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3 Ways The Bengals Can Have Success vs Pittsburgh

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3. Take advantage of the Steelers’ depleted defensive front.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the best overall defenses in the entire NFL, but going into Sunday, many of those pieces won’t be on the field. Alex Highsmith, Carl Davis, Stephon Tuitt, and T.J. Watt will all be inactive against the Bengals.

So what can Cincinnati do to exploit those holes? First, get Joe Mixon the ball in between the tackles and be aggressive throwing the ball down the field. As long as the offensive line can hold up and stay stout throughout the game, Joe Burrow should have success finding his receivers down the field.

Keeping the Steelers off-balance and staying unpredictable will be vital. If Pittsburgh can’t determine if we are giving the ball to Mixon or airing it out, it will open more great looks for our offense through the run and the pass.

2. Get Tyler Boyd involved.

Getting Tyler Boyd involved in this one will be very important, especially if Tee Higgins doesn’t play. As of now, Higgins is labeled as doubtful, and we should find out more pre-game. Nonetheless, if he plays or doesn’t, he will be limited and playing through an injury that kept him out multiple days this week in practice.

The Higgins injury will likely make Boyd’s targets increase in this matchup. So far this season, he has yet to find his standard groove; although he did lead the team in receptions last week, it was only 7 receptions for 73 yards. But with a reunion game in Pittsburgh where he played college ball, expect to see a motivated and aggressive version of himself. In addition, Ja’Marr Chase will probably draw the number one corner for Pittsburgh so that Boyd may see a more favorable matchup.

Expect the Bengals not to waste any time attacking the secondary trying to catch the Steelers off guard. Getting Boyd a few catches early on in the game wouldn’t be the worst approach either.

  1. Win in the trenches

This could be the most important aspect for a Bengals win tomorrow on both sides of the ball. Winning the game inside and in the trenches could be the deciding factor of who steals this one. Being a division game with two rival teams, there will be a lot of energy and challenging, hard-hitting plays. Winning the battles up front will lead to success in the run game and the passing game and disrupt the Steelers’ offense.

Najee Harris will be key to stop for the defensive line. Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard will have to secure the edge and not let Harris get to that second level because his speed and agility are nothing to joke about. And with recent rumors of Ben Roethlisberger playing with a hurt pec, they will probably give the ball to Harris plenty. 

Also, taking advantage of Ben being limited should be a key for the defense. Getting after him and trying to force sacks and push them behind the chains will help.

At the end of the day, the offensive line will be the biggest question. Jackson Carman is expected to make his NFL debut tomorrow at right guard, and the Steelers have a depleted front seven, but Devin Bush and Melvin Ingram will still be able to create issues with their ability to blitz and react to the ball. So keying in on those guys, especially Ingram, will be significant for the offensive lines approach in this one.

3 ways the Bengals can have success vs. Chicago

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3. Apply a clean, multidimensional pass rush against Andy Dalton and the Bears.

What I mean by this is that the Bengals are very familiar with Andy Dalton’s tendencies as a QB as he was in Cincinnati for nine seasons. So the Bengals need to use that as a strength in how they attack gaps when blitzing. Dalton struggles when pressure is applied, so giving the Bears offensive line different looks and rushing the passer from different angles and aspects will be vital in the defense’s success.

If Cincinnati lets Dalton sit in the pocket and throw the ball, he will be successful more than not. He is not a bad QB by any means, which means the defense needs to be as aggressive as they were with Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook as they are with Andy Dalton and David Montgomery. If Montgomery gets going early and finds his rhythm, this game will be close and will play into the 4th quarter a lot like the Minnesota game. But if we can limit chunk plays on the ground, push the Bears behind the chains and force Dalton to make rugged, uncomfortable passes, then Cincinnati should have a lot of success as a unit.

Also, being ready for Justin Fields when he shows up is essential because he will play at times, and being caught off guard as a defense will let the rookie have his way. Fields is very talented, not only through the air but using his feet as well. Keeping a spy on him when he plays may be the way to limit anything he may try to do scrambling. He doesn’t have Lamar Jackson’s speed or agility, but he is knowledgeable and knows how to hit holes, find gaps and recognize when a defense isn’t picking up on his signals.

2. Get the ball out quickly

This one will be crucial to the Bengals success Sunday. The Bears’ most significant strength is their front seven and their ability to rush the passer from all sorts of schemes and disguises. Khalil Mack is the leader of the defense, and he is also one of the best defensive players in the entire league, so knowing where he is at all times will be essential for the offensive line and the running backs who are blocking in the backfield.

Joe Burrow was sacked 5 times last week. The good news is that of those 5 sacks, 4 of them were against either Trey Hopkins the center, Drew Sample the tight end, and the running back. Jonah Williams and Riley Reiff were one of only three tackle tandems that didn’t allow a single sack, which is something you want to hear as a Bengals fan. But what does this mean?

First off, Trey Hopkins will need to be better, but it also was his first game back coming off a torn ACL like Burrow, so there will be bumps in the road as he progresses. But, the help side blocking will need to improve. Often Giovani Bernard was the key guy in this role. He was great laying down a block once rushers got to the second level with their blitz, but not having him anymore means other guys need to step up. Drew Sample is one of those guys considering the main reason the team drafted him was because of his blocking abilities.

Regardless, the Bengals will need to be stout in both pass blocking and run blocking for them to have the success they want to have as an offense, and an early-season test against the Chicago Bears front will be the perfect match for that challenge.

  1. Get Tyler Boyd involved and be agressive in the passing game.

The Chicago Bears’ biggest weakness is their secondary. They ranked as the 4th worst secondary in the league last week against the LA Rams, whose tandem consists of Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and Van Jefferson. But, of course, you could easily make the case that the Bengals are even more dynamic than the Rams, so if they had success, the Bengals don’t have much of an excuse not to exploit the struggling cornerbacks and safties.

Jaylon Johnson is probably one of the more talented corners on the team, and his assignment will more than likely be on Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins, which gives Tyler Boyd a favorable matchup as he is one of the best slot corners in the league. Boyd had a slow week in Week 1, only hauling in 3 catches for 32 yards, so this would be a prime matchup for him to have his first breakout game of the season.

Higgins and Chase both could have success as well. A lot will be determined on how much time the offensive line gives Joe Burrow because passes down the field would be the ideal way to beat this secondary. Keeping the linebackers involved in short passes will be a way for the Bears to hang around in this one because of their ability to tackle in the open field and attack the football off the snap and the throw. Keeping them on their toes by mixing in Joe Mixon will be necessary, and if Mixon can get going in this game, that could change the approach for the offense. Being able to complete longer passes down the field of at least 15-20 yards will be vital. I expect Tyler Boyd to lead the team in receptions in this game.

Game predictions:

(Before Week 1 – Bengals: 17 – Bears: 14)

Now – Bengals: 28 – Bears: 17

Weekly Offensive MVP: Tyler Boyd

Weekly Defensive MVP: Trey Hendrickson

2021-22 Cincinnati Bengals season predictions

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* W = win * L = Loss

Week 1: vs Minnesota Vikings – W

Most of this game will be on how our defense fairs against Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen. The offense will have to succeed. The Vikings’ defense will be a test, and the Bengals will have their issues, but Mixon should see a lot of touches. Cincinnati’s trio of receivers should be able to create separation against Minnesota’s corners, which could lead to success through the passing game.
Bengals: 24 – Vikings: 17

Week 2: at Chicago Bears – W

I’m going to say we start the season 2-0. Could I be wrong, absolutely. But considering Andy Dalton is expected to start the early part of the season, I don’t see Chicago playing their best football until Justin Fields gets his opportunity which could give make playing them early easier. I could see this being a very defensive game. And this will be a substantial early test for Joe Burrow and the offense. Bengals: 17 – Bears: 14

Week 3: at Pittsburgh Steelers – L

Pittsburgh early on in the season will be a challenging task to deal with. I believe we’ll keep this competitive but ultimately will be a game we drop early on in the season.
Bengals: 21 – Steelers: 31

Week 4: vs Jacksonville Jaguars – W

Thursday night in Cincinnati against the rookie Trevor Lawerence will be a fun one to watch. I see this game being one of the best games for the offense and defense. The Jaguars have a very questionable offensive line which should give the Bengals plenty of opportunities to rush the passer. Bengals: 34 – Jaguars: 20

Week 5: vs Green Bay Packers – L

We could steal this one, but I believe the Packers will be firing on all cylinders by Week 5. I think we will keep this close, but it will be our first home loss of the season.
Bengals: 20 – Packers 28

