Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Cincinnati Bengals get Orlando Brown Jr. back as they try to keep their playoff hopes alive against Denver Broncos
Episode Date: December 26, 2024The Cincinnati Bengals will have left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. back on Saturday against the Denver Broncos, so the question is just how healthy he and Amarius Mims (right hand, ankle) will be. Jake Li...scow and James Rapien break down the status of the Bengals' offensive tackles, whether this is a "Joe Burrow has to be perfect" kind of game, and the test ahead of the defense as the challenge takes a step up with a solid Broncos team coming to Paycor. Join the Locked On Bengals Insider Community! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonbengalsFind and follow Locked On Bengals on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-bengals-daily-podcast-on-the-cincinnati-bengals/id1159723162Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AObc0lh0WmQl5fJVgtajsGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vbG9ja2Vkb25iZW5nYWxz?sa=X&ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwio_sXtj8nuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAgStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-bengals Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Hillsdale CollegeAll of Hillsdale’s courses are self-paced so that you can start whenever, and tune in wherever. Plus, you can go deeper with readings, quizzes, discussions - or just enjoy the lectures. Go right now to hillsdale.edu/lockedon to enroll. There’s no cost, and it’s easy to get started.PrizePicksDownload the app and use code lockedonnfl to win $50 instantly when you play $5. You don't even need to win to receive your $50 bonus, it's guaranteed! Prizepicks. Run Your Game.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms Apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelYou can start the season with a big return on FanDuel. New customers can place a FIVE DOLLAR bet and you’ll get started with TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS - if you win your first FIVE DOLLAR BET ! Visit FANDUEL.COM to get started.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcript
Discussion (0)
Trying to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Cincinnati Bengals get some good injury news ahead of Saturdays game against the Broncos.
Let's break it down.
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What up Bengals fans and welcome to another episode of the Locked On Bengals podcast.
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James, we dive into our last look at this Broncos Bengals game coming up on Saturday.
The Bengals didn't get a whole lot of help outside of the building on Wednesday.
But regardless, sounds like good news on the injury front, especially for Orlando Brown Jr.
Amarius Mims, those two guys apparently going to be good to go, according to Zach Taylor.
And the question from there becomes, how good to go?
how healthy will they be when they take the field on Saturday?
Yeah, I think that's, it's certainly where in my mind is with both of these guys.
It's like, all right, well, Orlando Brown Jr. is going to start.
Amarius Mims is going to start.
Will they be able to finish?
Orlando Brown Jr. has finished, started and finished one game over the past eight weeks or so.
It might be not.
And it was that December 1st game against the Steelers where he was clearly not himself.
And so how close will Orlando be to his normal self?
Zach Taylor, I talked to him about an hour ago, said he looks great.
And that's exactly what I would say.
If I was playing a veteran in a must-win scenario, I will say this.
I could confidently say Orlando is not 100%.
And so my question is, well, what is he?
Is he 60?
Probably around the range of what he was against Pittsburgh on December 1st.
Or is he 80?
He's 80.
He's without a doubt your best option.
And you want him on the field.
60.
And it's like, do you want to?
Do you want to put him through that, even if he's still might be better than what you have?
Do you want to put him through that again?
For what?
And so that's where I'm at with him.
I do think, though, having him and Amarius, Amarius is going to be less than 100% with that ankle,
and now his hand injury that he's going to have to potentially play.
I don't know if he's going to play with the club or what he's going to have on it,
but I think he's going to have something on it.
And so how are these guys and how do this?
they hold up from a health standpoint
against a pretty physical and talented
Broncos front? I think that's a big question.
Yeah, and the level of which
those guys were able to play, like I said, the capacity,
the percentage, whatever you want to
call it, that number
is going to be so critical in this
game because we've seen the pressure
amp up in Orlando Brown's
absence, and when Amarius Mims had
to leave the game last week, you got even worse.
And those guys at either end could provide you with a
great deal of stability. Cody Ford's
lighting back in at left guard, according to Zach Taylor.
Cordova, so will go back to the bench, at least to start the game.
Like you said, depending on what happens over the course of the game.
But if those guys can approximate their normal form, especially in past protection,
then the offensive line should perform better.
But the last time we saw Orlando Brown trying to play through this injury, it wasn't good.
