Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Flacco's Impact and Bengals' Narrow Path to Victory vs Packers

Starting point is 00:00:00 Starting with the Green Bay Packers isn't easy or ideal for the Bengals with Joe Flacco, but in a week where Hope has maybe been sparked, let's find out what Flacco can do in his first Bengals start. You are Locked-on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Well, not Bengals fans. And welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network.

Starting point is 00:00:35 your team every day. I'm Jake, let's go. He's James Rupin. We are your host of the Lockdown Bengals podcast, giving you a one-stop shop here on YouTube or wherever you get your podcast for everything that you need to know about the Cincinnati Bengals, including analysis, including the latest news, what's going on with the team.

Starting point is 00:00:51 It just makes it easy, especially if you're in every day, you make us your first list, and you'll get everything you need to know about your Cincinnati Bengals in one place here on Lockdown Bengals. Today, we dive into what you expect with Joe Flacco taking over starting quarterback for the Bengals and a tough starting test with the Green Bay Packers, a tough pass rush, a tough defense, a tough team overall for things to get started for Joe Flacco in Cincinnati.

Starting point is 00:01:14 But there will be some changes in the way we see the quarterback position played, I think, with Flacco taking over for Jake Browning. And as we kind of are every week right now, James, kind of just looking for a path toward NFL viability. Can the Bengals not get blown out this week? Can they maybe beat their 14-point underdog expectations as a lot? sorry, 14 and a half point underdog expectations as set forth by Fandul in Vegas, very unconfident in the Bengals right now.

Starting point is 00:01:43 But I thought we could start with Joe Flacco a little bit, James, how things are going to change around him being the quarterback instead of Jake Browning. Obviously, he's got the experience in these different systems. I got to watch a little bit of tape since we last talk since the Bengals made the move. Because, you know, you don't really study Joe Flacco in the year 2025. It's the first time I've watched Joe Flacco tape intently and couldn't even tell you how long. But you've obviously been down at the practice, saw him in person on Wednesday, have had a chance to see how he's fitting in with the team. I've heard from Zach Taylor.

Starting point is 00:02:17 What are your thoughts on what changes with Flacko at quarterback? Well, I do think that there, one, is just belief. Let's just start there. Before we get to X's and O's in all of those things, like belief that they have someone. that can get more out of their strength. And that's super high level. But when you're two and three and you've been outscored like the Bengals have, 113 to 37.

Starting point is 00:02:42 And I know you don't count 28 of those points because all four of those garbage time touchdowns were garbage time. Right. So let's do the Jake Liscoe math. I think there's at least one garbage time touchdown for the line. So we'll take that out. 106 to 9 is a hell of a score. Right? That is a, that's a rough score.

Starting point is 00:02:58 And there's probably a joke or two in there about a one-on-one game or something that I can make. I'm not going to make it. The point is, is the Bengals have sucked on offense, and that's supposed to be their strength. And I know now, and this is part of why early in the week I was really pushing for a move, it was starting to break apart. It hadn't broken apart. I don't think you were getting the finger pointing yet, but I think it was starting. I could start to tell just how just little comments and little things that was said. And so what this does is either one extends the inevitable if they sink still or the change up the switch up the six six two hundred and twenty plus pound guy who was kind of hovering over jake browning as jake talked

Starting point is 00:03:41 on wednesday i don't know if you saw any video but it like whether it's that or if it's photos of joe or video of joe in the field you can tell why 40 year old joe flacco was a first round pick in 2008 like you can tell when he throws the ball why he's had such a long career because it is unique. I pulled up a clip on Tuesday night as I was just kind of going through things and reflecting on the trade and I put it out on social of Joe Bro just praising Joe Flacco ahead of their week one matchup for his arm talent and his arm strength. And so how does this offense change? They should be able to get the ball to their playmakers. Now, there's a lot of things that need to happen for that to happen, of course, as I think plenty of people listening and watching are able

Starting point is 00:04:29 to put together or have concerns about and we'll get to those. But there were times specifically in the Denver game and Jake Browning pointed this game out. So I want to highlight it. He's like, oh, why didn't throw any interceptions in the Denver game and we lost 28 to 3? I actually thought that was his worst game. I thought he was so bad in the Denver game, left so many plays on the field. The offensive line had a tough matchup and gave him a chance to make some plays and he didn't make any of them. And so obviously you can't turn the ball over. But even if you do, make some plays. And I think the Bengals think Joe Flacco is going to be able to do that for them.

