Stripes

She wouldn't stop checking her phone, so I had her head over to COB's to take care of the gutters.

Quick look at the tight ends for the season: Tanner Hudson: 8 receptions on 11 targets (73%) for 93 yards (11.6 per catch), 5 first downs (45% of targets), and 0 TDs. --> 3 games played Irv Smith: 13 receptions on 19 targets (68%) for 83 yards (6.4 per catch), 4 first downs (21% of targets), 1 TD, and one fumble lost. --> 8 games played Drew Sample: 6 receptions on 8 targets (75%) for 40 yards (6.7 per catch), 1 first down (13% of targets), and 1 TD --> 8 games played Mitchell Wilcox: 3 receptions on 4 targets (75%) for 17 yards (5.7 per catch), 0 first downs, and 0 TDs --> 8 games played The sample sizes are small, but it seems pretty clear to me who should be getting the majority of the opportunities in the passing game.

Murphy seems to have supplanted Ossai at least some of the time, so he seems to be coming along. He'd be a very valuable secret weapon for the postseason if he can put it together.

It fits into a very classical "trap game" archetype lying between two primetime games against bigger perceived AFC powers (Bills and Ravens). However, in a weird way the Bengals might be better off this time given the Texans' game yesterday. CJ Stroud had possibly the greatest single game performance by any rookie QB in NFL history, and that will make them very difficult to overlook. They're no pushover, and the Bengals will have to be awake to win. I am optimistic though. I think Anarumo is generally very good against inexperienced quarterbacks, Mike White notwithstanding, and the Houston defense should be ripe for exploitation.

If the Jets lose tomorrow night, the week will end with the entire AFC North in the playoffs.

Good news, everyone! The most attractive woman to ever talk to me on Tinder just texted me out of the blue and said she couldn't stop thinking about where we left off after our first date. She wants to try again. Thanks, volcom!

Hell yes. 5-3 never felt so good.

Damn. I'm glad that drive took as long as it did, but the Bengals still need to churn it out on offense.

Clearly not a catch. Not even close.

Not thrilled with the playcalling inside the 5, but whatever a FG is still very good.

What is going on with these timeouts? Well I hope we don't need one later.

Can't keep blowing timeouts

Technically Pratt forced the fumble, but we'll still give Scott some flowers.

volcom, could you please demand that I date a supermodel tomorrow in this game thread?

Way to go Nick Scott. Tell Stripes on bengalszone.com to eat shit!

Can someone please find a nasty skeleton in the closet of whoever runs Kay Jewelers so I never have to see their ***damn commercials again?

Both defenses have stiffened up in pretty high-leverage situations.

Cool observation by Collinsworth that Pratt and Wilson were both spying Allen on that play. I don't know if I have seen that before. Anarumo is reaching deep into the bag.

Nick Scott was deep single-high on that third down before the timeout. Bad omen.

Best punt of the year for Robbins.

Should consider fair catching these kickoffs at the 1-3 yard line.

Huge play by CTB in the endzone to force the kick.

Bengals controlled time of possession 21-9 minutes too.

Seven different players have multiple catches in the first half: Chase, Higgins, Boyd, Mixon, Sample, Smith, and Hudson. Iosivas has one more. Burrow loves to spread the wealth.

According to Jake Liscow this ref crew throws more flags than any other crew. They're certainly upholding the shtick.