Week 6: at Detroit Lions – W

The Bengals offense shouldn’t have trouble scoring on the Lions’ defense this year, in my opinion. The wideouts should be able to exploit the Lions’ secondary outside of Jeffery Okudah. But the Bengals will have their fair of guys to look out for—especially the D’Andre Swift/Jamaal Williams tandem. Jared Goff will be a new look for the Bengals defense that they will have to adjust to.
Bengals 38 – Lions 17

Week 7: at Baltimore Ravens – L

On the road, at Baltimore, I can see this being one of the worst games we play this season. I hope I’m wrong, but on the road against a loaded defense will be tough. The Bengals have struggled vs. Lamar Jackson over the last two seasons.
Bengals: 17 – Ravens: 34

Week 8: at New York Jets – W

This one will be interesting on the road because we don’t know what to expect from Zach Wilson at this point in the season, being Week 8 right around the mid-waypoint. The Jets defense isn’t anything to rave about, but with one of the best young offensive lines in the league, a talented rookie QB in Zach Wilson, and the additions of Corey Davis, rookie Elijah Moore, Tevin Coleman, and rookie Michael Carter this team could be better than expected. I think it will be close, but the Bengals pull it out after losing a bad one to Baltimore.
Bengals: 27 – Jets: 21

Week 9: vs Cleveland Browns – L

This will be a fun one in Cincinnati against the opposing Ohio team. I believe the Browns will and should be very good this season. They won’t be a pushover by any means, and they are stout on both sides of the ball. I think the Bengals are capable of beating them, but I don’t see it happening here. Bengals drop a competitive one to Cleveland.
Bengals: 23 – Browns: 32

Week 11: at Las Vegas Raiders – W

This one is a toss-up. The Raiders tend to play good late in the season. But with Derek Carr and with a young team, they could be excellent. On the road in Las Vegas will be another test. I do think the Bengals can win this game and will do it so by a field goal.
Bengals: 23 – Raiders: 20

Week 12: vs Pittsburgh Steelers – W

Meaningful football in Cincinnati in November against the Pittsburgh Steelers would be something all of the Bengals nation would love to hear come this game in Week 11. This should be a dog fight if both teams are in favorable positions. I predict the Bengals win this game and in a close one.
Bengals: 27 – Steelers: 24

Week 13: vs Los Angeles Chargers – W

Hebert vs. Burrow will be a showdown, and this game should be a shootout. It could go either way, but the Bengals steal a close one against the Chargers in Cincinnati. As I said, the Chargers could pull this one out. They do have an excellent team, but the Bengals will have to make the correct adjustments to win this game.
Bengals: 35 – Chargers: 32

Week 14: vs San Francisco 49ers – L

I think the Bengals have trouble against the 49ers defense in this one and drop a close one against San Francisco.
Bengals: 14 – 49ers: 17

Week 145: at Denver Broncos – W

I believe the Bengals win this one before the most extensive stretch and most challenging stretch of the season arrives in a close game.
Bengals: 20 – Broncos: 17

Week 16: vs Baltimore Ravens – L

I think the Bengals stay more competitive in this one than their first meeting, but I still feel like the struggles against Jackson will translate, and they lose this one in the 4th.
Bengals: 28 – Ravens: 34

Week 17: vs Kansas City Chiefs – L

This one will be tough if Kansas City is fully healthy. I have us dropping this one. Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense is just too much to handle.
Bengals: 21 – Chiefs: 34

Week 18: at Cleveland Browns – L

At Cleveland, this one should be a shootout especially if both teams are playing meaningful football at this point in the season.
Bengals: 27 – Browns: 28

53-man roster breakdown

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The Cincinnati Bengals recently cleared the way to reach the 53-man player limit on their roster. Some expected and obvious cuts were made, then some questionable ones were. Here is a breakdown of the roster and what moves were smart and what moves were not.

The Bengals’ biggest question revolved around the offensive line and their moves to find the best possible players. They traded Billy Price to the New York Giants in exchange for defensive lineman B.J. Hill and a conditional 7th round pick. They also ended up releasing Michael Jordan, who was claimed by the Carolina Panthers shortly after. This one was one of the more shocking moves. Not that it was a bad move or anything; it just didn’t seem expected because Jordan started at guard the first two preseason games and was often taking 1st team reps in training camp. But in Week 3, after seeing him not play with the starters or even the 2nd unit, it raised a few red flags, which eventually led to his release. Rookies Jackson Carman, D’Ante Smith, and Trey Hill all made the roster.

The next position that was an exciting race was the running backs. The Bengals started camp considering multiple backs to take the reigns behind Joe Mixon. Samaje Perine, Chris Evans, Jacques Patrick, Trayveon Williams, and Pooka Williams all got their opportunity to show why they deserved to be on the roster. With Perine’s ability to play special teams along with playing well last season when called upon, he was locked into one of the three roster spots. The 3rd and final spot was eventually a race between Evans and Patrick. Still, with Evans looking excellent in Week 3 and honestly all of the preseason, it created enough separation to make it a no-brainer. Patrick and Trayveon Williams later got added to the practice squad.

The tight ends were a growing conversation as well. It was mainly knowing whether Thaddeus Moss would make the roster or not. Moss showed glimpses of skill with his ability to use his size and strength to catch passes and create separation, but he lacked blocking ability. The Bengals are in a position where blocking will be essential; it is hard putting him over a tight end that can bring that to the table. C.J. Uzomah and Drew Sample had roster spots locked up, so it came down to Mitchell Wilcox and Moss, and Wilcox got the 3rd and final spot in the tight end room. Luckily Moss was signed to the practice squad, which will still get him his opportunity at some point.

Lastly, wide receiver was an intriguing position to keep an eye on as training camp and preseason rolled along. Chase, Higgins, Boyd, and Tate had the first four spots sealed up, so the fight for the final two spots was exciting how it played out. Trenton Irwin impressed greatly throughout the offseason, which led me to believe he would get one of the final roster spots. Trent Taylor was also a guy I thought could land a spot, but he didn’t come along with any eye-opening plays until the final week of preseason. Stanley Morgan Jr ended up with one of the spots due to his ability to thrive on special teams. That was a big part of what earned him a spot. Mike Thomas was the last receiver gunning for a spot. At first, it was announced that he was being released, but after Trent Taylor and Trenton Irwin got added to the practice squad. The Bengals ended up resigning Thomas and giving him that 6th and final receiver spot. I would expect Irwin and Taylor to see plenty of time, though, this season for the Bengals, and Thomas is on a very short leash performance-wise. He will have to make the most of his playing time for Cincinnati.

Ultimately the Bengals didn’t make any eye-opening moves. Some were expected, and some were possibilities. But overall, most of the right moves were made. I would have liked to see Thad Moss get a rooster spot over Wilcox, Irwin over Thomas, and Mike Daniels on the defensive line, but he also got signed to the practice squad. Besides that, though, we made some very solid moves, and it will be fun seeing what this roster does to start the season.

3 Things To Look For In The Bengals Final Preseason Game

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  1. Who does Zac Taylor start for the first unit offensive line?

This will be something significant to look out for in this game. Especially now that Joe Burrow has been announced active. He is on a snap count, but regardless of the unit Taylor puts out, there will most likely be the same line we see in Week 1 against the Vikings. It just wouldn’t make sense that they would throw an offensive line out there in front of Joe Burrow if it weren’t going to be the first team.

The guard play is what to look out for most, though. Jonah Williams and Riley Reiff have the tackle spots on lock, and it seems that Quinton Spain may be narrowing down one of the guard positions, but Zac Taylor has made it very clear Week 1 starter haven’t been set yet. As of right now, Xavier Su’a-Filo is expected to get the nod alongside Spain in this final week three matchup against Miami. And Trey Hopkins is scheduled to make his debut at center behind Burrow.

The race through training camp and preseason has consisted of Quinton Spain, Michael Jordan, Xavier Su’a-Filo, D’Ante Smith, Jackson Carman, and Billy Price. Jordan and Spain have been taking most of the first-team reps, but it looks like Jordan may be losing that spot to Su’a-Filo as long as he performs well against a starting defense this Sunday.

Rookie D’Ante Smith is a name to monitor. He probably won’t win the starting job, but he wasn’t even expected to be in the conversation after being selected in the 4th round of the NFL Draft. But slowly, as training camp has developed, he has shown himself as a competitor for the starting job. So if Su’a-Filo or Spain don’t live up to the expectations, don’t be shocked if Smith gets his opportunity early in the season.

