Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - MVP CASE: Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase Lead AWARD CONTENDERS for Bengals | 2026 Superlative Predictions

Starting point is 00:00:00 It's about time they finally give Joe Burrow that MVP award. And maybe Jamar Chase can join him at NFL honors with an offensive player of the year. They robbed him when he won that triple crown after all. Let's break down some Bengals award candidates for 2026. 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 Lockdown Bengals podcast. He's Joe Gober.

Starting point is 00:00:34 I'm Jake Liscoe. host of lockdown Bengals and today we're going to dive into a bunch of fun categories for some Bengals superlatives for 2026 like who's the most underrated player who's most overrated player. That's not the most fun thing. But like who's the best supporting player? Who's going to be the breakout star? Who's going to score the most touchdowns? Who's going to have the most sacks?

Starting point is 00:00:52 We've got a whole list to get to. But we want to start the conversation today with the guys that have a chance to stake their claim to some NFL honors that aren't just comeback player the year. whatever is going to be like that. But some of those big time rewards, like, can we get Joe Burrow that MVP? We're going to start the conversation there in an episode brought to you by CaliChi for a limited time to download the Calci app and use code locked down to get $10 when you trade $10.

Starting point is 00:01:18 And Joe, is this a year for Joe Burrow? Like he's going to win an MVP in his career, at least one. And why not this year? This year is just as good as that. And win it with the Bengals, right? I just put it on there. I don't want to throw the universe as Matt Stafford won it with the Rams last year, right? whenever, when you said that, initially it went dark there.

Starting point is 00:01:38 But I was on locked on NFL on Friday, and we did our NFL predictions for awards. And I picked Joe Burrow to win MVP, and it wasn't just a Homer pig. Stocker. I mean, I'm trying, I tried to say it's not a Homer pick. Maybe it is. But I think the narrative is there. I think the opportunity is there. I think the offensive weapons around him, why not?

Starting point is 00:01:59 This would be a great year. It's probably his best chance to win an MVP in his career. the highest expectations this Bengals team has had in Joe Burroughs career. Definitely that. I mean, the team on both sides of the ball goes deep. A lot of this is the defense, though, and I don't know that the Bengals really have a great shot at a defensive player of the year. This award has morphed into largely who has the most sacks in a given season unless your name is Trey Hendrickson in 2024, in which case, you're not even considered or defensive player of the year.

Starting point is 00:02:31 You maybe get a few votes, but tough luck, Bengals, you don't get a defensive player of the year. What are you thinking? Silly Bengals. I mean, Dexter Lawrence could make a case, but before we started recording, Joe, I asked you the question,

Starting point is 00:02:45 who's really more likely to win a defensive player of the year on the Bengals? Is it Dexter Lawrence, or is it DJ Turner? Who has the best shot to win defensive player of the year for the Cincinnati Bengals?

Starting point is 00:02:57 I think it's next to Lawrence still, but D-Tackles don't win. it often. Corners don't win it often. You have to be super special to have that type of season. I still think it's Lawrence, but you're right. They don't really have a shot at the NFL level at defensive player of the year because it's so hard for their best players at those positions to win it. They don't have a shot for offensive rookie of the year either. What's it going to be Brian Parker, Jack entries? That's not going to happen, right? So the very few other than Burrow, Jamar Chase, and maybe defensive rookie year cash is how old. That would be awesome.

Starting point is 00:03:25 But the NFL level awards this year for the Bengals, other than Burrow and Chase, probably potentially slim. It feels very, very stupid that Jamar Chase has never won an offensive player of the year. Yes. It's almost as stupid as Joe Burrow not having an MVP at this point, but Jamar hasn't had the excuses to not have the award. Really should have had it in 2024. NFL honors in the Bengals, maybe a little bit of oil and water, but it's ridiculous.

Starting point is 00:03:54 us. Like, let's find a way to emulsify these things. The Bengals have players that are deserving of some of these awards and could put up performances that earn them some NFL honors this year. What do you think the most likely NFL level award is for the Bengals to win this year? MVP. I honestly believe that Burrough has a shot. I think he's third or fourth, depending on when you're looking and where you're looking for odds. And I'll take that any day long to say our quarterback is in the MVP running going into a season. Yeah, it definitely is. And that's not just us saying that.

Starting point is 00:04:26 I think it was what Mina Kimes and Ben Solak on the Mina Kimes show came to the same conclusion. Like the narrative is there. He's never won one. Voters love to give MVP to people who haven't won one before. So if it's Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow and they all have equalish cases, maybe goes to Joe Burrow. But if Drake May inserts himself into that conversation, Justin Herbert.

