AMPHAR

Rams looked tough vs. SF, IMO. Eventually gave way but the 9ers are considered among the NFL top right now and they absolutely took over that stadium. But the Bengals need a win in the worse way.

The inability of the defense to stop the Ravens offense is the biggest let down for me. The offense started slow but a 81 yard punt return stunted their yards in combination of the Ravens being able to hold on to the ball. But there are 4 offensive drives when the D is failing like that they probably needed TDs on 2 of them. Its easy to say after the fact but I was thinking Lou's unit would eventually would get stops in the 2nd half they didn't. 1. 3 and out - after missed FG. 2. 7-10, settled for 3. Ball ripped out of Chase's hands stopping a TD. Tied 10-10. Defense can't hold 10-13. 3. Probably the killer - Int at the goal line. Defense then allows a quick TD. 10-20. 4. Late 2nd half punt - needed something on that drive. But the Bengals couldn't get off blocks, probably a fair amount of holding going on. The Ravens were called for some. Every time the D got a sack there seemed to be a penalty on them. Lamar found holes underneath in their zone coverage. Horrible day defensively, IMO. Reminded me of the Jets game a couple years ago. Offense, people love to talk about it and it was not statistically great but you if you get stops and feed them the ball back they would have run up more yards/points. Critical mistake was that goal line INT, followed by a Lamar Jackson bomb.

Joe Burrow is a Dalvin Cook OT fumble away from going 0-7 in opening two weeks. That's what probably scares me the most.

I think the Ravens TE will play. He sounded like he practiced limited on Thursday.

I think alot of it goes back to reps and prepared, IMO. I'm sure we've all seen the clip of Myles playing basketball rushing over the Center. Have no clue if Burrow could have checked into something different but if you are banking on Karras being good enough to protect both gaps against Garrett not knowing which one he'll choose. Good fucking luck. Check into a run play up the middle or hot route. That was a twist on Zimmer's Double A gap blitz, except Cleveland threatened both gaps with 1 player. The counter to that was always checking into something that it didn't matter which gap or gaps were blitzed into or backed out. Based on some all-22s. The Cleveland coverage techs were attempting to screw with Burrow's/WR comfort zone in throwing back shoulder throws. They would basically give a look that says throw "back shoulder" or "go" then change in the middle of the route. That's a risky scenario but it paid off.

Is it too much to ask to have the cast of offensive participants that have or are going to demand top market deals soon to put up 28 or more vs. the Ravens? Just wondering. Really dreading what I suspect the post game conversation of "What's wrong with the offense?". Getting into how to beat Cover 2, blah, blah,blah Right or wrong if the conversation post game is a bout Left Guard or play calling the issue probably lies in the lap of the Offensive skill spots or tackles. The Jane's and Joe's always matter more than the X's and O's.

1. Could be some off the field stuff. 2. Could be financial. Can they roll over some cap room? They have his dead money split between this year and next 3. He might be washed. Was horrible early last year. Competent late. I don't care how much you rehab its alot of miles on tires. However, they've missed Superbowls largely in part of OL injuries. So I hate to see any competent potential depth disappear.

Well stated. It just so happens this is the first time Lamar Jackson returns to Cincinnati since they ran up the score against a mod squad the last game of 2020. So hopefully the Bengals come out hot and don't let up.

Last night watching reminded me of Palmer going down on the second snap of the playoff game. Such a buzz kill. Jets have a decent set of RBs and defense. They probably can still stay in the hunt for a while.

Jets 80s unis were cool. Wish they would wear those all the time.

Who Cares? He can join Joe Thomas in never seeing the playoffs, I guess. Meanwhile the Bengals top players from the same era that actually played in the postseason will struggle in the HOF voting. i.e. Willie Anderson and probably Whitworth.

Not Browns game related: Anyone notice the Cincinnati skyline featured in the Sunday Night Football intro?

I don't see them letting Higgins walk into UFA. With the new Burrow deal accounted for they are $56m under with a projected cap of $245 for 2024. $147M under the 2025 cap with the new Burrow contract factored in. Sure somethings to manage but a great position with Burrow locked up.

Lou gave props to Cam Taylor Britt and Zac Carter as playing really well on Bengals line tonight. Don't remember exactly how he described Zac's play but it was something playing like a "grown man".

Sounds like the Raven injuries to their OL are week to week. DB injury will be longer. Dobbins - out.

That was my favorite "Battle of Ohio" the day Johnny Football died. Prior to that game he was supposed to come in and lead them to a playoff spot. Hill, Hewitt, and Gresh were just nasty on the edge that year.

2014. Bengals extended Dalton after a horrible playoff melt down in 2013. Mistake. Bunch of skill position injuries throughout the year. Dalton bad year. They got blown out on Thursday Night vs. Cleveland. Then leaned on the run game the rest of the way and earned a wild card birth. Along the way ending Johnny Football's career. 2018 would count. Mixon's best year or 2nd best year but a lost year overall. Although not running per say. Last year they turned the offense struggles around by throwing underneath to Mixon, Perine, and Hurst.

Ravens like the last 3 meetings are going to try to make this ugly. Going to be chippy for sure. Probably a lot of echo of the whistle hits too. WRs are going to have to fight through hand checking and get open.

Bengals don't hit enough int TC along the line to lean on a running game early in the year. They also have no desire to do so either. Quite frankly, pointing out no running game when the QB is getting $55m a year, I think they ran it plenty of times yesterday and effectively enough to have Joe carve out something. Protection wasn't a shit show (not great or good either) but we've seen Joe make plays with worse performances. They put the game in his hands and he failed. Simple as that. That defense was playing good enough that if you show some sort of offense ability its taking a few carries away from Chubb and put it into Watson who was also horrible. Then maybe you escape with an ugly close loss or ugly close win. Joe isn't super human and needs reps. He tried to throw them out of the game week 1 last year. This time on the road in shitty weather made a comeback hard to do. Its just going to be annoying not hitting at top performance early in the year and hopefully it doesn't cost them in the playoff run.

Watched a little of Alt. Looked the part of top draft pick.

Highest paid QB. Soon to be among the top paid WR (Higgins, Chase). Pro Bowl LT, Tom Brady's Center and RG, First Round RT. Can't score a TD? Failure of those players and the off season program and game prep week. Unfortunately it looks like we are spending Weeks 2-6 once again over analyzing the offense and wondering if it will ever kick into high gear.

Annoying as shit watching Cleveland Browns players and fans celebrating. Not even competitive.

I would guess that's a Zac decision.

Preseason game 1. They just don't grind in camp and it shows early on. The problem is now you are looking at a possible 0-2 division start again. No surprise the unit that played in the preseason looked competent. No excuse not to have the starting line at least get a series or two during preseason. They can't get any push what so ever and the timing in the run game is just off. Then the coaching staff should have expect passing game struggles with Burrow not practicing all summer.

Glad to see the Sonny Crockett look coming back.