The Bengals played their last 2 preseason games having mostly 2nd string/3rd String and Rookies/Undrafted players playing. The players who were waived today will go on the “waiver wire” and if no other team picks them up the Bengals can sign them to their practice squad which consists of 16 players. Once the Bengals create their Practice Squad I will write an article on what I think of the roster heading into week 1.
This is an exciting season for the Bengals to show and prove they can make it far with this core group. This is the Bengals chance to get a ring within these next 5 years and put them into the history books! Hopefully they can stay healthy, continue to win the games they are supposed to as well as win the big matchups to have a bye going into the playoffs and get home field advantage.
Tonight preseason game #1 will be at the newly named “Paycor Stadium” after the contract ended with the naming rights of Paul Brown Stadium. The game begins at 7:30 pm tonight versus the Arizona Cardinals and for Bengal great AJ Green.
This Bengals team revamped the offensive line making it potentially one of the top 5 offensive lines in the league. It is going to be fun to watch to see the Bengals this year with the revamped line and see them dominate even more.
I firmly believe this group is capable of making it back to the Super Bowl multiple times and finally gettting a championship. If they take any notes from the Rams watch what they did with making it a few years ago and losing but then revamp a few things and make it back to win. This Bengals team can do it. I think it would be cool to be able to do it this year. If it does not happen this year it will happen within the next 4 years.
In an epic battle between 2 great teams the Bengals made key defensive plays to allow the offense take control and win the game over the Chiefs in the Bengals vs Chiefs 2.0 matchup with a score of 24 – 21.
As I was watching this game I felt like I was re-watching the Week 18 matchup against the Chiefs except this time instead of being at the game I was watching it at home. Chiefs came out hot on offense like we all thought. The Bengals weathered the storm and were down 21 – 10 at halftime just like the first matchup. A key play to end the first half was the 3rd down play from the Chiefs to throw to the side to Hill instead of the end zone from the 9 yard line with 9 seconds left. That could have allowed them to kick a FG if it was an incomplete pass in the end zone. They had 0 time outs. With the throw being to the side and Hill trying to run he got tackled at the 2. No points scored. This created momentum for the Bengals.
In the first half Mahomes and the offense were moving the ball well but just like in the first matchup adjustments were made and the Bengals defense showed up huge as they stayed disciplined and tackled well as well as pressured Mahomes at key times. The Bengals got an interception to give them a chance to score and then go for 2 to tie the game. Chase caught a great ball to score and we went for 2 and got it to tie the game as it was about to be the 4th quarter. Bengals defense came up big at the end of the 4th Quarter pressuring Mahomes and sacking him 2 times in a row which held the Chiefs to a FG that tied the game and forced OT.
In OT the Chiefs got the ball first but that did not waver the Bengals defense as they made an epic interception with Bates hitting it away form WR Hill and Von Bell catching it to intercept it. This set up Burrow and company to move the ball down the field with passing and running with Mixon to set up the game winner for McPherson!
I have said on my podcast and in articles I have written this season that this Bengals team is special!! They are resilient and never waver!! On to the Super Bowl in LA at Rams stadium to face the Rams where the Bengals will be the home team as it is the AFC year to be the home team (Every other year the home team belongs to the other conference).
What a weekend of NFL Divisional Playoffs matchups!!! All 4 games were close and the best games I have seen in a playoffs in a very long time. It all began with the Bengals at Titans with the Bengals winning 19-16 on a game winning field goal as time expired.
Bengals came out hot on defense forcing an interception on the first play. Bengals were able to get a field goal to take the lead 3-0. RB Henry returned for the Titans after missing half the season because of his foot injury. He is still not 100% healthy but was healthy enough to be able to play in this playoff game after being designated on the IR to rehab his foot after surgery. He ran 20 times for only 62 yards with 1 TD. Biggest accomplishment of the Bengals defense is they held Henry to 3.1 yards per carry. Usually Henry can get to the 6-7 yards per carry on the average by the end of a game.
Burrow was solid even after being sacked 9 times in the game. He went 28-37 for 348 yards with 1 INT which is debatable and was not his fault. Mixon ran the ball for 54 yards on 14 carries and 1 TD along with 6 catches for 54 yards. Ja’Marr Chase had 5 catches for 109 yards averaging 21.8 yards per catch; Tee Higgins had 7 catches for 96 yards; C.J. Uzomah had 7 catches for 71 yards; and Boyd 2 catches for 17 yards.
The Bengals stayed poised and the defense played solid forcing Titans QB Tannehill to throw 15/24 for 220 yards 1 TD and 3 INTs. At the end of the game it was tied 16-16 with a couple minutes left and the Titans had the ball but threw an interception around the 45 yard line and the Bengals took over. Burrow threw a sideline pass to Chase for 19 yards and then the Bengals were able to run the ball and spot it where K McPherson likes it. He kicked a 52 yard FG to win the game and send the Bengals to the AFC Championship!!!
