All that stood between the Cincinnati Bengals and the top pick in the 2020 NFL draft was a game against the Miami Dolphins in Week 16.
If the Bengals lost and fell to 1-14, the team would secure what will likely end up being the rights to draft LSU’s Joe Burrow at No. 1.
Sunday, the Bengals made it interesting late but fell in overtime, 38-35. The loss means Cincinnati hits the podium first in the upcoming draft.
Entering the week, Miami was one of four three-win teams and stood to gain plenty in draft positioning during the game too. But the Bengals had plenty more at stake as the lone one-win team in the NFL with no two-win teams remaining.
The Bengals got the season off to a franchise-worst start and benched Andy Dalton before going back to him after three starts from Ryan Finley, furthering the notion a passer like Joe Burrow would be the draft target early.
But given the pace of Burrow’s Heisman Trophy-winning campaign, nothing short of the first pick will make it happen, hence the importance of Sunday’s outcome.
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