Getty Image / Timothy Ludwig
On paper, the NFL’s Week 4 Monday Night Football matchup was atrocious. They had two winless teams (both 0-3) as the only team playing on Monday night and that meant the crew had to build it up as a ‘bitter rivalry’ game which is really the only possible way you can hype a matchup of two bottom feeders.
The Pittsburgh Steelers secured their first win of the season, moved to 1-3, put up 27 points against the lowly Bengals, and most importantly the Steelers extended their streak to 17 straight Monday Night Football wins at home. The Bengals never had a chance in that game for two reasons: (1) Andy Dalton and (2) A.J. Green.
Andy Dalton was 21/37 for 171 yards, zero TDs, and 1 interception. He rushed for 8-yards throughout the game and the Bengals top RB Joe Mixon didn’t really bail him out by only putting up 62 yards on the ground himself. Noticeably absent from the game, again, was 7-time Pro Bowler A.J. Green.
A.J. Green injured ligaments in his left ankled on the first day of pre-season and has been sidelined ever since. He’s pretty close to returning to action with most timetables saying he’s anywhere from 2-4 weeks away. Here’s Green working out during pregame. As you can see, he’s agile and pretty close to a return (memes are below by the way):
A great look at #Bengals WR AJ Green, as he tries to recover from ankle surgery. https://t.co/KinRDg47AW
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 30, 2019
Green was on the sidelines for Monday Night Football and his reaction to the Bengals 3-27 loss in Pittsburgh was immediately flipped into Monday’s best meme. Check it out…
AJ Green reenacts downs 1 through 4 by the Bengals offense: pic.twitter.com/J5FaByk0FB
— Pick Six Podcast (@picksixpod) October 1, 2019
AJ Green about to request a trade too https://t.co/G1myFZvsYw
— Andrew Gibson (@1010XLAG) October 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/TonyClementsTC/status/1178867846417408000
#ajgreen pic.twitter.com/5NJ3sbIwIZ
— mmcgtwo (@mmcgtwo) October 1, 2019
Bill Belichick watching AJ Green bored on the sideline like pic.twitter.com/jrXvmm79Q4
— Pick Six Podcast (@picksixpod) October 1, 2019
Hate to say it but AJ Green should just sit this year man, no need coming back to get hurt again before a new contract. We don’t deserve him
— Bengals Problems (@BengalsProblems) October 1, 2019
AJ Green looking displeased on the sidelines#Packers twitterpic.twitter.com/5sMaiObNws
— Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) October 1, 2019
AJ Green is all of us pic.twitter.com/ftJnwI9psj
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) October 1, 2019
Aj green trying to figure out how to go to the Patriots pic.twitter.com/KekFDg13a4
— The 3 Unwoken podcast (@the3unwoken) October 1, 2019
Are you excited to help the Bengals when you’re fully healthy?
Aj Green: pic.twitter.com/lBpZyJRxNH
— Tone Digs (@ToneDigz) October 1, 2019
AJ Green when Belichick trades for him at the deadline pic.twitter.com/WueLF8XlM7
— Kevin Cole (@KevinCole___) September 30, 2019
Unfortunately for any Bengals fans out there, this man speaks the truth:
AJ Green ain't fixing this offense, guys.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) October 1, 2019
A.J. Green is one of the most impactful players in the NFL. His presence on the field changes how the defense approaches each play. But the Cincinnati Bengals offense is straight up atrocious this season and one player isn’t going to turn that around, not this year or next.