Starting point is 00:04:50 It's a little bit murkier. Justin, I don't, I mean, what are we? to him Justin Herbert. Let's win a play out. People, the analysts that vote love Herbert. That is a fair point. I would have to go revisit the MVP voting list, the AP voting list, but a lot of those voters are, uh, the Herbert truthers are well represented among that crew, let's say. So we got to today's episode of we were going to do project the 2026 season for the Bengals

Starting point is 00:05:20 like awards. MVP, offensive player of the year, the standard awards. And then as we start doing it, we said, we're probably going to end up with the same people, MVP, Joe Burrow, offensive player of the year, Jamar Chase, defensive player of the year, Dexter Lawrence. We probably don't have an offensive rookie. We probably could have debated that a little bit. And that defensive rookie of the years either, Ticario Davis or Cassius Howell. So we scrapped that.

Starting point is 00:05:41 We said they've got a shot for league awards, right, at the top. Let's do some better awards or more creative or some superlatives to try and get a better representation of what we expect to see from the Bengals in 2026. This is like your yearbook in high school, who has the best hair. Obviously, that would be Jacob Bayer and that glorious mullet, but we're not doing, I'm not on the Bengals. We're not going to do best hair. We're going to do some football related stuff because we're football nerds.

Starting point is 00:06:12 That's what we do here on Lockdown Bengals. And we're still waiting for the first practice of the week to happen before we turn our attention to the Tampa Bay game. and then we're going to be in an in season schedule. This is really our last chance to do this. And we'll hopefully have a chance to look back on these predictions in five months or so. Is that how long the season is, four months or so, and figure out how on point or off point we were.

Starting point is 00:06:34 But we're going to get started with the breakout star, Joe, for the 2026 Cincinnati Bengals. I bet you we have the same player here. And so we'll talk about some alternatives at a few of these awards as well. But who do you have for the breakout star, Joe? Yeah, I think we probably do it. I had put down a Marius Mims. I don't know what you put. I assume that's what you did as well.

Starting point is 00:06:55 And yeah, he's, he's poised, man. The film is there, the data's there. Anyone who does offensive line breakdowns is also sharing this opinion. I mean, all signs are pointing to the upward trajectory of Mims being a potential top, whatever, offensive tackle, right tackle, for sure, could end up being a top three right tackle. That'd be awesome. And if that's the case, what a huge boost it would be for this offense and the drafting process as a whole.

Starting point is 00:07:19 Yeah, I am with you on MIMS. My only difference would be that I pronounce it of Marius and you pronounce it of Marius. But besides Mims, I would say, Dax Hill maybe has a shot here if I were to pick someone else on the team. All right. Well, classic mind meld here on lockdown Bengals. Nothing new there.

Starting point is 00:07:41 Let's talk comeback player of the year. We might have some differences here, Joe. Where did you land for the comeback player of the year? So I didn't take it as an injury, right? someone recovering from injury. I don't think it always has to be that. But this time it's somebody returning to form and becoming a stable player that you can rely on again. And I put Evan McPherson down as someone who, you know, from the leg strength wise, he's hitting 66 yarders in practice. He looks flawless in camp practice preseason. I'm going back to Evan McPherson as money Mac. He's

Starting point is 00:08:10 our comeback player of the year. Was he not already there last year? He was really good last year. He was really good last year. But I think the confidence and the entire battery is part of it. And he is the, like, if the offense is really good, Joe Burrow gets the credit. McPherson will get the credit if we have full confidence again. And it feels like we do. I feel like the only way McPherson can improve is like he was, he missed three extra points last year. And he missed three kicks from 50 plus.

Starting point is 00:08:36 That's all he missed. He was perfect from 40 to 49, which was one of my issues with him in years past was that he was a little bit inconsistent in that kind of mid range. He was great, obviously, for all the chip shots from 40 and in. and he's not missing those. But I guess it would be the PATs would be the one area for Evan that you can say. You could get a little bit better there. Missing three out of 44 points after is not great.

