Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers First Look: Can Bengals Keep Burrow Upright?

Episode Date: November 28, 2024

Can the Cincinnati Bengals hang on against the Pittsburgh Steelers in this pivotal AFC North showdown? With Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase lighting up the field, why are the Bengals struggling at 4-7? T...his week's crossover dives into the Steelers' red zone challenges and whether the Bengals can finish a game against a good opponent. The Steelers will try to control possession and the Bengals will need a good plan to protect Burrow against a fierce pass rush. And special teams, lately, looks like an edge for the Steelers. 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-bengalsFor your next listen, check out the Locked On Fantasy Football podcast. Get daily insight to the best Fantasy draft strategies so you can win your league this season. Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Skylight FrameGet $25 off a Skylight Frame when you go to SkylightFrame.com/NFL. 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 ONE 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 Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Cincinnati for the first Cincinnati Pittsburgh matchup. And it's December. Let's get into it. The Locked on NFL crossover, part of the Locked on Podcast Network. Your team every day. What's going on football fans? Welcome to another crossover here on the Locked on podcast network. I'm Jake.
Starting point is 00:00:32 Let's go along with James Rapine from Lockdown Bengals. joined today by Chris Carter from Lockdown Steelers as the Cincinnati. Cincinnati Bengals will host the Pittsburgh Steelers. And this is the first time these teams are meeting. And it is December 1st by the time these teams were playing. Can't remember the last time the first Bengal Steelers game was that late in the season. As always, the crossover here on the Lockdown Podcast Network is presented by PrizeFix where you can download the app and use code locked on NFL to win $50 instantly
Starting point is 00:01:02 when you play your first $5. Chris, as always, we're going to get started with the biggest stories in this. game and we will start this week with the Pittsburgh Steelers on the offensive side of the ball. What are you looking at when you think about the biggest stories going on around the Pittsburgh Steelers offense? I think right now it's the thing that Mike Tomlin addressed at the top of the week when he said, you know, we took the mini by week and we reassessed some things. And the things they reassessed was their failures in the red zone. And that was on both sides of the ball.
Starting point is 00:01:30 We'll get the defense in a little bit. But their 30th and red zone offense. And that's something that they know that they have to be better at. And they even, you know, for some people out there, oh, well, Justin Fields was a little bit better. And he was a little bit better. And that's the problem. And I think that's what they're looking at right now is they haven't been able to finish drives. They've been able to move the ball. They've been able to do that. And like they did finish drives for the first three weeks. But these last two weeks especially, you know, when they've gotten into the close quarters areas, they've kind of gotten too cute. And I think it's come down to Arthur Smith trying to make plays with Connor Hayward instead of, you know, throwing the ball to George Pickens. or using one of your two really tall, good receiving tight ends that can win jump balls or using Mike Williams, who you just traded to go get. And I think that's the issue that the Steelers are trying to figure out is how do they divvy up the targets, the usage, those types of things, but also how do they execute it cleanly when they are divvying those up because they've had good Red Zone plays that have been called back for penalties.
Starting point is 00:02:28 And it's just kind of been that myriad of things. And Mike Tomlin said they addressed it at the top of the week. They worked on it. They said that was something they studied really closely. during their mini buy week because they played Thursday night football. And then they said they took an extra practice to implement that and implemented specifically what they plan to do against the Bengals. And then they got back into the regular practice schedule of a 1 p.m. Sunday type of a week.
Starting point is 00:02:50 So on offense right now, it's can someone step up on offense? Can someone, can they find continuity and flow again? They were averaging 30.3 points per game with Russell Wilson in his first three contests. He had that big three touchdown pass game against the commanders. and then they got six field goals against the Ravens and then scored just 19 points against the Browns, albeit that was an insane blizzard. But still, they want to be a better offense. This year they have been a better offense.
