AMPHAR

Bengals are projected to have $70m in cap room. With 17 UFA, some of which are very important contributors. Most importantly that $70m in cap room includes $9.8 for Chase so an extension is certainly possible.

I think Joe Burrow is coming to the LOS with options and freedom to change play a large percentage of the game. The resulting ratio and targets are going to be based on how he interprets a defense. I think the days of calling "54" cross power trap and locking Burrow into that play are long gone.

There is no shit creek in the NFL sitting at 5-5 with a franchise QB. This was true in the 80s. Its certainly true with an extra game and extra playoff spot.

Burrow/Chase. I'm not sure why anyone would completely count them out. That's why the whole NFL ranked them top 5. That's why the whole NFL would have dumped a ton of money in their lap. The fun part is Baltimore can say the same thing about some of their players. I think the Bengals come out on top in a tight game.

Ravens are up and down just as much as the Bengals and have had injuries just the same. Sure them winning puts them in the driver seat, but I would not crown them. Anyway the Bengals probably win tonight and I wouldn't crown them either. The NFL is smart with TV. There will be playoff scenarios out the ying yang the last 3 weeks involving probably the majority of the AFC. I would think any team hovering around .500 this late with Burrow at QB would be involved in quite a few of them. Probably a few division scenarios as well. Any talk of "must win" is just another uninformed useless hot take preying on emotions.

The NFL is designed for this type of drama week to week. Each week is a new set of hot takes on how the season progresses. When there was only 6 seeds, 5-5 was a decent spot to be in. Adding a game, Adding a playoff spot, and back loading the schedules with division/conference games probably makes 5-5 a better position than before. Nothing is earned or lost regardless of the results tonight. The results simply kick off a new set of hot takes. Any team hovering around .500 this late that can reasonably expect high level QB play as Burrow and Jackson have shown; should not be counted out of anything with 7 games to play, IMO. I would not count Houston out because CJ is playing very high level football. But if you look at it reasonably. It took an awesome QB game from CJ along with 2 4th quarter Ints, and a dropped TD pass to stop the Bengals from winning 5 in a row. The Bengals probably roll tonight in a tight one, but they aren't in the clear for playoffs or division.

I think the $7m over includes the roll over of $34m if I'm reading Spotrac correctly.

Ouch. They made some cap decisions, which I assume was to capitalize on a window. Well last year eroded because of suspension, this year just tragic bad luck and Watson was not an elite QB ever this year. They have some cap headaches that are not impossible to overcome but they'll have to draft extremely well or hope they did these past couple years. Cleveland looks to already be over next year's projected cap by $7m and have 22 guys hitting some form of FA. Not good.

I just keep wondering when the pitch forks are going to come out for Pollack like they were for Alexander. Alexander had years in which his line allowed less than 20 sacks and was still a punching bag. Last week vs. Bills following an INT, a slew of OL penalties completely shit canned a drive to a point they couldn't even attempt a FG. This week vs. Houston there were so many untimely sacks and penalties its sad. Fans just seem to be OK with a 2/3 sacks a game average with 8/9 QB hits/pressure. It'd be a miracle to be below 35 on a season with this guy.

Boring fundamental football gives the best chance to slow Lamar. Contain, don't rush past the Qb, tackle. As soon as 1 element falls out of place, good chance he will burn them. Very difficult to do because they have an array plays that they option the DE in the run game as well. But tackling is the biggest issue because they are going to get theirs with that O-line just try to limit the damage. The one down side to Logan and Pratt is they tackle the football and that can lead to a few extra yards. The Ravens are league leaders in fumbles so hopefully the Bengals can pop one loose and not give up too many extra yards in the process of trying to create fumbles. But you can see in every game vs. Ravens the DEs are not hell bent in beating the tackle around the edge in pass rush. They try not to rush too deep because you can't let Lamar up in the pocket. Similar in the run game there's a lot of option action with Lamar and a RB. A lot of times the DE has to be disciplined in holding ground.

They should also open a Blantons station, only to be sold out and never available.

FC Cincinnati sells "das boot" which is a plastic mug in form of a leg and foot/soccer cleat. Its 20+ oz. Refills cheaper once you buy "das boot". Cincinnati Bengals need to sell " Das Mcpherson Leg" draft beers.

I'm leaning towards cheering for Browns. Of course Bengals must beat Houston. If they do, then they are tied in the loss column going into Baltimore on Thursday.

Elite QB. Elite WR. The 2nd tier skill guys are very capable on this team. The TEs are specialized for example: Sample's TD was off Max protect vs. man coverage. When his guy added to the blitz on the outside, Sample released and Joe properly recognized it and Sample showed a good deal of athlete by getting in the endzone. 2 first down receptions to Tanner were off screen actions to Chase, the defenders jump the screen and Tanner fake blocks and slips in the secondary. Irv's TD was direct result of Buffalo using 3 people to cover Mixon and Chase on the opposite end; leaving Irv to beat 1 v. 1 coverage. My guess they'll continue to work all 3 these guys in based on their strengths and whatever mind games they are playing with the defense.

