Date: October 11, 2022

Writer: Anthony Iles

The Cincinnati Bengals played Sunday night football at Baltimore. Both teams at 2-2 came out knowing with this win you will be the AFC North leader for at least one week.

It was a classic AFC North game. Both teams had momentum at different times. Ravens came out and got a TD and a FG within first 4 drives but the Bengals offense came back roaring and defense held steady to contain Lamar Jackson. The running game of the Bengals got better as the game moved on. From quarter 2 to the end good rhythm occurred with running which then created one on one opportunities in man coverage for the wide receivers. Chase was able to draw a couple penalties and make some key catches that helped the Bengals take a 1 point lead with just under 2 minutes remaining.

Earlier in the third quarter Bengals had a chance to tie the game 13 -13 with a chip shot FG but on fourth and 2 near the goal line they went for it and a botched play occurred. The type of play they did I would not have run for a 2 point conversion trying a flick pass. Bengals have too many good receivers and running backs that if you just run a couple slants then have the tight end curl you will get the 2-point conversion. Ravens got the ball at the 2 and then chewed up 8 minutes of clock and nailed a FG to go up 6.

In the 4th quarter Bengals get the TD late in the game and made the extra point. If the Bengals would have tied the game at 13 -13 instead of going for 2 in the third quarter lets say Ravens get that FG in the third and are up 3 instead of 6 points. This would have allowed the Bengals to go up 4 and be up 17 – 13 instead of the actual score of 17 -16. That would have forced Tucker to not be able to kick a game winner and force Lamar to have to get a TD to win. However, Tucker got within his range and nailed a game winner. They might have got this win but next time they are in the jungle and Bengals will get the W.

Positives are the Bengals run game got into a nice rhythm vs Cover 2 defense and they saw the rewards when the Ravens had to go out of zone coverage and play man which started the passing game to get in a groove. After these first 5 games the offensive line is learning to play together and getting better every game. Schemes for running and play action passing are getting better. Bengals play at Saints, home vs Falcons, at Browns, and home vs Panthers before the BYE week. After the bye they head to Pittsburg to play the Steelers where I think we will get a W this time around. I believe we are about to hit our stride and make a good win streak and pull off these next 5 as Ws putting our record at 7 – 3. After that happens we face Titans, Chiefs, Browns, Buccaneers, Patriots, Bills, and Ravens. In that stretch even if Bengals go 4-3 that puts them at 11 – 6. This would get them into the playoffs again and be able to make another run at the Super Bowl. Before that happens take it one week at a time. Next up we head to New Orleans and possibly see Andy Dalton start to play vs Bengals.

Let’s get the W!!!

WHO DEY!!!

Date: Tuesday October 4, 2022

Writer: Anthony Iles

Bengals hosted the Dolphins on Thursday night football last week. Cincinnati sported the new alternate white helmet along with all white uniforms. They looked awesome!!! Dolphins came into that game undefeated at 3-0.

Tua had a “back injury” from the previous Sunday playing the Bills after a hard hit where he landed on his back and his helmet hit the turf hard. As he got up He took a few steps then stumbled back to the ground then got up. The team took him out for a few plays and everyone watching knows he had cognitive symptoms of a concussion. Doctors checked him out and said it was a “back injury” and he finished out the game in a big win for their team. It did not help that 4 days later Tua got sacked and hit hard on his back again and this time he didn’t get up. He had to go to the hospital. He is fine but is missing next game with a “concussion”. He should have not played versus the Bengals. NFLPA and NFL are handling this situation with concussion protocols swiftly and changing criteria.

Joe Burrow and the offense got rolling and the passing attack destroyed the Dolphins by the 4th quarter. Our running game with Mixon was steady. Mixon couldn’t get big yardage but he kept the chains moving and set up for good pass plays. Bengals defense was on point again and controlled Miami by the end. Great team win for the Bengals as they went to 2-2 and Dolphins fall to 3-1.

After this past Sunday games Bengals are now tied for first in the AFC North at 2-2 along with the Ravens and Browns. Steelers are 1-3. Bengals head to Baltimore for Sunday night football next week in what will be a good game and can help the Bengals begin to separate from the rest of the AFC North with a win.

Let’s go Bengals ! WHO DEY!!!

Date: Monday September 19, 2022

Writer: Anthony Iles

The Bengals headed to Dallas where they would face backup QB Rush who is a 5
year veteran and knows the Dallas offense. Question would be for the Bengals
how would they do on offense in the first couple quarters???

In the first half Dallas scored 7 on their first drive and the Bengals got
3. New long snapper Adomitis played in his first NFL game and played fantastic
as LS. At the end of the first quarter Dallas got a TD putting them up 14-3
into the second quarter. Dallas D is a top 12 defense in the league and they
showed it just like Steelers did last game. They played Cover 2 (aka Tampa 2)
to try and prevent deep passes. Burrow had to get the ball out fast and
complete short passes. He was sacked 4 times in the first half. I believe 2 of
them were his fault because as he moved around in the pocket each of those time
he had chances to throw it away and not be hit. If hit it would then be
roughing the passer. It made it look like the offensive line was struggling bad
but when looking back it is all about the split second decision. Joe did a good
job at moving around faster in the pocket this game. Joe Mixon was able to set
a tone the whole game and ran well which helped create play action passes.

In the second half Bengals are down 17 – 3 but start with the ball. They did
nothing on the first drive but with the adjustments made on their offense and
defensive schemes you could tell things were getting better. Bengals got in FG
range and made 2 FGs in the 3rd quarter and defense shut down the Cowboys to
zero points in the 3rd quarter. Down 17-9 going into the fourth the Bengals
defense suffocated the Cowboys causing them to punt and had a turnover with a
forced fumble and recovery by the Bengals. Bengals offense got into great
rhythm as they methodically moved down the field in the 4th quarter taking up
8:54 minutes and having 19 plays to score a TD and then convert a two point
conversion to tie the game with about a minute left in the game. Dallas got the
ball and were able to get to the other 40 yard line and kick a 50 yard FG to
win the game. It almost missed and we would have had a second straight game in
OT. Joe was sacked 3 more times in the second half making it 7 sacks total.
Burrow had 0 turnovers in this game.

It stinks to lose like this when you battle back and for the second straight
game able to tie at the end of the fourth quarter. New TE Hurst has played
fantastic and is a great fir for the offense. Offensive line now has 8 quarters
together. They are slowly getting better. If you look at the 3rd and 4th
quarter of this game they have made many strides compared to last week. This
new line shows they can pound it running the ball. With passing they are
learning little things and protection schemes. Look for game 3 to be a much
better complete game by the offensive line as they face the Jets next week.

Last year Bengals went 3-2 in their first 5 games and 5-4 in their first 9
games. This season we might start out 0-2 (could be 1-1 or 2-0) but they are
games we had a chance to win and nothing has been a blowout. It is fixing some
little things that will help in the long run to have them get on a win streak.
The games the Bengals have before the bye week are the Jets (away), Dolphins
(home), Ravens (away), Saints (away), Falcons (home), Browns (away), and
Panthers (home). Bengals can easily be 5-4 before the bye week. I think they
will be 6-3 by the bye week and in a great position to make the second half
push to win the AFC North and get a solid playoff position. Goal is 10 or 11
wins and to win AFC North. But you need the 10 or 11 wins to get a spot in the
playoffs. It is a lot of hard work to get to that point. With Joe B and company
there is no doubt in my mind that they can’t get there and then in the playoffs
Joe B will once again have this Bengals group make another run to the Super
Bowl.

Who Dey!!!