Former Bengals playing in Super Wild Card Weekend

Who could forget one of the most polarizing Bengals in recent memory? Apple played above his pay grade for most of his two years starting at cornerback in Cincinnati's secondary, but his off-field bashfulness made for ample criticisms that were only amplified when he would mess up on the field. 

Apple wasn't re-signed by the Bengals last offseason, and the former first-round pick had to wait months until the Dolphins needed help following Jalen Ramsey's knee injury. Both Apple and Ramsey now start for Miami and will be tasked with defeating Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs in a frozen tundra.

At least Apple has experience beating Mahomes in Arrowhead Stadium.

Larry Ogunjobi, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers

Ogunjobi didn't play in that fateful AFC Championship game two years ago in Kansas City, but he was integral in getting the Bengals that far during the 2021 season. He remains the closest player the Bengals have had to replicating what Geno Atkins brought at 3-technique since Atkins' prime faded away. He posted seven sacks that season in a very functional rotation with B.J. Hill.

Cincinnati only had Ogunjobi under contract for one season, and the Chicago Bears tried swooping n to sign him to a three-year deal before a failed physical ruptured those plans. The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the picture a few months later with another one-year deal, and Ogunjobi turned that into a three-year deal this past offseason.

No team is a greater underdog this weekend than the Steelers, who take on the Buffalo Bills in what's set to be a snowy environment.  

Jake Elliott, K, Philadelphia Eagles

Elliott has never played a regular season game with any other franchise than the Eagles, but he was drafted by the Bengals in 2017 and spent that entire offseason in Cincinnati. He was waived after failing to beat out Randy Bullock in the Bengals' eyes, and then claimed by the Eagles. Since then he's been named to a Pro Bowl, has won a Super Bowl, and most recently became a Second Team All-Pro. 

Evan McPherson is great, but this was a blunder by the Bengals nearly seven years ago.

Philadelphia's road back to the Super Bowl has incurred plenty of bumps over the last month. The Eagles lost five of their last six games, which has them playing on the road against the Tampa Bay Bucca eers to start this year's playoffs. 

Other former Bengals on playoff rosters

• Kevin Zeitler, RG, Baltimore Ravens
• Fred Johnson, RT, Philadelphia Eagles
• Tyler Kroft, TE, Miami Dolphins
• Josh Johnson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
• Brandon Allen, QB, San Francisco 49ers
• La'el Collins, OT, Dallas Cowboys (practice squad)
• Raymond Johnson III, ED, Detroit Lions (practice squad)
• Andrew Brown, DL, Buffalo Bills (practice squad)
• Justin Murray, OT, Cleveland Browns (practice squad)
• Renell Wren, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers (Reserve/Injured)