Starting point is 00:05:03 That's the balance, right? I think it was the second worst game. If I was to rank them, I was thinking about it as you said that. I think that last week was probably the worst. Denver was the second worst. Minnesota was a third worst. Jacksonville was a fourth worst because they made enough plays. They made enough plays in Jacksonville.

Starting point is 00:05:19 There are a lot of turnovers and the turnovers were bad. There is a cut-up that Justice Muscada, who covers the Packers. I think Acme Packing Company put up up of all of Jake Browning's interceptions this year. I put up a cut up of all of Joe Flacco's interceptions this year. So you can go find those tweets and compare them and look at the kinds of picks that Jake Browning is throwing versus the kinds of picks that Joe Flacco's throwing.

Starting point is 00:05:40 I thought that one of Flacco's picks was egregious. I thought the rest were, you know, tip balls or there was a fourth and eight, Hail Mary kind of throw that wasn't a great throw by any means, but it was a fourth and eight going into the half that was kind of a yolo ball. There's a miscommunication or two in there. The Browns receivers were really bad. And when black goes off his spot, things kind of break down. But the difference between those interceptions and Jake Browning's interceptions are like a lot of Browning's interceptions are clean pocket.

Starting point is 00:06:08 Some of them were pressured a little bit, but a lot of them are clean pocket and just not seeing the field, just not processing, just not understanding where he can put the ball, where the defenders are. And that's why for me, the most recent week was the most troubling, just some of those interceptions in that camera. Sure. unfathomably bad quarterback play. If you include the fourth quarter, then you can maybe make an argument that he was worse against the first quarter. We know my philosophy on the garbage time play there. Real quick, the Anzolone interception, just the first possession of the third quarter. It's just so bad. Like, you could have picked it. I could have picked it. The Bob, our listener right now, could have picked. Like, anyone in that area could have picked it. And there was no Bengal that realistically could have. gotten close to it, which is very scary. Like I've said when talking about that, play a number of times now, even if there's zero defensive backs on the field, zero back seven players on the field for the Detroit Lions,

Starting point is 00:07:06 that is at best an incomplete pass. It's so far behind Mike Gaseki. Like the late decisions, inaccurate balls from Jake Browning that are left inside in harm's way, you're going to have an accuracy with Joe Flacko. You're going to have turnovers with Joe Flacko. His accuracy is somewhere between Jake Browning and Joe Burrow. we seen from Jake Browning this year. He well missed passes. There will be missed ball placement opportunities for Flacco. But to me, one of the biggest differences between Jake Browning,

Starting point is 00:07:35 a quarterback and Joe Flacco quarterback, from what I watched, and I watched Joe Flacko's intermediate attempts. I watched several splits. I watched a lot of his staffs against the Green Bay Packers. I watched all those interceptions. I watched all of his deep passes. The biggest difference to me is flacco can still process at a reasonable level in a way that I don't think jake browning was processing well at all this year like worst quarterback in the NFL processing i thought is what we were getting from jake browning flaco can still kind of operate in offense he will be erratic at times the the accuracy like i said isn't perfect but he can still kind of understand what's happening what he's seeing where the ball should go most of the time it's not perfect but it's much better than

Starting point is 00:08:21 than what we saw from Jake Browning. The big downside to Flacko is when he has to move at this point in his career at 40 years old, it turns ugly really quickly. The accuracy diminishes significantly. He can't move well, so he's taking hits. He's trying to get rid of the ball to not take hits. I think he leads a league in throwaways. Did we already talk about that?

