Week 9: Bengals @ Falcons (Madrid)

[HoosierCat]

And so over the pond we go. Atlanta is technically the home team, but obviously this is a road trip for both teams.

For Cincy, this is the second straight trap game. They have Pitt at home looming on the schedule— with the Steelers coming off a bye no less — so it would be no surprise to find them looking ahead.

Both teams are coming off rough weeks, the Bengals having just gone to OT and the Falcons playing three hours in a downpour and losing to a team that didn’t complete a pass.

I like the Bengals’ chances here, if only because Burrow & Co. are usually up for a big splashy prime time game. But if they lose I’m not going to be too upset. They’re not going to win all their remaining games, so if they have to lose some, lose the nfc games.

[TJJackson]

Any word on the injury to CB1?

Or the DEs?

[ArmyBengal]

Beat the teams you are suppose to beat.  The Atlanta Falcons are one of those teams.
They rank 21st in total offense and 19th in total defense.
We rank 7th and 16th respectively.

Is that the sole metric to consider?  Of course not, but this is not a game we should drop.
If they do, I will be as equally irritated as I would have had they lost to the Titans yesterday.

Side note:  I really hate Zac Taylor.

[ArmyBengal]

I haven't seen an update yet regarding any of the injuries to this point.
Thinking they will come as they open up practice and evaluate further.
Howell had a cast on his wrist yesterday for what it's worth.

 

[volcom69]

Pretty sure Howell had a fractured wrist I’m sure he will be out awhile. 
 

I know Bengals don’t make trades much in season, but they might have to. DE and the backend of this defense right now are in really bad shape 

[TJJackson]

They can fill roster spots with street FAs and players from other teams taxi squads, but if they are serious about a superbowl run theyll need at least part time starters if not better

Probably need a CB, a S, and a DE at this point, depending on the extent of the injuries

I guess we now enter the She-marr era, like it or not.  Our DC says he  is practicing well and getting there, lets hope he is right for once, as She-marr is out of time to get ready

A starting RB might help as well.  But I am not entirely sure if Browns lowered effectiveness is him, or if it is run blocking, or the focus on shotgun formations

[HoosierCat]

At the very least, I would expect them to suck it up and give Davis another shot. He was allegedly drafted with an eye toward defending TEs, which we could use. And if they stick him in the slot they can move Dex back outside.

They still have Foskey on the PS. Dude was a r2 pick and has game experience. If he can’t at least sub for Ced he shouldn’t be on the team.

would love to see them find a db but we’ll see if they pull the trigger on a trade. I doubt it.

[ArmyBengal]

It's really hard in my opinion to make out what's going on with the run game.
I do know it's hard to establish any type of consistency as a RB, when your QB is throwing the ball nearly 50 times a game.
There are probably a myriad of reasons, but I think they simply like to throw the hell out of the ball.
Chase, Higgins, Gesicki are three really tough asks for a defense to cover consistently.
Then you have Brown out of the backfield who is only 7 receptions behind both Chase and Tee.

I don't think there are many teams out there with this kind of receiving talent and the Bengals use it.

[ArmyBengal]

There are some CB names being floated out there as potential fits for the Bengals:

Amik Robinson, Commanders
Donte Jackson, Chargers
Riq Woolen, Eagles
Zyon McCollum, Buccaneers

Three practice squad guys from other teams mentioned:

Jeff Okudah
Trevon Diggs
Marco Wilson (Former Bengal)

[Stripes]

Burrow has lobbied pretty hard for a few years for the Bengals to get an international game. I expect him to treat this as a ~Big Game~. I don't know if that will extend to everyone else, but I like their chances. Just as they tend to play down to their competition, they tend to rise in big games. The Falcons don't represent that kind of opposition, but a Madrid crowd ought to make up the difference.

[HoosierCat]

Bengals open as 3.5 point faves.

[TJJackson]

I had forgotten about Foskey.  Yeah, bring him up

The primary need is for a DB, and if our CB1 is out for a while, it almost screams for a trade, even if it is a half year rental

I VASTLY prefer Newton as the slot cb and Dax outside.....does anyone know why Dax was briefly benched?

[HoosierCat]

Injury updates from Zac:

Howell in a cast after wrist surgery. Probably headed to IR.

Ced (ankle) and Turner (heel) are day to day, will travel to Spain, so there’s a chance they’ll play.

Bengals leaving for Madrid Tuesday night.

[HoosierCat]

7 minutes ago, TJJackson said:

I prefer Dax outside.....does anyone know why he was briefly benched?

Basically he was sucking so they sat him down for a series. I wouldn’t read anything into it.

[TJJackson]

Ok, good, so maybe no trade needed

Just elevate a cb and a de from the taxi squad this week.....in case dj and/or cedric cant go vs Atlanta

With Howell out a bit longer term it might be a good idea to just sign Foskey to the roster.

[gregcook69]

If sideline antics and the post game interview from Chase doesn’t move the meter with management on Taylor, he’s grounded.  It is what it is!

[TJJackson]

Since Atlanta was beaten entirely by the run game on sunday - tampa bay completed ZERO passes - i would hope we'd make an effort to run this week

Just for gits and shiggles

[ArmyBengal]

8 minutes ago, TJJackson said:

I would hope we'd make an effort to run this week

Just for that TJ, Burrow is going to ask you to hold his beer while he puts up 60 attempts, 650 yards and 8 TD's.

[Stripes]

I do think Atlanta's struggles against the run last week were as much about the unique elements of that game as they were about Atlanta's defense (same elements that led to zero Mayfield completions). Still, the Bengals are 30th in rushing yards per game, and they're going to need to demonstrate they can do better than that as the months get colder. Might as well give it a shot this week.

[COB]

26 minutes ago, TJJackson said:

 i would hope we'd make an effort to run this week

 

We won’t.

[TJJackson]

48 minutes ago, ArmyBengal said:

Just for that TJ, Burrow is going to ask you to hold his beer while he puts up 60 attempts, 650 yards and 8 TD's.

He lives in anderson

We dont drink beer, and we dont get tv reception, but we do have an Arbys

How many interceptions?

[TJJackson]

Oh, the new pastry place in mt washington.....have they crossed the ten dollar per pastry line yet?

[ArmyBengal]

I do drink beer and couldn't tell you anything about pastries.

That's just me though.  I blame the cocaine.

[HoosierCat]

Falcons WR Zacharia Branch (their primary return guy) and Edge Samson Ebukam both ruled out for Madrid with hamstring injuries.

[glasgowbengal]

I’ll be in Madrid this weekend, representing all of you on BZ. 
 

Im looking forward to abusing the team and coaching staff in person for a change