The Bengals might just declare themselves the unluckiest team this season after losing multiple games by narrowest of margins. Their troubles in the NFL don’t seem to end, as the Ravens handed them their fourth loss this season. But guess what? It was through a fine margin of 3 points that allowed Baltimore to score a victory in Cincinnati.

Although the Ravens have won 3 in a bounce this season, the Bengals may be looking towards an early season exit amid defensive struggles. Losing to the Ravens by 38-41 wasn’t the only negative that the Bengals suffered this week. As key defensive player, starting CB Dax Hill may have ruptured his ACL, which could end his season early.

After leaving the pitch with a right knee injury during the first quarter, it didn’t look like Hill would be coming back soon. However, upon the latest update, the Bengals suffered the worst that could have happened. Well, it adds to their misery, as Mike Hilton is already recovering from a knee injury he suffered against the Panthers in week 4.

Amid Hill’s and Hilton’s absence from the back line, the responsibilities fall upon DJ Turner, Josh Newton and Jalen Davis. However, Hill’s absence would definitely haunt the Bengals in the following weeks, as he was one of their only significant performers this season. Over the four games he has started for the Bengals, Hill recorded 25 tackles while adding a sack to the total. Even throughout his career in the NFL, Hill has racked up 151 tackles with two interceptions until this injury.

This comes at the worst time possible, as the Bengals’ defense has struggled mightily under DC Lou Anarumo. Over the five games they have played this season, the Bengals have conceded the third-most rushing yards at 757 while getting scored upon for a whopping 145 points. Well, those gaps in defense may have prompted Bengals QB Joe Burrow saying “Not a championship-level team right now.”

Joe Burrow sends a strong message after a heartbreaking loss against the Ravens in Cincinnati

Having started this season with title aspirations like other NFL franchises, Joe Burrow doesn’t seem to have enough confidence left in his engine. After the Bengals’ fourth loss this season, Burrow said, “We’re not a championship-level team right now. We’re not. I like to think that we’ll come back and improve throughout the season to get to that point, but right now we are not and we have to get better.” Although Burrow and his offense functioned exceptionally last night, their defense held a slender 13-point lead.

With Burrow completing 30-of-39 passes with five TDS and WR Ja’Marr Chase racking up 10 catches for 193 yards with two TDs. They weren’t able to stop the Ravens from scoring 13 unanswered points, with less than 9 minutes remaining on the clock. Burrow wasn’t the only one who expressed his disappointment as Chase added, “I think that’s what’s causing us to be mad, for the most part. Just putting up 30 points and losing right there.”

Even though many are writing off Bengals from a playoff run this season, their head coach, Zac Taylor, still has confidence in his team, “People can write us off if they really want to. I’m not dumb enough to do that.” But the real question is, will the Bengals manage to turn their season around after going way behind other teams in the AFC North? Guess we will find out, but the chances of them coming back remain slim amid heaps of defensive struggles.