Logical Pittsburgh Steelers fans were expecting a step back in 2019.

All the way back to 0-3? No. Not that far back.

In Cincinnati, this isn’t a surprise. The Bengals are 0-3 as well. So that lays the foundation for a made-for-TV, primetime, 0-6 matchup for “Monday Night Football” next week at Heinz Field!

Can’t you feel the excitement?

Things have gotten off to a rotten start for the Bengals, just like they have for the Steelers — an 0-3 record to start the year is usually a death sentence for any team’s playoff chances.

If a team hits 0-4, just start planning for the draft.

We know how the Steelers got into this mess. A spotty offense. Injuries. Repeated third-down failures. Lousy conversion rates off of turnovers. Disappointing play in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

Similar things can be said about the Bengals. They don’t have A.J. Green. The offensive line is banged up and ineffective.

They’ve had two close losses. The referees have been unkind. The starting running back has been stuck in the mud. And the organization is just counting on the poor play within the AFC North to keep itself competitive.

Any of this sound familiar?

Well, someone has to win Monday night. I think. I mean, given the way this season is going for both clubs, is a scoreless tie out of the question?

Bengals play-by-play man Dan Hoard joins me for the podcast Tuesday. We try to figure out if the normally spicy Steelers-Bengals rivalry can resurface despite some pretty rotten circumstances at the start of 2019.

LISTEN: Tim Benz and Bengals play-by-play man Dan Hoard preview the “Monday Night Football” matchup of the dueling 0-3 Steelers and Bengals

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