2. How does Ja’Marr Chase respond after a poor performance in Week 2 of the preseason.

Now I’m not worried about Chase. And other Bengals fans shouldn’t be either. He’s a rookie, there will be bumps in the road, and there will be good days and bad days. That is expected from a young player. I don’t anticipate too many snaps and field time in this game, but expect him to be out there with Joe Burrow returning. Still, being the last preseason game before the season opener against the Vikings, I’d only expect maybe a few possessions.

Even if Chase on sees a few targets, it will still be essential to see how he responds from last week after he had multiple drops. With Burrow throwing the ball, seeing how he does in a game-like situation will be even more critical.

So far, through training camp, he has only gotten better; his route running has never been an issue and has been something that has earned him a lot of praise. His ability to create separation right when he needs to is what makes his game partially so appealing. However, it seemed like his frustration got to him last game, which led to his focus not being all there. Nevertheless, even if Chase catches a few passes or one nice ball, it will ease the mind of many Bengals fans.

Do not be worried about Ja’Marr Chase. He will have a terrific rookie season and make a serious impact on the Bengals’ offense. Panic mode was never necessary. Especially since it is preseason, and he had a backup QB throwing him passes which he rarely took reps with.

3. What role does Noah Spence play after being signed earlier this week?

Noah Spence was signed earlier this week after the news that rookie edge rusher Joseph Ossai was done for the season due to a knee injury. Ossai was expected to have a key role on the defense this season after having an impressive training camp and Week 1 of the preseason. On the very first possession, he sacked Tom Brady after blowing by highly talented offensive lineman Tristian Wirfs.

This game will be vital for Spence to show his worth. Being signed earlier this week, he hasn’t had the chance to play in the first two preseason games, so if he doesn’t impress, he puts himself at risk of being cut from the 53-man roster. When watching Spence play, what stands out is his athleticism and ability to play all around the defense. He has been shown working out with Darrin Simmons and the special teams unit and as an edge rusher across the front seven. 

Spence’s best season was in 2016 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he managed to have 22 combined tackles, 16 solo tackles, 12 QB hits, 5.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. Although unfortunately, he has yet to get back into form as he has jumped from team to team trying to find that same success. 

Cincinnati hopes to be that team where he finds that fit. But a lot will ride on his play against the Miami Dolphins Sunday evening.

Who should the starting guards be for the Cincinnati Bengals?

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The Cincinnati Bengals biggest question mark so far this offseason and into preseason has been if the offensive line is good enough to protect Joe Burrow and stay consistent enough not to be a weak spot that other teams expose. The addition of veteran Riley Reiff has made it easier to fill out the line, but many questions remain as preseason winds down.

The guard position right now seems like the biggest question mark. Currently, head coach Zac Taylor has moved several players around to find the right fit at those two spots. Quinton Spain looks as if he could be one of the top candidates for the job, while Michael Jordan has started there over the first two preseason games and seems like the favorite to win the starting right guard spot.

Second-round pick Jackson Carman has slowly progressed in the right direction, but do not expect him to be one of the starting guards in Week 1. It also seems like another rookie offensive lineman D’Ante Smith has the upper hand on Carman for the job after his recent success in training camp and Week 1 of the preseason. He was out against the Washington Football Team due to dehydration but was rumored to be getting the start alongside Jordan with the first-unit offense.

Xavier Su’a-Filo is another candidate to evaluate when determining who should start at one the guard spots. Su’a-Filo was brought in last offseason, where the expectation was that he would come in and be a difference-maker on the line. Unfortunately, having his season be cut short due to injuries and underperforming when active has made him more of a longshot to win one of these jobs.

With only one week of preseason remaining, the starters for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins will most likely be the starting unit you see against the Vikings if, in fact, everybody is healthy and active. Ultimately, Zac Taylor’s decision for these two starting guard spots will be crucial due to the dying concerns everyone is waiting to find out about. Most of the criticism the Bengals have faced this offseason revolves around the lack of moves on the line in free agency besides adding Riley Reiff. Expect Taylor to reveal the starting line within the next week or so.

My projected starting offensive line depth chart entering Week 1

RT- Riley Reiff / Fred Johnson

RG – Michael Jordan / Xavier Su’a-Filo / Jackson Carman

C – Trey Hopkins / Billy Price / Trey Hill

LG – Quinton Spain / D’Ante Smith

LT – Jonah Williams / Isaiah Prince

How good can the Bengals wide receiver trio be?

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After the Cincinnati Bengals selected Ja’Marr Chase with the 5th overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, it created a trio in the wide receiver room alongside Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd that some are already marking as one of the best and most talented in the NFL. But until they prove it, it will be farfetched.

Tyler Boyd is currently one of the best slot receivers in the league. He has been the Bengals’ most reliable receiver in terms of durability and consistent performance over the last two seasons. Boyd has two 1,000+ yard seasons in the previous three years and has secured 16 total touchdowns with a career average of 11.7 yards per catch. He remains underrated and could have another great season ahead with two other talented, dynamic wideouts lining up beside him, forcing defenses to single cover him.

Tee Higgins was selected in the 2nd round of the 2020 NFL Draft setting the stage alongside Joe Burrow. The two instantly put their connection and chemistry on display as the season unwinded last year. Higgins had 67 catches (tying the franchise record), 908 yards, and 6 touchdowns, averaging 13.6 yards per reception. Higgins has been extremely impressive so far in camp this year and has a lot of breakout potential in year two. And a lot like Boyd, with single coverage across the board, it will give Higgins a lot more opportunities to win one-on-one battles against the opposing secondary.

I believe this trio can be great together because as much as they will take receptions away from each other, they will also open up opportunities for each other. Any of the three could be the number one option on any given day. It provides Joe Burrow several outlets across the field, which is what you want as a QB. In addition, having a talented running back in the backfield in Joe Mixon will also clear pathways for the trio to succeed.

My 2021-22 regular season projections for each wideout:

Tyler Boyd – 76 catches, 1,098 yards, 6 touchdowns

Tee Higgins – 72 catches, 1,126 yards, 7 touchdowns

Ja’Marr Chase – 58 catches, 856 yards, 6 touchdowns

What to expect from Joe Mixon this season?

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An injury-plagued season limited Joe Mixon to only six games last year. However, before the 2020 season, Mixon and the Bengals agreed to a four-year, $48 Million deal through 2024. This is a critical year for the starting running back because what Joe does this season will be essential to what Cincinnati does moving forward at the position. The Enquirer’s Charlie Goldsmith broke down the most important training camp players this week, and Joe Mixon made the list.

In 2019 Mixon rushed for over 1,100 yards while adding five touchdowns. However, in 2018, he had his best season so far in his young career, rushing for 1,168 yards and eight touchdowns and averaging 4.9 yards per carry. With Giovani Bernard out of the picture after winding up in Tampa Bay, Mixon will only see his workload increase.

Offensive Coordinator Brian Callahan said via Kevin Patra of NFL.com, “I don’t want Joe to leave the field, personally, and I think he’s up to that challenge.” With training camp in full gear and preseason on the horizon, Mixon has shown significant explosiveness, strength, and leadership signs.

With all the weapons on the offensive side of the ball, Mixon will have to share the wealth. Right now however, he has little competition in the backfield to steal touches away from him. It is safe to say Joe controls his own destiny. The only issue with Mixon being on the field every down is that you don’t want to see what happened to Todd Gurley with the Rams during their Super Bowl run happen to Mixon. 25 to 30 touches every single game. Come playoff time, Gurley was barely used due to injuries and lingering knee problems.

It is imperative to have a second option. Even if that is Samaje Perine, Trayveon Williams, or rookies Chris Evans and Pooka Williams, who both have been extremely impressive so far in camp. Pooka’s natural speed and sneaky athleticism have been raved about, which could land him a spot on the 53 man roster.

Heading into year five and being the most crucial season he’s entering so far, Joe Mixon is on a mission trying to rejuvenate himself as one of the NFL’s better running backs. There is no question the talent and capability are there. Staying healthy will be a focal point, and with a Frank Pollack widespread blocking scheme, it should only help Mixon as it’s meant to create more holes for running backs. Expect a big year from the motivated Joe Mixon.

Training Camp Observations from the Bengals “Back Together Saturday”

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1. Joe Burrow is still regaining his rhythm 

On Saturday it was great to see QB1 back on the field. He was moving around the pocket, throwing on the run, and more importantly, smiling as he made throws with his knee brace on. But make no mistake, there are going to be some hiccups come week one against the Vikings. Burrow is still out there regaining the magic he had last time we saw him in a real game situation. These are some of the first throws he has made rolling around the pocket and it was clear on Saturday. He overthrew a couple of guys, made some bad reads, but still flashed some of that pinpoint accuracy he had as a rookie. Burrow is going to return to elite form, but don’t be shocked if it takes a week or two for him to find.