Starting point is 00:03:17 They're very much middle of the league, but they still want to, they still need to finish better to back up their defense. And that's what they're focusing on the most. Obviously, Russell Wilson has gotten a lot of the attention nationally, at least, and it's all about the quarterbacks. but at least from my vantage point, the thing that the Steelers have tried to focus on, tried to improve over the past few seasons is the offensive line. How has that unit been so far this year?
Starting point is 00:03:45 I think they've been slightly above water. I think that there's been some good things and some bad things. Zach Frazier, last week I felt was like Zach's first, like, bad game. I think even then he was coming back from injury, but like I felt like he, most of this year, Zach Frazier at Center has been awesome for them. He's been an asset. He gives up very little pressure up the middle. He often moves his guy off the pile when they need to run up the middle. Mason McCormick, a rookie in the same class, fourth round guy. He's been a major asset. He's been a mauler. He still needs to clean up his past protection, but he's learning really quickly on the job. Broderick Jones is very much a roller coaster case right now. Last week, he was more on the up than the down.
Starting point is 00:04:28 But that's the thing is he hasn't been consistent. He's really good as a run blocker when he can his hands on guys. He can be a good pass blocker when he gets his hands on you, but sometimes he just doesn't, and that's just the most bizarre thing. Isaac Seyamalu was injured for a while, came back, and he's had some really good weeks and some not good weeks. Dan Moore is Dan Moore. Really experienced now much more polished than he used to be still the reason why they've drafted offensive tackle in the first round the last two years. Troy Faltona, though, probably not coming back until late December if he comes back at all this season with his injury. So that's kind of been the tone. You know, James Daniels out for the year and he was arguably their best offensive
Starting point is 00:05:05 linemen in the first couple games before he got hurt. But they've taken steps forward. The younger offensive linemen have set a tone and that's allowed when they were playing better as a unit and when Zach Frazier was healthy with them, they were running the ball well. Naji Harris had three straight 100-yard games. Since then, it's been kind of back to being quiet because the offensive line's been inconsistent. It has not been a strength of the Bengals this year could take advantage of potentially questionable offensive lines. Let's say. We'll be interesting to see how that matchup plays out this week where it's an
Starting point is 00:05:36 AFC North game. So we're thinking about the trenches. And speaking of the trenches and the biggest story for that Pittsburgh defense, to me, from the outside looking in, it sounds like there's a chance of Alex Highsmith gets back this week and provides a shot in the arm for a defense that's already got one of the more threatening past rushes of Bengals will face this year. Chris, is that the top of the list for the defense or is there something else going on? No, Alex Smith is looking better and better to return throughout the week. we will ultimately have to see how things go down Friday. That's always the determining practice.
Starting point is 00:06:05 But he does look like he's getting there. And the Steelers have been kind of confident that he would return. I think there's also confidence that Corey Trice could return to the secondary. He's kind of been that first corner off the bench that lines up on the outside with Joey Porter, Jr. And early in the season, he was pretty good when they called upon him. He's just been hurt ever since. But definitely Alex Highsmith is the game maker here. And I did a film study in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette showing that like, hey, right before,
Starting point is 00:06:31 Alex Highsmith was getting hurt, got hurt. They were starting to flip him and T.J. Watt more and as far as moving them around the defensive front, which they had never done. Like in the past, in the Giants game where they played, they just moved T.J. Watt four times. And like the Giants offensive line was like, wait, you can do that. And it led to him getting just, you know, more one-on-one opportunities with just four
Starting point is 00:06:50 snaps. That was, I went back. They had T.J. Watt had lined up on the right side of the defense four times in the last four years combined. So him doing it four times in one game. was revolutionary. But the problem is, since Alex Highsmith's been hurt, they haven't done it, they did it one play since. And I think that it's because they got, hey, Nick Herbig, second year player, Preston Smith, new guy to the system. We're going to let them be comfortable on
Starting point is 00:07:12 that side. T.J. Watkin just play on his side. And since then, the most he's gotten his three pressures in a sack against the Ravens, didn't get a sack on James Winston, didn't get a sack on, um, uh, on Jane Daniels, uh, though arguably people's that are, you know, he should have a safety when he was, like, thrown to the ground by his shoulder pads. Uh, but, I think that the thing is, and I wrote about this, is that the Steelers want to move him around, but they also have to be careful about how they do it because he is such a huge part of also stopping the run
Starting point is 00:07:40 and moving him in the wrong spot. It's got to be timed. It's got to be coordinated to try to force an offense to have to over communicate. If they're throwing extra offensive linemen out there, put them on the opposite side of that and see how they respond to it. And if it's a pass play, how do they try to flip the play? Does it mess with the communication?
