Arkansas Bengal

Nice catch by chase

God dammit tee

As December 16th in Cincinnati goes, can’t draw it up much nicer than this one. Expected 53 degrees and partly sunny at kickoff for Vikings and #Bengals.

#Bengals inactives: RB Chris Evans LB Joe Bachie (oblique) OL Trey Hill OL Jackson Carman (illness) DT Jay Tufele Drew Sample (illness) is active today. LB Devin Harper back up with Bachie dealing with the oblique.

Updated: Dec. 15, 2023, 8:52 p.m.| Published: Dec. 15, 2023, 8:41 p.m. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron warms up before an NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.(AP Photo/Jeff Dean) By Mark Inabinett | minabinett@al.com AJ McCarron will be on standby again on Saturday when the Cincinnati Bengals play the Minnesota Vikings. McCarron was ready to go on Sunday when Bengals QB Jake Browning left the field because of a thumb cramp on his throwing hand. McCarron made his first appearance in an NFL regular-season game since Jan. 3, 2021, and his first for Cincinnati since Dec. 17, 2017. The former Alabama All-American spent his first four NFL seasons with the Bengals working as a backup for Andy Dalton. “I felt comfortable,” McCarron told Elise Jesse of the Cincinnati Bengals Talk YouTube channel, “and it was awesome just to hear the crowd cheer and give me the welcome. It was surreal. Just awesome. I love playing for his organization, being in this city, so it brought back a lot of great memories, and I wish we would have had that touchdown right there.” McCarron played five snaps while the team’s trainers took care of Browning. One didn’t count – a touchdown pass to wide receiver Tee Higgins that was nullified by a penalty for offensive pass interference. Cincinnati settled for a field goal with 11:14 left in their 34-14 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. “It is what it is,” McCarron said. “It’s football. You got to drop it quick and go on to the next play. I knew we were in a third-and-long situation at that point, so we were probably going to call something safe, and we ended up just handing the ball off. At that point, it’s big just to get points, but it felt good either way.” McCarron joined Cincinnati’s practice squad on Sept. 23, and he and Browning moved up a line on the depth chart when Joe Burrow sustained a season-ending wrist injury on Nov. 26. With Browning in the lineup, the Bengals beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-31 in overtime on Dec. 4 before topping Indianapolis, when McCarron got back to NFL action after working as one of the XFL’s top quarterbacks earlier this year with the St. Louis Battlehawks. “I felt great,” McCarron said. “The hardest thing is just not having any reps with the guys because Jake’s taking all of them, and I’m scout team. But other than that, I knew where I needed to go and how I needed to read them, it just comes down to a timing standpoint. But I felt confident.” The Bengals and Vikings square off at noon CST Saturday at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. NFL Network will televise the game. Both teams have 7-6 records with four games remaining on their regular-season schedules. As one of the five NFC teams with a winning record in 2023, Minnesota is currently penciled into a wild-card spot in the conference’s postseason projections. But with 11 AFC teams owning winning records, the Bengals are 10th in the conference’s playoff pecking order. Cincinnati’s drive for the playoffs will continue with road games against the Pittsburgh Stealers on Dec. 23 and Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 31 and a home contest against the Cleveland Browns in the regular-season finale on Jan. 7. “That’s what the goal is, right? To make the playoffs and give yourself a chance,” McCarron said. “(Bengals coach) Zac (Taylor) says it all the time: We have everything in front of us to be able to do that. You’ve got to stack the days and be successful when you have the opportunity. We’ve been doing that so far. We got to just keep it that way.” https://www.al.com/sports/2023/12/aj-mccarron-comfortable-back-in-old-role-for-bengals.html

