After a Week 8 defined by blowouts, the pendulum swung in the other direction in Week 9, with nine of the 11 games in the 1 p.m. ET or 4 p.m. ET window decided by a touchdown or less. The razor-thin margin between losing and winning magnified the significance of this week’s worst performances. Here are five that stood out most. The Bengals defense is the gift that keeps on giving to opposing offenses. On Sunday, the unit reached its nadir (things can’t possibly get any worse, right? Right?) in a wild 47-42 home loss to the Chicago Bears (5-3). Cincinnati’s miraculous comeback, which included a successful onside kick attempt with 1:43 remaining and quarterback Joe Flacco throwing for 470 yards, was undone by a 58-yard touchdown pass from Bears quarterback Caleb Williams to rookie tight end Colston Loveland. At the season’s midway point, the Bengals (3-6) have once again dug themselves into a hole that appears too steep to get out of. And just like last season, their horrid defense is why. Lions quarterback Ja
