He capped that drive with a 1-yard touchdown run on fourth down. It was a potentially season-changing, career-defining moment for the quarterback. Against the Browns, he threw all that promise away en route to the worst outing of his professional career. He had career lows in single-game completion percentage (30.3) and passer rating (2.0). That completion percentage was the lowest in a game by a Bengals quarterback since 2000. His 86 yards were the lowest total he's had this season, and the second lowest of his career in a full game. He also threw two interceptions in a game for the third time this season. If the Dalton who showed up Thursday is supposed to be the Bengals' $115 million savior from here on, Cincinnati could be in trouble.
Game ball: Since no Bengals were worthy of receiving this week's game ball, an executive decision was made to give it to someone much more deserving. Leah Still, the 4-year-old daughter of Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still, was the Bengals' guest of honor Thursday as doctors cleared her to fly from Philadelphia, where she has been receiving treatment for Stage 4 pediatric cancer, to Cincinnati. During the game, the organization recognized her and her fight against the disease. It also presented a check for $1.25 million to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center for pediatric cancer research efforts. The funds came from the sale of her father's No. 75 jersey during September and October.
Poor rushing defense: One of the keys entering the game revolved around both teams' atrocious rushing defense, and determining which team would take better advantage. With the Browns averaging just 52.7 yards per game rushing in their previous three outings, it seemed like they would be the ones struggling to move the football. But that wasn't the case. Cleveland's running backs picked up 170 yards, making them the seventh straight team to run for more than 100 yards against the Bengals.
What's next? With 10 days off until their next game, the Bengals have a while to stew over this latest defeat. They aren't in action again until Nov. 16, when they go on the road to face the New Orleans Saints. If Cincinnati is going to get back on the right side of the ledger and re-establish a measure of respect in the AFC North, it will have to win that game. It's the first of three straight on the road, with Houston and Tampa Bay to follow.