Updated: Dec. 16, 2023, 5:11 a.m.| Published: Dec. 16, 2023, 5:00 a.m. Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams blocks Cleveland Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith during an NFL game on Sept. 10, 2023, at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland.(AP Photo/Kirk Irwin) By Mark Inabinett | minabinett@al.com Jake Browning is new to the Cincinnati Bengals’ backfield. He’ll make his fourth start at quarterback when the Bengals take on the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday. But blocking for Browning isn’t new for Cincinnati right offensive tackle Jonah Williams. The players were teammates at Folsom High School in California. In the pair’s final prep game together, Folsom defeated Oceanside 68-7 in the Division I California State Championship Bowl in 2014. “It’s hard not to think back a little bit, reminisce a little bit – 10 years ago playing together in high school,” Williams said. “Kind of crazy to go out and play NFL games with him now. Shout out to Folsom High. Just won state again, so a little dynasty over there we were part of building. It’s been awesome to play with him and kind of live out the high school dream together.” Browning threw 91 touchdown passes in 2014 and 229 in three seasons for Folsom. He chose Washington to play college football. After another season at Folsom, Williams went to Alabama, where he played left tackle for the Crimson Tide’s 2017 CFP national-championship team and earned unanimous All-American recognition in 2018. Williams joined the Bengals as the 11th pick of the 2019 NFL Draft and has started all 55 games that he’s started for Cincinnati – the first 42 at left tackle and 13 this season at right tackle. Despite a prolific career as a four-year starter at Washington, Browning was not selected in the 2019 NFL Draft. He had played four offensive snaps in an NFL regular-season game when he was thrust into the Cincinnati lineup when Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury on Nov. 16. The Bengals lost Browning’s first start 16-10 to the Pittsburgh Stealers but have beaten the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-31 in overtime and Indianapolis Colts 34-14 in the past two games. Williams described Browning as “calm, cool, collected” as he leads the Cincinnati offense down the stretch of the 2023 regular season in pursuit of a playoff berth. The Bengals and Vikings square off at noon CST Saturday at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. NFL Network will televise the game. Both teams have 7-6 records with four games remaining on their regular-season schedules. As one of the five NFC teams with a winning record in 2023, Minnesota is currently penciled into a wild-card spot in the conference’s postseason projections. But with 11 AFC teams owning winning records, the Bengals are 10th in the conference’s playoff pecking order. Cincinnati’s drive for the playoffs will continue with road games against the Pittsburgh Stealers on Dec. 23 and Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 31 and a home contest against the Cleveland Browns in the regular-season finale on Jan. 7. The Bengals have played in the past two AFC Championship games, but that was with Burrow as the starting quarterback. “We’re confident as a group and confident as a unit,” Williams said. “I know we had really high expectations coming into this year, and we still have those same beliefs in ourselves and we still have those same goals. “We got four games down the stretch where we have to really elevate it up a notch. We’re playing some great teams. To get to where we want to go, we really have to be on our game.” https://www.al.com/sports/2023/12/bengals-jonah-williams-blocking-for-his-high-school-qb-again.html

