In a Season Full of Adversity, Bengals Must Overcome Biggest Challenge Yet

How much is too much for the Cincinnati Bengals?

CINCINNATI — The Bengals have overcome plenty of adversity this season. 

They lost Joe Burrow in training camp due to a calf injury that lingered into the first month of the season. They finally found their footing, only to lose Burrow for the season after he tore a ligament in his right wrist that required surgery in Week 11. 

Tee Higgins has dealt with various injuries. Sam Hubbard has missed time. 

They've overcome it all. They're 8-6 on the season and currently hold the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoff standings. 

The Bengals' margin for error is razor thin, despite winning 3-straight games. They need to win at least two of their final three games to have a realistic chance at making the playoffs. 

Not only do they have to do it without their best player in Burrow. They're also going to be without their second-best player and arguably their best defender. 

Ja'Marr Chase suffered a separated shoulder in their Week 15 win over Minnesota. He won't play against the Steelers and could miss multiple games. 

DJ Reader suffered a torn quad tendon. He was placed on injured reserve and is out for the season. 

This is the Bengals' biggest challenge yet. 

Chase is arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL. He has 93 catches for 1,156 yards and seven touchdowns this season. If he's out, the team will rely on Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd as the top options at wide receiver. 

That means Higgins will have to deal with more double teams. Boyd will still line up in the slot with Trenton Irwin, Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones expected to get snaps. 

It's still a solid group, but it's a lot to overcome because Chase plays such a huge role on offense.

Can Zac Taylor, Brian Callahan and company cook up the right game plan for this offense to thrive without Burrow and Chase? 

No one knows the answer to that question. It's something we haven't seen since they were drafted. 

The defense stepping up would generally be a big part of that, but not having Reader is going to make their lives much more difficult. The 29-year-old commands so much attention on the interior of the defensive line. 

He's constantly getting double teamed and still makes plays regularly. He also puts his teammates in an advantageous positions throughout the game. 

Burrow, Chase and Reader are three of the top five players on the Bengals' roster. Heck, they may be the best three players on the team.

The "next man up" mentality can only work for so long. Every person and every team has their breaking point. 

How much is too much for the Cincinnati Bengals? 

We'll start to get the answer to that question on Saturday in Pittsburgh. 

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