It is a sad state of affairs for professional football in the state of Ohio, with the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals down to playing for nothing but pride.
And fantasy points, of course. And the money line - that’s always important.
The Bengals (2-11) will be looking to snap a 10-game slide and pick up in-state bragging rights when they host the Browns on Sunday.
At least Cleveland (5-8) has been competitive this season, being one of only two teams to knock off the mighty New England Patriots and all, but it is Cincinnati that had the preseason hype and is therefore seen as the bigger disappointment.
A playoff team in 2009, the Bengals figured they were just a few players away from getting over the hump and making a strong run at the Super Bowl in 2010. They could not have been more wrong. The biggest name to come in, Terrell Owens, leads the team in most receiving categories but is part of an offense that has become unbalanced and pass-happy.
Owens has yet to cause a huge rift in the locker room like he has in other places, a remarkable accomplishment for him considering how poorly his quarterback is playing lately. Of course, when asked during the week what was causing the team’s problems, Owens pointed the finger squarely at the coaching staff.
One of the reasons Cincinnati has been so reliant on the pass this season - they are on pace for a franchise record for fewest rushing yards per game at 87.8 - is because Carson Palmer has put the team in early holes with turnovers.
Last week at Pittsburgh was a prime example, as Palmer threw three interceptions - two of which were returned for touchdowns - in a 23-7 loss. The former Pro Bowl quarterback has had five picks returned for scores already this season.
Cleveland has at least shown signs of hope for the future, though that hasn’t been on the field in the past few weeks. The Browns drafted Colt McCoy in the third round last spring and put him on the field in Week 6 at Pittsburgh.
McCoy was by no means explosive in parts of five games - throwing for three touchdowns and three interceptions - but he showed an ability to make plays late in wins over New England and New Orleans and kept the Browns in it against the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Unfortunately he sprained his left ankle against the Jaguars, and Jake Delhomme has not stirred the passions of Cleveland fans in quite the same way.
Delhomme managed to complete 12 passes for 86 yards, an interception and a fumble last week as the Browns fell 13-6 to the Buffalo Bills. Peyton Hillis, another of the bright spots this season, got roughed up as the defense zeroed in on the running game, fumbling twice as the offense sputtered.
McCoy practiced with the starters this week and could be ready to go on Sunday, giving Cleveland a better chance to sweep its downstate rivals. The Browns got 102 yards and a touchdown from Hillis in the first meeting, a 23-20 victory in Week 5.