Starting point is 00:08:42 Was that something that came up earlier this week? But he's trying not to get hit. And as we've seen with some of the interceptions, you go back to week one against the Bengals when he actually played reasonably. the ball plays when even sometimes in clean pockets, but especially when he's moving, is like slightly off, which gives you the opportunity for those tip throws to happen,

Starting point is 00:09:00 but the receiver should be so much better for him in Cincinnati that, you know, if you can get a lot of quick game going, protect occasionally on some of the somewhat longer developing plays, Joe Flacco can give you a chance because he can process and get the ball to where it needs to be on time. It's just when things break down, and they will break down because of the Bengals' offensive line right now is where things will get dicey, especially dicey for Flacco. And the matchup. I mean, the next two matchups, think of these defensive lines they're facing, the Green Bay Packers and then the Pittsburgh Steelers and in a what, 96-hour span or so little over that 100 hours.

Starting point is 00:09:41 Like that's tough. Like 40-year-old Joe Flacco, you're going to have to get the ice bath ahead of time. and then obviously after and a quick turnaround. So yeah, there's plenty to discuss on the, will they be able to be more effective? Will he be able to be more effective in the path to that? Because I do think a lot of it is on this offense to just function, and we'll have to talk about the defense as well.

Starting point is 00:10:07 But let's get to that Packers Pass-Rush versus the Bengals offensive line coming up next. This show is brought to you by Supply House. When the opening whistle blows on a new repair, Get your crew moving forward with Supply House. Order today and see parts on your doorstep tomorrow. Over 280,000 plumbing, HVAC and electric items from the most trusted brands in the business. Their real-time inventory and honest lead times give you or keep you from punning projects. So you can plan ahead.

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Starting point is 00:11:08 SHNFL. That's SHNFL5. SHNFL5 for 5% off your order. at Supplyhouse.com, SH, NFL 5 for 5% off, real people, real service. All right, let's get to this defensive front for the Packers. Do you remember they traded for Michael Parsons? Do you remember when they did that? Yeah, they traded for Michael Parsons. And it makes a strength even stronger.

Starting point is 00:11:41 And it's certainly going to put pressure literally on this Bengals offensive front. because that dude, we've seen him multiple times now against the Bengals over the past few years, and he's been a game changer to have to deal with. Yeah, it's Micah Parsons, and then it's everything that Micah Parsons creates. First off, you have to deal with Michael Parsons, and you have to deal with the potential of Michael Parsons occasionally getting schemed into one-on-one matchups or crossing over Ted Carras at center or wherever he's going to align because he's going to move around on this Packers team.

Starting point is 00:12:17 has had occasional B-Gap reps. We haven't seen him go head up on the center yet this year. We'll see. But he's moving around for this Packers team and obviously leads away for them in the past Russian categories that exist. He has nearly double the amount of pressures. It's the next guy for the Packers. But the next guy for the Packers is Rashon Gary, who isn't having his best year,

Starting point is 00:12:43 especially because I think he's getting more one-on-one opportunities with Micah Parsons on the field along with him, but it's still a guy that can be a game wrecker in his own right. And then Lucas Van Ness has taken a bit of a step as a pass rusher. We'll see if Devante Wyatt is going to play this week or not, but a guy that was certainly on the Bengals draft radar, I think, when he came out back in 2022 and is off to his best start in his NFL career as a past rusher. I don't think he's going to play, but that continues with guys like Kobe Wollin

Starting point is 00:13:20 and Carl Brooks and Lucas Van Ness. Like all of these guys for the Packers, for some teams you wouldn't necessarily worry about some of these guys. But with Michael Parsons being the guy that's going to command double teams the entire game and liabilities really along the rest of the offensive line right now, you have to deal with every single one of these guys as a Packers added Parsons to really beef up the depth with that pass rush.

Starting point is 00:13:47 Yeah, and it's tough because you get Dylan Fairchild at best limping into Sunday. It doesn't feel like he's going to play. Like if I had to guess, might, but doesn't feel like it, especially Lucas Patrick gets activated. Lucas Patrick could play that left guard spot. Wouldn't shock me if that's the scenario that ends up playing out. But regardless, it's either Lucas Patrick coming off of injury or Dylan Fairchild at less than 100%. I think those are your options. So you don't feel great there.

Starting point is 00:14:15 I think Amarius Mims you feel pretty solid about, but it's not like Micah might not get the best of him a couple times one-on-one. And Marius just talked about how he was the toughest matchup for him from his rookie year. Yeah. So there you go. And Orlando on the other side, what is he really, do you not want him to have to deal with? Well, freakish athletes that can just run around and speed and power and do all, you know. And that's all Green Bay has on the edges.