Now 49 - 0

Charlie Goldsmith, Cincinnati Enquirer Thu, Dec 14, 2023, 12:20 PM CST·4 min read Before the start of the season, Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. reflected on the challenge he signed up for. In the offseason, the Bengals gave Brown the biggest contract that they’ve ever handed out to a player from another team. They felt like they needed to make an aggressive move to upgrade their offensive line, and Brown was tabbed as the missing piece. “It’s definitely pressure,” Brown said. “But, man, if someone gave you $30 million guaranteed, that’s what comes with it. You’re the savior, quote-unquote. But I’d much rather be on this side of it.” Fifteen weeks later, the four-time Pro Bowler is in the middle of a solid season with the Bengals. Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said that he’s reminded of Brown’s impact on a daily basis as he prepares the game plan for the offense, and the Bengals offensive line has been a strength of the team over the last month. But Brown, who embraces his role as a franchise left tackle and openly discusses his goal of making it to the NFL Hall of Fame, isn’t satisfied with how he has played in 2023. “I mean, there’s still a lot of football left,” Brown said. “I can’t give you a final assessment. It’s been ok. There have been some good things and obviously some bad things. That’s football. There are a lot of ups and downs.” Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. said there's another level for him to reach down the stretch this season. Over the course of the season, the Bengals have learned more about how Brown fits in their system. In the run game, they’ve started using him more as a pulling blocker, and he has delivered some massive hits to open up big rushing lanes. Brown’s run blocking has been his biggest strength, and he has also been a sound pass protector. Jaguars edge rusher Josh Allen has 13.5 sacks this season, and Brown fared well in that matchup in Week 13. One week later, against a Colts defense that ranks third in the NFL in sacks this season, Brown played one of his best games of the season. “Orlando brings a lot of energy, and he’s obviously a mountain of a man,” Bengals center Ted Karras said. “He brings a winning pedigree as a guy who knows how to go the distance, which is our ultimate goal. He plays under control. His size and strength, this is the NFL. You don’t always need to be the biggest guy, but it doesn’t hurt to be the biggest guy in the NFL. That’s a plus for the stripes.” Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr.'s best moments this year have come on incredible plays in the run game. Brown’s production dipped during the middle of the season as he battled a groin injury. He left the Bengals’ Week 6 game against the Seattle Seahawks with a groin injury, and he was listed on the injury report through Week 9. “Over time, I’m getting a better understanding of the system,” Brown said. “I was dealing with an injury earlier in the season. Little things like that. I’ve been able to be a lot more aggressive recently. The injury doesn’t need to be spoken about. I’ve come in every day with the same mindset. I’m continuing to grind and take my game to the next level. I’m doing the best I can to lead by example.” The Bengals' offensive line has been a strength over the last month, and offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has been a big part of it. Brown said that he takes pride in the tough, physical blocks that he has provided in the run game. The Bengals have found a standout run play where Brown blocks a defensive tackle or a linebacker in the middle of the pocket, sealing off a backside angle for the running back. On those plays, Brown’s rare size and strength are on display. But it takes more than that for those runs to work. “Those are mindset plays,” Brown said. “Having a mindset that you’ll go out there and lay a hit on somebody. You’ve got to swing first. That’s part of my mindset to be a part of setting the tone.” Brown has made the Pro Bowl every year since his rookie season. This year, he isn’t in the top-10 of the voting at offensive tackle. Even if his streak of Pro Bowl appearances is snapped, Brown views the final four weeks of the regular season as an opportunity to tweak the narrative of his 2023 season. “Here in December in the final quarter of the season, I have a chance to take it to the next level,” Brown said. “I’m getting healthier. I understand the system better. I’m focused on playing my (tail) off. It’s about continuing to grow in every way, with my play and as a leader.” https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-left-tackle-orlando-brown-182048116.html

Ben Baby, ESPN Staff WriterDec 13, 2023, 05:21 PM ET CINCINNATI -- Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase left no doubt about his playing status for Saturday's game against the Vikings. "I'm going [to play]," Chase said Wednesday. "100 percent." Chase suffered an ankle injury in last week's win over the Colts. He was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, according to the team's injury report, and would not have practiced Tuesday if the Bengals had held one. The team opted for a walk-through at its indoor practice facility on a short week. The third-year receiver out of LSU said he picked up the injury on his first catch in the team's 34-14 win over the Colts. Chase isn't sure how he suffered the ankle issue but knew he felt something. He finished the game with three catches on four targets for 29 yards and played on 87% of the team's offensive snaps, the highest rate of any Bengals receiver in the game. Chase said he didn't feel any discomfort on a Wednesday practice that went smoothly. He switched cleats after the team's stretching period, but that was just to break in a new pair, he said. He isn't the only high-profile receiver battling an injury issue heading into this weekend's matchup between playoff hopefuls. Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Chase's teammate at LSU, has been limited this week with a chest injury. However, he has also told reporters he expects to play. The communication between the two friends has been limited leading up to Saturday's game. "We're not going to talk besides me checking on him," Chase said. That includes any discussion about contracts for both players. Jefferson has not reached a contract extension on his rookie contract yet. Chase is eligible for a new deal next year and said he hasn't heard any estimates on what Jefferson's deal might look like. Since Jefferson entered the league in 2020, he has amassed the most receiving yards (4,825) in a player's first three seasons. Chase, who has four games left in his third season, is next on that list with 3,593 receiving yards. Chase, however, already has 29 touchdowns while Jefferson had 25. Chase is eager to know where Jefferson stands in his contract negotiations before he officially embarks on his own extension. "I'm not talking nothing about no contract yet, man," Chase said with a laugh Wednesday. "I need to see some more numbers from him." https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39107207/bengals-jamarr-chase-ankle-100-playing-vikings