And he, you know, that level of Orlando is not going to.
to make you a whole lot better, especially when you're talking about Nick Benito on the other
side being the most threatening of the Denver edge rushers and the kind of speed and athleticism,
the way that he attacks in terms of the pass rush. That's already not a great matchup for Orlando
Brown, but if he can't move very well, that matchup gets a little bit worse just stylistically.
And one of the ways Orlando deals with that kind of speed rusher is the get-off and the ability
to get into those pass sets and time up the snap. So in that sense, it's great that the Bengals
or at home for this game for Orlando timing up the snap as he's done all year.
But that's certainly a focus, I think, and health in general is going to be a focus.
You talk about the health disparity between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos.
But yeah, the question that we will not have an answer to most likely, and if we do,
we'll let you know as best we can, is just how healthy those guys are going to be.
Because that range of outcomes, something we haven't talked about for a while,
a range of outcomes, right?
for those guys and the level at which they can play
will be such a variable on Saturday.
I think I would trend towards Orlando being in a better situation.
There's a reason why, I mean, he finished the game against the Steelers.
There's a reason why they were like, all right, let's dial it back now.
And in this coaching staff, I think they were aware of where they were,
how valuable in organization, how valuable Orlando is.
because in the reason they didn't put them on IRs, it's like,
get better, get better.
And then if we're playing a meaningful game down the stretch,
then hopefully we can get you back out there.
And so it times out well from that perspective.
I think that was their plan literally December 2nd.
They're like, yeah, you're not playing this with him.
And I don't know if they told him, he told them, whatever the case is.
But they came to that conclusion.
And it wasn't because he suffered a setback.
He finished the game.
It's just because everyone knew that he was far less than 100%.
So hopefully, we see that and we can see some, the best left tackle play we've seen since he got hurt initially in October.
That would be great.
The other element here that I think is just intriguing is, all right.
So Orlando Brown Jr. at left tackle, Cody Ford moves into left guard, Cordell-Bullsen back to the bench, as you mentioned.
How does that look if Orlando is, let's say 85%?
Let's go optimistic here.
let's say 85% of Orlando Brown Jr.
Is that an upgrade?
Is Ford better than Voson?
We'll see.
But I am intrigued, especially against a good front.
You mentioned Benito.
I feel like Benito's wrecked multiple games.
He had that pick six on the trick play a couple of weeks ago
where it's like, oh my God.
We haven't got the Pat Charsain yet.
They have a lot of guys that you have to account for on this defense that are really down.
Yeah, I don't know if everyone caught the crossover this week,
but with the holidays and everything, wouldn't blame you if you've missed.
that one, but if you did, you missed hearing that Nick Benito apparently is third in the
defensive player of the year odds right now, which got me.
I mean, I wouldn't have counted on that.
Like, I knew he was good.
I knew he was having a good year.
But third in DPOI odds, that's a lot.
And Patrick Surtain, as you mentioned, is second right now in that race.
So a couple of guys that are in contention for big awards on that Denver side of the ball.
And the other thing that I wanted to just highlight really quick here while we're talking
about the positive injury news for the Bengals.
The comparison of injuries between these teams is wild.
I think Denver might be the healthiest team in the NFL at this point in Week 17.
They have three total guys on injured reserve.
One of them has been designated for returns, so they're going to get him back.
So they'll be left with two guys on injured reserve.
They'll go their practice report this week, their injury report so far this week.
And we don't have Thursdays yet at the time of recording, but they're two days.
They have four guys that we're all full participants on those injury reports.
Meanwhile, the Bengals have 13 guys on IR and have a bunch of guys that are limited and are missing practice with various bumps and bruises and illnesses.
And it's just not to say that any of this is an excuse.
It's just wild to see the difference.
You got two guys on IR for one team, 13 for the other team and the level of cleanliness on the injury report for the Broncos compared to the Bengals.
It's just pretty crazy for this point in the year.
and you add on to that Denver with a little bit of extra rest
because that game moved to Thursday night.
It's just a huge disparity in terms of the health of these teams,
which is noteworthy, I guess.
Interesting to point out, certainly observable.
Yeah, for sure.
No, it's noteworthy because it's this time of year
and the Bengals put themselves in this backs against the wall type of position
where you can't say, oh, well, injury, no.