Starting point is 00:08:59 But, I mean, most kickers, even Brandon Aubrey, Cam Little, those guys missed one each. So very few kickers actually go perfect on PATs anymore, which is a funny little idiosyncrasy of the new PAT length. I went with Mike Kaseki here. He was a little bit injured last year. He had a very down year. statistically, if he can say healthy, by default, I think his production reaches back to the point that it was before. And he becomes that player that when you need him, you got him and they can run games

Starting point is 00:09:29 through him once or twice a year. And he'll come through for you when you need them. Yeah, I like that. The other person I put down was BJ Hill, just thinking of the support he'll have around him, you know, the numbers of him being doubled so much. And I thought he was still quality last year, but people felt he had a down year. And, you know, on reviewing the tape, I thought he did as well. So I think getting Lawrence next to him, getting Jonathan Allen could be a boost to elevate BJ Hill again.

Starting point is 00:09:53 Yeah, we got a lot of superlatives to get through here. Joe, we'll continue the conversation up next with the best supporting player, the redemption player. We got some fun categories coming up next. Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats and payroll, HR, and benefits can quickly become some of the most time-consuming tasks on the list. Gusto helps simplify those responsibilities with one platform designed to make managing a team easier. Gusto is an online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. It's an all-in-one, remote-friendly, and incredibly easy to use so you can pay, hire, onboard, and support your team from anywhere.

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Starting point is 00:12:19 Download the app today and use code locked on NFL to get $150 instantly. And Linus, if you win your first $5 lineup prize picks, run your game. Jake, we've done breakout star. We've done comeback player of the year. The next one we have is best supporting player. I was going to do character at first. And I was like, let's make sure we're doing this football. But this is a non-star.

Starting point is 00:12:42 It can be a starter, but a non-star, non-top six or eight player, depending on how you rank these guys. But what do you got for that category, Jake? I initially go Dax Hill here. And I talked about him as a potential breakout player. I think Dax Hill is really good. And because there's so much shine on D.J. Turner, he is not seen as a star-level player.

Starting point is 00:13:03 I think some of the real film grinders out there, know that Dax Hill was really good as an outside corner, especially down the stretch last year. So for me, that's where I started. Where did you go? I like that one. I went with Dylan Fairchild, and I'm projecting here that of the bigger names on the offensive line,

Starting point is 00:13:18 because we expect them to be a breakout. So very similar to the DJ to Dax thing. But we know Dalton Reisner, who I also put as a candidate for this because it's a good player. He's a very good supporting player. He's probably the definition of this. But I think Dylan Fairchild ascends to that level to where he's not the worst offensive lineman.

Starting point is 00:13:35 he's potentially the second best. Is that too high? I think he could get there. And if he is, I think that would be a great supporting character. Yeah, I like that one too. My other candidates are BJ Hill, Jonathan Allen, just because they're not Dexter Lawrence and they're really good players potentially on the defensive line.

Starting point is 00:13:52 And you mentioned BJ Hill's a comeback player candidate, redemption player, Joe, who's redeeming themselves the most in 26? So I think this is a full picture redemption arc where what he was from where he was drafted to maybe some of the things said about him in year two and year three, even though he took a step forward. I think Miles Murphy fits this full redemption arc where this year he becomes a stable and maybe even good level player. I don't think he was that last year. I think some people may have overrated what he did. But I do think the flashes were consistent enough and showed an upward trajectory that if he captures that again, takes that one more step again, he can be a good

Starting point is 00:14:30 level player, solid run defense, solid pass rusher, good combination that you don't. don't have to take off the field. That's a fun one. I think you could also go with a non-player here, as you were saying that and thinking about the arc over years and go out golden if you wanted to, but this is redemption player. And the first guy that came to mind for me is Jordan Battle. Not that he's been bad necessarily, but he has a chance to become a stable safety. And if he's stable with the upside plays that he does make, if he becomes more consistent

Starting point is 00:15:00 with everything else in his game, I think Jordan Battle could be a guy that we see as like, yeah, that guy's come from, you know, he was in a doghouse at one point a couple of years ago and never like to the point that he was going to be off the team or anything like that. But I think there's a case there. You can also obviously talk about Barrett Carter and Demetri's night here as potential redemption players. And I think you could even potentially throw Orlando Brown Jr. as a candidate here. If he stabilizes and he'll probably come up for a couple of the other things we're going to talk about here, maybe even the next one. but Orlando Brown Jr. has a chance to stabilize himself because the bank was just extended him, right? They're expecting him to be their left tackle for a couple of years here when they did that extension. And so they're looking for him to become a solid plus left tackle.

Starting point is 00:15:45 Next one, Joe, is most likely to decline. This one is a very fun. But this is something that does happen in the NFL. So we might as well try to predict it. Yeah, because these are things that new holes open up, new weaknesses have been throughout the season. then you should try to project them a little bit so you can protect from them. And yeah, I'm not going with an obvious player here. I think there are a few older players that are obvious.

