Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Cincinnati Bengals sweep Browns, set the stage for meaningful Week 17 home finale

Episode Date: December 22, 2024

The Cincinnati Bengals have swept the Cleveland Browns for the first time in the Zac Taylor-Joe Burrow era, and in doing so gave themselves a meaningful football game to play in Week 17. Jake Liscow a...nd James Rapien break down the big takeaways from the Bengals taking care of business to get to 7-8, including several records set by the offense and another opportunistic performance from the defense.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.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 The Cincinnati Bengals complete the sweep of the Cleveland Browns to set up a meaningful game in week 17. You are locked on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. What up Bengals fans and welcome to another episode of the Locked on Bengals podcast. I'm Jake Liscoe. He's James Rapine. We are Locked on Bengals on the Lockdown Podcast Network that we're covering your team every day on YouTube and everywhere you get your podcast. Welcome back to the everydayers and those of you who make us your first listen.
Starting point is 00:00:43 And welcome into the new folks who are tuning in because, well, the Bengals find themselves still on the fringes, but in the playoff conversation here late in the season, we will break down what the biggest takeaways are from the Bengals victory over the Cleveland Browns. They sweep the Cleveland Browns for the first time in the Zach Taylor era, first time since 2017. We'll get into that today in an episode brought to you by Fandle where when you win your first $5 bet, you get $250 in bonus best.
Starting point is 00:01:15 Check it out at fandul.com to get started. And James, a big margin on the scoreboard, 24 to 6 in a game that at times felt more distant and at times felt closer than the score indicated. What were your big takeaways from this game? Well, that Von Bell earned every penny of that league minimum contract that they're given him, honestly. You know, I'm serious. I mean, that, I don't know if they win the game for sure if that goes the other way.
Starting point is 00:01:47 It's such a change in momentum. And Jerome Ford has the 66-yard run. And it's like, oh, the Browns are going to go up 7-0. And Zach Taylor described it as you don't want to be going uphill against the Browns. And we've watched the Bengals do that with Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase. They suck at it. Running uphill against the Browns is not a place you want to be if you're the Bengals. It's just, it's weird.
Starting point is 00:02:12 It's why they haven't swept them since 2017. Miles Garrett's a big part of that. And so for Vaughn to make that play, which is a huge play, you force the fumble. And then for the Bengals to go 99 yards, a historic drive doing that on your first possession, it's just huge. It was so that's it. That's the sequence. Once that happened, I was like, oh, they're not losing today. even when it got weird and it was 7-0 longer than it should have been.
Starting point is 00:02:38 And then in the third quarter when things got a little stagnant, and it's 17-6 and the Browns are closing in in the fourth quarter, making it a one-possession game, and then they didn't. We knew the Browns were bad coming into this game. They're not a good football team. But they have enough talent on defense to make it ugly, especially if you get off to the start that it looked like the Bengals were going to get off to. So when you flip that, you went from being down 7-0 to,
Starting point is 00:03:03 being up 7-0. I thought that that was the game, essentially. Forcing Dorian Thompson-Robinson to beat them by throwing the ball. He threw 34 passes in this game. He threw more passes than Joe Burrow in this game. That's not a recipe. Joe Burrow in this game. Like, that's not where the Browns want to be.
Starting point is 00:03:25 And not only that, part of the way the Bengals got there is by completing the deep ball to Andre Yosevash against Denzo Ward. And I remember complaining about that the first time these teams played. They took the deep shots a couple times when they were there, but it was Andre Yosevash against Denzel Ward. And this time, they take that shot again, and it pays off. And Jamar Chase, of course, gets his numbers late in the game. But I would describe it as a very opportunistic game for the defense, right?
Starting point is 00:03:49 Making the plays in key moments, as we've seen them do in years past, where this year they're only doing it against bad teams and against bad quarterbacks. And they did that today. Dorian Thompson-Robinson showed that he does not pass the Bengals' defense litmus test. He is not an NFL quarterback, but it's just 20 for 34 with two picks, just 157 yards, takes five sacks. We'll talk about some of those young defensive players on the defense as well. But you're right that fumble to start the game, which blows my mind that was ruled a touchdown on the field, by the way. In same.
