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Logan Wilson’s Impact In Year Two

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Linebacker Logan Wilson has been nothing short of impressive so far in his second year after being drafted in the 3rd round out of Wyoming in the 2020 NFL Draft. 

Wilson has been given the keys to the defense, which speaks volumes about how much he has grown in just one season. He is the QB of the defense. He wears the helmet piece, which communicates with the coaches to call the plays and set up schemes and disguises for the defense, which has been highly successful so far through four games.

More than that, though, let’s look at Logan Wilson’s performance this season. Not only does he lead the entire NFL in interceptions currently. He is also 2nd in tackles in the AFC. Wilson has been putting up numbers we haven’t seen from a Bengals defensive player since Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap in their prime, and even then, Wilson could be on track to surpass those years.

Let’s break down what Logan Wilson has done in each of his first four games this season, so you have a better understanding of why he’s being raved about so much yet still flying under the radar.

Week 1 vs Vikings: 7 tackles, 4 Solo, 1 QB Hit.

Week 2 @ Bears: 9 tackles, 2 Solo, 1 INT

Week 3 @ Steelers: 14 tackles, 6 Solo, 2 INT’s

Week 4 vs Jaguars: 10 tackles, 4 Solo, 1 sack

Total: 40 tackles, 16 Solo, 3 INT, 1 sack, 1 QB hit through four regular-season games.

Wilson is flying under the radar, he was a third-round pick from Wyoming, which doesn’t usually create much conversation. He plays for the Bengals, who are not yet on the map as a popular media coverage team regardless of their 3-1 start.

If Wilson keeps playing like this and setting the tone for this Cincinnati defense, he will only see his name come up more and more. But when trying to look for early season sleepers for Defensive Player of the Year, make sure you include Logan Wilson.

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.

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

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.