Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Cincinnati Bengals-Pittsburgh Steelers First Look: Can Bengals keep their playoff hopes alive into Sunday?

Starting point is 00:00:00 Crossover Thursday in the Steelers Bengals rematch and there's lots of playoff stakes on the line. We'll go over all that here on the Lockdown Podcast Network. Let's get into it. You are Locked on NFL crossover. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network. Your team every day. Hello, welcome to Crossover Thursday here on the Locked on Podcast Network. We're your host, Chris Carter and James Rapine of Locked on Steelers and Locked on Bengals.

Starting point is 00:00:35 And as always, you can find this show on your favorite podcasting apps. on YouTube, like this video if you enjoy it, subscribe to this channel to get all of your Monday through Friday episodes, whether they're on the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Cincinnati Bengals. As always, we're bringing them to you every single day. And today's episode, as always, for Crossover Thursday, is brought to you by prize picks down on the app. Use code locked on NFL to win $50 instantly when you play just $5.

Starting point is 00:00:58 James, buddy, we're back on the show together. It's been like, what, a month or so since the last time we did this. And these teams have taken some different. directions since then, but both have playoff stakes on the line. The Bengals need to win to have a hope to get into the playoffs. They would need some help after this game. But the Steelers, they are in the playoffs, but they need to win this game. One, if the Ravens somehow lose to the Browns, don't think that's happening. Then a Steelers win, a Steelers win would win the division. But a Steelers win also guarantees them they would be no lower than the fifth seed, which would

Starting point is 00:01:36 match them up with the Houston Texans who I think we can all kind of agree are the weakest of the division leaders right now in the AFC. Yeah, I think so. I think the Bengals and the Steelers would love to play the Texans in round one. Obviously, it's not possible for the Bengals, but the Steelers are playing for that. And by the way, I don't think anyone here in Cincinnati, some fans probably, but thought that my Tomlin would rest starters this way. Like even if they know, no, why would you? I would much rather play Houston in Houston than have to go on the road

Starting point is 00:02:12 and deal with Baltimore or go on the road really and play anyone else not named the Houston Texans. I think that they're clearly the worst playoff team in the AFC. I guess you could debate it if the dolphins get in. I'm not going to debate it. I look at that and I'm like, man, Houston's playing

Starting point is 00:02:28 at a really poor level. But you're right. I think Bengals-wise, What a 180. It's been since December 1st when you are here in Cincinnati versus now with the Bengals going up to Pittsburgh. It's such a 180. I mean, you look at these two teams. Since that game, the Bengals lost to the Steelers, they have won all four of their games since then,

Starting point is 00:02:51 beating the Cowboys, Titans, Browns and Broncos, handling their business to make it done. And it's kind of crazy. I don't know if you've been watching hard knocks. I've been watching all the episodes. And you go back to around the time when that Steelers game happened. The first episode, in fact, and you see Zach Taylor put up like, hey, our playoffs start now. We have to win these games to have a shot at the playoffs.

Starting point is 00:03:11 And they lost that Steelers game, but they have won. They put themselves in the conversation for the playoffs, which, you know, around that time, after they lost that Steelers game, I marked the Bengals out. I was like, they're toast. There's no way they can get back in it. And listen, they can still win this game and not be in it. But they deserve credit for fighting back, not letting this season fall away, and making this season come down to the last game. Yeah, I think had you told me on December 1st at 5 o'clock Eastern time that, oh, hey, I know they just lost 44, 38, but they're going to be in it till the end.

Starting point is 00:03:45 I'd be like, get out of here. Like, get out of here. This game, like this team, they just, they can't beat anyone. They can't win close games. And they've done that. They went on the road and won two games after that. And then they came home and beat a division rival. And I get it.

Starting point is 00:03:59 It's a bad Browns team. But then they beat a. good Denver team. And I do think that that's a good team. And so it's like, all right, well, now you have a chance. And I think it's, it's a mixture. It's, oh, man, I can't believe they have a chance despite how they played earlier in the year. And a lot of people have looked at it, including myself. And it's like, oh, well, if you hadn't lost by six to New England in week one, or lost by one to the Ravens, or lost in overtime to the Ravens at home when you had no business losing to that game, or lose to the players where you come out pretty lackluster early

Starting point is 00:04:31 on in that game with their season on the line, especially on defense. And like there's so many of those games, the Chargers game, there's so many of these one-score games. And it's like, well, yeah, that's why you're eight and eight. That's why they need help this week. Had they won any of those games, they wouldn't need help. They would just need to win and be in. Instead, they have to play their way in and get some help as well.