2. Tee Higgins is still the WR1

I am just as excited for Ja’Marr Chase as the next guy, and rightfully so, as he made an amazing sideline catch from Burrow on Saturday. That being said, Tee Higgins is still this team’s WR1. Higgins was fantastic on Saturday, his highlight being a touchdown catch in the back corner of the endzone during the red zone scrimmage portion of the practice. Higgins was constantly getting open all day and securing all his catches. He should also see some favorable matchups too with teams also having to take Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd, and Joe Mixon into account. Higgins should easily eclipse 1,000 yards this year and should see close to double-digit touchdowns if healthy. 

3. The Linebackers may still be a liability

The Bengals have put a lot of effort in the last few years to improve the linebacker core, and it will no doubt be better, but there is still work to be done. Drafting three linebackers in last year’s draft to pair with Germaine Pratt, the Bengals are attacking the position, but Saturday’s practice may have shown why they need to invest more highly in the draft rather than going for quantity. There were multiple occasions where a running back or tight end slipped free in drills and made an easy wide-open catch. While it was only practice, we may once again have a season where we bite our tongues and pray that the linebackers aren’t a total liability. It will be a big prove it year for both Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson, who will be wearing the radio on defense in 2021.

4. The Defensive Backs are scrappy

The loss of Williams Jackson III was a big one, but the team brought in multiple free agents in Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton to pair with last year’s big free-agent Trae Waynes. Even newly acquired free agent Eli Apple was making an impact in Saturday’s practice. While this team may not have a true CB1, one thing was obvious, this is a tough and scrappy cornerback room that isn’t going to let anything come easy. They broke up multiple passes and forced several coverage sacks in drills. This secondary, with Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III at safety, may be one of the strengths of the defense this fall. The revamped cornerback room is hungry to prove doubters wrong!

5. This team gels well together 

After the drama last year of guys either not buying into Coach Taylor, or guys being locker room cancer, it appears that is all behind us. One thing stood out more than anything Saturday and that is this team gets along! Joe Mixon was hyping up defenders, defenders were swarming each other after good plays, heck, we already had Ja’Marr Chase dancing! This team is having fun and they are working together well. There is no drama, no locker room cancers, just a well-bonded team that has each other’s backs and works together, and I think it’s all because of QB1. The Bengals have handed this franchise to Burrow and let him take the wheel and it’s showing! Ladies and gentlemen, the Cincinnati Bengals have never been in better hands! 

Be sure to follow me on Twitter @PiersonNFL and let’s talk about some Bengals Football! Until next time, Who Dey!

Why the Bengals Could Exceed Expectations This Season

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Finishing 4-11-1 in 2020, the Bengals suffered through another tough season especially after the prosperous Joe Burrow went down with a traumatizing knee injury.

Many remain that do not see the potential in this young team. However, adding Burrow’s former teammate at LSU, Ja’Marr Chase, with the fifth overall pick to the plethora of talented receivers the Bengals already have in Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and Auden Tate could make for one of the more dynamic offenses in the league. Not to mention a healthy Joe Mixon in the backfield who is a capable 1,000+ yard rusher. 

The big concern that the NFL world still continues to question is the quality of the offensive line and there could be backlash still in passing on Oregon tackle Penei Sewell in the draft. But, hiring offensive line coach Frank Pollack, who has an excellent track record, plus the additions of veteran Riley Reiff and the second round pick and Fairfield, Ohio product Jackson Carman out of Clemson could be game-changing moves. During his collegiate career at Clemson, Carman played 1,934 snaps throughout 40 career games. He was stout for the Tigers, playing against the best of the best. Carman played against Ohio State and Alabama each twice over his three-years at Clemson. Cincinnati also added other lineman later in the draft in D’Ante Smith from East Carolina and center Trey Hill from Georgia while also re-signing guard Quinton Spain. If Jonah Williams continues to take strides in the right direction, he could also become a centerpiece for the Bengals line after they selected him in the first round in the 2019 NFL Draft. 

Additionally, the Bengals went all out on the defensive side of the ball through the draft and free agency this off-season to boost the pass rush, which ranked 29th in the league, and limit chunk plays that the defense often gave up. 

Notable moves include: 

  • DE – Trey Hendrickson (Four years, $60 Million) 
  • Edge – Joseph Ossai (3rd Round, Texas) 
  • CB – Chidobe Awuzie (3 years, $21.75 Million)
  • CB – Mike Hilton (4 years, $24 million)
  • DT – Larry Ogunjobi (1 year, $6.2 Million) 
  • S – Ricardo Allen (1 year, $1.5 Million) 
  • CB – Eli Apple (1 year, $1.2 Million) 
  • DE – Cameron Sample (4th Round, Tulane) 
  • DT – Tyler Shelvin (4th Round, LSU) 

Ultimately, Cincinnati will have its ups and downs throughout this season. With high-level talent on the offense however, critical replacements to the offensive line, and the new key additions to the defense, the Bengals have the potential to shock many if they can remain healthy. Cincinnati may be a dark horse come January.

3 Reasons Bengals Fans Should Be Excited About The Future

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) reacts after running for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)

2020 is an exciting time to be a Bengals fan for three main reasons.

Reason number one, quarterback of the future, Joe Burrow.

The former LSU national champion has elevated himself into the NFL and into the Cincinnati offense.

The 23-year-old is breaking records weekly. Despite not seeing his performances result in wins, (apart from Jacksonville) the future of the Bengals franchise is bright with Joe Burrow at the center.

Burrow looks like he’s been in the league for years. His link up with fellow rookie, wide receiver, Tee Higgins is another reason things are looking brighter for Cincy.

Second round pick Tee Higgins is looking to be a great draft selection and a great help as a weapon for Burrow. Scoring three touchdowns in seven games, the new number 85 is showing up.

Speaking of the link up between Burrow and Higgins, it was a similar story with the old number nine and eighty-five, quarterback Carson Palmer and former wide receiver, Chad Johnson. It feels meant to be that the new quarterback and wide out would have the same numbers as the duo from 2004-2010.

Reason number three it is an exciting time to be a Bengal, is Zac Taylor. While it is true that the second year head coach and former Nebraska quarterback has a record of 3-19-1 since arriving in Ohio, and that is not to be over looked, he is only in his second season, with a rookie quarterback.

People need to see what Taylor is trying to do and give him time. I’ll admit, the defensive line isn’t the greatest and neither is the offensive line so it has been tough to see major strides of improvement from the team.

Taylor has already won half the amount of games he won last season and the offense is more than capable of winning games. Pass coverage is a significant issue for Cincinnati at the moment which is a result of the teams inability to generate any pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

If the Bengals can win at least four games out of the remaining ten, that won’t be a bad return.

There are exciting times ahead for the Cincinnati franchise, fans have to see that. With color rush week on Sunday the Bengals will face the 5-1 Tennessee Titans who provide another test for this young and hungry, Bengals team.

My 2020 Bengals Game By Game Win-Loss Predictions

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Here we go. The Bengals begin the 2020 regular season on Sunday with a late afternoon home opener at Paul Brown Stadium in front of cardboard cutouts instead of real fans. It’s Joe Burrows first test after a successful first training camp but not having any preseason games to grow through. To say “I am excited” would be an understatement.

Below are are my game-by-game predictions for 2020.

9/13/2020 vs Los Angeles Chargers – WIN

9/17/2020 at Cleveland Browns (TNF) – LOSS

9/27/2020 at Philadelphia Eagles – LOSS

10/4/2020 vs Jacksonville Jaguars – WIN

10/11/2020 at Baltimore Ravens – LOSS

10/18/2020 at Indianapolis Colts – LOSS

10/25/2020 vs Cleveland Browns – WIN

11/1/2020 vs Tennessee Titans – LOSS

11/8/2020 – BYE WEEK

11/15/2020 at Pittsburgh Steelers – LOSS

11/22/2020 at Washington Football Team – WIN

11/29/2020 vs New York Giants – WIN

12/6/2020 at Miami Dolphins – WIN

12/13/2020 vs Dallas Cowboys – LOSS

12/21/2020 vs Pittsburgh Steelers (MNF) – LOSS

12/27/20 at Houston Texans – LOSS

1/3/2020 vs Baltimore Ravens – WIN

Final Record Prediction: 7-9

Division Finish: 3rd

“Playoffs?! I Just Hope We Can Win a Game!” – Part 3

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Last week, I wrote an article that was intended to provide some hope for Bengals fans, that the tunnel with the light at the end of it may not be as long as some may think.  While I am hopeful, I am also realistic, and I realize that it takes a lot of things going right for the Bengals to make a quick, one-year turnaround.  However, some responded to the article with resistance to even entertaining the idea that the Bengals could be playoff contenders in 2020.  Most of the concerns revolved around the bad offensive line, the lack of trust in the front office to make free agent acquisitions, and the lack of a ‘plan.’  While all of these concerns are legitimate, I think there are some signs that show that the franchise COULD be headed in the right direction in each of these areas. In this three part series, we will look at these in greater detail, one at a time.