Col. Joseph Lee Burrow @ColJoeBurrow Father— It’s the day after the day after the men corralled the horses of Indy. Our spirits soar. It gave me great pleasure to extend my quarters at Fort Paycor to Capt Browning’s family during said battle. I remain unable to take the field which I find very disagreeable. —Joe

By Josh Alper Published December 13, 2023 09:11 AM Bengals running back Chase Brown had two carries and three catches heading into Week 13, but the rookie has seen his profile expand in a hurry over the last two weeks. The speed of that change is closely tied to the speed that he displays on the football field. Brown had a 31-yard run to help the team to a win over the Jaguars in Week 13 and then turned a Jake Browning pass into a 54-yard touchdown last Sunday. Brown hit a top speed of 22.05 miles per hour on that play, which is the second-fastest speed a ball carrier has reached this season. Seahawks DK Metcalf has the fastest and Brown told Geoff Hobson of the team’s website that he “probably could have gone faster” if he didn’t have to evade a would-be tackler at the end of the play. Brown said he’s also seen people comparing his speed to Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill, but the fifth-round pick said his only interests at the moment are his play and his team’s success. “I’ve seen it on social. He’s a great player. I wouldn’t compare myself to anybody like that yet,” Brown said. “Maybe years down the road we can start putting my name up to guys of that caliber. But right now, I’m just building a name for myself and trying to find ways to help this team on a weekly basis. So keep doing that and the bigger picture will paint itself once I reflect on it all.” The Bengals have re-inserted themselves into the AFC playoff picture with their back-to-back wins and Brown’s play in those victories should make him part of the plan for staying in that picture over the final weeks. profootballtalk.com