That's why you've got to give yourself a margin of error, margin for error,
by winning some of those games that you should have won, that you didn't win.
Now you're 7 and 8, and you're hoping to find a way to beat a really good Denver team.
I mean, I think that this Denver team is good.
There's some flaws.
But when you think of teams that can match up with the Bengals,
you think of pass rush, you think of corners.
And, well, they have one of the best corners, arguably the best corner,
a high-end pass rush.
And so throw in the fact that they're well coached,
they're playing for their playoff lives as well.
It should be a heck of a game.
And so the injury part of it matters.
When you have games like this where it's like,
can be close to go either way, of course,
that injury disparity,
especially when we're talking about two guys that are going to start for the Bengals,
play a key role at less than 100% in Brown and Mims.
And a lot of guys are that way now, for sure, no doubt.
But that certainly matters.
And Joe Burrow even limited.
Not that he's not going to play.
but he's been limited the last couple of weeks
as he's still managing the knee issue that he's had.
Let's talk a little bit more about the feel of this game
and some of those factors,
because Denver is a good team.
Bengals haven't played a team, in my opinion,
of Denver's quality for quite a while at this point,
at least four weeks.
So we'll talk a little bit more about some of the specifics of the game
as we dive into the matchups coming up next.
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James, does this game have the feel of a game where,
remember that stretch where Joe Burrow was saying,
I got to play pretty near perfect or perfect?
Does this game have that feel to you at all?
Because it kind of has that feel to me a little bit.
It does if the Bengals defense reverts back to there,
oh, we're playing a decent team.
We're not going to be able to get off the field.
Right?
I look back to, and it feels like,
ages ago for full disclosure we're recording this on December 26th so 25 days ago I was at germane
press locker following the 44 38 loss to the Steelers and he said it's just a lot of quick game
just quick game quick game said what mistackles and and I I haven't been able to get that out of my
head because the the Steelers offense stinks and they had Pickens that day George Pickens that day
and they have not but they're not a good offense by any stretch they're fine but they've been
playing the wrong running back. Naji Harris isn't as good as Jalen Moore.
Like all these things. The offensive line's okay. Russell Wilson's okay. And so it's like,
oh, well, yeah, if you're going to play like that, the last time we saw you play against an okay
opponent, then yeah, Joe is going to have to be perfect. And a lot of that has to do with this
defense. I think this Broncos defense is just so good. I just, because again, if you can cover and
you can get heat on Burrow.
And I still think they'll give Pat Certain some help against Jamar.
And if you're the Bengals, you have to find ways to still get number one the ball and
move them around and all of those things.
But you're going to need T and Andre and these guys to step up.
I just, there's a lot there.
And so to your point, yeah, it's a, it's a tough ask for Joe Burrow, knowing stylistically
the differences between their offense and the defense they're going up against.
Can they do it? I'm certainly not dismissing that at all. I think the Bengals could certainly
beat the Broncos on Saturday. But it is a tough opponent. It's a nice test. And it's a nice
test for this defense because I still have my doubts. You still have your doubts. And even though
they force nine turnovers in two weeks, we have plenty of doubts about them. And so it's up for
them to go prove. It's up for Louana Rumo to go proof. And it's up for these guys
that have a lot hanging in the balance over the next two weeks, regardless of the playoffs, to go out
there and show that they deserve to be back or can be part of the solution, not the problem.
And if you're comparing them to the Steelers, which is not a one-to-one comparison, obviously,
but like broad strokes, right, decent team, the last solid team, the Bengals played.
The Pittsburgh Steelers scored 363 points this year.
They've played 16 games through 15 games, the Broncos have scored 363 points this year.
So the Broncos are a better offense or have been a better offense this year.
And of course, Pittsburgh Steelers had a quarterback change in there.
I've had a bit of a slide lately.
They've lost three straight as their schedule is finally featuring real teams as the season draws through a close, which is always going to be the case.
We knew that the Steelers schedule played out that way, but the Denver defense also giving up less points than the Steelers defense.
And I know that the Steelers have played one more game and maybe this changes.
Maybe the Bengals go out there and put 50 on the Denver Broncos.
But right now they've given up 47 less points with one less game than the Steelers.
with the Bengals score 30, Denver's
giving up, sorry, Denver's giving up
less points than the Steelers. So just
from like a broad strokes perspective, from a
result's perspective, not considering quality
of opponent or any of these things,
there's a solid football team
here. The Bengals haven't played a solid
football team for four weeks.
