ArmyBengal

Kind of expected that news. Having Trey is a bonus.

Burrow threw the ball 41 times against the Texans. Mixon was the only RB to get a carry, which happened 11 times. The RB's weren't even used in the passing game either. Mixon and Williams both had a combined 3 catches for 1 yard. When they make it so one dimensional, that makes things a lot easier on the defense. Considering they decided to do that without Higgins is at least questionable. That being said, TB should have caught that ball and they still should have won that game.

That leaves either the rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson or PJ Walker for the rest of the season. Ouch from more than one perspective, although I liked DTR coming out of UCLA. Guess we will get to watch and see what happens !!

I won't disagree with that point either Hoosier, but I think it makes me looks harder at Pollack. Even when you go back and look at his time in Dallas, his o-line units were stellar at running the ball, but he was criticized for their pass blocking. That would probably explain why Mixon was so happy to see him return to Cincinnati for his second stint. However, considering we run the ball less than pretty much everyone in the league, maybe he just isn't a fit for what this offense wants to be. Again, I'm speculating, but it's just an interesting situation.

This is going to be the first free agency where the Bengals are going to have to make some really hard decisions. Some may say Bates, Hurst and Perrine presented challenges, but it pales in comparison to this coming off season. On top of Higgins, Jonah and Chido, the Bengals also have Reader and Boyd to figure out. To a lesser degree, they also have contributors like ADG, Sample, Tupou, Irwin, Bailey and even Trayveon Williams at RB. Don't want to forget our 1 year TE Irv Smith Jr. either. Some of those might not be HUGE losses, but they represent people to replace if they don't return. Then there is still paying JaMarr and what 2025 free agency is going to bring. They better hope their draft game is on point, because they are going to need contributors on those rookie deals.

I won't for one minute suggest they haven't tried to fix the o-line. They have spent plenty of time and loads of money on trying to build the line. Yet, they still struggle. I have no idea if it's that the players aren't as good as they thought they were, if it's the scheme, or maybe a combination of everything. However, something has to give. You cannot put that much time and money into the o-line and still be trying to figure it out. I also have no idea who else they could bring in to coach the line, but Pollack's seat should be extremely hot.

I can hand out the pitch forks if it helps.

I will agree that the 49er's and Bills wins were big wins and indicative of what this team is capable of. They should have handled the Texans regardless of how hot they have been and I don't give injuries as a good enough reason. This year's Ravens team simply appears better than the Bengals to me. If I'm being honest, had Lamar not went down with injuries last year, we may not have been the best team then either.

The lack of a pass rush against Stroud was very evident. I blame their inability to pressure Stroud as much as anything else resulting in the "L". They aren't going to be able to sit back and let Lamar have that much time. He will either pick them apart or take off running if things break down. Speaking of running... How they hell do they allow Singletary to break off 150 rushing yards? He was their only RB who had more than 1 carry. No pass rush and allow the backup RB to kill them. UGH !! The Ravens are expected to be without both OT's from what I heard, but we are expected to be without our starting DE's, so no luck there. I just don't have much faith they walk away from this game with a win. They aren't the better team, on the road, injuries, coming off bad beat. Sadly I think we are looking at 5-5 and a rough path to get into the playoff mix. Please surprise me Bengals...

I went down to the game and even my people in town from Houston kept asking what the heck the Bengals were doing. Our guys just looked flat and that is just not ok at this point in the season. Injuries be damned, they still should have beaten the Texans Sunday. They played down and paid the price for it. The o-line is somehow still a concern, despite additions and good overall health. When is the focus going to turn to Pollack? At some point someone has to be held accountable there. Either the players aren't executing or the coach isn't a good fit. Figure it out and fix it. Too much money to perform so poorly. Burrow did not look comfortable with anything the offense was trying to do. He said they made an adjustment to try to make plays with his legs in the 2nd half. They need to do more to make adjustments sooner instead of coming up short and playing from behind all the time. Boyd needs to bring down the ball in the endzone with the game on the line, but I'm not mad at him. I actually feel bad for him. 99% of the time, he hauls that in. Shit happens and this time, it was just poor timing. Not sure what to expect moving forward, but they have dug themselves quite the hole. However, I still feel like this is a team "capable" of getting to the playoffs. Just get there and it's a new ball game. I'm just not sure that's happening at this point when looking forward.

No. No excuses at all. 8 of the 23 on the Texans injury list have been ruled out. Many of those 8 are starters.

Not trying to jinx the whole thing, but even without Higgins and Hubbard, they should still be able to beat the Texans. Again, not that any of this is easy, just saying is all. Next man up and go kick some ass.

Amazingly, Spike appeared to me in the middle of last night. It was glorious. He was clothed in an immense light and free from any earthly pain or physical impediment. And then he looked at me with those cute little hamster eyes. I could see nothing but joy and he had a calmness that was inconceivable to humans. He walked towards me, placed his little paw on my hand and spoke. "FUCK YOU" !!! I think he's still bitter about the whole hammer incident.