Starting point is 00:04:20 From the replay, like, you're guessing. They're guessing. Like, it's, anyway, we don't need to go too far down that past. The ball never crossed the line, and it was out. Not even close. A couple things there, right? Anyway, a huge play from Bombbell, obviously, to keep the Brown side of the end zone. But then after Amarious Williams leaves the game and the offense starts to stagnate in the third quarter like you're talking about,
Starting point is 00:04:42 where the Bengals have a chance to just blow the thing open as they received the ball to start the second half, they stayed opportunistic. And the Browns got into the red zone again and had a chance to make it a one-score game. And they get the great timed blitz from Lou Anna-Rummo, freeing up Gino Stone as a free rusher. The Browns don't pick it up properly. Geno Stone forces a terrible throw, and Jordan Battle is there to collect. Jordan Battle, after a terrible first play of the game, where he's directly involved in that 66-yard run for Jerome Ford, not the only one at fault, but one of the ones
Starting point is 00:05:15 at fault had an awesome game after that, from run stops to coverage plays to that interception, and it's not like a difficult interception per se, but he caught the ball, had a chance at another one too where he and Jermaine Pratt are fighting over what should have been the Bengals third pick of the game. The overall response from the defense after getting punched in the mouth on the very first play of the game was there. The caveat is, is this is still the dead cat bounce. This is still a very, very bad Cleveland Browns team, a terrible offense led by a bad
Starting point is 00:05:45 quarterback. And so the Bengals have their work cut out for them against, by comparison, a much more real NFL team than they faced in a few weeks in the Denver Broncos next week, and we will talk about that plenty in this upcoming week and what that means. It will mean something, certainly. But I think that without trying to be too much of a Debbie Downer here, you do so have to take the results of the grain of salt.
Starting point is 00:06:09 Like you enjoy the results they've gotten the last few weeks against some bad offenses in terms of takeaways, in terms of getting some sacks from young defensive linemen this week. But let's see if they can do it against some better teams here down the stretch. Their strength of victory this year, James, is like, 223, lowest in the NFL. They're beating teams with an average record of roughly three and 12 this year.
Starting point is 00:06:33 And so we'll see what they can do. But this is who they are this year, you know? And it was a great game for the defense today. But I guess I am just doing the Debbie Downer thing. You got to take it with a grain of salt. Yeah. It doesn't matter. Irrelevant.
Starting point is 00:06:50 They can't control who plays quarterback for the Browns. It doesn't matter. The Browns have beat the crap out of the Bengals with a bad quarterback. since Miles Garrett was drafted. That's why they haven't swept them since 2017. The Browns have had one good quarterback season since that won. And it was Baker Mayfield in 2020. Yes, 2020.
Starting point is 00:07:09 Outside of that, they haven't. And so, yeah, I think that's fair to be like, all right, well, it's still significant. I think it's significant. You shouldn't lose to the Browns in this situation. I get that. I understand that. I also think that Gino Stone has played better. And yeah, they're going to be tested for sure.
Starting point is 00:07:28 But so is the offensive line. They're going to be tested at a different degree because it's not just one guy that you're going to be able to focus on. Like the Broncos are pretty unique, I think, with that. And the Browns, I think it was all about 95 and making sure Miles Garrett didn't wreck things. So there's a lot of time to discuss that. But for next week to matter, they had to get today. And they had to find a way. And I do think that, again, if they don't make those big plays, especially on the first five minutes of the game, I think the entire game is different.
Starting point is 00:08:03 And I also think that the week three Bengals defense, I don't know if they get carved up by Dorian Thompson Robinson, but I think that they give up a touchdown in the fourth quarter to Dorian Thompson Robinson. I don't think that it's 24-6. I think it, you know, so I do think they're playing better, to your point, how much better. And I don't think anyone can really answer that. And the only thing that they'll be able to do is be able to answer it starting next week. But winning 24-6, being in control, bouncing back after the worst start that you could have imagined if you're the Bengals with a 66-yard run to Jerome Ford, all of those things are good signs. Now, we'll see if that can continue because all of the things that they did for most of today, create chaos, tackle, keep – keep everything in front of you, not give up big plays.
Starting point is 00:08:54 It's not like Jerry Judy was floating down the sideline wide open. You need to make sure that that happens moving forward. And if so, I can accept that from the defense. And so we'll see where they're at. You're right. It'll be a good measuring stick next week, but the past two weeks they've been fun watching the turnover barrage. Nine turnovers and two games, Jake Lisco.
Starting point is 00:09:15 It's like a bad, madden opponent that they've played over the past two weeks. Creating turnovers is awesome. I think it's hilarious to say that it's irrelevant to say that the Browns offense is bad when talking about taking this defense when a grain of salt when you look at the teams they've beaten this year. So I'll say that. I think it does matter the quality of opponent because every time they face the quality opponent, they haven't been up to the task. We'll see if that is the case next week.