Starting point is 00:14:41 every single guy. They're freaks. And so, like, the Rashad Garys of the world, they're tough enough. And then you have to deal with the freaking Micah. Mika is just, so yeah, I think it's a tough matchup in how they handle that, especially with, like, I've heard a lot about, oh, well, Flacco can't move. And that's fine. But how much does Jake Browning's pocket movement even matter? Would it would matter this? Like, I don't think that would matter at all. I'd at least get a guy that can throw it. So how do they give Joe Flacco two seconds? And then if you're Joe Flacco, you're going to have to be able to process and get the ball in these playmakers' hands, quick game, screen game, leaning on Chase Brown in the past. All those things are going to have to be in play to help this offensive front that is also just going to have to

Starting point is 00:15:31 play better than they've played and figure it out. And maybe the hope that Flacco brings. gives them a little juice because they need something to give, if they play, if they give Flacco a chance the way I thought Jake Browning had a chance for most of that Denver game, I think that they will score points. Doesn't mean they'll win the game, but I think they'll score points. Yeah, it's the way the game starts. I mean, even against Detroit early, there was okay protection for like the first half of that game until they became a straight dropback team.

Starting point is 00:16:04 And I think it's harder this week. I think Michael Parsons is better than Aden Hutchinson. I think Rishon Gary is right there with Al-Mohamed. And so there's an equal threat at the ends, maybe a little bit better pass rush on the interior from Green Bay. I really like Detroit's defensive interior, DJ Reeder, Tileik Williams, with those guys more run defenders and pass rushers. And then I think the secondary similar strengths, but the corners are a little bit better this week. I think one of the reasons that they were able to move the ball in the fourth quarter is you started to see attrition happen for Detroit at corner

Starting point is 00:16:39 and you were facing back of roster corners where Green Bay a little bit healthier at corner. There's potentially some matchups that you might like. I think that Nate Hobbs is fine, but I like the Bengals receivers against Nate Hobbs. I really like the Bengals receivers against Javon Bullard in the slot if he's still playing a lot of slot steps for the Packers this week. but the back seven, I think, solid. This defense for the Packers, solid front to back.

Starting point is 00:17:06 The pass rush is the biggest issue. And like you said, it's not like Jake Browning was playing well under pressure. It's just I think Flacco splits this year in particular when he's pressured versus when he's clean are the darkest in the NFL. And you really see that in the way he plays. Like everything kind of breaks down for him when he's pressured. So there is a premium on quick developing plays. It's going to be, you know, like you said, quick game, screen game this week,

Starting point is 00:17:28 a premium on protecting for that two, two and a half seconds to give Joe Flacco a chance to understand what he's getting, get the ball out, and probably a premium for Green Bay in causing that split second of hesitation from Flacco and disguising well this week. But solid secondary was Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams' safety. Kishon Nixon has been good for the Packers so far this year. but with the Bengals receivers, you should like the Bengals receivers against these corners. I think it's mostly that the front six, front seven,

Starting point is 00:18:03 Edwin-Cooper, linebacker, really good player, Key Walker, solid player, Ed linebacker for the Packers. That's the concern is going to be up front. Does a running game continue to get, you know, the three and a half to five yards of carry that we've seen from them for the last couple of weeks to keep the Packers remotely honest early in this game? And what kind of easy buttons can the Benckes?

Starting point is 00:18:26 angles put in for Joe Flacco trying to go start a game on three days of prep. Those are the questions this week. I think that Flacko will deserve a little bit of grace this week, but I don't know where expectations should be given the matchup in the trenches, given the short notice for Flacco, and given just how dysfunctional this team has looked for three weeks right now. It's asking a lot for Flacco to come in and hit the ground running, but that's the task ahead of him in this coaching stuff.

Starting point is 00:18:56 And I think that's part of why they went with Flacco versus pursuing a James or pursuing a Russell Wilson, specifically Russell. And so you're right, it's a tough ask because what you have to do, and I'm not going to downplay this game, but I'll be honest with you. The Steelers game four days later is so much more important. Like, if they're going to win one of those games, if they're going to get back into it, you need to win that Thursday night game. You need to sweep Pittsburgh.