Can't wait for this game. We follow the Texans pretty closely here and they are a team that has become fun to watch again. Stroud has certainly worked out and they picked up some players in free agency that have helped as well. Unfortunately for them, they have like 20+ guys injured at the moment and it's going to be hard for them to overcome all the injuries. The one I think hurts them a lot is RB Pierce. They have some other guys in there, but they aren't Pierce, so that helps the Bengals. WR Nico Collins also got dinged up and if he's hobbled, that bodes well for our secondary. TE Dalton Schultz was a great FA pick up and Stroud has benefitted in having him to throw to. Add in rookie WR Tank Dell and they really are a fun team to get behind. All that being said, I don't think the Houston defense will be able to adequately cover all the weapons the Bengals have, even if Chase can't go. That doesn't mean this is going to be a cakewalk by any stretch, but this is a game they should win. The Bengals just have to do what good teams should do, in beating the teams you are suppose to beat. My buddy and his family are flying in from Houston to catch the game at PayCor, so it's going to be a good weekend either way around. The fact it's suppose to be sunny and in the mid 50's in the middle of November is a Godsend !!! Bengals-27 Texans-17

Had to step away for most of the last week. Had a bad case of L.I.F.E. going on at the house. Always interests me just how quickly everything Bengals related is the first thing to let go of when that happens. Nice to come back to it when things get settled !!! Sounds like the TE's really showed out and the offense's coaches had a good game plan for them. Maybe we should randomly select a position group to talk shit about each week from here out. Something I couldn't help but laugh at was the video of the locker room celebration and Irv getting a game ball tossed to him and then him proceeding to drop the toss. I was honestly expecting them to win this game, so not really surprised with the "W". Tanner Hudson everyone. Tanner Hudson. More please.

I blew the leaves out of my yard and moved a couple of bedrooms around.

I’m sure Spike is watching over us smiling. Well, except for the whole hammer thing. I mean honestly though, if he wasn’t such a fat, clumsy, fuck of a hamster, that shit would have never happened. Moving on, we are stepping up the pet game and going with Piranha next. When thinking about Spike in those terms, maybe he got off easy with the hammer…

They should bring him back for another season and let him retire as a Cincinnati Red where he’s played his whole career. If there was ever a case justifying veteran leadership, it’s Votto.

Sounds like a recent hamster incident I had recently. Poor fucker lost traction on the spinning wheel, but that didn’t finish him off either. Dislocated shoulder and lacerations to his face piece didn’t stop him from packing his jaws with food and carrying on. A day later you could tell the infection was going to do him in despite the absolute fearless “Fuck you” look on his face. One solid hit with the hammer and he was finally at peace. We are going to miss you Spike !!

Holy Shit, that's brutal. Hope everyone is ok !!

So now your argument is that Sample is so dominating that defenses are covering him with 4 players? Couldn't the same be said for any player on the field? Meaning that the better matchup is going to get the ball most of the time? When has the skill of our TE's been so on point that they created the better matchup? Still not sure why you are so hell bent on this? I'm going to root for your boy regardless of how much I think he sucks.

Cool, I will be standing by waiting on Smith to do something other than fumble. Like I said, I will be cheering him on. Go Irv !!

No one is on a witch hunt. Merely pointing out that Smith isn't involved to this point, unless someone is arguing that 10 catches in 7 games is productive. No TD's, a fumble and 2 first downs. There was only one ball for Hurst and CJ as well, but they made an impact. Again, I will be cheering for Smith, but he has not made an impact. One ball is not a good argument. My argument about Sample isn't that there's a role for a blocking TE or not. Of course there is. The problem is the guy was a relative unknown that we just had to have in the second round. He wasn't a second round talent and his college production was next to zero until his senior year which was average at best. Hardly the guy you target in the 2nd round of the draft, not to mention other TE's still on the board that year. Worse is overlooking the other talent still on the board. The next 7 picks were WR's. 4 have been to the pro bowl.

Honestly, I was excited when they added Irv Smith. Both Burrow and Chase seemed really excited and he was at 100% health wise. I even gave a pass for the fact that Burrow's calf was bothering him far longer than most would admit to. However, once back on course and the Bengals started their current 3 game win streak, Smith has had 5 catches for 30 yards, no TD's and a fumble. Another aspect to consider is that while Hurst wasn't breaking receiving TD records, he was making plays for first downs. 26 of Hurst's 52 catches were for first downs. Smith has managed 2 first downs in his 10 catches. CJ's last season with us? Yep, 24 of 49 receptions went for first downs. It's not to say Burrow and Smith can't get things going from here on out, I'm just not placing my bet on it happening. I will rooting for it, cheering Smith on, but something tells me there will be more cussing than cheering. Side note: Drew Sample as a 2nd round pick still irritates the hell out of me. I should really let that go. Maybe a therapist could help me work that out. Hokie, where you at brother ??

I think Hurst and Uzomah both were known threats to make plays. Even if they weren’t involved they had to be accounted for. No one really cares what Smith or any other TE is doing for the most part. They are no threat to the defense. Just my take.