Starting point is 00:09:38 But like you said, we will have plenty of time to get into that conversation. It's irrelevant because they haven't swept the Browns when they've sucked. That's why. The Browns have sucked last year. and they didn't sweep them. They got their butts booked. And so that's why it's relevant. It's not like it's new for the Browns type of bad quarterback.
Starting point is 00:09:56 They haven't had a quality starter, pro bowl level quarterback in my lifetime. The Browns were 11 and 6 and went to the playoffs last year despite having a really bad offense. More to talk about next. Today's show is a prize. You're going to love prize picks, the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy,
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Starting point is 00:10:48 after your first $5 lineup. That's right, $50 instantly when you play just $5 prize picks, run your game. The Bengals complete the sweep of the Cleveland Browns, which is significant. That is certainly relevant. I think that we can talk a little bit about this Bengals offense in this game as well, because a big part of the issue when the Bengals have faced the Browns in years past in this Joe Burroughs, Zach Taylor era, is the inability to get things going on offense,
Starting point is 00:11:19 especially early in games. That's what you mentioned when Zach Taylor talked about not wanting to run uphill against this team. And the Bengals got off to as good of a start as you could have hoped for. They were running the ball well. They had tendency breakers on their scripted drive.
Starting point is 00:11:33 Joe Burrow started this game on fire. Jamar Chase making plays, the Higgins making plays, Chase Brown making plays. And that's the kind of start they needed against a bad offense, against a clearly not NFL level quarterback, and gave them,
Starting point is 00:11:49 the margin of error they needed and gave them the opportunities to play the way they needed to play on defense to create turnovers down the stretch. I think you're spot on in that analysis, James. Well, Chase Brown had 56 rushing yards on that opening drive, and that was huge. Joe Burrow was 4-4 for 41 yards, and it's like, what? Like, you go on a 99-yard drive, and that's how it is, is Chase Brown has all of these explosive runs. And so, yeah, I think that, That was the biggest difference from week seven to now from these two teams. It's Chase Brown, his emergence, their confidence in him, what he's been able to do on offense. And it mattered early.
Starting point is 00:12:31 And it was a big separator. Heck, on their final touchdown of the game, just being able to get Chase Brown going some, help them and help facilitate that drive a bit. So, yeah, I think that's the thing that stands out to me. obviously it was a record-breaking season for Jamar Chase, and he has the touchdown at the end to get over 1,500 yards for the season. He's the only Bengals receiver to do that. Joe Burrow, multiple records.
Starting point is 00:13:01 You could say he's the first Bengals quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in three seasons in his career. Andy Dalton did it twice. Carson Palmer did it twice. Obviously, the Bengals throw it a lot, and he's super efficient today, 70-plus percent completion percentage. And then Jamar Chase as well with what he's been able to do touchdown-wise. He's just won away from Carl Pickin.
Starting point is 00:13:24 So these guys, I could do the three touchdowns and 250 yards in seven straight games, too, for Joe Burrell. Like they're just unreal. And so for them to get those numbers today, and I know one of the touchdowns, the touchdown was a garbage time touchdown. It's so much fun watching them. And I think Chase Brown helps them solve some of the issues that this Brown's defense. does give them, along with T. Higgins being just awesome, because I thought he was really good today as well. When you can chuck off explosives in the run game and be efficient outside of that,
Starting point is 00:13:57 Chase Brown averaging over five yards of carry, he finished with 5.1 yards per carry. He led the team in total offense on the day with 109 yards, just narrowly beating out Jemar Chase's 1-104, if I can do math, which I think you never know. You never know when you try to do math, but it was a great day for Chase Brown. When you have those three guys and Chase Brown making plays as a receiver and as a runner that can carry the offense. And that's really what it was today because while they protected well early, and I noted that, man, they've protected Joe quite well through the first few drives of the game
Starting point is 00:14:35 when they were going well on offense before things kind of smuddered before Marius Mitz went out of the game, that eventually ends up covering up for the game. the offensive line down the stretch on their final touchdown drive, which, as you said, is kind of been garbage time at that point. But with backups that tackles, with shaky guard play and just Ted Harris out there, they still had moments of success. And that's largely, as it has been for this entire stretch, lately Joe Burrow making plays from our Chase making place, E Higgins making place, Chase Brown making place, and then getting the ancillary contributions from Andreosovash and Mike Kosicki.