Starting point is 00:16:09 I also tried to look at this from a different perspective in the hopes of giving a different answer than you, Jake. This player has the biggest time share to lose for his snap count. And it's because he has been the top snap getter at tight end for a long time now. And I'm putting Drew Sample in this role in this spot here for most likely to decline because it's not like he's got the explosiveness, the receiving prowess, the skill set that Eric all has. He doesn't have what Mike Aseki has as a receiver either. Honestly, Jack Endries in a lot of ways. We were even talking at times, is Drew really that much better or different than Cam Grandy?

Starting point is 00:16:46 That tells you where, like, he probably stacks. Now, what we do underrate is the mental subjrew sample. That's not going to decline. But if the physical skill set declines even a little bit, and if the Bengals want to do a little more at tight end and want to get a little more explosive, I could see him going from an 800 snap guy to 400, and that would be a big decline for him. The difficult thing with Drew Sample, projecting a significant snap count decline is that it all has to come in the run game

Starting point is 00:17:10 because they're not going to trust anyone else as a pass protector, like they trust Drew Sample as a pass protector, whether it's in line or in the backfield, and that means that Eric Al and or Jack injuries will really need to be that guy as run blockers to get Drew Sample off the field for that situation, because that's another spot where they really like him. Most likely to decline for me,

Starting point is 00:17:29 obviously you have potential age-related decline for Orlando Brown Jr. That has been often discussed this off-season. That's a potential one there. Ted Karris is another one, again, just because of age or could be a cliff coming there. I would even throw some Ajapirang P-round into this mix. Again, age-related decline there if you're going for a deep cut. But another one that I am a little bit leery about is Jalen Davis, who has been a solid player.

Starting point is 00:17:53 And there's not much room for him to decline, really. He's been a practice squad player. But now thrust into a starting role could be exposed. a little bit and isn't exactly young for being a first time starter. So you hope that the athletic tools hold up for Jalen Davis. I'm not necessarily predicting any of these guys declined. I hope they're all awesome. That's what we're rooting for here, right?

Starting point is 00:18:11 But we're just thinking about potentials. What do you think of those? No, I think that's, that's fair because Daniel Davis is also older than you expect. So it's Tanner Hudson. I don't know if I was looking at this recently. And I was like, man, that's right. Hudson was older when he came. Tanner Hudson is ageless.

Starting point is 00:18:26 Yeah, he is. Next category is film star. To me, this is a guy that stands out on film and maybe doesn't get the recognition elsewhere unless you're a film watcher, crunch, or you're into that stuff. The DJ Reader Award. Yeah, great call on that.

Starting point is 00:18:39 That would be, once he's retired, like, yeah, the DJ Reader annual award. Who did you end up with this? Well, I think I took this a little bit differently than you did, because when I watch film, the guys that Texas stands out the most are just the best players. And to me, as Dexter Lawrence is my first answer. I think he's going to consistently look great on tape.

Starting point is 00:18:58 Second one is Joe Burrow. Those guys are going to get the recognition, though. So you're going to have a different answer than me. Now that I know that this is the DJ reader underappreciated, but shows up on tape award. Listen, Lawrence's tape was much better than his production last year. This could count as that as well, right? He was a blast to watch on tape. I'm going with Dax Hill.

Starting point is 00:19:15 So you've mentioned him for other categories. I'm going with Dax here. I think when I watch him on tape, I am enamored with Dax. And I have been for a long time, even in some of his terrible safety season, the flashes to me. I was like, oh, yeah, this guy's, he can play. He knows what he's doing. He's moving at a level and speed that you want him to, to be a star or even a starter. And I didn't ever think he was a complete bus. So I've been a fan of Dax. And I put him in here because I think on film, he's a very fun player. The nomination that I had for, uh,

Starting point is 00:19:44 that is someone I want to bring up is boy A mafia. He, uh, on tape last year for the Seahawks, even though he had two sacks. The tape was fun. There will be some other categories for Boy, Mayfay. Coming up next, we'll get to the biggest upgrade for the Bengals from 2025, the most improved player and we'll run through the rest of our superlative predictions coming up next. We're brought to you today here by Home Chef with schedules getting busier with NFL football Sundays coming back up. You need to figure out when you're going to make your skyline dip, but you need something for dinner too. And so that's where Home Chef can make cooking simple. With fresh food delivered right to your door, easy recipes of Apollo and meals that actually

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Starting point is 00:22:04 For more information, visit calshy.com slash regulatory. The Bengals made a lot of investments on the defensive side of the ball in particular. Who do you think represents the biggest upgrade for the Bengals compared to what they had at that spot in 2025? I think this answer has to be Dexter Lawrence, and I'd be surprised if you didn't say this as well. And if you did, then we should at least nominate Brian Cook because going from Geno Stone to Brian Cook could represent a huge upgrade. Yeah, same exact page there.

