HoosierCat

It seems like it ought to be noted that opportunities for the tight ends don't appear to be limited much this year versus last season. TEs averaged 5.4 targets a game in 2022 compared to 4.1 so far this season. The problem is that half those targets this year have been at Irv, who sucks. OTOH, Hudson's few targets (6) have resulted in 4 catches for 48 yards, a 12-yard average that atm leads the team. (And yes, I fully expect that will drop with more receptions.) This is why I fully support Anybody But Irv at TE.

Chase and Mixon do. Everyone else? Eh, not so much. Of the 82 firsts the offense has generated through the air, 40 have come from Chase. The next closest guy is Tee with...13. On the ground, Mixon has 26 of 36 firsts (and 7 of the rest belong to Burrow). As for the TEs eating, well, if they're going to catch up to last year (and the Bengals were hardly devoid of WR talent in 2022) they're going to have to make like a hot dog eating contest. Haden and Wilcox combined for 32 first downs last year. This year, through seven games Irv and Tanner have 2 apiece. Last year, the Bengals had eight players who generated double-digit first downs rushing or receiving (or in Mixon and Perine's cases, both). This year so far they have four. At his current pace, Irwin will make it five by the end of the year. Bottom line, the offense isn't as versatile as it was last year, and the missing production from Hurst (and Perine) is clearly part of the reason why. Sure, as seen in SF they can still move the ball and score without them, but you better pray nothing happens to Chase (missed 5 games in 2022) or Mixon (limited with a chest injury this week) because they are in trouble if either one misses time.

Baby: Bengals RB Joe Mixon was limited at today's practice with a chest injury, according to the team's injury report. Ugh. Most of the offense runs through Mixon and Chase atm. Hope it’s not serious.

He shoulda stuck with Hue.

Looks like they heard our complaints over on the free agent thread.

Everyone does apparently.

Yeah, Williams has been great. https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/2023/10/31/bengals-jonah-williams-problem-2023/ Unfortunately I think the chances of retaining him are pretty low, so we are likely looking at using yet another high draft pick on OT next year.

First shoe of the season drops in Vegas: The Las Vegas Raiders fired coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler late Tuesday night, less than two years after coming to Southern Nevada from New England. Linebackers coach Antonio Pierce was named interim coach and Champ Kelly was promoted from assistant G.M. to interim general manager. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38791276/next-las-vegas-raiders-firing-coach-josh-mcdaniels-gm-dave-ziegler

Lions replace Marvin Jones with Peoples-Jones. Browns get a 6. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38788216/lions-trade-pick-browns-wr-donovan-peoples-jones

JTO with the breakdown. https://youtu.be/WIVOP4KO-eo?si=Lj--ShNeuiXZ4-el

Hear those sirens? That the fire sale in DC. Montez Sweat to Chicago for a second, and former first rounder Chase Young to SF for a third. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38786847/sources-bears-trading-commanders-montez-sweat

So another week in the books. In addition to the Browns and Steelers losing, the Bengals gained from the Texans' choke job against Carolina, moving up from 10th to 9th in the AFC playoff race behind the pesky Jets. Though tied overall with Cleveland and Pitt, they fall behind both due to multiple tiebreakers, so for now they remain the only AFC North team not in the playoffs. Matchups this week: Titans @ Steelers (Thursday night): Steelers looked awful last weekend and might have to start Trubisky this week, while rookie QB Will Levis threw 4 TDs in his first start for Tennessee. So hopefully both trends continue. Thursday games are notoriously unpredictable though. Cardinals @ Browns: I mean, Carolina won last week so any given Sunday, right? Yeah, I know, probably not. Seahawks @ Ravens: Probably Ravens. If it were in Seattle I'd say probably Seahawks. Chargers @ Jets (MNF): Chargers should crush them but even if they do they are right behind us at 3-4 now, so the Bengals swap one threat for another.

From Baby on Threads. So good news.

I would prefer giving Murphy more snaps. He did score one solo tackle yesterday, which sounds lame but he only had 9 snaps, so it isn't like he had much of a chance to get going. Bringing back Lawson would only make the choice of Murphy in the first more of a question mark. If they thought he was worth a first round pick and they have an opportunity to play him, they should do it!

Bills sign Fournette to their PS. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bills-signing-rb-leonard-fournette-to-practice-squad-as-team-adds-to-backfield/

Yeah, it's been a while since I was as little stressed watching a game as I was yesterday. After that insane scramble-completion on the first drive, you knew it was going to be a good, if nutty, day. My biggest concerns coming out of it are: 1. Hendrickson's foot/ankle. I know he came back in and was making plays, so it doesn't seem like it was serious, but all the same I will be happy to see him spend this week resting it. 2. Purdy problems. Despite Trent Williams being out they struggled to either get pressure on, or contain, Purdy. Occasionally he just made them look silly (the Hilton free rusher wiff being a standout wtf play). I'm honestly less concerned about the pressure part, it happens, but any scheme that left the kind of open field running opportunities Purdy had I have to question. (And yes I could mention TE but that horse is dead and beaten to dust...)

Bengals open as favorites but just by 1.5. https://bvmsports.com/2023/10/30/cincinnati-bengals-favored-against-the-buffalo-bills-in-upcoming-game/

Roughing calls have gotten so random I've pretty much quit complaining about them. Burrow took some shots, I don't recall anything egregious but I'm sure my opinion could be changed. The roughing call at the end was made I think because Purdy's head bounced off the turf pretty noticeably; the takedown itself was pretty unremarkable imo. Really tho I can't complain about the refs yesterday.

Defense as a whole has started to remind me of the 2005 defense. As you might remember they were a middling D overall but had a nose for the ball. “Opportunistic” was the popular description. Finished first in the league in picks that year with 31. This year they were No. 2 with eight before adding two more last night.

Oh fine they get the strip sack to end it

And Hilton ends it…oh damnit

Can I say that I really appreciate the cbs announcers for sucking the bengals dicks all day. It was nice to be on the receiving end of that bias for once.

Browns lose 24-20

COFFIN NAILS

Yes pound the rock great run mixon