Starting point is 00:15:13 Yeah, Andre, huge play, I thought. And, you know, Mike Gisicki nearly had a big first down. And if he was able to stretch it out, by the way, one of the plays of the day was Drew Sample. And what Joe did to get Drew Sample the ball, like the little twisting throw. I mean, that's Joe's just insane. I mean, the touchdown past the T. Look, his knee was down just for those wondering. Like, it was touching.
Starting point is 00:15:41 But he tripped over. Cordell, I believe. It was Ted Carras. It did not matter because he wasn't touched by a Browns Defender. Yeah. Took a lot of people a while to figure that out. The broadcast never mentioned it. I noticed it immediately and tweeted about it.
Starting point is 00:15:54 Eventually, I think Mike Pereira tweeted about it as well. Yeah. Yeah. It was one of the officials or one of the former officials that are making a lot of money to talk about it on TV now. Yeah, it's crazy to watch him do stuff like. And he's done it all year. And so if, if going back to the defense, if they can be just opportunistic,
Starting point is 00:16:22 where they're the 20th best defense in the NFL, but they force a couple turnovers every week. And you're getting the ball back to that guy with those weapons. That's tough. It's tough to stop. It's tough to contain. And we've been saying it all year. So hopefully, if you're a Bengals fan watching this or listening this, you're hoping that the, the defense has figured something out.
Starting point is 00:16:45 Because if so, that's, that's scary. I mean, there's obviously questions about the offensive line and health with the Marius Mims and all that. Like, there's questions. But boy, oh, boy, does Joe Burrow have a lot of answers? And that's proven again today against the team that has had his number. And now he's won back-to-back games over them in the same season for the first time in his career. Yeah, that's a nice milestone for Joe Burrow.
Starting point is 00:17:11 if there was any kind of monkey on his back, which I don't really think there was. It certainly should be off at this point. And despite some pressure ramping up from the Browns in the second half, you have to be generally pleased with what Joe Burrow did in this game. I would say that it wasn't his best game of the year. And it might have been his worst game in the last like seven weeks or something. But that is still a really good game. It's still 250 plus and three touchdowns.
Starting point is 00:17:36 It's still making insane plays outside of structure. The big difference in this game to me was the Browns did a good job, a better job than we've seen in a few weeks of keeping Joe in the pocket a few times, which is why he ends up taking four sacks in the game. And that's credit to the Browns. Some of that's Miles Garrett doing his thing, right? Some of that is other guys on that defensive line, maintaining gap discipline when Joe's trying to escape the pocket. And then one of those was the play action play from the one yard line that I knew drew the ire of some Bengals fans, that call in particular at that point in the game, people, are yelling, just run the ball, just run the ball. Why are we throwing the ball in the second half at this point? They were running well early.
Starting point is 00:18:19 And in that spot, that's a turnover that you just can't have if you're Joe Burrow. But again, when you have those kinds of issues in games where you're winning comfortably, you end up winning comfortably, and he does plenty of good. Like Joe Burrough is still awesome. I'm not saying that he had a bad game. I'm just saying that compared to some of the awesome games we've seen from him, those mistakes are still there. and it's just doing way more good than bad to balance that out in a very positive way.
Starting point is 00:18:46 Sure. Yeah, it's going back to the Cleveland quarterback conference, they would love to have a guy that turns it over once, 23 of 30, 77% completely. Right, like you would love it. But in that instance, he knew he was in trouble. He didn't get down, tried to extend, try to put that Superman cape on. And sometimes you really are on a phone booth. And he was.
Starting point is 00:19:07 He was in the phone booth. And it got ugly quick because there's multiple guys around them and nowhere to go. And that's the balance. And we'll see over the next two weeks now. Must win games. You're going to face interesting rushes. You're going to face a defense in Denver that's really interesting. So the turnover element, I know Joe's frustrated with it,
Starting point is 00:19:28 and he'll try to cut them moving forward. But we have more to get to on offense on defense. The Bengals are seven and eight. We'll continue our conversation coming up next. The NFL playoffs are almost here, but it's not too late to get in on the regular season action with Fandle, America's number one sportsbook. Because right now, new customers can finish the season strong with $250. That's $250 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. I heard that $250 number, and I'm thinking, oh, that's Joe Bro's passing yards in seven straight games.