Starting point is 00:04:51 Yeah, they do need some help. The Steelers, they, here's the thing. I know that there's probably some people out there wait. Why aren't the Steelers arresting their guys using this as a byeweek? And I think a big part of people don't understand the Steelers haven't played good football for almost a month. Since that Bengals win, they're one in three. They're one win being over the Browns. They did have a rough stretch.

Starting point is 00:05:10 Sure, three games and 11 days. And whereas other teams had to go through that, no other teams had a high win total count in those opponents. Like at the Eagles, at the Ravens, and then at home against the Kansas City Chiefs. That's a tough stretch for anybody to all. And they did not handle that well. I think of importance for the Steelers in this game, as much of, as much as winning to get to Houston is. If they can win this game, they guarantee themselves Houston as long as the Ravens

Starting point is 00:05:36 don't win and they would win the division. I think just important for the Steelers is getting back to playing your style of football, which you might not have seen this. Well, I think they played their style of football against the Browns. They handled them on December 8th. But getting the ball to George Pickens, being a turnover first defense, protecting the football, those are things the Steelers can do and have done several times. in fact for most of this season but i think it's imperative for this team especially with a lot of

Starting point is 00:06:05 the new pieces including russell wilson uh including some of the rookies that are starting on the offensive line it's imperative for them to put that out that work out in front of themselves and say hey we can get back to this before they play the play out play in the playoffs whether it's the texans the ravens or whoever else yeah and honestly it's it's a good point i think this is going to be the most difficult the bengals have won four straight if they make it five straight certainly the most difficult of the five is this game against the team that clearly needs to figure out how to write the ship. They want to write the ship going into the playoffs, regardless of who they play. Obviously, you would much rather play the Texans.

Starting point is 00:06:41 So if you win, you can put yourself in position to do that. And you just, you want to go in with a little momentum. And that's why I think, and we talked about this a few minutes prior to recording, if you're the Bengals, you're going in with all the momentum if you can find your way in. But you have to overcome the biggest turtle, which is going on the road, prime time. It's their fifth road primetime game this year. That's an NFL record. No team has had to do that.

Starting point is 00:07:08 Go on the road five times in prime time. So you have to go on the road, division rival. AFC North Road primetime games. Very rarely does the road team win. It's a weird thing in the AFC North that has happened. And so it's a tough environment, obviously. Stakes on the line for the Steelers. It's a really nice test, I think, to end the road.

Starting point is 00:07:27 regular season or potentially end the season. And I, regardless of what happens around them, it's a big game for the Bengals. They can go into, uh, the off season or into the playoffs with their, their fifth straight or fourth straight, excuse me, winning record, which matters. I know Mike Tomlin talks about that all the time.

Starting point is 00:07:46 Bengals winning, uh, posting a winning record for four straight years. They've only done that once in team history from 2011 to 2015 with Andy Dalton. To, to do it last year. without with losing Joe and then to do it this year where they were four and eight, I do think that would matter. So yeah, we'll see if they can do that.

Starting point is 00:08:04 Obviously, playoffs are on the line. But that mark is a big one as well. Absolutely. I want to get to the Bengals offense and the Steelers defense and how those two will counteract in this game like they did in the last game. Of course, the Bengals, they got multiple playmakers, but the two guys everyone's looking at, Joe Barrow and Jamar Chase, on some legendary paces right now.

Starting point is 00:08:23 We'll get to both of them next here on crossover Thursday here on the locked on podcast network Chris Carter James Rapine stick with us we'll be right back but first what I'm going to this show is brought to you by game time I love going to live events whether it's sports music theater or comedy one of my favorite memories it was attending several concerts last year the energy the excitement they're unforgettable and you can get all those experiences right now with game time the best place to get tickets for all your favorite events and they have a great new feature called game time picks this feature filters out of the fluff so that to show you only

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Starting point is 00:09:47 James, let's talk about this Bengals offense real quick. And as Mike Tomlin said, Joe Burrow is playing like an MVP. And he is. You look at the numbers right now. Most completions. Most attempts, most yards, most touchdowns, highest yards per game. Like, just across the board, he has been phenomenal. And only eight interceptions in that span.