Starting point is 00:07:59 Those are things they're trying to do with Alex Highsmith. It'll be easier for them to do that because now they'll feel they have four capable edge rushers at Watt, High Smith, Herbing, and Smith as guys that they can rotate in and out and keep fresh throughout a game. How was Patrick Queen fit into that linebacker room? That was someone I know the Bengals liked pre-draft. He gets drafted by the Ravens and has a few down years. And then Rokan Smith gets there, has a huge year last year and obviously signed the big deal in Pittsburgh. You know, if you would ask me about, I'd say a month and a half. and ago, I'd say, I'd say very up and down because he was, like the first game of the season,
Starting point is 00:08:37 he missed four tackles against the Falcons. And everyone was like, oh, boy. And then he wasn't making really a lot of splash plays. But I'd say by like week six or so, he really started to lock in. He stopped missing tackles nearly as much. Since the Jets game, I think he's missed two total tackles. And he leads the team in tackles. He's been flying over the field, making a lot of run stuff's really helping in coverage. He's not a liability there the way that the, you know, name a linebacker for the off ball, an off ball linebacker for the Steelers that named Ryan Shazier in the last seven years. And he's better than that person. And that's been a major asset to him. He's also kind of the all-on-one package because he communicates. He keeps everyone
Starting point is 00:09:17 on the same page, whereas like last year, that had to be a Landon Roberts for most of the year. And Landon Roberts, good communicator, physical player, don't ask him to go in coverage, though. And so now they have Patrick Queen, and that allows the Landon Roberts, when he's on the field to just be your job is to either, it's either go stop the run or rush the quarterback. And then when Peyton Wilson's on the field, your job is to really, Peyton Wilson's extremely flexible.
Starting point is 00:09:40 His interception against Lamar Jackson was just an example of how he could run stride for stride with Justice Hill and be just, and be fine doing it. And he's also, as a pretty big body too. But Patrick Queen is the guy that pieces it all together that keeps everyone on the same page while also being that athletic guy who can stuff the run. He's getting in position a lot fast.
Starting point is 00:09:59 while also being a guy that helps in coverage. I think that he has completely worked out. It took about, I'd say, like, a month and a half, but now he's a very consistent asset for the Steelers. And now getting the rest of the schedule, for the most part, against AFC North opponents, with whom he is very familiar for Patrick Queen, and we'll see how he does against the Bengals, of course, this weekend.
Starting point is 00:10:22 Coming up next, we flip the attention to the Cincinnati Bengals and the biggest stories going on with the beleaguered of 4 and 17. playing out of Paycor Stadium. That's next on this week's crossover. This crossover is brought to you by Fandul America's number one sportsbook. And one of the many reasons they're America's number one sportsbook is the awesome bonuses they have.
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Starting point is 00:11:29 you get $150 in bonus vests at fandul.com, official sportsbook partner of the NFL. Back here on crossover Thursday here on the Locked On podcast network, Chris Carter from Locked on Steelers here with Jake Lux and James Rupin of Lockedon Bengals. Fellas, let's flip to the top stories of the Bengals. And right now, what are you looking at with this Bengals offense that is right now the number one passing offense, a top five scoring offense? They got a lot of things going for them.
