Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - New Bengals QB Joe Flacco Faces TOUGH Challenge in Showdown vs Green Bay Packers

Starting point is 00:00:00 It's Packers Bengals where the Cincinnati quarterback is the story this week, just not for the reasons we thought coming into the year. It's a Packers Bengals crossover Thursday. Let's go. You are locked on NFL crossover. Part of the Locked on podcast network. Your team every day. Welcome inside another crossover Thursday.

Starting point is 00:00:32 Locked on Packers. Locked on Bengals. I'm Peter Bukowski host of Locked on Packers with James Rapin. host of Locked on Bengals. James, we have a ton to get to here a lot that I think was pretty unexpected coming into the week. Crossover Thursday presented by prize picks, download the prize picks app and use code locked on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. A Tuesday news dump, I guess in a way, the Cincinnati Bengals trading for Joe Flacco. And in the more startling revelation here, they expect him to come in and try and start

Starting point is 00:01:05 this Sunday against the Packers at Lambeau Field. James, that's the part of this that has me pretty shocked. Yeah, agreed. I've been talking about trading for a veteran for a couple of weeks now with the idea that maybe they could be ready for that Thursday night game at home against Pittsburgh. And so to make this move on Tuesday and make it very clear before Joe Burrow is even in town that in gone into any meetings or practiced or anything,

Starting point is 00:01:32 that, hey, he's going to start at Lambo. it's a testament to how much they respect his his ball knowledge i will say that i also think it's proof of where they were at with jake browning over the past three weeks and so yeah it's it's flacco time here in the queen city i'm not sure i ever planned on saying that and i'm excited to to see what he can do with these weapons at lamo on sunda yeah and and you know look jake browning was not going they were not going to write songs about jake browning and since Snatty, but the last time we saw him play, James, like, extended playtime, he played pretty well. Like, what do you?

Starting point is 00:02:10 We'll get to the Joe Flacco of it all in a second, but like, what didn't click this time? Because we saw him have 300-yard games, not that long ago with this team. I don't know. Like, I don't know why it didn't click again, because he looks like the same guy. He talks like the same guy. He carries himself the same in the locker room, has the same kind of funny humor in all of those things. And then you look up.

Starting point is 00:02:32 and outside of garbage time touchdowns, which all of the whopping four touchdowns that the Bengals scored in three games with Jake Browning starting, they all came in garbage time. The games are already decided in all three of those matchups. If you take those four touchdowns away,

Starting point is 00:02:47 they've been outscored 113 to 9 when the game has been sort of hanging in the balance. And if you want to count them, fine, let's do it. It's 113 to 37, which is obviously not that good. Yeah. So it's been really ugly. And obviously everyone's going to point to the turnovers, which eight interceptions in basically three and a half games.

Starting point is 00:03:08 They win the Jags game after Joe Burrow gets hurt and Browning comes back. But he threw three picks there, didn't give them a chance against the Vikings. And then has just really been bad over the past two weeks. And I think that's when the Bengals kind of realized, hey, we need someone that can just operate our offense, run our offense, because the offensive line gave them a shot over the past couple of games and they were still getting blown out. And that can't happen with the weapons you have. So I get why they made this move, even if it is surprising.

Starting point is 00:03:38 And it's a guy that, I don't know, can he unlock their offense? Can he not? I'm not sure. But Jake Browning certainly couldn't rekind or didn't rekindle the 2023 magic that he had at the end of that season. You know what's crazy is the Jaguars have one loss this year. And it is to Jake Browning's Bengals because he led them down at the end of the game for the game winning score.

Starting point is 00:03:59 And it does seem like he, Minnesota just sort of torpedoed his confidence. And after that, it was it was tentative. It was off target. If he moved one step off his spot, the ball was going to be five yards offline. I mean, he just, he looked like a different quarterback after that. So Joe Flacco, there's some overlap. Everyone runs the same version of the same offense here. But like the Kevin Stefansky offense, not so different in some of the base concepts to a Zach Taylor offense.