In the third and final installment of this series, let’s address the lack of a ‘plan’ by the front office that has some fans feeling like a turnaround is impossible.  I would agree, that the Bengals have missed some prime opportunities thus far.  They could have, and arguably should have, traded both Cordy Glenn and Andy Dalton at the trade deadline in late-October.  Instead, they completely botched both of those situations in benching Dalton for Ryan Finley, and then the drama surrounding Cordy before finally making his debut in November.  However, all is not lost (yet).  The Bengals can still move on from both players and receive some cap relief with no dead money, whether they release or trade either player.  Rumors have been swirling around Dalton and perhaps New England, but no matter the team, there should be interest in the veteran signal-caller from a number of teams before the draft.  If the team can swap Dalton for a mid-round pick, that would be a major win compared to losing him for ‘nothing.’  Also, you cannot convince me that this team was not tanking this year for the top-pick.  Fourth-rounder Ryan Finley received three starts and completed just 47% of his passes, A.J. Green was held out for the duration of the season (whether that was 100% his decision or mutual, who knows), and the team lacked the will to win close games as evidenced by their (0-8) record in games decided by eight points or less.  This led ultimately to the first overall selection, and presumably a chance to draft their franchise quarterback in LSU record-setter Joe Burrow.  Was this team good in 2019?  Absolutely not.  Were they (2-14) bad?  I also do not believe so.  In a recent Twitter poll with nearly 1,100 votes, the good fans of Bengals Talk voted Burrow as the better quarterback RIGHT NOW at a clip of 3:1.  I just mentioned their inability to win close games.  Do you think Burrow wins four of those games that were one-score losses?  Maybe more?  Obviously, there is no way to tell, but the point is that with the same talent as last year’s squad, we would expect Burrow to do better than the Dalton/Finley combo.  Add-in A.J. Green (whom I do believe resigns with Cincy), Jonah Williams, and the continued development of guys like John Ross and Auden Tate and suddenly that is one scary offense that can keep up with teams that score on our somewhat porous defense.

All of this to say, I think while Bengals fans have a right to be cynical and skeptical of this team, if you are able to put away some of that bias you can squint and see a path to a playoff berth in 2020.  Again… is it likely?  Probably not.  But it is possible.  And for those weary, tired Bengals fans that feel like they are walking in the dark when rooting for this team, the bright light at the end is shining a little brighter.

Go back to Part 1.

Go back to Part 2.

“Playoffs?! I Just Hope We Can Win a Game!” – Part 2

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Last week, I wrote an article that was intended to provide some hope for Bengals fans, that the tunnel with the light at the end of it may not be as long as some may think.  While I am hopeful, I am also realistic, and I realize that it takes a lot of things going right for the Bengals to make a quick, one-year turnaround.  However, some responded to the article with resistance to even entertaining the idea that the Bengals could be playoff contenders in 2020.  Most of the concerns revolved around the bad offensive line, the lack of trust in the front office to make free agent acquisitions, and the lack of a ‘plan.’  While all of these concerns are legitimate, I think there are some signs that show that the franchise COULD be headed in the right direction in each of these areas. In this three part series, we will look at these in greater detail, one at a time.

In the second installment in this series, we look at our problematic offensive line.  If you think about it, the Bengals really have TWO first round picks in 2020.  Presumably Joe Burrow, and then Jonah Williams.  Obviously, Williams was drafted 11th overall last season but did not play during the season due to a shoulder injury.  However, let’s not forget the kind of prospect Jonah Williams was coming into last year’s draft.  He is a versatile player that started 15 games at right tackle, and 29 at left tackle during his college career.  Some of the honors bestowed upon him include Freshman All-American, a unanimous First-Team All-American his senior year, and winner of the Jacobs Trophy (awarded to the best blocker in the SEC).  Williams allowed just 5 sacks while playing over 1,300 career pass block snaps.  NFL Analysts Bucky Brooks and Daniel Jeremiah were high on him last spring, with Brooks dubbing Jonah as a top-3 tackle and Jeremiah ranking him as a top-20 overall prospect among all positions.  Those were just two of the many experts that believed Jonah Williams could be a star.

I would hope that the Bengals would be willing to spend a little on upgrading their offensive line, which is one of their weaker position groups, and one that can have a major impact on a team’s potential to reach their ceiling.  There are top lineman available in Brandon Scherff, Bryan Bulaga, Anthony Constanzo, etc. but they will demand top dollar (most likely anywhere between $10 – 15 million per year).  However, some of the lower-tier guys would still be upgrades for an offensive line that had every starter graded below the top 50% of their position, with Tre Hopkins’ PFF grade of 62.8 leading the way.

Michael Schofield or perhaps even Andrew Whitworth (although a reunion is probably unlikely given the terms on which things ended previously) would be a couple of guys I would expect the Bengals to consider.  Cincinnati may use a 2nd or 3rd round pick on an offensive lineman but lately the Bengals have struggled to get the most out of their draft picks along the offensive line, and after Round 1 of the draft, it is hard to find an impact rookie to play tackle or guard.  Consider though, that it will only take average-level play to see an improvement for that unit.

So other than adding Jonah Williams, if we assume the front office fails to make a splash in free agency, the offensive line may look a lot like it did in 2019.  However, it is important to note that the hog-mollies up front performed much better down the stretch last season.  After Andy Dalton returned to replace the disaster that was Ryan Finley, the offensive line allowed an average of 1.6 sacks and paved the way for 121 rushing yards per game.  In addition, there have been teams able to overcome weak lines and make the playoffs.  Most recently, the Seahawks (27th), Bills (21st), Texans (20th), and Vikings (19th) all made the playoffs with below-average graded lines, according to PFF (the Bengals ranked 30th).  While no one can argue that the Bengals line is good as-is, I think having playmakers like Joe Mixon and Joe Burrow can help mitigate that weakness and prevent it from holding the team back too much in the same way we have seen with other teams.

Go back to Part 1

“Playoffs?! I Just Hope We Can Win a Game!” – Part 1

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Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor answers questions from the press after the first day of offseason workouts, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. Zac Taylor Press Conference 4 9 2019

Last week, I wrote an article that was intended to provide some hope for Bengals fans, that the tunnel with the light at the end of it may not be as long as some may think.  While I am hopeful, I am also realistic, and I realize that it takes a lot of things going right for the Bengals to make a quick, one-year turnaround.  However, some responded to the article with resistance to even entertaining the idea that the Bengals could be playoff contenders in 2020.  Most of the concerns revolved around the bad offensive line, the lack of trust in the front office to make free agent acquisitions, and the lack of a ‘plan.’  While all of these concerns are legitimate, I think there are some signs that show that the franchise COULD be headed in the right direction in each of these areas.  In this three part series, we will look at these in greater detail, one at a time.

Let’s begin looking at free agency, and the lack of activity in signing external free agents to any significant amount of money.  Many times the Brown family has prioritized resigning their own free agents, and then spend on mostly bottom tier free agents to bring into the organization.  As it relates to the aforementioned offensive line: signing some of the top tier guys would be nice of course, but history tells us we should not expect the Bengals to shell out 12-15 mil a year for those guys.  On the current roster, there are only four players projected to make more than $10 million after 2020 (Geno Atkins, Dre Kirkpatrick, Carlos Dunlap, and Tyler Boyd).  This team doesn’t typically dole out monster contracts to their own guys, let alone outside free agents.  One has to wonder though if and when that propensity to squeeze every penny will fade a bit. 

Consider: when the Bengals FINALLY moved on from Marvin Lewis, it was a major change for the organization.  Granted, it was probably long overdue, but the front office did make that decision to move on.  After that, leadership decided that Zac Taylor was the best fit for their head coaching vacancy, choosing him over more “proven” options like Vance Joseph or Hue Jackson (gulp).  Whether you were a fan of the signing or not, the decision to pursue Zac Taylor and then allow him to bring in Brian Callahan, making them the youngest Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator duo in the league, seemed to be off-brand for a team that for so long valued continuity and experience.  With anywhere from $47 – 74 million in cap space (depending on what they do with Andy Dalton and Cordy Glenn), it will be interesting if Zac Taylor or others have any sway in getting management to pony up some cash for a top lineman to protect their franchise quarterback. 