Starting point is 00:10:07 You look at the next four highest passers as far as guys that are up in yardage. They have 15 interceptions, 12 interceptions, 15 interceptions, 10 interceptions. It's remarkable what Joe Burroughs done. And you look at the team around Joe. And yes, Jamar Chase, he's pushing for the triple crown right now. He's amazing. And that adds to it. But, like, this team highly depends.

Starting point is 00:10:28 on those two specifically, and T. Higgins too, he's awesome. But like, they are so heavily leaning on these guys. And it's ridiculous how much that has pulled them through the fire when you have such a bad offensive line that gives up pressures and it's forced Joe Burrow to show everyone that he's got wheels and he can dodge all the, all the pressure. And then you have a defense that can't consistently stop anybody to the point where, you know, everyone was wondering, why aren't you just kicking, learning out the clock and getting the field goal against the Broncos?

Starting point is 00:10:56 because they can give up a drive like that. I'm just thoroughly impressed by how Burrow and Chase and this offense have made this team work. Yeah, they've found a way. It seems like each and every week to keep the Bengals in games. That's why there's been so many one-score games. The Bengals have played 16 games so far. 10 have been decided by one score. They're three and seven in those 10.

Starting point is 00:11:21 One of those losses coming to the Steelers, 44, 38 earlier. Well, I was going to say earlier this month, but we're in January now. So you get the point, though. So, yeah, it's wild help leads together in holiday week. But yeah, I think you look at it and Joe is playing the best ball of his career, the way he's seeing it, the way he's extending place, the way he's holding onto it. And it's led to some fumbles. It's led to some turnovers because he's asked to do so much. I've been asked about Joe Burrow and the MVP race and all of those things.

Starting point is 00:11:52 And I get it. he's not going to win it and he won't it'll be lamar it'll be josh allen and both of those guys deserve it but when you look at value in steelers listeners will certainly understand this and be aware of this where were the bengals 10 years ago well they were really good with andy dolled did you ever feel like this about them though no did it ever you know or in 2017 2018 2018 2019 maybe Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson days, maybe. But this is another level of that even.

Starting point is 00:12:25 Yeah, because Burroughs better than Palmer ever, has already broke a lot of Palmer's marks. I'm the big, biggest Chad fan ever, grew up watching him. Jamar Chase is a better player than Chad Johnson. And so, when you have these two guys, because they do it in

Starting point is 00:12:41 huge moments on the line, clutch situations, like the game they lost in Baltimore, Thursday night football, it was Joe and Jamar saying, not get on our back. Yep. And they did. I mean, they scored three touchdowns and Joe found Jamar. I mean, it's just insane. And they did come up short. And it's because of this team is flawed. But man, are they playing at such a high, high level? And so, yeah, if you're looking, if you're any opponent preparing for the bangles, it starts with nine, then you go right to one.

Starting point is 00:13:12 And then you go to one and you go right back to nine. That's where it begins and ends for sure. And I think the Steelers key is to see like, hey, it's kind of like when you're playing a really good basketball player who you know is going to score. They're going to get theirs. Like these guys, they're going to score. Like in the last game, they had a touchdown. But your job is to make sure that you do other things so well that they can't be the part that dominates the game. For example, Jamar Chase, six catches on nine targets last time, 86 yards and a touchdown. Good numbers.

Starting point is 00:13:42 But not take over the game numbers. And that was the key. and you go back and you look at the game. What made the difference for the Steelers defense? They got a pick and two force fumbles on Joe Burrow in that game. They won the turnover battle three to one. And Mike Telen brought it up in his Monday press conference this week. He said like, hey, they had a pick six.

Starting point is 00:14:02 We had a defensive score to answer and we won by a possession. That's how important those things are. Now, I think the big thing for the Steelers defense and trying to counter this is they have not been that turnover team for some time now. They have, I think they, they, they've lost the turnover battle in all three of their losses to the Chiefs Ravens and Eagles in recent weeks. And part of it's been, the pass rush hasn't been there, hasn't been there. But even when the pass rush has been there, for example, they forced a fumble on Lamar Jackson. They have forced four straight fumbles without a recovery in situations in moments that normally that can flip, that can flip the game.

Starting point is 00:14:35 They dropped the interception last week on Patrick Mahomes. They have to capitalize on those opportunities. It's a big part of who they've been. And it's a big part of who they haven't been in these. in this losing streak. I think that's where, you know, I've been drawing this parallel throughout the week. Last year, the Steelers, granted, a different Bengals team with Jake Browning, but they were a reeling Steelers team. Everyone wondering, is this team about to fall off a cliff because they had just lost three straight, granted to three bad teams, not three really good teams. And all of a sudden, they get the Bengals at home, prime time game, and Mason Rudolph just brings them alive.