Starting point is 00:11:55 But this is a four and seven team, as you mentioned. And it seems like every time. they've gone up against a good opponent. They've done enough to put them in the game, and then they just fall just short. Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest story high level is, oh, my God, Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase have been playing awesome. How are they four and seven?
Starting point is 00:12:14 You know, how is it a guy that, to me, for Joe Burrow, you could make an MVP case when you look at the stats and how he's doing things. And yet, obviously, he's not going to win it because the team is four and seven. Jamar Chase threatening to be the fifth receiver ever to win the triple crown. That's a tough thing to digest. And so I think that's the biggest story.
Starting point is 00:12:38 And the next question is why. And on offense, part of it is that they are not a consistent running team. I don't think that there's any reason to believe that they're going to run for huge chunks on Sunday against the Steelers, for example. And this offensive line is flawed. They've been without Orlando Brown Jr. Who's having arguably his best year, probably his best year of his career. They've been without him for a month now. And the interior of this offensive line, specifically at the guard spot,
Starting point is 00:13:09 Alex Kappa and Cordell-Volson, they've struggled. So why is Joe taking so many hits? Why have they struggled outside of a few guys? And I would say Chase Brown has been a bright spot as well on pace for over 1,200 yards from scrimmage. And so you couple it together, it's like, man, they should be seven and four, eight and three. No, they're four and seven. And I think the biggest story is Joe and Jamar are doing their part and then some, and it still hasn't been enough. And you pointed this out too, Chris, like those clutch time moments, whether it's the offense or the defense, not to single a unit out here or the special teams unit where they've been in position to win games and then their kickers let them down this year.
Starting point is 00:13:48 Like they just haven't made that last play against a good team, as you point out. So if this game goes a certain way, you could see it being close, and then it's can they overcome that speed bump at the end of the game and make that play to finish the game that they have been able to make this year. And that's what I just keep seeing. Like I remember I watched both those Bengals and Ravens games, and I was just like, man, like the first one, just all the haymakers just thrown in that game.
Starting point is 00:14:16 And then the Ravens just come out on top. And I'm like, man, like the second game can't go like that, right? And then it did. And I was like, exactly like that. And I was just like, that is, that is just heartbreaking when it's like, when you get a team the first time and you're like, all right, all right, we'll get them the next time. And you lose in just like that close again. That is just rough, rough on you. And then, you know, you have the other games, the Chargers game being right there, the commander's game, the Chiefs game being right there.
Starting point is 00:14:44 Those are tough spots. And it's just, that's the kind of stuff that like can make or make or break your season. And so far it's broken the bangles. still think that they can be a little bit dangerous. But I wanted to ask about this offensive line because that has been the thing that has held back Joe Burrow a lot in his years. He's been injured twice in major ways. But this year, his sack numbers are down.
Starting point is 00:15:05 Is that because this offensive line's a lot better or is that more so Joe Burrow just being Joe Burrow? I think they're better in past protection than they've been in the past, especially, again, when you have Orlando Brown Jr. Anna Marius Mims out there, you feel pretty good about that. Trent Brown early on, still quality pass protector in this league when healthy. So you couple that with Ted Karris. And I think, yeah, they've been solid.
Starting point is 00:15:31 But the guards, there were some flashes early where I thought it would be okay. And while they've been pretty bad. And that makes it even tougher because they are a pass-first team because we know they're not going to run it 40 times on Sunday. Like even if it's working, you're talking like 20 run probably. if it's working at a high level. That's just not their bread and butter. So you need quality pass protectors.