Starting point is 00:04:28 and something that your co-host, Jake Lisco and I have talked about in the past is this offense in Cincinnati has actually looked different when Jake Browning has operated it versus when Joe Burrow has operated it just because Joe Burrow can do things and can operate in ways that most quarterbacks just can't. And so you can't say, well, Jake Browning, you're just going to play the Joe Burrow offense. Joe Flacco is not going to be able to just play the Joe Burrow offense. No doubt. No doubt. And it's, I think this may be a new offense completely, where, are obviously they'll keep some of the same concepts in those things but really really high level what if it's just swing for the fences and you're going deep or you're trying to get a weapon in space yeah so screens and deep balls and and that was kind of my logic that that was kind of my logic

Starting point is 00:05:15 in the idea of him coming to Cincinnati and you think about Joe flacco and everyone's talking about how he can't move well how does this offense work well that's it hey if if you see jimar's open launch it because you have that arm that you have, Joe. And if he's not, well, then throw it to Chase Brown in the flat and let's live. Why hasn't that been the plan already? Like, why were they trying to make Jake Browning run an offense and not just his say, hey, we're just going to give Jamar Chase six chances on the left sideline and T. Higgins, six chances on the right side line and see what happens.

Starting point is 00:05:46 I wonder if they did try that some and they just realized that Jake Browning is so limited physically. Yeah. I mean, he's already. He's undrafted quarter. quarterback someone that when he was on the practice squad, I never thought had a chance of making the active roster. Like, honestly, I'm not.

Starting point is 00:06:04 I feel about laughing, but like, I get what you're saying. Yeah. And so for him to get to this point where we're like surprised that he's struggling as a starter, he's overachieved like crazy at baseline. And Joe Flacco's physically much more talented. He's not going to win a sprint, but guess what? Quarterbacks aren't paid to sprint. They're paid to throw the football.

Starting point is 00:06:26 I really truly think that's probably what the Bengals said here is, hey, he may be 40, but that arm, that arm's still really live now. And we can use that. And even if he can't move in the pocket. And obviously on the other side of it, if you're the Packers, you're like, we're about to get pressure on this guy. We're about to light this guy up and get after him. And obviously, they saw him a few weeks ago and held him to 13 points.

Starting point is 00:06:50 It was just all those 13 points came. And the one touchdown, I've already, listen, I've already, Packer fans are in a dark right now, James, or at least some of them are. But the one touchdown was off an interception to the four-yard line. And the game-winning field goal was off a blocked field goal. They completed one pass on that drive. So it's like, it's not like Joe Flacco was awesome against this Packers defense. You know, 36 attempts for 142 yards and a pick.

Starting point is 00:07:17 That's bad. And so that was one of the things I wanted to talk about, especially when we dug into the matchups here and we talked about this earlier on the week on Locked on Packers. this offensive line is still a problem. And the question I think is, are you going to have time if you're the Bengals? You want to huck it deep. Okay, great.

Starting point is 00:07:35 I love that idea. Joe Flacco is going to give you a better chance to give T. Higgins and Jemar Chase moonballs down the field. The question is, are you going to have time, especially this week with Micah Parsons? I mean, Aidan Hutchinson just had 12 pressures by himself against this offensive line.

Starting point is 00:07:49 Are you going to have time this week to get those moonballs down the field? Yeah, it's TBD. I think because because what's interesting here is is like Joe Flacco's arm

Starting point is 00:08:04 he has more arm talent than Joe Burrow like from a pure power standpoint. I don't think anybody doubts that. And so like will he just like

Starting point is 00:08:12 hit that back foot and throw it 54 yards and it touches the the ceiling but then drops right into Jamar's lap like maybe that is the plan. I think that there's

Starting point is 00:08:24 there's a path to that, but how often can you do that? And will this offense just be zero punts and like three touchdowns, two picks and an interception or a fumble or, you know, some kind of weird other play that is Strip Sack? Like it might be that kind of offense where it's big plays on both sides of it and you're seeing just chaos the whole time, which I'm here for. I can't lie. I mean, look, the chaos, the Packers have a little bit of a chaos quarterback themselves. Jordan Love is someone who, you know, this was going to be Love against Burrow. And, you know, same draft class. Love has made that leap, I think, this season, top five in all the metrics you care about,

Starting point is 00:09:04 I think if you look qualitatively, he's been one of the five best quarterbacks in the NFL this season to not have Jordan Love against Joe Burrow. It's just, frankly, it's just kind of a bummer. And it is kind of a bummer, too, if you're a Bengals fan, that this defense is not any better because this defense is a problem right now. We're going to talk more about it, but just top line it, what is the biggest problem right now with this Bengals defense, aside from the fact that they can't rush the passer and struggle in a lot of otherwise.

Starting point is 00:09:30 Well, that's it. You got to get consistent pressure. And if you're not getting consistent pressure, then you can't cause that chaos. Then the Joe Flackos of the world can complete 68% of their passes against you and give you everything you can handle in week one. And Joe Flacco's best game statistically through for 290 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals week one. So they're going to have to get some pressure on for two drops.