Bengals travel to the Chiefs to play in the AFC Championship game on Sunday January 30 at 3:00 PM. The Chiefs are coming off one of the greatest games played in the playoffs in playoff history vs the Bills as it was a slugfest and then a shootout at the end. Chiefs ended up winning in OT with a game winning TD from Mahomes to Kelce.
The Bengals and Chiefs just played 2 weeks ago in a thrilling game where the Bengals won the game by 3 to earn them the AFC North Division Champs and a spot in the playoffs. The Chiefs lost and ended up losing the #1 seed for the playoffs and became the #2 seed. This is going to be a great game vs 2 teams that have high flying offenses. I put the Bengals as the better defensive team as they bend and don’t break. Bengals found holes in the Chiefs defense that they will be able to thrive on and the Chiefs can’t fix. The Bengals offensive line will play better than last week as the Titans had a top 5 defense. I predict Bengals win by 10 in this game as they will control the clock especially in the second half. Unlike the Bills the Bengals will make sure Mahomes and the offense do not get a second chance to tie or take the lead at the end of the game.
Saturday January 15, 2022 at 4:30 P.M. the Bengals faced the Raiders at Paul Brown Stadium to begin the start of the 2022 NFL Playoffs. In week 11 these teams faced one another in Vegas at Raiders where the Bengals won 32 – 13.
This time around for this meeting in the playoffs the stakes are even higher. Both teams know one another since they just played a few weeks ago. Adjustments were made going into this game. Both teams have solid defenses and the question would be which QB could control the game and give themselves a chance to win knowing the defenses would play solid.
Bengals won 26 – 19. Burrow was “Joe Cool” and did his thing as we passed for 24/34 244 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 Int. Mixon had 17 carries for 48 yards and Chase had 3 for 23. Against the Raiders their run defense is solid and their defense against pass is good but beatible. Against them you won’t get break away yardage as they are a good tackeling secondary after the catch. Burrow connected with 5 different receivers. Chase led with 9 receptions 116 yards 12.9 avg; Uzomah had 6 receptions 64 yards 10.7 avg 1 TD; Mixon had 4 receptions 28 yards 7 avg; Boyd had 4 receptions 26 yards 6.5 avg 1 TD; and Higgins had 1 reception 10 yards 10 avg. McPherson went 4/4 on field goals 2/2 extra points.
This Bengals team is a great group of men and have something special occuring. This team can play and score with any team in the leage and they have a defense that will bend but not break attitude. The leadership of Burrow and veteran players are evident. Everyone on the team bought into the scheme and culture of what Coach Taylor wants out of the Bengals and the Bengals are reaping the rewards of hard work and patince these last 2 seasons while Coach Taylor finally has the roster he has wanted.
Bengals travel to Nashville to face the Titans on this upcoming Saturday January 22, 2022 at 4:15 P.M. Bengals get that win they will then play in the AFC Championship game…….They will either face Bills or Chiefs in the AFC Championshiop. For the Super Bowl out of the NFC can be Bucanners, Packers, 49ers, Rams, or Cardinals. How about the Bengals this season end a 34 year drought from playing in the Super Bowl and facing the 49ers whom they faced 34 years prior….this time around it will be a differnet story as no matter whom the Bengals face I believe this team is destined to win the Super Bowl this year!!
Cincinnati Bengals finally get over the hump and have a 3 game winning streak. My dad and I attended the Bengals vs Chiefs game in Cincinnati this past Sunday. What a game to be at. A lot was at stake for each team as if the Chiefs win they would be the #1 seed in the AFC with a first round bye in the playoffs and home field advantage throughout. The Bengals win and they win the AFC North and are in the playoffs with having their first round game as a home game for the playoffs.
The Bengals and Chiefs matchup was everything you wanted as both offenses got in rhythm and both defenses played solid. Burrow had another 400 + passing game and Ja’marr Chase had a rookie WR record breaking 266 yards receieving along with 3 TDs. The Bengals poise throught the game paid off as they went through 2 stretches of being down 14 points. They were able to get some key stops and take the lead by 3 in the 4th quarter. With 6 minutes left the Chiefs made a game tying FG. The Bengals did a great job at milking the clock and taking the ball all the way to the 1 yard line. This was on the side of the field my dad and I were on which made it awesome. Bengals were able to drain the clock to 2 seconds (even though they would have rather scored the TD with 10 seconds left. McPherson came in and nailed in a 22 foot game winning FG that sent the Bengals to the playoffs and locked them in as AFC North Champs with 1 game reminaing.
If the Chiefs lose next week and the Titans lose, Cincinnati can get a W at Browns and they would end up the AFC #1 Seed with a bye and homefield advantage. This scenario likely will not happen as most teams will rest players especially if you are locked in for the playoffs.
Congrats to the Bengals and Coach Taylor. It’s been a 3 year journey getting the players he wanted and the team atmosphere and chemistry. It’s great to see Coach Taylor turn the corner for the better and he will get an extenstion after this season. But first, win a playoff game and lets get to the AFC Championship game and have a shot at going to the Super Bowl. If we get that chance this team will make it and will win the Super Bowl!
sportswithanthony.com 