Starting point is 00:15:57 And I think they've gotten that for part of the year. But against these teams like the Ravens, against the Chargers, against the Steelers, you know Joe is going to get hit. And that's a heck of a way to live, knowing how valuable he is in the league. I would add on to that that. The Joe Burroughs stack avoidance this year
Starting point is 00:16:13 is markedly better than it's been throughout his career. And so I would attribute a good amount of that to Joe as well. Well, the other thing is just that they're getting themselves in these situations with a dropping back just a ton. And it's putting the past protectors in difficult situations to say the least where they're a little bit one dimensional. And it makes it a little bit easier for opposing defensive linemen to get after the quarterback. I hear that. I hear that. And I think that that's where you want to keep teams in less predictable situations, two-dimensional football.
Starting point is 00:16:47 As Pat Narduzzi, Pitts head coach would often say in his press conference. conferences. Let's flip to the defense real quick because this defense, I think, has been the unit that's let this team down more often than not, or more often than the other unit. Trey Hendrickson, awesome year, you know, getting after it. But the secondary, you know, you lose a key player in DJ Turner, Dax Hill's hurt, and it just puts a group that was already a bit, you know, short-handed, even more short-handed. And you still have Mike Hilton, you know, Steelers fans are still remember him. He's still a playmaker. He still goes, out there and he gives everything he got. But what is the, what is the thing that has been, and I get this from both of you, what is the thing that is most plagued this defense? And what is the thing that you think could be the factor that gets them over the hump
Starting point is 00:17:34 and the games, the good games they do have left in them? Oh, what has been the issue? Well, it's been a bunch of them. I mean, that's what's tough is when you lose so many close games, it's been one thing or another thing or another. Their biggest issue. And again, this is not discounting the secondary in Camp Taylor-Brit. but the pass rush. It's Trey Hendricks and no one else. And that is not the way to live. And the Steelers fans listening and watching right now understand that because the Steelers can just throw guys. And Highsmith goes down and then Herbitt comes in and then Herbitt gets hurt and Highsmith comes back. And then all, they're all together. And the interior depth that the Steelers have. The Bengals don't have that. They have either youth, inexperience, unproven guys, or a guy in Sam Harwich. who just doesn't look like the same guy that he was a few years ago. And so when you mix that together around Trey Hendrickson and you're not heating up opposing quarterbacks, that's how Jane Daniels throws three incompletions against you on Monday night
Starting point is 00:18:35 football on a game where you just needed one stop and you could win. That's how you struggle to stop Lamar Jackson in two must win games it felt like. That's how why, at least partially why Patrick Mahomes has enough time on fourth and 16 to loft a ball, up and give his team. Like all these close games, there's been a moment where the defense could make a play, and they outside of Trey Hendrickson just don't have the playmakers. And that's happened time and time and time again. Yeah, that's why I mentioned earlier about finishing games, not just on the offensive side
Starting point is 00:19:07 of the ball. Even against the Chargers, Mike Hilton had a chance for a pick six that could have essentially put the game away. And it's a great play to break on the ball and break the pass up. But you got to catch that ball. You got to catch the interception opportunities when you have those opportunities. As James mentioned, the pass rush just hasn't been good enough for the Bengals this year. And certainly an Achilles heel there.
Starting point is 00:19:27 But I think there's a bit of a talent drain, too, that we've seen over the last few years, this catching up to them in the way they want to play versus the way they have to play, given the personnel available to them. Coming up next, guys, let's switch gears. Let's talk about some of the keys to victory in this game, a very important game for the Steelers at the top of the division, and for the Bengals to try to keep their season going in some of those slim playoff hopes. alive. We'll finish the show there coming up next.