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Starting point is 00:20:32 Make every moment more with Fandle, an official sportsbook partner at the NFL. Jane, some contributions from the youth on the defensive. side of the ball. Let's wrap up some thoughts on offense and shout out some guys on the defensive side of the ball here to finish up the show. My final thought on the offense is now alluding me. What was it going to be? Oh, the offensive line topic, I think, will definitely bear watching, right? When Amarious wins went down, one, interesting conversation on the sideline. Two, Devin Cochran immediately hurt his ankle a couple of plays later, and it wasn't so severe that he couldn't play through it.
Starting point is 00:21:17 Mario's Mim seemed confident in the locker room that he would be okay. We'll see about that. But if you're talking about down to starting offensive tackles with the shaky guard play they've had, that could get treacherous. That could be a concern to say the least and it is certainly something that we'll be watching this week. Yeah, I mean, that's one of the top storylines, I would say. And the other one is how close is our? Orlando? Does Orlando have a shot? He started moving last week. Is there a chance? Is the door
Starting point is 00:21:52 slightly open? I don't know. I wonder. I wonder because now we're getting to the point where it's like, all right, well, seasons on the line. Can you go? Can you not? But yeah, Marius, having him would be huge. You need him. And the conversation with Frank was interesting. I have no idea what to make of it. I really don't. I don't know what it was. Zach said football gets heated. That's football, man. basically. And so, yeah, yeah, which is fine. I don't know that there's a ton there. It could just be he wanted to go into the game and there was a risk of re-injury and he was being cautioned by his coach and he really wanted to go back in. It could be the opposite. We have no idea. It could have been none of the above. It could have been about something totally unrelated. We really have.
Starting point is 00:22:37 I want McDonald's for dinner. I want I have. I mean, I want McDonald's. It was clearly related to the game because Zach went to talk to Marius afterward. So it was something. Like after that time out with three seconds left, which Kevin Sopansky not calling a timeout to apply significantly more pressure to force a punt is just malpractice from the Cleveland sideline, by the way, letting them run the clock down to three seconds have a relatively risk-free field goal attempt. Terrible. But at the time they took that. Yeah, Kaye, Yorker bouncing back, missing the 47-yarder, making the 59-yarder. But after that timeout was called is when Zach, I think somebody told him, hey, go talk to Amarius.
Starting point is 00:23:16 You can kind of see the interaction unfold on the broadcast. Then he goes and talks to Amaris for like 15 seconds, 10, 10, 15 seconds on the sideline there after that time out. So whatever it was was significant enough to warrant a conversation. But Amaris also fired up after the game. Hopefully he can get back. That is a big piece, obviously. He's really coming to his own as a pass blocker, I think, and it continues to get better as a rookie late in the year. Yeah, you need them.
Starting point is 00:23:41 You need them. just like you need these young guys to continue. He's one of the young guys, but he's a young guy that you're definitely banking on. A bunch of other young guys stepped up, made plays. I mean, Chris Jenkins, Mr. Two Sacks, McKinley Jackson, sack, guys like that, like you would love for those guys, because this is back-to-back weeks now for McKinley,
Starting point is 00:24:02 where it's like, all right, well, it's interesting. You know, Chris Jenkins, I feel like has flashed over the past few weeks. And so I like what I'm seeing from them from a production standpoint, you hope it continues. Obviously, Trey needed to get a sacker to keep his NFL lead, and you know he's thinking about that, just opposed to Sigh had the other sack. So this defense with some big sacks. A lot of that does have to do with DTR, though.
Starting point is 00:24:29 I'm not going to lie to you. Yeah, DTR holding onto the ball trying to escape pockets where there aren't escape lanes. Like some of these aren't clean, clean wins per se, but there's still production plays that you take. There's still plays these guys are making. McKinley Jackson and Chris Jenkins both had quality sacks. I wouldn't go so far as to call them like elite sacks or anything like that. Like they're not Gino Atkins out there, obviously, right?
Starting point is 00:24:51 Gino was fairly singular. They're not getting that level of play. But getting three sacks out of your rookie DTs is a great day. Getting a forced intentional grounding from Cedric Johnson in his limited snaps. He played six snaps. That's awesome. Getting those kinds of plays from young guys. Joseph Osai had the second most pressures for the Bengals on the day with five to Trey
Starting point is 00:25:09 Hendrickson six. Obviously he had a sack, Miles Murphy with three pressures, a number of pass rush wins that didn't result in pressures, had a pressure that led to one of those Trey Hendrickson sacks. They're getting played from those young guys. And you mentioned earlier that Gino Stone continues to be opportunistic. And I think the bounceback game for Jordan Battle after he dropped the ball crossing the goal line was very encouraging to see, including collecting an interception off of that Gino Stone Blitz. And the last one, Mike Hilton, not a young guy, but Mike Hilton had a couple of plays that could have been sacks. They were instead called tackles for loss.