If the Bengals do decide to invest in their future a bit more and sign some free agents (especially at the OL and LB positions), this could jumpstart the rebuild and propel this team towards contention sooner rather than later. While expecting the team to pay large sums of money to outside free agents may be somewhat unlikely, in all honesty if they pay for ‘average’ talent at those two position groups, it would spell major improvement in 2020.

Read Part 2

A Case for the Bengals Making the Playoffs Next Season

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In case you haven’t heard, the 54th Super Bowl will be taking place this Sunday in Miami, Florida. On one side you have the Kansas City Chiefs, who have made the playoffs for the past five seasons and have been a staple of consistency under Andy Reid. On the other side of the field stand the San Francisco 49ers, who not too long ago endured a (2-14) season similar to the Bengals’ 2019 season. In looking at these two teams, Bengals fans can stand to be encouraged about the prospects of a playoff berth occurring sooner rather than later.

In general, the NFL Playoffs see fairly consistent turnover season to season. Over the past five seasons, an average of five of the 12 playoff teams are newcomers from the previous season, with only the Patriots, Chiefs, Seahawks, and Texans making more than three playoff appearances during that time. Remarkably, 29 of the 32 NFL teams have made at least one playoff appearance since the 2015 – 2016 season (pour one out for the Browns, Buccaneers, and Jets). We also have seen teams make rather
quick turnarounds, which we can see in looking at team win/loss records since 2015. Since 2015, there have been 14 different instances of teams adding at least six wins to their previous season total. Just this season, we saw the NFC representatives in the Super Bowl jump from four wins to 13. While predicting win/loss records for the upcoming season is a futile effort (especially in January), it would not be unheard of to see the Bengals make a major leap in 2020 and flirt with 8-9 wins. While that is not likely enough to enter the playoff picture, it would be a gigantic step forward in the right direction and lay the foundation for a potential 2021 playoff run.


When looking at the Kansas City Chiefs, we can simplify their blueprint as such: The Chiefs win with a masterful offensive scheme that gets their plethora of playmakers into space, relying on their elite quarterback and outstanding athletes on the outside to win. Their defense is opportunistic in forcing turnovers and creating sacks, even if they yield higher yardage amounts. It would behoove the Bengals to try to mirror the Chiefs blueprint as closely as possible, and I believe just a few moves could put them
on the right track.


On the offensive side of the ball, it starts with the quarterback position. Andy Dalton is a fine quarterback but by now we know he is not the guy that will lead us to the promised land. While Joe Burrow is a complete unknown at the professional level, there is reason to believe based on his most recent body of work along with the traits he displayed in full this past college season, that he can be a franchise quarterback. A quarterback that is able to make plays (that is, making things happen when plays begin to breakdown or do not go according to plan) frees up an entire offense and helps cover some of those warts that can creep up from time to time. Add in an offensive play-caller now entering his second season with a disposal of weapons on offense (Boyd, Mixon, Tate, and potentially A.J. Green)
to accompany his rookie quarterback and Zac Taylor should be able to unleash a little more firepower than what we saw last season with the likes of Ryan Finley, Alex Erickson, and CJ Uzomah all playing meaningful snaps. A free agent signing of a solid backend defender like Justin Simmons (90.8 PFF grade, four interceptions) or Anthony Harris (90.5 PFF grade, six interceptions) and continued growth of Carl Lawson and Sam Hubbard would potentially go a long way towards helping this defense force more
turnovers.


Now, is it likely that the Bengals become major spenders in free agency? Probably not, even if they do have $49 million in cap space with the potential of having $75+ million with the trade/release of Dalton and Cordy Glenn. But you can see that in just a few moves, they could very well become a formidable foe come next season. We know some team(s) is going to see a major increase in wins next season, and most likely nearly half of the playoff field will look different than it did this season. The Bengals can make that leap and return to the playoffs for the first time in half a decade.

Remembering Chris Henry

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December 17th, 2009 is a day that stands out to a lot of Bengals fans. Today, December 17th, 2019 marks the 10th anniversary of former Bengals wide receiver Chris “Slim” Henry’s sudden death at the young age of 26.

In his sophomore season at West Virginia in 2003 Henry broke out and had 1,006 yards on 41 catches for 10 touchdowns, clearly showing how much of a deep threat he was with his speed. In his junior season in 2004, he finished with 872 yards on 52 catches and 12 touchdowns.

In the 2005 NFL Draft Henry was overlooked and avoided by many teams because of his reputation of being a headcase and getting into trouble off the field. In classic Bengals (and Marvin Lewis) fashion, they took a chance on Henry in the third round of the 2005 draft and he had an immediate impact and became a big play guy out of the slot. The Bengals offense was a juggernaut in 2005 with quarterback Carson Palmer leading the way with a supporting cast of running back Rudi Johnson, and fellow wide receivers Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh in addition to Henry. In 2005 Henry had 422 yards receiving on 31 receptions and 6 touchdowns, including a big 66-yard catch on the first play of the 2005 AFC Wild card game against the Steelers.

After that 2005 season, Henry got into trouble several times and was suspended by the NFL for 2 games in the 2006 regular season for violating the leagues Personal Conduct and Substance Abuse Policies. Once again in 2007 Henry was suspended, this time for the first 8 games of the season. And in March of 2008 Henry punched a man in the face and threw a beer bottle through his car window, Henry was waived by the Bengals the next day.

In August of 2008 Henry was allowed back in the NFL and the Bengals resigned him and he stayed out of trouble for the entire 2008 season. According to multiple teammates, Henry was headed in the right direction. He did not get into any trouble through the first 14 weeks of the 2009 season, as the Bengals themselves seemed to turn their season around and were making a playoff push. Henry and his then-wife got into an altercation and he fell out of her truck while she was driving and suffered a severe head injury and he ended up passing away.

Rip Slim #15

Finley Finally Gets His Shot

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On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 30th, just three hours before the trade deadline, the Bengals made a big announcement. It was not a trade, but a benching of 9-year veteran quarterback Andy Dalton in favor of rookie quarterback Ryan Finley (a 4th round pick out of NC State). With the Bengals’ record at 0-8 there is seemingly nothing to lose. Starting Finley will give management the opportunity to see what they have and ultimately decide if they should draft a quarterback with their potential first-round pick.

Andy Dalton has struggled the last few weeks, especially against the Jaguars in week 7 when he threw 3 interceptions in the 4th quarter alone, one of those being a pick 6. This season Dalton has a 60% completion percentage with 9 touchdowns and 8 interceptions and 2,252 passing yards.

Ryan Finley will be making his NFL debut on Sunday against the Bengals AFC North rival the Baltimore Ravens. Finley began his college career at Boise State where he played in just three games his freshmen year (2014) and four games his sophomore year (2015).  After a 2016 transfer to North Carolina State, he finished his senior season with a 67% completion percentage, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for 3,298 yards. 

Finley looked impressive during the preseason when playing against backups. He had a 73% completion percentage for 3 touchdowns and 1 interception and 414 yards.


Bengals vs Rams – Week 8 Preview

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The Cincinnati Bengals are headed to London, England to play the Los Angeles Rams in their Week 8 matchup on Sunday, October 27th at Wembley Stadium.

The Bengals are coming into this game 0-7 after a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars by a final score of 27-17. The stories of the game were the four turnovers by the Bengals and the offense’s inability to get the run game going with Joe Mixon. Mixon only had 2 yards on 10 carries and Giovani Bernard had 0 yards on 4 carries. You know your run game is bad when quarterback Andy Dalton leads your team in rushing, he had 33 yards on the ground on 4 rushes. Dalton finished the game with 22 completions on 43 attempts for 276 yards, 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions. The Bengals were leading 10-9 going into the 4th quarter, but three interceptions thrown by Dalton (one being a pick six by Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue) put an end to any comeback for the Bengals.

The Rams are coming into this game with a 4-3 record after a blowout win against the Atlanta Falcons by a final score of 37-10. This was a much-needed win for the Rams. Coming into last week they had lost 3 straight games after starting the season 3-0. Rams Quarterback Jared Goff had 22 completions on 37 attempts for 268 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions and a rushing touchdown. Rams running back Todd Gurley had 41 rushing yards on 18 carries and a receiving touchdown. The Rams defense forced three turnovers and had over fourteen more minutes of time of possession than the Falcons.

