Stripes

I’d prefer the Chargers win, because I think they’d be more likely to knock off the Chiefs in the next round.

I have a huge job interview on Monday, so I am just going to count on this game to leave me in the proper sprits. I can't afford to attend though, and perhaps that's for the best.

Between Lamar Jackson informing the world himself on Twitter that he isn't good to go, Sammy Watkins lamenting the mindset of his quarterback ( https://twitter.com/RussellStReport/status/1613966212341309441?s=20&t=Atth0T1bqGSZ09o0c1rUyA ), and John Harbaugh treating it all like the most irrelevant stuff on Earth ( https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1613960619182407681 ), it seems pretty evident that this nonsense is going to infect that organization the whole offseason. That's even true if Jackson legitimately wants to play in this game but can't.

I might agree, though I'm not certain. Anthony Brown's performance last week was very high-variance, in that he committed some bad turnovers and struggled to complete passes -- but he was also able to push the ball down the field (280 yards on 19 completions). I think their ranges of outcomes in terms of points scored look roughly like this (just educated guesses): Brown --> 6 to 24 Huntley --> 13 to 21 Let's score in the upper 20s and make sure it doesn't matter.

The line keeps scooting pro-Bengals (-9.5 or -10 now mostly) and the Ravens QB news worsens.

In truth I expect the division to be easier for the Bengals in 2023 than it was in 2022. The Ravens have been on the slow descent to offensive irrelevance even with Jackson, and if he should happen to depart by any means they nosedive. The Steelers are ever capable and should be taken seriously, but the Bengals have no business finishing behind them. The Browns are about to lose some important core players and are already the worst team in the division. They might rebound if Watson finds himself, but only while the rest of the roster degrades. Anything can happen, and who knows what the offseason will bring. But that's my immediate view.

Clearly the Bengals' opponents are better than the Browns' opponents. That's the beautiful thing about becoming a perennial division winner. I do believe though that all three of the Jets, Broncos, and Bears will be better next season than they were this season. Cleveland better hope they do the same for their own sake.

Good news for Tee.

Brown almost put up 300 yards. He made mistakes, but he might provide higher variance outcomes for the Ravens offense than Huntley (higher ceiling/lower floor). A lot of people on the Ravens boards want Brown again if it isn’t Jackson.

Appears Tee Higgins isn’t practicing today. Hopefully his hip doesn’t become an issue.

Nice. Keep Lamar pissed at least until Monday.

Agreed. I’m also more confident in Burrow’s ability to manage pressure. And none of these playoff teams have Aaron Donald.

I’d be pretty surprised if he isn’t. A rolled ankle takes a while. I could maybe see him ready for the Super Bowl if I am optimistic.

When they were building the LB unit and drafted four of them over two years, I thought their mindset was to reverse the dreadful past trend by throwing darts and hoping a reasonable number of them hit. I'm not even sure they could have expected they'd end up here: 2019 - Pratt --> darkhorse all-pro candidate 2020 - Wilson --> widely regarded as one of the league's best young LBs 2020 - ADG --> valuable enough depth that losing one of the above doesn't feel like an emergency 2020 - Bailey --> excellent special teamer and depth That doesn't account for the other two quality guys either (Bachie and Johnston). I don't blame you, Army, for needing to be convinced. Since I started following this team, it's almost certain that the worst roster unit overall has been the LB group. It was simply never good. Occasionally there was one guy that had promise (Thurman) or one guy that overshadowed other weak spots (Simmons, Burfict), but it was never a good unit until this regime.

The Bengals are undoubtedly the better team in 14 of 17 games. The question marks are KC, BUF, and SF. If BAL drops off as much as I think they will, this schedule looks very kind. Of course, we'll see where things are after free agency and the draft. I wonder which of those teams will be coming to Cincinnati for the league's 2023 season opener.

Easily the best season of Bengals linebacking I have ever seen as a fan.

AFCN could be weaker, NFCW is crap, AFCS is crap, Vikings are a weak first place opponent, Chiefs and Bills are strong. Good chance the Bengals are the toughest opponent on the schedule for [nearly] all of them.

I doubt anyone we know is getting signed. Perhaps there’s a practice squad pluck (like that Raiders DT in the playoffs last year).

Joe finished the regular season with 40 total TDs (35 passing, 5 rushing) and 14 turnovers (12 INTs, 2 fumbles). Arguably the best statistical season ever for a Bengals QB (the MVPs, Burrow last year, and maybe Palmer 2005 have a case too).

Burrow’s outward confidence is something seen more often from NBA greats (e.g., Kobe, Jordan, Garnett).

Sunday night at 8:15 on NBC.

Dropping this prediction for the hell of it to see how wrong I am about league priorities: [no idea how to get rid of my own copy/paste highlight on mobile] Saturday at 4 — LAC @ JAX Saturday at 8 — NYG @ MIN Sunday at 1 — MIA @ BUF Sunday at 4 — BAL @ CIN Sunday at 8 — GB @ SF Monday — DAL @ TB If the Packers lose, put SEA in their place and swap the Sat/Sun night games.

The Bengals started 0-2 and lost their first three division games. Let us never throw in the towel on a Joe Burrow team. I almost did myself at the bleakest point in the @ New Orleans game when things were looking like 2-4.

Mahomes is getting PAID, and the Chiefs are the 1-seed again. It can be done.