Starting point is 00:19:20 So just pointing that out. Obviously, this game is still important if you could somehow get to three and three It would be huge. But, yeah, it's a really tough ask. And that's why my expectation slash hope for this offense isn't to go win the game. I don't think they're there yet. I think that's unrealistic. But can you look functional?

Starting point is 00:19:41 Can you score points? Can you be competitive on offense to give the defense a shot to show what they are? And I don't know if we can fully say what they are. Peter Vakowski really not high on the Bengals defense. I know a lot of our viewers and listeners weren't fans of some of his comments, but I think the defense has made some plays. They've also been bad at times. It doesn't look great because they've been put in bad situations.

Starting point is 00:20:08 Let's discuss that side of the ball, this Bengals defense, and what it will look like against Jordanoff coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by Fandle. Well, right now the Bengals are double-digit underdogs for the second straight week, and the NFL season is in full swing. And whether it's the Bengals, whether it's the Packers, whether it's NFL player prop bets, maybe you want a live bet Sunday's game. Well, right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get $300 in bonus bets if you win.

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Starting point is 00:21:02 and unlock that $300 and bonus bet. So what are you waiting for? Visit fandal.com. That's fandal.com to download the fandle app today and get started. The Bengals defense has a good quarterback to deal with this week. And some receivers that have been streaky have been up and down, have a lot of potential. you can say in this Green Bay offense

Starting point is 00:21:28 and a really good running back in Josh Jacobs a really good tight end in Tyler Kraft and that's the task for the Spangles defense this week it hasn't really mattered to Peter Pekowski's point James it hasn't really mattered

Starting point is 00:21:42 who's been across the field from this Bengals defense because they've been giving it up and part of why they've been given it up is because they're dealing with short fields at times after bad interceptions, bad turnovers from the offense. They've been on the field a ton

Starting point is 00:21:54 and that's where you would argue that you don't know exactly who this Bengals defense is at this point. The official death chart this week, James, and we say this with a grain of salt, but I don't know if you saw this. Has Cam Taylor Britt listed as a backup, which somebody sent along. I'm going to double check that to make sure that's still the case now as I say that, but that was a screenshot that was sent to me this week, which is a little bit interesting at least as potentially there's a shift happening at corner, and Josh Newton is on the team's official death threat listed ahead of Camp Taylor-Brit.

Starting point is 00:22:28 I'm confirming as we're recording. What do you think this matchup comes down to? Because to me, it's kind of a trench thing, again. I do think that Jordan loves a good quarterback, but I also look at that Green Bay offensive line right now and that injury report for Green Bay, and I think there's a chance. Probably starts with Trey Hendrickson, binding matchups against this Green Bay offensive line.

Starting point is 00:22:51 Yeah, well, certainly, right? It's Trey Hendricks. And I think the Shamar Stewart injury is such a huge one to pay attention to. Can you get Shamar out there? I think he's going to try my expectation. And we're recording this early Thursday afternoon is that that's going to be the case. But it might be better to give him four more days and get him ready for that Pittsburgh game. And I think that the Bengals aren't going to admit this, but that's certainly something that you should weigh

Starting point is 00:23:17 because you need him to play against Pittsburgh regardless. And you're right, though. If this Bengals defense, they need to get pressure. We saw it last week. When they got some pressure, they were able to get some stops. And that's a better Detroit offense. And that's an offense that really, if you don't get some kind of pressure, there's no way you're going to stop them.

Starting point is 00:23:38 So this week, it's going to start with T.J. Slate. We want to talk about revenge games. You stop Josh Jacobs. Do not let Josh Jacobs get going. And then if you can get some press, pressure on Jordan Love and put him in some not so fun down in distances. If he's facing second and three all the game, that's going to be a tough situation to deal with. If he's dealing with third and seven or longer, then you might have a shot here, especially if the offense early

Starting point is 00:24:07 gives you a shot. Go get seven. If it's 10-7 late in the second quarter, that's doable. If it's 14 to 3 again or 17 to 3, that sucks. It's just, it's not a fun place to be. So I think that's part of it as well. I think the early scripts will certainly dictate a lot for how this defense is going to play in the second half. But I think the injury list for the Packers is also staggering, right now coming off of a buy. So Aaron Banks, who I just talked about as a potential starter for the Packers, was limited with a groin injury on Wednesday as they came off their buy. Jordan Morgan, who's a backup for them, is listed with a knee injury, but he was a full go. Zach Tom, who is one of their better linemen, was limited with an oblique injury.