Starting point is 00:19:53 But first, I'll remind you this show is brought to you by Game Time. Game Time is the app that you need to download to your phone today to get tickets to all your favorite live events. Winter is coming and it now is your chance to get all to your favorite holiday events to get to your favorite concerts, shows, and of course, sporting events. Whether you're a Steelers fan, a Bengals fan, the University of Cincinnati, Xavier, all those events. You can get to write with Game Time where you can use Game Time picked to sort through the tickets to with the app itself and find the best tickets available, whether you want club seats at the big game or floor seats at the big concert, game time is the best way to go. Plus, gain time offers the best price guarantee. I mean, you'll always get the best price because if you find tickets in the same section in a row for less somewhere else,
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Starting point is 00:20:59 Guys, let's dive into the keys to victory in this crossover episode presented by prize picks where you can download the app and use code Lockdown NFL to win $50 instantly when you play your $5 play. I'm Jake. Let's go along with James Rapine from Lockdown Bengals. And we've got Chris Carter representing the Steelers and Lockdown Steelers in this crossover. Chris, as we do, let's get into those keys to victory here from the Pittsburgh perspective. What needs to go right for the Steelers to come out on top in this one? One, the offense just needs to be competent in this game.
Starting point is 00:21:30 And when I say competent, they need to finish drives, prove that those red zone woes are behind them, move the football, control the football, keep the ball out of Joe Burroughs hands, and actually come away with touchdowns. If they're able to do that, the Steelers have shown, they can put together game plans that can slow down Joe Burrow. But we've all seen the game where, you know, it's the, the Steelers still ended up on top, but they forced five turnovers in a game once against Joe Burrow, and he still came back to force overtime in the end. Why? Because that offense couldn't possess the football. This Steelers' offense, much better at possessing the football. So the first thing, possess the football, control the ball right now. The Steelers are the best time possession, the best in time
Starting point is 00:22:09 possession right now. That's key number one for the Steelers. I'd say key number two, if you're looking at the defense, you got to get Joe Burrow off schedule, whether that's bump and running coverage, taking away the things that he likes to do, or getting pressure, which I think will be the biggest key of those three things I just said. That's going to be the factor as far as keeping Joe Burrow off schedule. He's going to get his. I think that the Steelers kind of acknowledged that a lot of game plans, like, hey, there are certain players, you can't, you can't necessarily stop from doing everything or scoring at all. But you can knock them off schedule and I'll give your offense time to build a lead and put them in behind the eight ball so that
Starting point is 00:22:46 eventually the Bengals is like, well, the game plan we had for this game. can't fully apply right now because we're not in the situation we thought we'd be. So those are my two top keys. And if I guess I had to come up with the third one, they need to get back to being able to run the football. They have not run the football well the past few weeks. It was looking very good before Zach Frazier's injury. He got hurt.
Starting point is 00:23:07 And then it sort of fell off a little bit. If they can get back to running the football, that'll help with the time possession thing. But that's also, that was supposed to be a big identity for them this year. And it has been at times during their, their five-game win-street. They had some moments like that, but it hasn't been of the past couple weeks, and that's something they have to get back to here. What are some of the Bengals keys? Well, I think key number one, first and foremost, and you could say it every week, but I certainly
Starting point is 00:23:35 think over the past couple of weeks you saw Joe Burrow played a really high level, and he gets the snot kicked out of him against the Ravens. Same thing against the Chargers. And it's protect Joe. find a way. I think Orlando Brown Jr. has a good shot to come back. We'll see if he does. If he's able to play, practiced on Wednesday. How close to 100% will he be? He will not be 100%. I can confidently say that. So how close will he be? Will he be effective? Can they keep Joe upright and limit that Steelers defense defensive front? I think that's number one. It just has to be. Two is defensively find a way to early on. create some big plays. And that could be
Starting point is 00:24:23 Russell Wilson interception. That could be Jalen Warren fumble. That could be Naji Harris fumble. That could be a tipped pass because George Pickens runs two yards too far to the right and the ball goes up in the air. And Josh Newton, who's going to make his first start,
Starting point is 00:24:39 first NFL start, is able to pick it off. I think that that's it is big plays. And then three, to me it's defense again. It finding a way to not let, and Jake's been on this, the moonball thing, you cannot give up these big plays regardless if you're Cam Taylor Britt or a rookie and Josh Newton or Gino Stone, it doesn't matter. This secondary, this pass rush, it all has to come together and make sure it limits
Starting point is 00:25:08 those big plays for the Steelers, whether it's the run or the pass for that matter. I think that those are the three things, and there are a bunch of things. I mean, honestly, Chris, I think about this team and where they're at. And I could see the Steelers winning this game in a bunch of different ways, which means that the Bengals, there are a lot of keys to stir the drink, so to speak, to get them to a win. There's also just this, not to talk about the kickers too much, but man, there's a kicking disparity between these teams this year.