Starting point is 00:09:53 that turn into picks. Hey, you don't have to remind me that the drop to help the Bengals. And the thing is, the crazy part is this defense has been better than the offense, like significantly better, which gives you an idea of where the Bengals are at right now. It does. Let's talk more about that Bengals defense and match up with the Packers offense. That's next on a locked on Packers, locked on Bengals crossover Thursday. Mazda crafts cars for those who do more than simply move,

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Starting point is 00:10:50 Mazda move and be moved. We're back here. Locked on Packers, locked on a Bengals, a cross-o. over Thursday. And James, this is a, you mentioned the defense for the Bengals has played better than the offense. It is a low bar to clear. And that's the problem right now for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Starting point is 00:11:10 That's why you make, I wouldn't say, a panic quarterback trade move, but something akin to a panic quarterback trade move. The Bengals changed defensive coordinators in the offseason. Lou Anorimo out. The Colts have played really well. What changes Packers, I'm sure a lot of Packer fans have watched, you know, the Bengals, in the playoffs in some of these big games against the chiefs. What has looked different and what do we expect to look different moving forward

Starting point is 00:11:34 with some of the changes that have been made, personnel and otherwise? Well, I think the biggest difference that I've noticed from this defense is they do seem like they may stink at times. But no, but you're going to be on the same page. They're not going to look completely lost. And there were a few times in Denver where I was like, man, what's up with this community? But for the most part, they've been able to respond and make plays early on in the year. It was a couple of interceptions.

Starting point is 00:12:07 You're right. They take advantage of some drops against the Browns, but they forced a couple of picks. Same thing against Jacksonville, which really was the difference, the fact that they were able to force a couple of turnovers. And like last week, for example, they were just put in such bad position against the Lions time and time and time again that even when they force a punt, well, then they're right back out there. or even when they get an interception against the Broncos, well, then the offense goes three and out. And that's what's really tough. I don't want to be too critical of this defense.

Starting point is 00:12:37 I don't think they're like a top 10 defense or anything like that. But I think they've held their own considering the positions they've been put in, especially over the past few weeks. What are they great at? I'm not sure they're necessarily great at anything. And I still worry about the past rush each and every week. That's going to continue. That'll be a theme.

Starting point is 00:12:57 But do I think that they're, more on the same page than they were at times last year? Absolutely. I don't think there's as much finger pointing because they're on the same page, which is very basic, but it was a real issue last year at times. Yeah, not knowing where to be is the easiest way on defense to get you beat. Like, you know, personnel deficiencies, there's going to be talent efficiencies in the NFL. You're going to get beat these offensive skill players. I mean, look, the Bengals are the perfect example, right? Like, you could have the best corners out there, Jamar Chase and T. Higgins are still going to find a way to beat you. And so, you,

Starting point is 00:13:28 So you have to be on the same page. That tells me, though, James, that we're talking about a team that just, like, is not very talented. Is that, you know, like, or at least has not been able to play consistent enough for the talent to be maximized. Like, they have, you know, plenty of pedigree on that side of the ball, some high picks that they've used. Of course, Trey Hendrickson, I'm getting paid a lot of money. But they just, it seems like they don't have the game changers, the field tilters outside of Trey to consistently impact these games. Like you look at all the numbers, all the efficiency numbers, their bottom five, bottom eight.

Starting point is 00:14:00 And in basically all of them, that, that, if what you're saying is true, and I'll take your word for it, relative to certainly relative to last year, that to me means there's a talent problem here. Sure. I do think when you talk about star power, it's Trey. And then there's no true star. I think Daxo has been really good, really solid. but solid isn't star.

Starting point is 00:14:27 Logan Wilson has not played like a star. Demetrius Knight hasn't played like a star. The injury to watch this week is Shemar Stewart because I actually do think that he has star potential. And in that's it is like, I think DJ Turner's had a good couple of games. I think there are guys that have flashed being a good player. Jordan Battle had interceptions in back-to-back weeks to start the season.

Starting point is 00:14:50 Like it might be a lot of good or solid, but you're right. star needle movers, guys that are consistently going to be game changers that the Packers have to game playing for and think about. Right now it's just Trey. And so if you take Trey away, how are you getting pressure on Jordan Love? And that's why getting Shamar Stewart back is going to be a big part of this. I think it needs to be a big part of it is because he had a really good opener against the Browns, gets hurt against the Jags, and we haven't seen him since. If he can play this week, that would go a long way toward helping a Bengals defense.

