AMPHAR

Just have a horrible feeling one of these years they get bit by going 0-2 and slip to 0-3. Once again with the start of the season is a big buz kill. Last year it was calf drama non stop and 0-2. This year is Chase drama non stop 0-2. If only the NFL had practice games they could use to get ready for the season. Stats or records wouldn't count but they could probably televise and sell tickets.

Rex Ryan on one of those ESPN shows says Chiefs don't want a rematch with Bengals. In summary Lou has figured out Mahomes add in Higgins. I wish they would be saying that with a Bengals win from yesterday.

To me the ref behind the line was done calling penalties and was content to "let them play" on the 4th and 16. He had called several penalties prior in Bengals favor. He was done. While the secondary ref was looking to call something. You get a PI that basically hands them a game winning FG attempt; kudos to their kicker. But ignore the bear hug pass pro on the same play. KC tackles are trash. They are basically daring the ref crew to ruin the game then come playoff time they'll get away with murder.

I believe Battle was active on special teams. You could kinda tell in preseason and TC he was not going to be big factor early on IF everyone remained healthy. I don't know why fans consider Battle to be some defensive stopper. He landed on a PFF list one time. Just like William Jackson 111 then fans run with it. PFF is crap. Battle has potential but was just as unreliable as any other safety last year.

Week 1 Joe just didn't see the field very well. They let opportunities slip out of their hand allowing NE to play keep away. They ran 48-50 plays with Chase playing 83% of the snaps. Just hard to consistently force the ball to J'mar player in that circumstance. I do think Joe had a chance to get him the ball on a couple more occasions week 1. Week 2 Joe clearly found other targets. Moved the ball very well. When the all-22 break downs come we'll see if any chances were there for Chase that would turn a FG into a TD or a 3rd down into a first down. I'd say the biggest issue that would change 2 close loses into wins would be ball security. Then better 3rd down performance from an offensive view point. The 0-2 start sucks once again and they have issues to address but this team could easily run off a win streak. Chase eventually will uncork a big day. Higgins I guess with return and now they have a handful of guys that can supplement them that will only cement roles going forward.

I'm thinking Bengals this week with the win.

Its hard to understanding his thinking. 1. Current - He can get $1m or $30m (already been paid roster bonus $3m) 2. Next year - He can get $21m or another $30m. So $60m vs. $22m 3. Year 3 a little murky without details. But the new money is avp $35m. So he's looking at $90-$95m the next 3 years or $47m. That 3 year range is in with CeeDee and JJ. Plus he'll have more total money. What's the fucking problem? Running around on the field risking that much difference to gain what exactly? Chase being let go in 2027 would benefit him IF he is among the best still. At that point he'd have $70m remaining with 27,28,29 seasons to go. He probably beats that. I don't get running around on the field with injury risk when you are looking at instant $29m bump and accumulative potential $40-$45m bump the next 3 years. What's to gain exactly? His market won't drastically reset higher. There's more risk it goes down.

Hard to really see Chases side of things, IMO. Without the seeing details he'd be around $90m for 2024,25, and 26 seasons. Status quo would get him $50m JJ would collect more in the first 3 years but less overall. Not really understanding Chase's strategy. Doesn't seem like a whole lot to gain while risking a bunch.

The last drive suggest wrist watch. I feel better after watching the Goodberry video. 1. Pat played excellent D. A lot 2 deep, 4 across underneath. Good rally to the ball. 2. Bengals protected well. Had answers for the few blitzes. 3. Early; Burrow didn't take easy outlets to RBs the Pats deep coverage. I think he saw them just decided not to. 4. Bengals clearly adjusted and were successful in attacking coverage. But unforced errors (Gesicki dropped TD, Hudson fumble, Jones fumble, Multiple drops) kept the momentum with the Pats. Allowed to keep being conservative on offense. Either bad play call or great D call. On the 4th and 2 screen. Did Burrow check into it? Don't know. Last drive is the mystery. He had a look and routes that indicated a deep shot should be taken. Good pass pro. Didn't take it and invented pressure. Why? "you gotta go high Cole, pick a line and you can drive through it". Burrow won't continue to play this bad. They'll be fine was my take away.

As predicted a lot of Bengal conversation following the loss. Pick your topic 1. Need to get Chase target 2. Yoshi sucks 3. Run more Can't do it if your QB can't convert 3rd downs. Just several instances of bad pressure on 3rd downs and throwing before the markers that didn't result in conversions. Can't do all the running, targeting when your only running 50 some plays.

Oddly complainant filing the lawsuit a lady named Lea H. Dee.

Chase/Joe/Higgins all will benefit from a huge offensive production day. Until that day happens the drama will continue. You do have to be careful about what you are reading now a days because one of the annoyance's of sports betting are the click bait articles preying on sports gamblers. You kinda have to wait for the injury reports.

