Bengals are double-digit underdogs for first time in nearly a decade

A good indication of just how far things have fallen for the Cincinnati Bengals is this week’s point spread, which has the Minnesota Vikings favored by 10.5.

The last time a Bengals opponent was favored by that much was Dec. 7, 2008, when Las Vegas set them as 13.5-point underdogs at Indianapolis.

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This is just the seventh time in the Marvin Lewis era the Bengals have been underdogs of 10.5 points or more, and they are winless in the previous six, although they covered in four of them.

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The list:

Dec. 7, 2008 — Cincinnati at Indianapolis (-13.5), L 35-3

Nov. 20, 2008 — Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-11.5), L 27-10

Oct. 5, 2008 — Cincinnati at Dallas (-16), L 31-22

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Sept. 21, 2008 — Cincinnati at New York Giants (-13), L 26-23 OT

Dec. 12, 2004 — Cincinnati at New England (-10.5), L 35-28

Sept. 14, 2003 — Cincinnati at Oakland (-12), L 23-20

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The last time the Bengals won a game as an underdog of 10.5 points or more was Dec. 17, 2000, when they were 10.5-point home underdogs in a 17-14 victory against Jacksonville.

Sunday will be the 17th anniversary of that game.

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