FC Cincinnati plays the Columbus Crew Saturday evening in the MLS Eastern Conference Final. The latest chapter of FC Cincinnati’s best season to date. FCC’s season provides a major lesson for the Cincinnati Bengals.

That major lesson is to not put your eggs in one basket. The Bengals are striving to keep their playoff hopes afloat. As quarterback Joe Burrow recuperates from a season ending wrist injury. While many instantly wrote off the Bengals when Burrow suffered his latest injury. The Bengals still have a promising offensive unit and remain in the playoff hunt. While the notion sounds laughable to some. Cincinnati has the potential to make it work with backup quarterback Jake Browning.

Yet, the Bengals didn’t utilize an opportunity during the preseason. Which could’ve helped Browning and the Bengals collectively. By having Browning play in preseason games with more first-string players. While Joe Burrow was dealing with a preseason calf injury. By putting all of their eggs in Burrow’s basket. While giving healthy starters a rest during the preseason. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor left Browning and the team less prepared than they could be.

Fortunately for FC Cincinnati, they aren’t dealing that kind of situation. FC Cincinnati aren’t pinning an inordinate amount of hope on one player. Not only does FCC feature 2023 MLS Most Valuable Player award winner Luciano Acosta. There’s Brandon Vazquez, Matt Miazga and Roman Celentano. Who’ve made appearances in U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team matches this year. While others from Alvaro Barreal to Yerson Mosquera have stepped up. Scoring key goals in matches this season; Mosquera scored the winning goal last Saturday against the Philadelphia Union.

FC Cincinnati’s roster is full of players that could individually be a star for other MLS teams. Yet, together these players comprise a title contending team. FCC managed without some of their star players for various matches. Stretched by the grind of the MLS season, the U.S Open Cup, Leagues Cup and international breaks. Playing two matches within a week at various points in the season.

Luciano Acosta stepped up with a consistent presence in the lineup. Alec Kann stepped in as a substitute for goalkeeper Roman Celentano. When Brandon Vazquez and Matt Miazga were busy on U.S. Men’s National Team duty during the summer. As the USMNT played in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Other players stepped up in their absence. That experience could help FC Cincinnati this Saturday. Since Miazga is set to miss the rest of the playoffs due to a suspension.

After missing last Saturday’s match due to yellow card accumulation. Miazga is facing a three-match suspension by MLS and an undisclosed fine due to misconduct. After FC Cincinnati’s match against the New York Red Bulls on November 4th in Harrison, NJ. The league alleges that Miazga gained unauthorized access to an area reserved for referees. According to the referee’s union, Miazga had to be “forcibly removed” from that area. FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan and MLS’s Players Association have criticized the league’s punishment. Miazga can petition to have the suspension reduced.

FC Cincinnati is finding ways to succeed despite key absences throughout this season. Zac Taylor will have to do the same over the next six weeks. This stretch will test how effective Taylor can be as a head coach. The last thing he needs is for people to think he can’t win without Burrow. The Bengals performance last week didn’t help fans dismiss that perception. As the Bengals only managed to score one touchdown. In their 16-10 loss to a Pittsburgh Steelers team fresh from firing offensive coordinator Matt Canada.

The Bengals need to figure out how to get the most out of their offense. They still have many of their key offensive playmakers available. From running back Joe Mixon to wide receivers Ja’ Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd. Wide receiver Tee Higgins is striving to return from a hamstring injury. As the Bengals face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville on Monday night.

Monday’s Bengals game is set to kickoff at 8:15 PM Eastern. It will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (1530) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Kickoff for Saturday’s FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew match is set for 6 PM Eastern. It can be seen on Apple TV-MLS Season Pass and heard on WLW-AM (700).