You can catch this week’s game at 1:00 pm (EST) on CBS. 

Cardinals vs Bengals – Week 5 Recap

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The Cincinnati Bengals lost yet another heartbreaker Sunday afternoon to the Arizona Cardinals by a final score of 26-23. This loss pushes the Bengals to 0-5 for the season.

After the first half, the Bengals were only down 13-6 as neither teams’ offense could get anything going. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton had only 4 completions on 10 attempts for 42 yards. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray had 12 completions on 18 attempts for 129 yards and a rushing touchdown. The Bengals added a short field goal in the third quarter to pull within 4 points at 13-9 but on their next possession while driving, they went for it on 4th and 1 and Andy Dalton was tackled short on a questionable quarterback run out of shot gun. Arizona gained momentum adding 10 points to go up 23-9 in the forth quarter. The Bengals did not quit though as late in the fourth quarter they went on a surprising 10 play, 79-yard drive that ended in an Auden Tate touchdown to cut the deficit to 23-16. The Bengals defense got a three and out and with under three minutes to go the Bengals had a chance to tie the game. They then went on a quick 4 play 81-yard drive which resulted in a 42-yard touchdown pass from Dalton to Tyler Boyd. Even so, the Cardinals and Kyler Murray were too much in the end. The Bengals had Nick Vigil on an island against David Johnson who made a nice catch on the sideline for 24 yards resulting in a game-winning field goal from kicker Zane Gonzalez.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton finished the game with 27 completions on 38 attempts for 262 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray finished with 20 completions on 32 attempts for 253 yards, no passing touchdowns and no interceptions in addition to 93 yards rushing on 10 attempts with a rushing touchdown. The Bengals rushing leader was Joe Mixon with 93 yards on 19 attempts. The Bengals leading receiver was Tyler Boyd with 123 yards on 10 receptions with 1 touchdown.

The Bengals and Cardinals played a clean game without a single turnover. The Bengals leading tacklers were Nick Vigil with 13 tackles (6 solo) and Shawn Williams with 12 tackles (10 solo). The Cardinals leading tacklers were Byron Murphy with 9 tackles (8 solo) and Jalen Thompson with 8 tackles (5 solo). The kickers played a big part in this game, Bengals kicker Randy Bullock was 3 for 3 on field goal attempts and Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez was 4 for 5.

Next for the Bengals is a divisional game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, October 13th at 1:00pm EST. 


Cardinals vs Bengals – Week 5 Preview

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The Cincinnati Bengals are headed back home for a Week 5 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 6th at 1:00 pm EST. 

The Bengals are 0-4 after getting blown out on the road by the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-3. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton had 21 completions out of 37 attempts for 171 yards and 1 interception while getting sacked a career-high 8 times. Running back Joe Mixon had 62 yards on 15 attempts and the leading receiver was Auden Tate who had 50 yards on 4 receptions. The Bengals defense played relatively well in the first half, only allowing 10 points and even forced a fumble. However, in the second half they looked overwhelmed and tired, giving up 17 points. 

The Cardinals are also coming into this game winless at 0-3-1 record after losing at home to the Seattle Seahawks 27-10. Quarterback Kyler Murray had 22 completions on 32 attempts for 241 yards with 1 interception. Running back David Johnson had only 40 yards on 11 attempts but was the Cardinals’ leading receiver with 99 yards on 8 receptions. Seahawks tight end Will Dissly fumbled once and quarterback Russel Wilson twice, yet the Cardinals did not recover any of those fumbles.

If the Bengals want to get head coach Zac Taylor his first win, they have to be able to set the tone upfront. The Bengals offensive line had the worst performance of any team in Pro Football Focus history last week. Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard need to be more involved now that wide receiver John Ross has been placed on injured reserve. Mixon and Bernard should see the ball more in both the passing and running games. 

If the Cardinals want to get head coach Kliff Kingsbury his first win, Kyler Murray has to stay clean and not turn the ball over. The Cardinals will have to take advantage of the Bengals slow linebackers, run the ball to the outside with David Johnson or do more read options with Kyler Murray. If utilize their tight ends, it will cause matchup advantages for the Cardinals since the Bengals linebackers continue to struggle in coverage. The defense will need to be opportunistic and force turnovers whenever they can against the struggling Bengals offense.

Bengals vs Steelers – Week 4 Recap

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The Cincinnati Bengals got embarrassed by their AFC North rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, on Monday Night losing by a score of 27-3.

The Bengals defense allowed 2nd year quarterback Mason Rudolph to complete 24 passes on 28 attempts for 229 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Steelers did a great job simplifying the playbook for Rudolph which included a few wildcat plays. Running back Jaylen Samuels took part in those wildcat calls and he was credited with 3 completions for 31 yards as well as having 26 rushing yards on 10 attempts. As putrid as the Bengals looked one positive from the game was their run defense, the Steelers leading rusher, James Connor, had only 42 yards on 10 attempts. Conner was also the Steelers leading receiver with 8 receptions for 83 yards and a receiving touchdown.

The Bengals offense was once again non-existent. Quarterback Andy Dalton had 21 completions on 37 attempts for 171 yards, no touchdowns with 1 interception. In the 2nd quarter down 10-3 the Bengals were driving down the field but when they were deep in Steeler territory Andy Dalton had the ball stripped by Bud Dupree. The offensive line had by far their worst performance of the season allowing Andy Dalton to get sacked 8 times. Running back Joe Mixon had a decent game with 62 yards rushing on 15 attempts and the Bengals leading receiver was Auden Tate who had 4 receptions for 50 yards.

The Bengals come back home on Sunday, October 6th to play the 0-3-1 Arizona Cardinals.

Mindset Is Key For Bengals To Knock Out The Steelers On Monday Night

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The Bengals (0-3) play against their first AFC North opponent of the 2019 season this coming Monday night in prime time when they take on the 0-3 Steelers in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers have been the Bengals most hated nemesis over the past 15-20 years as most matchups during that span have been bloodbaths with the Steelers coming out on the winning end in most cases. This year both teams face each other still looking for their first win after three games but everyone in the media still seem to be picking the Steelers to win despite not having quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. It all makes sense given that the Steelers are the more successful and more talked about franchise with 6 Super Bowl championships. They also boast an all-time record of 64-35 against the Bengals and a 24-7 win-loss advantage since 2004. ESPN’s panel of 10 NFL experts are leaning towards the Steelers in this next matchup as 8 out of 10 are predicting the Steelers to win on Monday night.

Over the years Bengals fans have seen Cincinnati go toe-to-toe with Pittsburgh but they have also witnessed the Bengals flounder in most of those games due to a lack of mental toughness or lack of composure in response to dirty play from the team in yellow and black. In 2018 the Bengals were within a score of beating the Steelers in both matchups but couldn’t finish them.

This season the Bengals have a new head coach and coaching staff and we’ve all seen the “New Dey” marketing slogan around the team. While there have been many refreshing aspects of this new regime of coaches leading the team it has not translated to wins on the field yet. One way to show that it is truly a “New Dey” would be for the Bengals to go into Pittsburgh in a prime time game and win on the road, even against a bad Steelers team without their starting quarterback.

In my mind the key to coming out with a win is for the Bengals to have the right mindset heading into the game. Yes, emotions will run high, there will be nerves, there may even be some dirty play or cheap shots during the game. But with the majority of expectations from the media, and those outside of this Bengals team, being that the Steelers will come out with a win, the Bengals should come into it thinking: “we’ve got nothing to lose”. When one has this kind of mindset they often perform looser and with more confidence. I believe head coach Zac Taylor has the team believing in each other and holding themselves accountable for the areas where they have struggled so far this season. If the Bengals can keep believing in each other, holding each other accountable, learning from past mistakes and combine all of that with a “we’ve got nothing to lose” mindset, then I think they will play well enough to win on Monday night in Pittsburgh. If the Bengals come into the game feeling that the weight of the world is on them, letting their emotions get the best of them and putting too much pressure on themselves, then simply put, they will not win this game.

The Bengals have the talent to beat the Steelers. The coaches seem to have the players buying in. But the talent and belief in each other has yet to fully translate the way they want during games. It is also yet to be seen if we will see the same issues that have plagued past Bengals teams when they play the Pittsburgh Steelers under this new coaching staff. In watching this game on Monday night my focus will be on these 3 things that are all by-products of having the right mindset:

  • 1) how loose and confident players appear (do they appear to be playing tight or afraid of making a mistake)
  • 2) how they respond to adversity when they give up a big play or make a mistake (do they appear to be fighting back in a good way)
  • 3) how they respond to dirty plays or cheap shots by the Steelers (are they taking cheap shots back or getting called for stupid penalties, are the Steelers in their head)

Bengals vs Steelers – Week 4 Preview

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The Cincinnati Bengals are going on the road to face their AFC North rival the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football on September 30th.