Starting point is 00:15:24 that, like I said, has been put in some bad spots. There isn't the finger pointing or anything like that, like last year. But to your point, Miles Murphy hasn't developed into a star, had a sack last week, but hasn't developed into a star. They haven't had these guys that they drafted in the first or second round or third round become pro bowl candidates. And that stinks because you need multiple pro bowlers if you're going to be a high-end defense. And the Bengals, they're just not that right now.

Starting point is 00:15:52 Yeah, I was looking at their, their depth chart to get, you know, get ready for this week. And I was like, you know, I kind of like DJ Turner. I kind of like Jordan Battle. I kind of like Dax Hill. I like Geno Stone. And yet the, you know, it seems like the whole is less than the sum of its parts in some ways. And maybe that is sometimes like I think about the Packers defense. And it was like the key difference last year that elevated them from, you know, a bottom 10 defense to a top 10 defense. It was one player. It was Zavar McKinney. Zaver McKinney showing up in Green Bay last year changed everything about the way the Packers defense plays. And it allowed them to make up for

Starting point is 00:16:30 not elite, not elite cornerback play by any means, not elite, certainly not elite cornerback talent. They got solid cornerback play. So when you have a player like that, like Gino Stone, again, solid player had one season where he had a bunch of interceptions. But he's not that field tilting, game-changing sort of player. And sometimes just one player can coalesce everything that way. It can have everybody, you know, if things, pieces fit. And I'll say Micah Parsons has done that in a way as well where now you have a top 10 defense that we've seen them win games by themselves, shut down elite offenses because

Starting point is 00:17:04 of what Micah can do because now Roshan Gary slides down a spot and he's your second pass rusher. And Lucas Vennas slides down a spot. And he's your third edge rusher. like there's that just that changes everything for your defense and when you don't have that it's it's tough business i said at the outset the number one reason why i think that the the packers are going to win this week has nothing to do with the bengals defense and everything to do with this offensive line i just think this packers pass rush can win the game almost by themselves which is

Starting point is 00:17:33 what they try to do against joe flaco the first time and the packer special teams refuse to let them do it yeah and that's what i think is interesting is can the bengal and there's some pressure on Zach Taylor. And I mentioned this on yesterday's show, and we didn't really get to reacting to the Flacco. I wanted to ask you about this. Yeah, like, all right, well, they just made their third in-season trade player acquisition

Starting point is 00:17:55 since 1973. All three of these have happened during the Zach Taylor era. Last year they get a running back because they needed one this year. They get Joe Flacco. All right, Zach, well, I'm watching these other backup quarterbacks have success with these offensive-minded head coaches. Like, the pressure's on now. And I get it.

Starting point is 00:18:11 He's 40. and he's a year and a half younger than Zach Taylor. I don't care, and I don't think the Bengals should care. They need to find a way to get moving on offense with these horses. Like, you're right. The game changers, you were describing Xavier McKinney, and I'm like, that's why you pay Jesse Bates, because he could hide a bunch of flaws.

Starting point is 00:18:29 And Daniels are still feeling that for sure. Yeah, I mean, that's it. You could have Trey, Trey up front, Jesse on the back end, and it just kind of can come together. And Logan, it never really took that step, right? Like there was some, there was some hints that like, oh, he's becoming that guy for the Bengals. And then he just like, he never, he never really did. No, he didn't.

Starting point is 00:18:49 You're right. You're right. And it's, that's painful when you invest that much in linebacker as well. And you don't have a star to show for it. It has been kind of a rotating, a rotating group of players there are outside of Wilson too. And that that does not help when you can't find any continuity. It's nice to have two guys, you know, like the Green Law Warner pairing like for a couple years. You like there is an importance to having that sort of continuity.

Starting point is 00:19:13 That's one of those positions that I think the continuity is underrated. For sure. And it just you need game changers. And so their game changers are on offense. And clearly Zach's like Jake isn't getting the ball to our game changers. All right. Fine. Well, we got you a new quarterback.

Starting point is 00:19:30 So the pressure is on Zach, I think, because this offense is still going to need to care. As weird as it sounds, be the reason why they make a run here if they do. and they've been so bad that it's hard to say, oh, well, that's going to happen. Well, it needs to happen. And so all eyes are on Zach Taylor. And I think there's certainly some more pressure on him following this Joe Flacco trade. And, you know, on defense, they're going to need Chimar Stewart. I think that's the one guy that could be a game changer that hasn't developed into that yet.