Starting point is 00:15:09 They find confidence. They win three straight to go to the playoffs. This time around, they're playing a, you. Joe Burrow, who's on another level, they're playing a healthier Bengals team, you know, in a lot of regards. And a Bengals team that's hungry, looking for a playoff, a win to keep their playoff hopes alive while the Steelers are in the playoffs. And I think this is a chance for the Steelers, like last year, to set their record straight and be like, hey, let's get back to what we do well. And if they can find that in this game, that could be the thing that catapults them into the playoffs and gives them a better chance to play. Because if they play like they did the last three weeks, they'll lose to the Bengals. they'll lose to whoever they get in the in the first round. But if they play like they did for most of this season, like their wins against the,

Starting point is 00:15:51 against the Bengals, against the commanders, against the Ravens the first time, they can be a team that can be dangerous, just like I think a lot of teams are looking at the Bengals right now saying, hey, hey, like the Chiefs in Buffalo, I think they'd rather not see the Bengals playing at their best in the postseason right now. Yeah, I think it's a good point. I think as far as, and you mentioned health, and they are healthy in a lot of key areas, but the spot that I look at it,

Starting point is 00:16:23 and it might define the game. Because the way to contain Joe and Jamar is to do what? Be able to guard Jamar enough, guard T enough, and get pressure on Joe. Well, Amarius Mims has a club on his right hand. He's dealing with a broken right hand. He's their starting right tackle. Orlando Brown Jr. is going to start.

Starting point is 00:16:39 I don't know if Amarius will, but Orlando Brown Jr. is going to start dealing with a broken fibrill in two spots. I've known about it for quite some time. Orlando revealed it to everyone the other day after the game against the Broncos. And so how close to 100% will he be? Will they have to help on the other side if Devin Cochran starts at right tackle? And that's who would start if Amarius can't play. And if Amarius can play, great.

Starting point is 00:17:05 That sounds great. But how much help were you have to give him, considering he is probably going to have a club on his right hand and have to deal with T.J. Y. Like it's that's a lot and not just what but her big and all of those guys that the Steelers can throw at this past first Bengals offense. That's where this game will be won and lost. It is that. In that December 1st game, it was the borough fumbles.

Starting point is 00:17:28 It just kind of broke things open. It just changed things. Well, why did he fumble? Because of the pressure, because of the ability to get Joe moving, but contain him and not give up those explosive plays. at times into forced turnovers. If you can do that, well, then you can live with a touchdown for Jamar or a big play to T. You can live with that because you're forcing turnovers as well.

Starting point is 00:17:51 So I do think that a big change since then has been the Bengals' ability to force turnovers. They've forced 10 turnovers. Yes, they have. In the past three games, Germain Pratt was able to get an interception the other night. That was a game-changing play against the Denver Broncos. They'll need to do that and continue that. Russell's had a couple of problems.

Starting point is 00:18:10 They're going to have to find a way to do. exactly what the Steelers did to them on December 1st this week, if they're going to win on Saturday night. Well, that's a perfect transition because I want to talk about the Steelers offense versus the Bengals defense because all year long, people have been saying. I've talking about the Bengals defense is terrible. It's bad. You know, when the Steelers put up points against the Macs. Like, it doesn't matter. The Bengals' defense is bad. Like you said, and Mike Tomlin noted that as well on Monday, the Bengals have been on a turnover tear. And the Steelers, they've been giving up the ball a little too much, not a little too much, way too much in the past few games. I want to talk about how those two things could collide next year on crossover Thursday here on the Lockdown podcast network.

Starting point is 00:18:45 Chris Carter, James Rene, stick with us. We'll be right back. But first, we're going to this show is also brought to you by Fandall Sportsbook, the number one sportsbook in America. The NFL playoffs are almost here, but it's not too late to get it on the regular season action with Fandul, America's number one sportsbook. Right now, new customers can finish the season strong with $250 in bonus bets if your first bet of $5 or more wins. Fandul has so many ways for you to pick up a W. you love betting on players to score a touchdown, they got those options. How many points each team will score?

Starting point is 00:19:15 Guess what? They got that too. And right now, Steelers Bengals, at this point of the week that we're recording the show, the Steelers are just one and a half point home underdog to the Bengals early in the week. The Bengals money line set at minus 130. The Steelers money line set up plus 110 with the over under set at 48.5. Where will you put your money? Make sure you do so on Fandul's sportsbook, the number one sports book in America.