The Bengals are coming into this game 0-3 after losing a nail biter to the Buffalo Bills 21-17. The Bengals looked a lot better in the second half of last Sunday’s game and it looked like Zac Taylor actually made second half adjustments as it appeared the Bengals were making a 2nd half comeback. Andy Dalton had 20 completions on 36 attempts for 294 yards with 1 passing touchdown, 1 rushing touchdown and 2 interceptions. The Bengals were marching down the field with a shot to score with 15 seconds left but Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White picked off a Dalton pass that was intended for Auden Tate to seal the win for Buffalo.

The Steelers are also coming into this game with an 0-3 record after losing to the San Fransico 49ers 24-20 this past Sunday. Mason Rudolf got his first start out of the way and finished with 14 completions on 27 attempts for 174 yards and 2 touchdowns and he also threw an interception. The biggest play he made was a 76-yard touchdown pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster. The 49ers had 5 turnovers but the Steelers could not take advantage, with 5:49 to go in the game Steelers running back James Connor got stripped which ended up leading to the game-winning touchdown, a Garoppolo TD pass to receiver Dante Pettis.

If the Bengals want to get that 1 in the win column, their defense has to keep playing well and the offense has to keep giving Joe Mixon the ball. They simply can’t become one-dimensional on offense like they were in Seattle and against San Francisco.

If the Steelers want to get a 1 in the win column, they have to give Mason Rudolph time to let plays develop and they have to deliver the ball to JuJu Smith-Schuster a lot. The Steelers have to cut down on turnovers and take advantage of the opportunities they are given.

If the Bengals come out and play flat as they did against the 49ers and in the first half against the Bills, then I predict the Steelers will win 28-10. If the Bengals come out and play as they did in the second half against the Bills, the Bengals will win 28-17.




Bengals vs Bills – Week 3 Recap

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The Cincinnati Bengals are now 0-3 after losing yet another nail biter to the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo.

The Bengals offense was non-existent in the first half after not getting a first down until 1:57 left in the second quarter when quarterback Andy Dalton hit Auden Tate for 24 yards to move the sticks. Andy Dalton finished the game with 20 completions on 36 attempts for 249 yards, 1 passing touchdown, 1 rushing touchdown and 2 interceptions. Joe Mixon finally looked like his old self as he rushed for 61 yards on 15 carries and 2 receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd had a quiet first half, like everyone on offense, but in the second half he came up big with a couple of 3rd and long receptions for first downs in the 4th quarter. Wide receiver Auden Tate got the start as well and had a great game with 6 catches for 88 yards.

Unlike last week, the Bengals defense played pretty well considering how much they were on the field. For how much they had to play and how bad the offense was, going into the half only down 14-0 was a win. They forced a turnover when defensive lineman Sam Hubbard stripped Bills running back T.J. Yeldon deep in Bengals territory in the 2nd quarter. The Bengals should have had another fumble recovery when Josh Allen got stripped by Bengals defensive back Brandon Wilson, linebacker Nick Vigil fell on the ball while inbounds then he rolled out of bounds after recovering the ball but the refs said he was out of bounds.

The Bengals looked liked the same team that the 49ers blew out last week in the first half, but in the second half they looked like a completely different team as they fought back and showed heart. Darius Phillips took a kick return 92 yards to the house when the Bengals were down 8-0 but it was called back on a soft holding call on Auden Tate and I believe if that would have stood they would have a 1 in the win column. The Bengals look ahead to Pittsburgh next week as they play the 0-3 Steelers on Monday Night Football.



Bengals vs Bills – Week 3 Preview

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The Cincinnati Bengals will be on the road to face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, September 22nd at 1pm EST.

The Bengals are coming into this game with an 0-2 record after receiving a beatdown at the hands of the 49ers this past week as they lost 41-17. The Bengals defense was nonexistent as they gave up 572 yards and the offensive line gave quarterback Andy Dalton very little time to do anything or let plays develop. Also, for the 2nd straight week, Joe Mixon was limited in the run game and was only able to gain 17 yards on 11 carries. A few bright spots were wide receivers Tyler Boyd and John Ross, Boyd had 10 catches for 122 yards and Ross had 4 catches for 112 yards and a late garbage-time touchdown in the 4th quarter.

The Bills are coming into this game 2-0 after beating the New York Giants by a final score of 28-14. The Bills defense came up with 2 interceptions against Eli Manning and the Giants while Josh Allen did not turn the ball over and had both a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown. Frank Gore also had 68 yards rushing for the Bills on 19 carries and had a touchdown and Isaiah McKenzie had a receiving touchdown. Some of the bright spots for Buffalo on the offensive side were wide receivers Cole Beasley and John Brown, Beasley had 4 catches for 82 yards and Brown had 7 catches for 72 yards.

If the Bengals want to get their first win of the season, they have to get better offensive line play especially with regards to run blocking. They have been too one-dimensional offensively due to not having much of a run game. Defensively they need to rebound from last weeks poor showing by not giving up the boundaries and simply tackling better.

49ers vs Bengals – Week 2 Preview

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  • Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) runs against San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Ian Williams (93) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

The Cincinnati Bengals will be playing the San Francisco 49ers in their first home game of the year this Sunday, September 15th at 1:00pm EST on FOX.

For the 49ers, the story of their Week 1 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was their defense. The 49ers D forced 4 turnovers while sacking Jameis Winston 3 times. Three of the four turnovers were interceptions thrown by Winston and 2 of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns. 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on the other hand went 18 of 27 for 166 yards passing with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

The 49ers running game was not very strong with Raheem Mostert rushing for 40 yards on 9 attempts and Matt Breida added 37 yards on the ground on 15 attempts. The 49ers are going to have to be more efficient if they want to win Sunday.

Even though the Bengals lost their first game in Week 1 they should be very confident given how they played the Seahawks this past Sunday. The Bengals offense looked good, even great at times but just could not get that score they needed in the second half despite being in Seattle territory 3 times in the 3rd quarter. The Bengals defense looked even better only allowing 233 total yards and getting 4 sacks of Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson. Andy Dalton was 35 of 51 for 418 yards and 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. The Bengals offense ranks 10th in the league after 1 week and their defense ranks 5th in the NFL heading into Week 2.

Just like the 49ers, the Bengals running game was not strong. Joe Mixon had 6 carries for only 10 yards before hurting his ankle last Sunday and Giovani Bernard had 7 carries for only 21 yards. The Bengals run game has to better and they must get their running backs more involved if they want to win on Sunday.

Bengals Lose Week 1 Nail Biter

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The Cincinnati Bengals lost to the Seattle Seahawks 21-20 Sunday afternoon in Seattle. 

The Bengals had many bright spots in this game. They showed heart and fought and if the Bengals could have scored even a field goal when they were in Seattle territory in the 2nd half, they would already have a 1 in the win column. They were deep in Seattle territory 3 times in the 3rd quarter alone and came away with no points.

The defense had several bright spots. Sam Hubbard played like a mad man finishing with 10 total tackles (6 solo) and 2 sacks. Nick Vigil and Carlos Dunlap were both active as each had 7 tackles (Dunlap also had a sack). The Bengals defense looks completely different now compared to this time last year.

Offensively quarterback Andy Dalton shined. Dalton stepped back to pass 51 times, which was a career high, and completed 35 passes (68.6% completion percentage) with 2 TDs and 0 interceptions. He did have a fluke fumble in Seattle territory as rain began to fall early in the 3rd quarter.

John Ross had a big day and was probably the biggest surprise of the game as he finished with 7 receptions, 158 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had an awful drop late in the 2nd quarter but made up for it when he caught a 55 yard touchdown on the next play with 7 seconds left in the half. He had a few drops on Sunday, but made up for them in big ways. C.J. Uzomah also had a solid game with 4 receptions for 66 yards, and Tyler Boyd also was reliable with 8 receptions going for 60 yards as well.

The running game struggled. Joe Mixon left the game early with an ankle injury and finished with just 6 carries for 10 yards and Giovani Bernard had 7 carries for only 21 yards on the ground. If the Bengals want to beat the 49ers next week, they need to improve on the ground. The Bengals could really use Cordy Glenn who they hope will be out of concussion protocol and able to play next week.

The Bengals host the 49ers next Sunday in their home opener at 1:00pm EST.