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Cincinnati Bengals must tackle defensive issues in wake of Kansas City blowout

Enquirer beat writers Paul Dehner Jr. and Fletcher Page wrap up the Bengals 45-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football Sam Greene, sgreene@enquirer.com

KANSAS CITY — Take your pick.

The list of viable explanations for the Cincinnati Bengals defensive woes, on record pace for ineptitude through seven games and especially evident in Sunday's 45-10 primetime flop against the Chiefs, is long.

Adjusting to first-year defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. Dealing with injuries. Facing a string of respectable offenses, some world-beating and others pretty good.

All of that has contributed to the mess, but at this point, on pace in mid-October to give up the most yards in a season during the Marvin Lewis era, time is running thin on excuses.