Just hope the Raiders can hang a loss on the Chiefs.

Classic trap game.

Striped Jungle was cool. OL played great. Left some points on the field so not a perfect game but very good. Pass rush was mostly focused on limiting play extending ability of Allen. TE is what it is. They play multiple guys at the spot and eventually the Franchise QB will find them when the coverage dictates IF given time to do so.

Hit one the other day. Amazingly no damage to the car. I have no idea how that happened, but glad it did.

I just think its funny. 2 TDs scored when TEs clearly drew coverage away and left 1v1 match ups. All I've said is the hand wringing over TE is overblown. They are clearly using Sample various protections and run blocking. They are clearly creating formations at times for Irv Smith. Its plain as day. They motion Boyd into a bunch formation with Smith, Higgins. They count on them drawing coverage away. Boyd works the 1 v 1 match up and wins with a great ball by Burrow. At some point the ball could go to Higgins or Smith. If TE wasn't a threat they could put a number of players in that bunch. At some point other players are going to eat. Its pretty clear IF fans on message boards use the resources available to them and watch film reviews done by former NFL professionals.

Iosivas scored his 2nd career TD, while 4 defenders surrounded Sample, lol Boyd scored his TD after motion into a bunch formation with Smith and Higgins. 9ers elected man coverage on that bunch which left Boyd open versus a better match up. Go look for yourself its on JTO's, Caskey and Lap's film review.

Yeah but side stepping the point, I think. CJ or Hayden would not have saved this offense from Burrow's issues weeks 1-6. Anyone with an honest bone will admit there were not catches to be made or yards to be gained in those first 6 because he simply wasn't accurate. They got completely shut down in 2 games. A 3rd the Ravens played keep away. 4th/5th/6th they absolutely left points on the board and many of that stemming from player error. Hayden averaged 4 catches and 32 yards in his first 7 games. Irv Smith hasn't even played 7 games and vs. SF he was about as involved as Hayden with 4 catches 25 yards while losing snaps to Sample, Irwin, Iosivas. With a Healthy Burrow this offense is going to continue to Churn out first downs, run more plays and eventually some TE on the team or a combo will put the witch hunt to bed. There's no way in hell with a healthy Burrow they are only going to gain 260 yards per game the rest of the way.

Better start cooking hot dogs

Can't play more than 11 on offense and there's only 1 ball. The offense struggled early and people are on a witch hunt. Bengals continue to churn out first downs and run 60+ plays eventually the TE group will eat in one or more these games. Irv Smith is more athletic than Hayden or CJ (which were very athletic). It will come. Volson/Karras don't give up pressure and Irv would have had a 60+ yard play and this isn't even a target. If your favorite team is going to AFC Champ games. The 2nd round pick is playing and has a role even as a blocking TE, Let it go they obviously know what they are doing.

Its just not that important with this current group of skill guys. The last two games, 8/9 guys are getting targets/receptions. They currently running various formations and route combo because they have so much talent and versatility in the WR core. Hayden Hurst who was very competent usually got 60-70% snaps in games he was active. Mostly because Sample got hurt then Irwin emerged late October and pushed more and more for snaps. In the games Hayden played in he averaged 5 targets, 31 yards. Irv Smith was right around that vs. SF and they have Sample for blocking, Irwin and Iosivas a considerable reduced snap count. Irv missed out on two big plays this year that stunt his numbers. 1st was vs. Ravens were he didn't get the 2nd toe down. 2nd was vs. Seattle were he was wide open and Joe couldn't throw to him because the interior allowed pressure. This offense is going to be back on track and eventually a week will come up were the offense runs 70+ plays or the TE will be a factor based on match up and opportunity. I would take Hayden Hurst back but he'd be facing the same numbers crunch as any other TE. If he was back he would not walk into his last year snap count number and doubtful he'd be more productive than last year. Eventually Chase Brown and Jones will be back and could even make crunch more competitive.

I just don't get the worry of TE. They have 8/9 players registering targets/receptions. The key for any TE with this group will be consistently converting first downs. But they are using so many different personnel groups that a TE is unlikely going to garner major targets to be among the top 3. Hayden Hurst's largest output last year was 57 yards. He caught 2 total TDs. Had 59 yard game in the playoffs and a TD. With about 49% snap count. This season will be even harder for a TE to get big games because they have Sample used for blocking snaps and he's getting about 24% of snaps. That's why he was drafted and how they want to use Sample. There is some overlap because at time they'll have 2 TEs. But there's only 1 ball to use. They also have Irwin, Iosivas finding opportunities. Eventually Jones could get a couple snaps once returned. Unless the Bengals start hitting the 70 play mark its unlikely to move the needle. Irv Smith the whipping boy has been hair away from a couple big plays. 1 was spoiled by pressure. The other was a great effort but didn't get the 2nd toe down. Either one of those go the other way and there isn't quite as much noise. I just don't see this as a big void. With this group the Bengals don't need a dynamic TE. Maybe once Boyd and Higgins leave, if they do.