Starting point is 00:19:57 Yeah, the Packers getting back this week, Aaron Banks, they're starting left guard. He has returned to practice this week. We'll see if he plays. We don't know here as we record this. Zach Tom, the starting right tackle, has returned, and Christian Matson has returned to practice back from PUP. 247 days, James, after tearing his ACL, he is back and running, not even with a sleeve on his knee.

Starting point is 00:20:19 He was in training camp, apparently running 21 plus miles per hour and was like, I can get to 23, like, I'm not all the way back yet. And we were all just like, oh, my God. Like, his ability to take the top off of defenses is just so valuable to this team. And now you have a guy in Christian Watson who runs low four threes and Matthew Golden who runs high four twos. If you can protect Jordan Love, this feels like a game where he can create opportunities down the field. And if you can avoid mistakes, like the Packers lost the game against the Browns because of one late interception. The Bengals have won some games.

Starting point is 00:20:55 You mentioned it because of some interceptions. The Packers, I feel like a broken record coming on here every week and saying, if the Packers don't turn the ball over, they will win. and I feel the same way about this week. If the Packers don't turn the ball over, they will win. Yeah, I get that. I totally do it. I think at home against a team that is starting a quarterback that got there four days. You should expect to force some turnovers.

Starting point is 00:21:17 The Bengals are going to say the opposite, right, that we need to take care of the ball and all those things. And their defense does need to force some turnovers. Give this offense a short field here there, especially early on to get into a rhythm. And I think it's such a. such a huge factor. By the way, you mentioned Christian Watson. The Bengals would love to have another deep threat alongside T. Higgins and Jamar Chase, especially with Joe Flacco throwing the ball.

Starting point is 00:21:40 So maybe everyone knows how much I love fast receivers. I might kidnap Christian, Green Bay, out of the Lambert. Especially if he doesn't play. I know. In a different timeframe, he might have been available in free agency will not be at least this off season. All right. Do the Bengals have a path to victory here? We will talk about that next on a locked-on Packers,

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Starting point is 00:23:52 Locked on Packers, locked on Bengals, a crossover Thursday. And James, I mentioned 14.5 point favorites for the Packers. This is scary territory for Packer fans. They kind of don't know what to do. I think it's a Midwest guilt thing. they don't understand how to be favorites. It makes them nervous because, right, when you have expectations, it can set up disappointment.

Starting point is 00:24:14 And guess who has been the author of disappointment? The one time it has happened where the Packers have lost this season. Joe Flacco! So there's, this seems a little weird to me, but there's a little bit of a boogeyman effect here. If you were going to put together a plan, let's say you just get to Magic Wand. Okay, if the Bengals do X, Y, and Z, they can win.

Starting point is 00:24:37 What is X, what is Y and what is Z? X would be, one, score touchdowns in the first quarter because they haven't since, I don't think they did against Jacksonville. It might have been against Cleveland. I mean, it's been, they were not 48 to 3, 28 to 3 and 28 to 3. Yeah, it definitely wasn't with Jake Browning. I just, the Joe Burrow era, it seems like months ago and it wasn't that long ago. And it wasn't that great when we had the Joe Burrow era.

Starting point is 00:25:04 It wasn't, no. But I do think they had a first quarter of time. touchdown in one of those in one of those games. But score early first, first and foremost, to utilize your big, big weapons. And this needs to be the Jamar Chase T. Higgins has been a real non-factor for most of the season. That can't be the case now with Joe Flacco. And obviously everything that goes with that way, you're going to have to protect Joe.

Starting point is 00:25:30 You're going to have to be able to get the ball downfield and get the ball to your weapons. And then the third one on defense is create chaos, create big play. turnovers, fumbles, sacks, those are the type of things that can put the Packers behind the chains, give you a chance, and certainly flip the field and take the crowd out of the game a little bit. So it's really a high-level stuff, but that was their plan last week for sure, I thought, was they were going to spread the ball around to their weapons, and they were going to try to force a few turnovers against the lines because they knew what that line's offense was.

Starting point is 00:26:02 And they forced a turnover, and they didn't score when the game was on the line, or, you know, when the game was still hanging in the balance. So they're going to have to fix those things. And if they do that, then could they have a chance? Yeah, I mean, Jamar Chase and T. Higgins are freaks. And T. Hendrickson is awesome. But there's no doubt that the odds that are not only stacked against them. It's a stacked deck right now against the Bengals going into Lambo.

