Stripes

Agreed. I don't think "the 49ers are angry" or "they really want to get a win" mean anything whatsoever. They've proven the last two weeks that they are vulnerable, so the Bengals can beat them. They'll have to be on top of their shit obviously, but I don't view this as some kind of unreasonable underdog situation.

They did, by the way. The Steelers were almost definitely short on a 4th down to ice the game, but they had it handed to them. Bad bye week all around.

Last season the Bengals sat at 4-4 coming off of their worst loss of the season in Cleveland. We looked at the schedule and saw a gauntlet from hell. They won all of them. 12-4. That probably won't happen again, but at least we know they have been here before. They need to find a way to at least split SF and Buffalo. If they can achieve that, I will feel okay.

As it happens, the least important game remaining is probably... this one. For tiebreaking purposes, these NFC games are useless. And every win so far is an NFC win. That's the problem. The Bengals will just have to win enough games that they don't need tiebreakers. For a playoff berth, that's probably 11 wins? Which would demand an 8-3 finish. Woof.

I'm more optimistic about the Rams, and I might even say that game is our best chance for help. The Lions are excellent, but I worry about how their roster build will fare for them in a road AFC North game (especially Jared Goff). Browns at Colts might be a pipe dream, though I do love the "trap" potential coming right out of their squeaker upset over an undefeated opponent. It's speculation so who knows, but I have high hopes.

I’m not convinced Chase Brown is good. I thought he looked rough in the preseason, and his limited regular season snaps haven’t been an improvement.

I'm not ready to project the season. Everything rests on Burrow. If he finds himself, they're immediately a top team in the league again (I think Higgins would find himself in concert by default). If he continues to sputter through the injury trouble, then it's hard to see a playoff berth. The bye week came at an important moment, and I think they'll need to find a way to take one between SF and BUF.

The unfortunate thing about 3-3 is that all three of the wins are against the NFC. Going to need to string together AFC wins or otherwise avoid tiebreakers.

Defense A+ Offense F

Weak call, but he didn't catch it anyway. Hate the playcall.

I hope Joe didn't tweak the calf again. Something happened.

Game isn't over. Need this first down. Lean on Ja'Marr.

Pass rush came alive when we needed them most.

Hopeless checkdown. How can we not get anyone open enough to at least attempt a throw? I don't need wide open; I need a chance.

Defense is absolutely hanging in there. We can't blow this for them. Let's go.

Three straight bad throws. Need Evan here.

Career game for CTB. I think he's the CB1 right now.

God just sneak the fucking ball. Why. And fuck punting.

Just sneak it

Two straight drives where the defense bends to the brink but then holds up inside the ten.

Another huge play by CTB.

Hill definitely tried to lead with his shoulder, but the helmet connected with the helmet. Just shit luck.

Volson continues to be a glaring weak link.

Hell yeah Hilton

Force it to Chase. Bummer.