Yeah Lap let it be known the league thinks that was a TD. I do believe the defense is and has been soft. They simply have never been "Zimmer like" under Lou. Lou for the most part has bend but don't break unit that has come up huge in several important games. But it bleeds yards. If the offense is stuck in low gear it exposes that defense, IMO. Patriots didn't roll up a bunch of points, but they were able to bleed time and limit possessions because of missed or I think mostly soft tackling. Offense puts up a smidge of production in the first half, the Pats can't sit back there and play dump off, run the ball and expect to win. Unfortunately due to a TO on the goal line and another TO early in the first half it cemented the Pats ability to play stall ball. But the defense is soft. The All-22 constantly show bad angles, bad run fits, and just flat out poor effort in tackling and/or tackling the ball for TO. Which has rewarded them at times. Some of that is not being in game shape because they simply don't practice hard in TC. Even the prized Free Agent from big bad Baltimore defense had a horrible missed tackle.

Hard to defend Chase if any of that is true. $36m per year average.

I said this before the season. If they are not running 70 plays a game this is the problem you'll run into. Its up to Joe to convert 3rds. He couldn't and as a result could only run 48 plays. He just wasn't good and if the pressure numbers are correct then it looks even worse. However, I think 2 sacks came on 3rd downs. But if you are only running 48 plays you can't run all these guys in and out.

The Pats game seemed like a mirror image of last year's home opener vs. Ravens. Inconsistent on O. Turnovers. Inability to score early allows the running team to play their way. Lou's defense has never been a lock down defense top 10 yardage, I don't think. It seems like its always been Bend/Don't break - tighten up in red zone. Fine. His defenses have had big moments. But in a game were the offense can't sustain drives that defensive reality just dooms them over the game. Then you put the ball on the ground on a punt return. Bengals 4 drives in the 2nd half. 2 scoring. The 2 non scoring they threw the ball short of the markers on 3rd or 4th down. 1 was a 4th and 2 and they threw a 1 yard pass. I hate to point to the finger at Joe Burrow but on a 3rd and 10 are WRs not open down field to target, the best option is a 5 yard pass to a RB. Then again 1 yard pass to WR on a 4th and 2. Is the protection breaking down so fast? Guys not open? Missing open guys?

Schemes only go so far. People accept a bad O-line so much its not looked at a critical factor. Fans and especially local meida don't like to say bad things about Joe Burrow. They ran 48 plays. This is directly related failures on 3rd down and the occasional 4th down attempt. I'll wait for the All-22 break downs but I believe 2 of the sacks came on 3rd down and they threw short of the markers multiple times that did not convert into 1st downs. NFL rules are pretty clear you have 4 downs to gain 10 or you don't get anymore plays. They can't feed the ball to any one particular player running 48 plays. The OL is an accepted failure, fans are tired of harping on it. 3rd down is a QB's down and Burrow flat out didn't get it done while probably facing pressure on most of them. Factor in 2 TOs and poor soft tackling allowing the Pats to grind off time before they punt and the game flips pretty easily. The NFL isn't SEC vs. OVC. You give any NFL team those advantages historically you lose.

Time to run on our own gas! Chase really needs a huge day. Talk about a PR disaster for him. He admits the organization is there on $$$ just need to move some things. Combined with the leaks that the contract would make him the highest paid and he comes off as a diva the whole weekend. So your mad at the organization for trying to make you the highest paid WR 2 years early? Then you throw up 64 yards. He really could use an elite day in KC.

Just bad on 3rd down. Pay a QB that much. You must protect him better on at least 3rd down and he's got to convert them. Couldn't do it today, so it translates to 48 plays being run. Can not feed the ball to anybody with that 3rd down performance and that number of plays.

Watson has a 100% guaranteed contract. Cutting him does nothing for the Browns other than destroy their cap for a couple seasons.

On second thought. Check down all day. Once again no protection. No points. A whole lot of cap room hung up on that offense and not scoring until the 3rd quarter blows. 3 sacks again. Just the standard around here anymore.

Here we go again. Prime time football week 3 looking to avoid 0-3 to save the season from disaster. The formula to beat them is out there. 2 deep. Rush 4. Grind it out on offense. Franchise tag player sitting on the sidelines. Another WR can't sign the highest WR contract in the league based on structure is a 10 yard average WR. This is why when he asks for a JJ contract you point out he's never produced JJ numbers. Never. Line sucks again. Standard 3 sack game if full effect along with constant pressure off and on again running room.

This isn't the SEC vs the OVC. Its week 1 NFL. 1. Upsets happen straight up and even more against the spread. Every year. Survivor pools are normally cut in half or greater. 2. Superbowl contention is nil and void week one or even 1st month. Just manage the first month and try avoid putting your playoff chances on life support. 5-5 after 10 games will have you alive for numerous playoff paths. Everyone is all fired up because this team hopefully does great things. I hope they will. Remove all the emotion and the hot takes. They could lose this game with Chase/Higgins and still be the best team come playoff time. I think they win, but if they don't I'll never confuse Joe Burrow with Andy Dalton. Like never.

Chase already confirmed he's playing.

Its coming from gambling and fantasy reports. Those articles are notorious click bait as people are setting their line up. Both Chase and Higgins have no leverage at this point. Its play, produce, or don't get all of what you demand. Simple. Higgins can't be in and out of the line up coming off a sub-700 yard season and expect his top offer. If Chase goes nuclear and starts effing around, then the Bengals sit on him for 3 seasons and only consider trading when they can fleece somebody. It beyond obvious there's a significant offer he could sign today. Going nuclear just puts that enormous pay day at risk.