Stripes

No idea what Tre Flowers was doing there. That's this entire purpose.

Kevin Huber is a Marvin Lewis era prime time performer.

Another creative possession with Chase out of the backfield. That went nowhere. Creativity isn't the problem.

Defense looks great. Anarumo has been remarkable in preparing for Lamar Jackson. Keep it going. Offense, wake up.

Fucking hell

Nice evidence that "offensive creativity" is a dumb concept for the media to be complaining about all week. That possession didn't lack for creativity.

And then Chase too. North and south, folks.

Super indecisive, Mixon.

Yes. Nice form tackle 1 on 1.

Pleased to hold them to 3 there. There's a theme already in their scripted plays: run outside to capitalize on speed, probably because they don't have to double team Reader inside. Guards are freed up to move.

Big time tackle by Dax Hill.

Huber is making me question the preseason decision at his position.

Yeah we'll see. I think stopping the run might be the single most important thing here.

That's rough, my man.

Ready to roll. Can't get a week 5 game more important than this one. Set the tone in the division, avoid dropping to 0-2 against the AFCN, get over .500 ahead of a softer schedule -- hugely advantageous to win this game. Don't care how it happens. Play ugly as hell and win 10-9 for all I care.

Should be available on ordinary NBC, no cable or streaming needed.

Taylor said earlier in the week that he is confident Tee will play. It looks to me like classic Zac Taylor load management for both of them, and I am fine with that.

Cade York is no Evan McPherson.

Fuck off Brandon Staley

I loved the Shelvin pick at the time, but at this point I’d be stoked to see anything from him. He did make a nice play on 4th down in the Titans playoff game. I guess.

I’d have liked to see one as well. They do seem to like Cam Sample as a versatile option.

They’re probably working on the premise that they already brought in help at those positions on cut down day (Tufele and Asiasi).

Brace for excuses.

Rooting priorities might be interesting this Sunday prior to the Bengals' night game. I will be actively rooting for the Bills to lose to the Steelers. I don't take the latter seriously as a division rival and would view a Bills loss as more valuable to the Bengals than a Steelers loss in the conference standings. It's not as clear for Chargers @ Browns. I'll probably go ahead and root for the Chargers in that one, but it might be a sort of win/win or lose/lose prospect. I don't want Cleveland building any confidence during this Brissett period.

This team rises to the occasion. They’re not perfect, and maybe they hold themselves back sometimes. But they have forged a culture tailor-made for games like this one. This team wins in prime time and in the postseason. That doesn’t mean they’ll absolutely beat the Ravens. Baltimore has a good team that really should be better than 2-2, just like the Bengals. They lost a fluke game to Miami as we lost a fluke game to Pittsburgh. I feel good though. I’m also much less dreary about the coaching staff than the rest of the fanbase seems to be. The offense has sputtered, but that is in line with league-wide trends. Scoring is down. The LIONS lead the NFL in scoring. Things will sort out and we’ll be fine.