Starting point is 00:22:33 Dexter Lawrence is looks like a massive upgrade over almost any defensive tackle in the league. And before the Dexter Lawrence trade was done, Brian Cook was mentioned by many as the tackling upgrade is probably the single biggest individual skill for any individual player one-to-one replacement in the NFL. Most improved player, perhaps a little bit more diverse in our answers here. Curious to know who you've got here because you mentioned Dylan Fairchild earlier in a different category. I'm going with Demetris Knight and some people may be excited to hear that.

Starting point is 00:23:04 And typically I would say 25 year old rookie, there's not a lot more headroom to grow. I think it's different with Knight that didn't play linebacker at a high level until he was an older player in college. And I thought his flash is on tape signify a. player that has so much more upside if you can cut off some of these bad plays. And that would be huge for those Bengals defense if he did in fact, if he was in fact, the most improved player. Yeah, you mentioned Dylan Fairchild for best supporting player.

Starting point is 00:23:31 He was my first thought here for most improved player, especially if we're not counting of Mario Smith, who's going to be the breakout player. My second idea here, though, Boye-Maffei, who I think was good, but he is, if he's who the Bengals paid him to be, then he's on a Trey Hendrickson-like trajectory. and then he will be seen, I think, by the end, is potentially breakouts are potentially a most improved player. Who do you think the best backup will be for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2026, Joe? This was a tough question for me,

Starting point is 00:23:59 because how many of these backups are not considered starters already? There's a bunch of guys that are in that fringe starting role. So I'm going to go with a guy that I'm expecting to get a lot of snaps and have a major impact, but he is a backup. That's Cassius Howell, the second round pick. I think pass rush wise, pass rush juice. I think he's a scheme changer as well, because he's going to make you do more of this stuff or you can do more of this three, four stuff and put him out at the edge and stand him up.

Starting point is 00:24:24 I just think how well is going to have a huge impact this year. I had Hal first as well. The other guys that were on my list were Kyle Dugger, who I think has shown through the preseason that he is an excellent third safety to have on the roster. And then I went for some fun ones that could end up here by the end of the year. One of those is Dante Myers. If he can see his trajectory he was on in the preseason, that one could be a lot of fun by years then. And the other one, because, of course, Jack Andrews. And every dayers know why Jack Andrews is on that list for me.

Starting point is 00:24:55 And that goes to your potential decline answer earlier, Joe. If Drew Sample's going to lose snaps, that could be because Jack Andrews is one of the best backups on the roster. Who do you think we'll have the most sacks for the Cincinnati Bengals this year, Joe? I'm going to go with Boy, Maffa, and I actually have a little number of prediction. I'm going eight and a half, maybe lower than what some people may think for a sack leader. I think the sacks are going to be spread out big time. I'm going boy amafay 8 and a half. Yeah, I landed on boy amafay as well, but the runner up for me, I was between Miles Murphy

Starting point is 00:25:26 and Dexter Lawrence here, eventually landed on Dexter Lawrence, just going to finish more plays this year, throw some centers into quarterbacks and knock them onto the ground because that's what happens when the 300 man, 300 pound man gets thrown at a quarterback. They fall, and then it's a sack. And so I went Dexter Lawrence second here. Miles Murphy could end up in this conversation, though, depending on the, the direction he goes this season and how much of a step he takes, that one will be a fascinating one to watch. Scoring the most most touchdowns, Joe Goodberry, who do you got for the Bengals in

Starting point is 00:26:01 26th? I've got Chase Brown this time, and we're not including quarterback throwing 50, right? We're talking about skill positions here. It's how it typically goes. I've got Chase Brown with 15 touchdowns this year over to Mark Chase's 13. Yeah, I went Chase first as well, but I would think it would have to be more than 15 to be the top of the list. I think it would have to be like 18 combining rushing and receiving because Jamar could very easily get 15, 16.

Starting point is 00:26:28 So Jamar could be Jamar very easily. Jamar was on my list too. T. Higgins also could be a guy who has always had a high touchdown rate compared to his touch or catch rate.

