Chaos elsewhere in the AFC North might end up helping the downtrodden Cincinnati Bengals.
For those who (somehow) missed it Thursday night, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett hit Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph over the head with his own helmet, prompting an all-out brawl.
That’s keeping it short and sweet, of course. Point is, the NFL dished out punishments the next day, suspending Garrett indefinitely. Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi got a one-game ban and Pittsburgh center Maurkice Pouncey got hit with three games. All bans are subject to appeal as always.
From a Bengals perspective, this means they likely won’t have to deal with Pouncey during their Week 12 game against Pittsburgh. That should make life easier on the defensive line — no word on if Rudolph will be healthy enough to go. The Steelers also lost running back James Conner, receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson and others to injuries.
As for the Browns, they’ll have to go without Garrett for at least the rest of the season. Meaning, the Bengals won’t have to worry about one of the game’s most ferocious pass-rushers in Cleveland in Week 14 or when the Browns come to town in Week 17.
If nothing else, it’s nice the Bengals aren’t involved in the drama this time out and the happenings there give the team a chance to pick up some wins.
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