And Denver isn't perfect,
right? But that was solid.
That was solid. They won four
five. I know. It's still Cooper
Rush. You love Cooper Rush.
What are you talking about? I mean, he was a
huge reason that Dallas lost that game. I mean, Dallas also could have won the game if they don't
flub the black front. No doubt. No doubt. Regardless, what I'm trying to make here is this is a solid
football team top to bottom. There's a good offensive line here. There's solid skill players. There's a
deep running back stable if Sean Peyton is able to actually stick with the run, which is another
point that we talked about on the crossover. And as you mentioned on the defense from from front to back,
deep defensive line unit up front
that will rotate and cause the Bengals problems
from I think all five spots
at times throughout this game.
They're all solid plus players
and a solid secondary
where they looks like are getting Riley Moss back
which didn't expect Riley Moss to be an X-Factor
but was such a point during our crossover
with Lockdown Broncos that
they're still going to pick on him
but that's a step up from what they've had
as he returns from injury or looks to be in line to return from injury this week.
And that's why if you're the Bengals and it'll be the Jamar Triple Crown discussion,
how many receptions, touchdowns, yards, all of those things.
I get it.
We'll be focused on that.
But T. Higgins, you got to find a way to have another big game.
And I feel like he's been playing well.
That has to continue.
Andre Yosebosha played really well against the Browns.
had a really nice catch against Denzel Ward.
Obviously, I had the touchdown as well.
This is a good, you want to talk about things that are on the line.
I've focused a lot on defense over the past week or two about guys that could prove themselves.
If you're Andre, you look at these final two games and say, hey, I'm wide receiver three.
Like, it's mine.
And you could say the same thing with Mike Aseki, right?
He could be that guy too.
So they have guys that could step up.
But you're going to need to, to me, you're going to.
To me, you're going to need to find matchups to exploit that don't necessarily involve 15 targets for Jamar Chase.
You might get those, but I'm not expecting that necessarily this week.
I'm sure he's going to get targeted plenty, but I just think that that's the one matchup where Pat Certains probably following him.
They're probably giving him some help.
And so these other other matchups out wide are certainly going to determine a lot, especially on the money downs, which Joe Bro has been obviously huge.
in those moments in recent weeks.
And if they can stay ahead of the chains, all the better,
another challenge this week.
The running game has looked okay for a few weeks now,
but this is another good running defense.
And when they've had the ability to lean on the run a little bit,
the offense has looked much better, unsurprisingly.
It's not rocket science or anything there.
When you can run the ball well,
and you also have Joe Burrow, T. Higgins, J. Mar Chase,
and the ancillary guys that we're talking about,
it makes your life easier on offense,
especially when we're talking about a pass rush
that has been very effective
like the Denver Broncos pass rush has
and one of the better coverage units in all of football.
So if you can allow yourself to be multi-dimensional
and not allow Denver to just be like,
okay, you're passing.
We're going to try to disrupt your passing game.
And the Bengals will be in that situation.
That's the way they play football.
But the effectiveness of the run game this week,
as with previous weeks,
this isn't anything new, could make the Bengals lives and Joe Burroughs life a lot easier this week.
Yeah, to back up your point on Riley Moss real quick, and this backs up the running game element as well,
if you can be affected running it.
I just looked up Riley Moss, and one of the first articles is Broncos' defensive performance
without Riley Moss is shockingly bad.
I didn't look at the numbers.
I'll read the article later, but it's just like, holy God.
To roll with a headline like that is the point is he does math.
for them.
And I know that's what you guys talked about on the crossover a bit too.
So, yeah, I think Chase Brown, you could get him rolling a bit, get him to 1K,
a second chase with 1K on the field.
That would be nice.
He's been great.
We'll see if he could keep it up.
There's another side of the ball to talk about as well.
There's the idea of what the Bengals can control as Wednesday didn't go great in terms of
things that you would want to see when you're rooting for the Bengals to sneak into the playoffs.
We'll finish the show with those topics coming up next.
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Let's talk about what this defense has in front of it, James.
This is one of the better past blocking offensive lines of the NFL.
I've been saying that all week.