Starting point is 00:26:43 Like he's a guy that scores touchdowns at a high rate when he touches a football. So T. Higgins could be one of those guys too. And next category, it was going to be a little bit more of discussion. I think these next two here, we have a most overrated, most underrated. So most overrated, Jake, who did you land on?

Starting point is 00:27:02 People are going to get mad at me for this answer, I think. I think a lot of the guys you could pick for most overrated could make people mad. But I'm trying to think about who might be the most overrated my performance by the end of the year. and I ended up landing on Eric All here. And I don't think that Eric All is a bad player. Right.

Starting point is 00:27:24 I think that he transforms this offense. And I think that those are very important things. But I also think that if he does this year, what he did his rookie year, I think that was a little bit overrated at the time. Like, again, I think he was an important player for the offense. And I'm not saying that to denigrate him, I think he's a good player. But I think it was just a little bit overshade.

Starting point is 00:27:45 stated and a little bit overrated. And that's why that's where I end up landing. But I know that's going to make some people mad and I don't feel good about it. So for those same reasons I had all number two. The guy I have number one is Brian Cook. And Brian Cook is a good player. But I think this defense could be, let's say it's 15th at the end of the year. A lot of people are going to say Dexter Lawrence, Brian Cook.

Starting point is 00:28:07 Maybe boy, my favorite, like all the additions are going to get a lot of love thrown their way. And if you go back, I've seen people say, oh, Cook was a top seven safety last year. using PFF grades. And that was his breakout year. I don't know if I expect him to play at that level. He's not really a playmaker. He gives his hands on the ball a ton. He's a quality good starter. He's not a top 10 safety or anything like that. It's a different kind of player than the Jesse base, Reggie Nelson kind of playmaking ball hoc free safety to Bengals fan. My next guy on the list here, and it's because of the way he was perceived toward the end of last year is Miles Murphy,

Starting point is 00:28:42 who again, I think has taken steps and it's gotten much better as a player. But if he's the same player this year as he was at the end of last year, I do think that that's just like a little bit overrated by those covering the team in particular. And for most underrated player, Joe, I think my answer will come as no surprise to the people, but who do you got for the most underrated? You're going to say Jack Andrews. I'm going to go most underrated is Jordan Battle. And I'm going to say because of what people think of them now,

Starting point is 00:29:10 I've even read comments in here that said, oh, Joe doesn't like Jordan Battle. And I've never expressed that ever. He's an inconsistent player. Last year, we had you on as a guest, and you were like Jordan Battle, most important player under 25, or whatever it was that we were talking about.

Starting point is 00:29:26 Yeah. Right. Because I think if he is good, he's such a boost to this defense. And he and Brian Cook, I think Cook could stabilize a lot of Jordan Battle. And I think a lot of Bengals fans are underrating battle going into 2026.

Starting point is 00:29:39 I'm going to Samajapy right here. I think my dude doesn't get enough love. He's a backup running back. I get it. He's not the most flashy player. I get it. But he just produces every time he touches a ball. And for what he's getting paid, for what his role is,

Starting point is 00:29:55 he's, I think, as good as you could do in that role. Let's go over under wins to finish here, Joe. Okay. We talked about it earlier at 11. I'm going over. I'm just going to stick to my optimistic guns here. Where are you going? Should I have set this?

Starting point is 00:30:09 higher, should we have said 11 and a half? Would you still say, would you definitively say 12? Would you say 12 over 12? No, I might have gone under 11 and a half even. But with it being at 11, I can push on 11 wins. I also am taking the over. I'm thinking 12 wins for the Bengals this year. I think it should be a fun year. I think we should be excited for this. Like I said, the expectations. I don't think I've ever been higher. Not 2022, they weren't expected to bounce back, right? It was, oh, you know, you're having the Super Bowl loss hangover type thing. And then 23, we're getting the offensive line fixed through free agency.

Starting point is 00:30:46 Burrough Hurt's CAF and Camp. So we had issues all throughout different points of Bengal season. 20 last year had high expectations. Burrell goes down week two. This is the highest it's ever been. I think 12 wins is expected. Especially with all of the investments on the defensive side of the ball. We're into game week here.

Starting point is 00:31:06 We'll get into this matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. as this week goes on. A week from now, Joe, we'll be talking about a regular season football game, a game that counts. Until next time, that's going to do it for this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Thanks for listening. Ho-Day. And have a good one.

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