Starting point is 00:24:55 Rashid Walker, who might have to start, was limited with the quadriceps injury. Christian Watson, who might be back this week for this Packers' offense, could be a shot in the arm they need at the receiving spot, limited as he's coming off the knee injury. That's a lot of players on offense that are dealing with stuff. And that doesn't even mention Tucker Kraft, who's a full go, but has an elbow injury that he's going to probably play through. And I mentioned some of the players on defense earlier just to circle back on these. Keynesley and I'm sorry was limited with an ankle injury. Devante Wyatt is a DNP.

Starting point is 00:25:28 I think he's week to week. I don't think we should expect to see him. But this injury list, especially for the Packers on offense, especially in the trenches, is very long. And so if you're looking for an opportunity, finding ways to not set a drive on. on fire the way they did against Detroit in my opinion that first drive i did not like the bengals game plan they were trying to get one-on-ones for trey hendrickson but they happened to be against pennies soul like let trey hendricks and they're going to do things to help but let trey hendrickson get those one-on-ones find ways to manufacture the one-on-ones for trey hendrickson because he can't go beat guys

Starting point is 00:26:03 one-on-one especially the caliber of player that we expect to see at edge for green bay zack tom being the best of them but dealing with an injury Find ways to let Tray get after it. I do think that stopping the run is going to be a big factor here that we need to talk about as well. But like disrupting Jordan Love with Trey Hendrickson, goal number one that I'm thinking about with this offensive line state for Green Bay in the passing game. Well, it's a good point. And with lost in all of this offensive line or offense in general and Flacco Trade and rightfully so, storylines. like,

Starting point is 00:26:42 Trey has such a golden opportunity here. If he could lead this defense, be super productive. Like defensive player of the year, you want to go be defensive player of the year and a contract year? Like, help the Bengals stay afloat with Joe Flacko at quarterback

Starting point is 00:26:59 after they've been awful with Jake Brown. Like, can you imagine the storyline if Trey Hendrickson just completely wrecks the game and gets them to three and three and then plays well like it, like, like, There is that opportunity is what I would say.

Starting point is 00:27:15 I don't want to even say Pat, but there is that opportunity where if you're Trey, and I'm sure it looks like this anyway, right? Like go get as many sacks and game-changing plays and disruptions as possible. But man, it would go a long way any week, but yeah, I agree with you. This week, third and seven needs to be trade time. Third and two needs to be trade time. All these money downs. we need to see 91 make a big impact.

Starting point is 00:27:42 And who knows, maybe force a fumble, scoop it up, score, and do the Lambo leap. Like that's the type of performance you need from Trey Hendricks in this week. Blackout, Trey jumping into the stands at Lambo. Man, I can see it now. The blackout leap. He jumps out of the stadium. He just... What do you think of the official death chart listing, Josh Newton, ahead of Camp Taylor-Brit?

Starting point is 00:28:06 I think the Bengals, I think what you're seeing, and I'm going to throw Jermaine Burton in this too, if you're not consistent with what you do day today, period, not just on the field, I'll have to feel everything. And that's where Burton comes in. The Bengals are going to show you that you need to be in that that's an issue. And obviously, Cam and Burton, there are two different situations. but consistency is so huge. What did every coach that said anything about Cam all offseason say? It needs to be consistent.

Starting point is 00:28:41 It needs to be consistent. Well, that's it. And so, yeah, I'm not shocked by that because I know Josh Newton's been consistent. I know Josh Newton. That doesn't mean you don't get beat, by the way. I think people will say that and they're like, oh, well, you give up a play. Quarterbacks are going to give up plays. But it's just consistent in your process, consistent in your technique, consistent in your work habits and everything else.