Cortland Sutton, solid player.
Bo Nix has just had a solid rookie campaign such that Joe Burrow has gone out of his way
to praise him earlier in the season, not this week,
but then was asked about it, of course, again this week.
Devon Bailey, I think is how that name is pronounced,
So seventh round pick out of Utah from this year's draft, 6-5.
He's been wildly productive for a seventh-round pick
of wide receiver for the Broncos.
The Bengals, meanwhile, have feasted on some backup-level quarterbacks lately.
Bo Nix appears to be a competent quarterback.
He's not great.
He's not putting up insane numbers, but he's athletic.
He's been taking care of the football pretty well as a rookie.
And so if the Cincinnati Bengals defense can put together another one,
of those solid performances like we've seen the last few weeks, then I'll be much less couched
or caveaty. That's not a word, but I'm making it one with my praise of the Bengals if they can
put together another good defensive performance. And there's some guys that, obviously, we've
been talking about all year, need to continue to play well down the stretch here for their future
and for this year as well. No doubt. No doubt about it. I think you go on down the line, right?
So Joseph Osai, I expect him to play on Saturday.
He's been dealing with an illness.
But he's kind of shown a little bit.
It's because he's trying to get another zero added on to that contract talks, right?
He's playing for something.
Luan Arummo, I think it's fair to say he's coaching for his job.
I think you have so many of these guys, young guys, that have flashed some.
All right, we'll do it again against the better opponent, right?
If you're Chris Jenkins, you had two sacks last week.
McKinley Jackson has had some impact plays over the past few weeks.
Let's see it this week.
Miles Murphy.
The pressure rate is up. People have mentioned that. All right, well, go get a strip sack this week, finds.
Go make a big play and a key moment on Saturday in a must-link game. So there are a lot of guys on defense that have a lot to prove.
Cam Taylor Britt, you've been affecting the game, impacting the game. Same thing. Gino Stone, an interception in three straight games.
Can you make it for, he's battling an illness, by the way, on Thursday. Bengals expect him to be ready to go on Saturday.
Make it four straight. You know, there are so many of these.
these guys that have started to flash.
Jordan Battle, same thing.
And so let's see it translate now.
Because I do think that there is a scenario where Lou or some of these young guys,
in the Lou one, there's a lot there.
But some of these young guys can show that they're building blocks.
Lou can, is coaching for his job.
Probably outside looking in if I had to guess right now.
But maybe he gets back inside the Bengals coaches club, as I say that in quotes, right?
long term, like finds a way to maintain his status as defensive coordinator.
But you can't do it by beating up on the Titans and beating up on the Browns.
You got to do it in a prime time, and that's what this is, Saturday night football, essentially,
game against the Broncos, they're playing for a lot, you're playing for a lot,
let's see it.
And so I still can't get, I keep hearing Jermaine Pratt say, quick game, just a lot of quick game.
What mistackles?
You know, that's one of your captains.
And so Jermaine Pratt, something to prove for sure that he should be around next season.
So there are a lot of guys.
I haven't mentioned him a lot, but he's certainly in that boat as well.
And just from a scheme perspective outside of the individuals,
what they're preparing for this week, agree with, I think everything he said there.
I didn't hear anything that I would add caveat Stewart to.
Look at you.
Look at you.
You don't want to debate about that?
Well, I didn't hear anything of judgment.
actionable, but just from a scheme perspective, I'm just trying to transition topics here
while acknowledging what you had to add to the conversation.
This Denver team is one of the heaviest play action teams in the NFL.
Bo Nix has the fifth most play action dropbacks in the NFL.
And this is for a team that doesn't drop back in Pasaton with Bo Nix, right?
They also have one of the highest screen rates in the NFL, fourth most screens in the NFL by a percentage.
basis for Bonix.
15% of Bonix dropbacks are screen dropbacks.
And you add on to that, 28% that are play action dropbacks, you're at what, 42%, almost
43%, one of those numbers I rounded down that I shouldn't have, almost 43% of bonoics
dropbacks or play action or a screen.