Starting point is 00:25:40 And for all this discussion about what needs to go right on offense and defense, we've seen the Bengals stay in games against everybody but Philly this year because our offense and defense have done enough. And in a lot of those games, the Bengals kicking unit has let them down. Meanwhile, you got a kicker in Pittsburgh who has been lights out this year. So there's a kicking disparity in this game where previously I would have felt very confident with the Bengals and Evan McPherson coming into this year. And lately, that's certainly not been the case to the point that we've got stories about,
Starting point is 00:26:11 you know, what's going on with the holding and snapping operation and learning about revolutions on the snap to make sure the laces are caught by holder in the right, you know, like it's that level of conversation around what's going wrong with the Bengals kicking game right now. So I'm just going to throw that one out there as another one because it really has cost of Bengals. As you mentioned, Chris, some of the games you've watched this year and against some other teams this year where they're just not getting those clutch kicks when they need them in
Starting point is 00:26:35 addition to other clutch plays. So I'm just throwing out the specialist there is another one that the Bengals need to kick better. Yeah. In two games. Against both Harvosh, the Chargers. game. Evan McPherson misses two kicks in the fourth quarter. And then week, week five against the Ravens, you outplay the Ravens, you get a gift in overtime. You should win in the hold. Like just
Starting point is 00:26:59 those two plays alone, three plays are just game changers, momentum changers. That's a lot of factors there. And I think that's the thing is that this game, this is still a divisional game. As much as like, I think Bengals fans are down, Steelers fans are, they're always down after one loss. It don't matter what their record is they're just they're just what they want to be negative but i i think there's there's this there's this want to to kind of say no we are more miserable right now but at the end of the day like this is going to be this is i think this is still going to be a tough divisional game we'll both get to our predictions in the next episode uh that we that we each do but i still think these are two teams they know each other well um they both have different weaknesses that each of
Starting point is 00:27:42 them can strike at and that's where i think it's going to come down to is who can use their strength first in this game to set the pace. Yeah, it's so interesting to me that the Bengals are favored in this game, despite what the standings say, despite what they've done against teams with learning records this year, despite what they've done in close games. But despite all of that, I think that where Vegas isn't totally out to lunch on this,
Starting point is 00:28:03 is that the Bengals, because of Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase and T. Higgins and Chase Brown, and because Trey Hendricks can take over games, sometimes we saw him do that against the Chiefs, and that's the reason the Bengals were right there with the Chiefs defensively in that. game a long time ago now but you get the point there's a re that the bengals can be better than their record but they haven't been able to finish games and in a game that could be close because these teams are so familiar with each other and it is an a fc north game and it isn't cincinnati
Starting point is 00:28:31 all of that stuff comes into what should be another good one in the a fc north it's just crazy that we're not talking chris here until december i mean what are what are these schedule makers doing it's so late in the year hard knocks man uh there they're there they're They're all up, they're all up, they're taking up our parking spaces. They're, they're all over the place. They're extra cameras in every scrum. I hope, I hope HBO and Max, they hope they get their money's worth for this stuff because we, we certainly are being accommodating here.
Starting point is 00:29:03 That's going to do it for this crossover on the Locked On podcast. We've got more content for you on Lockdown Bengals and Lockdown Steelers before the game. You can check out those respective channels on YouTube or anywhere you get your podcast. stay up to date and we appreciate you listening to this crossover on the lockdown podcast network your team every day

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