Starting point is 00:29:02 I'm not saying Cam doesn't work hard. That's not what I'm saying. but consistency was a theme for cam all offseason. And if he's falling down the depth chart, I would assume that's why. Last thing here, let's talk about this Green Bay running game. Josh Jacobs, really good running back, one of the better running backs in the NFL. But the Green Bay running game this year hasn't been great. 3.8 yards per attempt this year overall for the Green Bay offense.

Starting point is 00:29:28 I'm sure that includes a couple kneel downs in there. But Josh Jacobs is at just 3.3 yards for carry. and almost all of those yards coming after contact. Speaking of issues of Bengals have had, three out of the 3.3 yards per carry for Josh Jacobs, according to PFF charting, coming after contact, meaning he's getting 0.3 yards beyond the line of scrimmage,

Starting point is 00:29:48 one foot beyond the line of scrimmage on average when he's contacted. But the breakaway runs are still there, the ability to force guys to miss, still there for Josh Jacobs, a bruising runner who's still productive as a receiver as well. And for all of the discussion I put into Trey Hendrickson in the matchups that hopefully the Bengals get without dropping Joseph Osain to cover him six times and having him targeted and picked on by Jordan Love, please. Please, can we stop? It is they can't be the team that's a get right team for Josh Jacobs and the Green Bay running game.

Starting point is 00:30:24 Yeah. You're right. You're right. I really think it starts there because much like. It does. Yeah. Yeah, like last week. If Josh Jacobs gets going, well, then it's going to take the pressure off of the quarterback.

Starting point is 00:30:39 And the offensive line and pass protection. All of it. Right. Yeah. Then Trey doesn't get to do the Lambeau leap. And that's what you need. I didn't realize I was going to say that on this show. Like, you need Trey to do the Lambo leap.

Starting point is 00:30:52 So put the pressure on Trey. Trey, I'm calling you out now. You need to be leaping on Sunday. 14 and a half point dogs. Shock the world. that is a task ahead of the Bengals literally do something shocking like that's what the Bengals have to do here I'm just going to ask this minute if they beat the Packers will they be favored at home against the Steelers probably not just because that's such a huge swing like they're literally

Starting point is 00:31:21 Vegas season is the third worst team in the NFL right now they see Pittsburgh is like slightly below average to be fair like the best team in the NFL or sorry in the ASC North is seen by Vegas on average, on a neutral field against an average opponent as a dog. Pittsburgh will be an underdog on a neutral field against an average team, according to methodology that some of the analytics guys, Ben Baldwin, this one in particular. But the same thing, Vegas sees them as a bottom three team in the NFL, down there with Cleveland, down there with Tennessee. And so, yeah, I do think that one game probably not enough, but maybe it makes it close because

Starting point is 00:31:59 they're at home. Maybe it's like three point home dogs instead of six point home. I don't know. Division matchup and playing at home does some things to the odds, I think. And it would move things for sure. I wonder if we have the early line on next week here. Oh, no. It doesn't matter. You don't have to. Currently, currently they're, okay. So currently they're four and a half point dogs at home next week. So maybe that would be enough to move it towards zero. I don't know. I don't know how much of a swing we could expect in one week.

Starting point is 00:32:37 But if Joe Flacco looks great, maybe Jake Browning is just that bad. That's kind of got to be the hope right now, right? Is it Jake Browning was just that bad, that Joe Flacco, who. He was bad. It hasn't been good this year. Sure. But Flacko hasn't been good either, right? Like one of the few QBs in the NFL with the QBR, ESPN's metric this worse than Brownings.

Starting point is 00:33:02 If Flacco can go in there and be functional, that'll tell you something, I think. But we'll find out. That's all we're asking for. Not asking for the world here. But if the Bengals are going to win, it is kind of asking for the world. They'll need to do some shocking things against Green Bay, I think. And we'll get our first look at how this team's going to look with Joe Flacco as they're trying to find ways to stay afloat until the win. in the hopes that Joe Burrow can get back with a team that has said afloat.

Starting point is 00:33:30 You haven't seen it so far. The Bengals obviously hoping that Flacco takes them in the direction toward getting the water out of the hole and getting the boat back on top of the water instead of underwater. That's going to do it for this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Until after the game, thanks for listening. We'll see you next time. Hoor Day and have a good one.

Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Flacco's Impact and Bengals' Narrow Path to Victory vs Packers

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