That's a pretty heavy split of trying to scheme stuff up for your,
quarterback and putting a lot of strain on the second level on safeties to be in the right
place to fill gaps effectively in the screen game on defensive linemen to retrace in the screen
game and they have to be ready for that i don't think they've faced quite this level of scheming
it up for for a few weeks now either quick game quick game can't stop it can't stop the quick game
no i i think that makes me so mad thinking of that and yet i just continue to tell yeah well it's
dumb. It's the dumbest thing ever. Like stop, stop Russell Wilson. By the way, the Chargers,
when they couldn't stop a nosebleed against Denver on Thursday night in all of, every Bengals
fan ever was watching that game and like, man, is this the Bengals defense? What was it? It was all
those screens and mistackles. It wasn't anything, it wasn't rocket science. It was simple stuff.
And so the thing this defense hasn't done at a high level this year, Jake, certainly not consistent.
is the simple stuff, tackling, being in the right spot, all of those things.
So all of the things that they've stunk at against the good teams, they need to do on Saturday.
So that's why it's such a good prove it game, prove it time, because you can't say,
oh, well, they're not playing for anything.
They're playing for their season.
One, so something's on the line.
Two, they've shown some flashes here.
It's not like they've checked out.
And so it's like, all right, well, we'll now go prove it against another team that's playing for something.
It's another team that's going to want it as much.
or worse, shouldn't want it more than you, but it's going to want it at least as much as you,
and they're well-coached and well-schemed up.
And so I'm interested in this one.
I think it's going to be a fun matchup, regardless of what happens this week around them,
just to give us some answers and not have, I don't think we're going to have many caveats
at 830 or 9 o'clock Saturday night Eastern time when we record our post-game show.
I think we're going to know one way or another about this defense.
that we don't already, right? They're flawed. But I think we're going to know, all right,
the December Bengals, what are they defensively? What aren't they? Because if they are what
they've showed over the past few weeks, then they'll confuse Bow Nix, then they'll get some pressure
on them. Then they'll be able to make tackles in space and they'll be in the right position.
I'm not confident that that'll be the case, but it's possible. And it's up for them to,
up to them to go prove it on Saturday. And that's what they can control, right? That's all they can
control. The hopes at this point are slim. I saw that the DVOA playoff forecast, which is
adjusted for the expectation that the Chiefs will rest starters after beating the Steelers and
clinching the one seed has a Bengals down to a 1% chance at this point to make the playoffs.
Isn't that wild? It's a never say never thing, but it's also those games early in the season
that we talked about are exactly what we thought they would be. But the Denver Broncos haven't
beating good teams very often this year.
They're what, one in six against teams with a winning record, not that the Bengals currently
have a winning record.
They wouldn't fit into that statistic right now, but all the Bengals can do is play the team
in front of them on Saturday in their home finale.
And that's what they can control.
They can control their effort, their execution, how well they play against the Denver
Broncos is these things won't matter for their futures as well, right?
not just this season.
And then as fans, you're looking at the Giants playing the Colts and hoping.
Malik Neighbors is a game time decision, by the way.
So if you're like, oh, well, maybe Malik Neighbors will go crazy.
Oh, good.
And Dorian Thompson Robinson is still the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.
And they're playing the dolphins.
And so the amount of help the Bengals need because of name one of their eight losses,
I guess one of their seven losses, the Philly loss was pretty decisive.
But because of those games, that's why it's 1%.
But the Bengals can't control that.
All they can control is the team they play on Saturday.
You know what the Bengals need.
The Bengals need Kevin Stefansky to be under the impression he's coaching for his job, right,
and get his guys to rally.
And then they need Brian Daibble.
And I don't think this is necessarily the case.
this is the orange and black glasses that are on now.
They need Brian Dable to know that he's fired
and to say, I want to cost the Giants the number one pick.
I'm not saying either one is true.
Stavansky may very well be safe and Brian Dable may be safe.
I have no idea.
But like that's what you need is you need like the,
oh, you think that you're going to get rid of me
and give the number one pick to someone else.
Fine, I'm going to cost you the number one pick.
I don't know if it'll work, but it could.
Just looking for those bits of motivation.
Got it.
Got to find angles, you know?
That's where we're at in week 17.
It's all about angles when you're facing quick game.
It's all about taking the right ankles.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Quick game.
Good way to finish the show.
We'll be back with you after the game on Saturday with the takeaways
as the Bengals try to keep those hopes alive, slim though they may be.
Until then, thanks for listening to this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast.
Hootay and have a good one.
quick game.