Starting point is 00:25:47 I guess they were ruled running plays. But another awesome game for Mike Hilton as a blitzer where he's just been on a heater in the last few weeks. And that is something to watch. Better believe they want to use that against the guy like Bo Nix, who's a rookie playing on the road. And so, yeah, Mike Hilton has been clutch. They need that to continue. They need this opportunistic defense. or DJ Ivy bats the ball up, nice PBOU and Gino Stone is there for the interception.
Starting point is 00:26:15 Those are the things. That's the formula. And going back to our debate or whatever you want to say it was, that's what can they bottle that and have some of that on the sideline on Saturday, which is going to be here before we know it. Can they do that? And then can that carry a, because if so, this could be a good football team and not just one of these awful teams. They need help. we'll go over the playoff implications when everything's settled on tomorrow's show.
Starting point is 00:26:43 But yeah, can they bottle that? Can these young guys continue the production? Can Gino Stone, Mike Hilton, and the rest of these guys that have made plays? Heck, I thought Cam Taylor-Brit had a shot in an interception today. He just didn't know the ball was there because it was just a really bad ball. Or are a bad play by the receiver, one of the two. But, yeah, these guys have had chances. hopefully they could continue to take advantage of him.
Starting point is 00:27:09 Now, that will be critical. Bo Nix has taken care of the ball, I think, pretty well this year. Joe Burrow mentioned that he'd been impressed with Bo Nix earlier in the year. He looks like certainly a competent NFL quarterback and a well-run football team. In Denver, a great offensive line there, much stiffer test in the trenches for the Bengals, really on both sides next week. But again, we'll have plenty of time to get into that. My last thought on this game was I was glad to see, even though it was a garbage time play.
Starting point is 00:27:35 I love seeing Jamar Chase on a free play, one of two free plays for the Bengals in this game, or two off-sides penalties anyway, that the Bengals drew in this game. Joe Burrow finding Jamar Chase for that cherry on top, 32 extra yards, an extra touchdown, an extra catch. And a game that Durali had six catches, which I think he's still fine in terms of his lead for the Triple Crown, Amunraa St. Brown. Last time I looked only had five catches as well. So I think he's maintained his lead in those categories relatively well. but it was nice to see that little bit of extra for that triple crown stat chasing
Starting point is 00:28:08 for Jemar Chase. And you mentioned earlier all the records I set on offense. Yeah. Yeah. It's wild to watch those guys. It can happen out of nowhere and it's going to need to keep happening. They need to keep it up. They need to play at a high level for this team to have a chance.
Starting point is 00:28:25 They do have a chance. And again, shout out the Cade York. How are you going to miss the 47-yarder? that didn't really look close, like, didn't really feel like it was close, and then just drill the 59-yarder, tie Evan McPherson for the franchise lead. Like, that's crazy, but that's what it is. And the Bengals, that was a big play, by the way. A lot of scrutiny on the decision to kick the field goal and not go for it there, too.
Starting point is 00:28:55 Like, they didn't get any yards on the second down play. They throw incomplete to the wide open T. Higgins on the scramble drill on third down, and a lot of people really wanted the Bengals to go for it there. On the 47-yarder? The 47-yarder, yeah. Okay. I was like a 59. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Starting point is 00:29:12 I was like the fourth and, yeah, I was like the fourth down before it with three seconds left. You just kick it. Okay, I got it. Yeah, yeah, that makes sense because they were rolling. Burrow was eight for eight before that in completion of T. I totally would have gotten go for it. I also get getting points against the defense that you're. you're probably leery of based on the past.
Starting point is 00:29:34 But you've got to make the kick. Got to make the kick. And they've had kicking issues this year, whether that was a snap, whether it was just a bad kick. Hard to tell from the outside, right? Whether the rotation was wrong or whatever Darren Simmons is talking about with the rotations on the ball and the long snap.
Starting point is 00:29:48 But the Bengals do get the win. They get to seven and eight. Their goals are still in front of them this year. They do still need help. They didn't get a whole lot of help as of the time of recording. Still games that haven't finished will catch you up. on everything going on with their playoff scenarios and everything on our next show. Until then, thanks for listening to this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast.
Starting point is 00:30:11 Ho day and have a good one.

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