Starting point is 00:19:36 Remember, you can start the season with a big return. visit fandul.com to join today. Fandul.com for your chance at $250 in bonus bets for new customers. Make every moment more with Fandual, an official sports book partner of the NFL. Back here on crossover Thursday here in the lockdown podcast that were Chris Carter, James Rupin, Locked on Steelers, Lockdown Bengals. All right, James, the big thing that happened in the last game was the Steelers offense. I mean, there were a lot of big things.

Starting point is 00:20:03 It was a crazy game. But the Steelers offense was happening. They scored 44 points, so it really scored 37, and the defense got a pick, got a return to touchdown. But Russell Wilson threw three touchdowns threw for over 400 yards. The Steelers were able to get Najee Harris going for 4.7 yards per carry on the game. They were able to get things going. And a lot of it, and it's funny, if you watch the Hard Knocks episode where the Steelers played the Ravens,

Starting point is 00:20:27 I love the way the Ravens staff talked about Russell Wilson. He said, this guy is either layups or three-pointers. He goes for the deep ball or he checks it down underneath. And those checkdowns underneath were a big part of what. got the Steelers' offense going in tough moments against the Bengals. How have the Bengals adapted since then to be better in those types of moments? One of the iconic lines of the season after the game, and I've made fun of him virtually on every single episode of Lath-on Bengals,

Starting point is 00:20:55 was afterwards, Dermaine Pratt said, Quick game, just a lot of quick game, quick game, quick game. Like, Quick game has never been invented before, like they had never seen it and like you didn't know how to defend it. Because, yes, the Steelers relied on the quick game, and the quick game sliced in down. their way. I'm not knocking the Steelers. I mean, Russ Wilson.

Starting point is 00:21:13 No, yeah. Wilson threw for 414 yards with Quick game. His long was 43. And it's because they didn't know the basic things, the simple things. Tackle. Find ways to be in the right spot. And when you're in the right spot, when you do tackle, what happens?

Starting point is 00:21:31 Well, teams make a mistake. Even with Quick game. And we've seen that in recent weeks. This defense has been more disciplined. They still gave up some big plays to We saw that on Saturday night. But they've been a little more opportunistic. They've been in the right spot.

Starting point is 00:21:47 They've tackled better, not the best, but better. And that's what you need to do, is take away the downfield stuff for George Pickens. And you certainly don't want Calvin Austin to get a big one. And I saw him in his college days going up against the University of Cincinnati. So I'm very familiar with what he can do. Don't give up the deep ball. and then make tackles, do the discipline stuff. We'll see if Lou Aniruma can have this defense ready.

Starting point is 00:22:15 One of their worst performances of the season was that first matchup against Pittsburgh, no doubt in my mind. And so we'll see if they can rebound. And that has to be fresh in their minds, too, because at the same time, like, you know, that was the thing. If you go back to the start of the season, Zach Taylor putting up on the board, you know, on the hard knocking, like, hey, you know, playoff start here. And that was the first part of that.

Starting point is 00:22:36 They didn't get the job done. but then after that against the Cowboys, they force two turnovers in a close game. They find a way to pull out that win. Then against the Titans, they force six turnovers against the Titans, then three against the Browns. And then you get a big one.

Starting point is 00:22:50 I mean, here's the other thing. The timeliness of it is so huge because that interception they got on Boatniks. They don't get that interception. They might lose before they even get to overtime, you know, against the Broncos. And then we're not even talking about this game right now. You and I are just going to be like,

Starting point is 00:23:03 well, it's probably going to be Jake Browninger, Jamar Chase, he's going to probably rest or something like that. But because the defense has been timely with some of these turnovers, they found their way through a lot of these games of late. And they found some rhythm. It's going to be up to the Steelers to protect the football because, you know, on the flip side of things, the Steelers, they haven't protected the football of late.

Starting point is 00:23:22 And they were a team that was protecting the football pretty well. When you looked at it, they were, you know, at worst, they gave up a turnover in a game and it was something kind of wonky that happened. But you look against the Ravens. They gave up two turnovers, Russell Wilson, fumbled in the red zone trying to try and get a touchdown then through a pick six that

Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Cincinnati Bengals-Pittsburgh Steelers First Look: Can Bengals keep their playoff hopes alive into Sunday?

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