Updated

The Bengals have turned their season around by excelling during one of the toughest road tests in franchise history.

Victories in New Orleans and Houston during the last two weeks have left Cincinnati (7-3-1) alone in first place in the tightly bunched AFC North. The Bengals have a third straight road game this Sunday at Tampa Bay (2-9).

It's the ninth time in Bengals history that they've had three consecutive road games. They've never gone 3-0 in such a stretch. The club record for consecutive road games in a season is five.

They're going to have to play without linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who has missed the last four games following knee surgery. He didn't practice on Wednesday, an indication he's not ready.

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