Starting point is 00:26:24 Yeah, look, I did the same thing with Spencer German, our pal from Locked on Browns. And, you know, we were sort of laughing about the Brown's path to victory. And then the Brown's freaking won. So we see strange things that happen in the end. NFL all the time. And I don't want to make it seem I've been saying for, you know, weeks now, there is no, you know, our sisters of perpetual sorrow game in the NFL. Those games do not exist. Every team can win any week. And so the Packers are still going to have to play a solid game to win. And the Bengals are capable of winning. To me, it's no turnover is no big plays

Starting point is 00:26:57 and defense. So don't turn the ball over on offense and don't give up the big plays on defense. because if you do that, that's the game. Like the Packers were going to win against the Browns, against Joe Flacco, and there was one interception late that gets returned to the four. Even if that interception just gets, like, if he just stops where he is, they might only get a field goal and the Packers might still win that game. Those are the moments. And then against the Cowboys, it was the blocked extra point.

Starting point is 00:27:25 This special teams, James, is bad. It's one of the worst special teams units in the NFL right now. It's poorly coached. they don't prioritize it. There are a lot of reasons why one of the recipes in an upset, if you're a 14.5.5.00 dog, what do you need? A blocked punt, a blocked kick, a big return, something like that, you know, that first quarter score you mentioned, you get a return, right?

Starting point is 00:27:48 You get a big time return or you flip the field on a punt or, you know, something like that happens. That can't happen for the Packers. They have to get that stuff buttoned up. And again, if they do, like there's a lot of reasons. to think the Packers are going to win. And it's the dumb things, the big things, the catastrophic things. Like, James, Matt LaFleur was talking about the special teams.

Starting point is 00:28:12 And he goes, yeah, when we've had issues, they've just been catastrophic issues. And if we can clean those up, like, we'll be okay. And it's just sort of like, yeah. But they're catastrophic issues. Like, these are huge problems when they happen. And so kind of special teams, I always say, is like plumbing. Like, you don't really think about it until you have a problem. And usually when you have a problem, you have a problem, you have a

Starting point is 00:28:32 big effing problem. And right now the Packers, there are, there's water coming through the ceiling right now for the Packer special teams. And until that gets fixed, until we feel confident that that's buttoned up, I think that's going to make the Packer, the Packer fans nervous every week. Sure. I totally get it. And that is the path. I guarantee you the Bengals are talking about that as well. Oh, no doubt. And heck, Evan McPherson's been really good kicking wise this year. And so can you have the advantage there? Can you get out to an early edge? where you're, you take the crowd out of it a little bit. Or is it the other way?

Starting point is 00:29:06 Because they've seen it firsthand in Minnesota. Packers fans are well aware of this, how hard it is to play in Minnesota when you're down early. Yeah. And that crowd gets into it. Denver, it was the same way. You get down and it snowballs really fast. And so that's huge, huge, huge, in the special teams, I'm glad you mentioned that because

Starting point is 00:29:25 the Bengals could certainly use a Charlie Jones punt return or kickoff return for a touchdown or a couple of Evan McPherson field goals instead of Ryan Rico punts from 50 plus. I think that would help their cause as well. Yeah, Zach Taylor has to stop being a coward when it comes to his kick-go decisions, but that's a separate issue. The thing too, James, is I mentioned the restless Packer fans. If this is like 10-7, 10-10, 7 at the end of the first quarter, there are going to be some tight sphinctors at Lambeau Field.

Starting point is 00:29:58 Like they are ready to be, you know, mad about all of this. So I said on Monday, like, this has to be a game where you come out and you're just up 14 nothing because the fans are going to get restless. And if you do that, then all of a sudden you make the Bengals one dimensional. And that they just, I think that's untenable for them. Like they're just not going to be able to sustain offense that way. So coming out, I like, I like your thing for the Bengals for the Packers. Like, come out and start fast. Just put the game away in the first quarter.

Starting point is 00:30:28 Like we've seen the Bengals be in that position the last three games. So we know it can be done. No, no doubt. And that's why starting just differently where your defense doesn't feel like it's going to be out on the field the whole time and trailing the whole time and you put yourself in that position. The pressure should be on the Packers, though, because it's a game they should win. Joe Flacco, five days after being traded, like, they should play sort of free. And we'll see if they do. I don't know if that means pulling off a.

Starting point is 00:30:58 an upset and shocking the NFL world in week six. But, you know, there's something to that, especially if they can get off to a good start and take a lead early. Well, we will see and we will be back this week with much more here, locked on Packers, locked on Bengals, live after the game, all that good stuff this week. So stay locked on Packers and locked on Bengals.

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