Stripes

Huber over Crisman was a poor choice.

Kill them.

Don’t get hopelessly flattened against the run, even if you bend. That’s really the whole game to me.

At least the first pick six was completely the receiver’s fault. But when you have to say first pick six… yikes.

It’s not a sure bet, but the Dolphins are probably a bigger playoff berth obstruction to the Bengals than the Steelers are. If Baltimore wins the division then these things matter.

Browns @ Ravens Steelers @ Dolphins Probably rooting for the road team in both games for the Bengals’ sake this week.

Mike Santagana (via Locked On) seemed to think it was a mixed bag for Tufele, showing some good things and also getting plastered on a play or two. For a #3 NT, I would be happy with a mixed bag.

This isn’t to criticize Army or TJ, because they’re hardly alone in having some concerns about the linebacker room. I suspect though that at least some of it stems from a dated perception of defensive structure. If we’re still thinking in 4-3/3-4 terms, it will look barren just by pure numbers. But linebackers are just less important than they once were around the league, and the Bengals (as well as most other teams) simply don’t keep very many of them anymore. When you only have two on the field for most of the game, it’s just not wise to spend roster spots on the position. As running backs wane in importance, so do linebackers. The running game in general is fast becoming obsolete. Run-heavy teams used to be Super Bowl contenders 20 years ago, and now they’re just “teams with subpar quarterbacks”.

I think they’re high on ADG, and Pratt is solid. The two of them might be all you need, and Johnston has a lot of snaps to his name if needed. I think it’s a pretty deep room.

I think it’s more that the receiver was already falling down and the ball was unlikely to be caught regardless of Dax. That’s not to take away from him. Nice play, rookie.

Losing Wilson is definitely a problem for a team already struggling to stop the run. I do believe in Pratt, ADG, Johnston, and Bailey enough though that I tend to focus my worries more on the interior defensive line. The rotation was already thin before Tupou got hurt. They really need to bring in a body alongside Tufele (and Tupou if he can go), because Shelvin isn't going to cut it.

"New" Guy is in his third year! We need a new moniker, TJ! This is very important!

That is a much bigger spread than I expected.

Doesn’t sound dumb, it sounds like standards.

Atlanta has been running the ball. They’re like a poor man’s Ravens.

Bill Walsh and Bill Belichick relied on some particularly legendary quarterbacks.

I think the probabilities are meaningless anyway, because it’s just frequentist and not causal. Most 3-3 teams are less talented than this one, and they probably aren’t tied atop their divisions either.

Most of them don’t have Joe Burrow

Just skipped out of BW3s like a five year old girl

FUCK YES Giants up on Ravens too

At least we can’t get Tuckered

Defense will have to continue not allowing TDs.

Lmao

Don’t score too fast.

Probably a game losing and perhaps season losing sequence. Just completely disappointing. Make one stop and we’ll see.