Stripes

Awesome job defense!

7 point deficit after all that nonsense is a gift. Gotta start the half strong on defense and get Anarumo’s best.

Long game ahead. Obviously not ideal, but this team has earned the trust that they will find a way to stay in it.

Remember that time you complained about the usual suspects in the game thread

Yes. Scharping is having a tough time with Chris Jones.

Holding them to two FGs is a big win.

The 49ers defense is keeping them breathing. They'd be a very fortunate Super Bowl opponent if they can pull off a shocker here.

Just another game day paycheck for Browning.

I care 0% about the bulletin board material. The Bengals are too good a team, and the AFCCG is too deep in the playoffs, for that to tip any scales. The Chiefs are too, frankly. Just ready to finally play the damned game.

There is no way in hell Kelce misses the game.

Yeah that one made me laugh. If there's any such thing as a "bulletin board" edge, the Chiefs could have held that edge by leaving it all at "Burrowhead". But Willie Gay just evened the scales, so good one dude.

Revisiting perhaps my favorite play of the regular season: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KgVYhLLZZU

The Bengals were awesome against Dawson Knox on Sunday. Obviously he is no Kelce, but it leaves me optimistic since they were operating without Flowers. They seem to have a defensive answer for every crisis (I was terrified of Diggs against Apple/CTB too, and he did nothing). The safeties, Dax, and Flowers should combine to give Kelce a significant challenge -- certainly more than Jacksonville did. They basically just let him do whatever he wanted.

Either he’s drugged up for practice or he’s fine. They’ll be ready regardless.

I will be performing all the necessary voodoo to enhance and repair Cappa's ankle so that he may join in the domination.

A few low-level implications of the game Sunday: Win, and Joe Burrow is the most successful Bengals QB ever by any inspired measure. Win, and Zac Taylor is the most successful Bengals coach ever by any inspired measure. Win, and Ja'Marr Chase is two for two in the category "play NFL season, play in Super Bowl" (same goes for all 2021 picks). Win, and Mike Brown will have as many Super Bowl appearances as the owner as his father had. Obviously the journey doesn't end there, and there are bigger goals. But these are still remarkable prospects.

The Patriots were a trash can before Brady showed up. This is how it has worked for decades, and folks are still slow to accept it outside the fanbase. And then, when they finally come to realize that their initial impression was wrong... many move straight to hating instead of commending. So fuck 'em. Let's win a Lombardi.

It's gotta feel weird to be Chris Lammons this week.

I don't quite trust PFF's accounts of OL play in general. Burrow did have to step up in the pocket a few times though, and it's possible they charge a pressure even for that. I'm not sure.

I don't have the run-blocking grades on-hand.

Everyone was solid other than Adeniji, who was middling (if I recall). Carman received strong marks in pass protection.

Looks like I was just promoted to the rank of message board "mentor". Oh gee whiz. If any zoners are looking for mentorship, I charge $300 per hour.

I would have like a more encouraging report for Karras than that, but I will just plug my ears and lalalalalala until I see an injury report.

I don’t care if Apple wants to troll. Whatever gets him going, fine. Just don’t include the emoji everyone associates with Damar Hamlin in it. That’s not right.

That’s going to be a memorable experience, Army and Jr.