Charlie Goldsmith, Cincinnati Enquirer Wed, Dec 13, 2023, 12:56 PM CST·9 min read Last Saturday morning, the day before Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback AJ McCarron appeared in his first NFL game since 2020, McCarron’s two sons were shooting baskets on the hoop near the weight room at Paycor Stadium. McCarron kept playing football so Tripp and Cash could experience moments like this one. They weren’t born yet when AJ clinched a division title with the Bengals in 2015, and neither of them is old enough to remember their dad’s seven-year stretch as a backup quarterback in the NFL. Tripp and Cash got to be inside of Paycor Stadium the day before a game. They got to hang out with their dad and meet his teammates. On Sunday, during the Bengals’ win over the Indianapolis Colts, they were in the crowd and cheered on AJ for five snaps that meant everything to him. Starting job eluded McCarron for years McCarron never got to be a full-time starting quarterback in the NFL, but the 33-year-old has a different perspective now on a career that’s been full of what ifs. “Everything happens for a reason,” McCarron said. “My journey led me back here.” Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron played in his first NFL game in four years, completing a pass last week against the Indianapolis Colts. Ten years ago, McCarron was the hotshot national champion quarterback from the University of Alabama. Then he was Andy Dalton’s backup. After that, he helped the Bengals reach the playoffs in 2015 as an injury replacement before riding the bench for two more years. Between 2018 and 2021, McCarron bounced between four teams before tearing his ACL and going to the XFL to keep his career alive. McCarron landed back with Bengals in September McCarron took the scenic route back to the NFL, and he signed with the Bengals’ practice squad in Week 3. He became the Bengals’ backup quarterback behind Jake Browning following Joe Burrow’s season-ending wrist injury, and McCarron completed his first pass in four years on Sunday. Nothing over the last 10 years has gone according to plan, but his winding road has led him back to the team that drafted him. “There aren’t many teams, cities or organizations that I just would have signed on the practice squad with,” McCarron said. “This place means a lot to me. I have a lot of memories and friendships here. It was a no-brainer to come back.” Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron said that it took an opportunity with a 'place that means a lot to me' to sign with the Bengals in September. McCarron’s first stint with the Bengals, according to multiple reports at the time, was a product of McCarron’s over-confidence. His slide into the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft came after reports that coaches around the league viewed him as “too cocky.” “I don’t know,” McCarron said in an interview on Tuesday. “I didn’t worry about that. I really could care less.” Had to bide his time with the Bengals Instead of getting a shot to compete for a starting spot somewhere in the NFL, McCarron got drafted by a team that already had an established starter. The Bengals told him that he’d have to wait his turn. After McCarron missed the entire 2014 season due to shoulder tightness, he got an opportunity relatively quickly. Dalton missed the stretch run in 2015 due to a thumb injury, and McCarron helped the Bengals win the AFC North title. In the first round of the playoffs, he threw what should have been the game-winning touchdown to A.J. Green before the Bengals imploded late in the fourth quarter. The loss stuck with everyone who was a part of it. But unlike the rest of his teammates, McCarron didn’t get to play meaningful snaps in another NFL game for another four years. “In the game of football, you’ve got to be short-minded and let things go quickly,” McCarron said. “It’s a part of football and a part of my journey.” Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron helped the Bengals get into the playoffs in 2015 as he filled in for an injured Andy Dalton. In 2016 and 2017, McCarron was stuck as the Bengals’ backup. The Bengals reportedly were only interested in trading McCarron if they received a first-round pick in return. Even though McCarron looked like a starting-caliber quarterback in 2015, he spent the next two years on the bench. At the end of the 2016 season, McCarron told the Bengals during his exit interview that he was ready to see what he could do as a starter. The Bengals told McCarron how much they valued him, and he ended up back in Cincinnati in 2017. “I didn’t know if there would be a trade or not,” McCarron said. “I also had no problem coming back here. I love playing for this organization. I love the city. I was in a win-win situation.” After leading the Bengals into the playoffs in 2015, Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron was stuck as the backup for the next two years before becoming a free agent. In the middle of the 2017 season, McCarron thought that he was finally getting his opportunity. The Bengals agreed to a trade deadline deal with the Cleveland Browns, but the proper paperwork wasn’t submitted to the NFL in time. Trade to the Browns fell through So instead of starting for the Browns down the stretch, he was Dalton’s backup again. “I still have no clue,” McCarron said. “One minute, your agent says you’re getting traded and you start packing. Then, a couple minutes after the trade deadline, it didn’t go through. It was all over the place. You go with the flow.” McCarron became a free agent at the end of the 2017 season and signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Buffalo Bills. When he signed the deal, McCarron was sure that he’d get the chance he had waited for to compete for a starting spot. Then, the Bills drafted quarterback Josh Allen in the first round, and their plans changed. Buffalo ended up sticking with Nathan Peterman as the veteran quarterback on their roster, and the Bills traded McCarron to the Oakland Raiders for a fifth-round pick before the start of the 2018 season. “I thought I played really well in camp in Buffalo,” McCarron said. “There was a difference in opinion on who (Bills head coach Sean McDermott) wanted at quarterback compared to what some other people thought. Sean had the ultimate say. So they decided to trade me.” With the Raiders, McCarron backed up an entrenched starter in Derek Carr. The Raiders cut him at the end of the 2018 season, and he didn’t have another suitor who was interested in giving him a chance to compete for the starting quarterback spot. He backed up DeShaun Watson with the Houston Texans for the next two years and then signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021 to back up Matt Ryan. During the preseason that year, McCarron tore his ACL on a non-contact play. “That was it,” McCarron said. The Falcons cut him. Three years later, McCarron views the recovery process as a positive. He learned that bad eating habits would increase swelling in his knee, so he completely changed his diet. McCarron became a better athlete as he rehabbed, and he wanted to get back in the NFL in 2022. During the season, he had a few workouts with teams that were looking for practice squad quarterbacks. The San Francisco 49ers reached out to him. The New York Giants were going to sign McCarron at one point after quarterback Daniel Jones suffered an ankle injury, but Jones recovered quickly and McCarron didn’t receive an offer. McCarron showed his talents in XFL McCarron felt like he had more left in the tank, and his sons wanted to watch him play. He spent last spring in the XFL and won the league’s MVP award. When the XFL season was over, McCarron said that he got a few calls from teams that were interested in bringing him in for training camp. “During that time, my son was playing travel baseball,” McCarron said. “I wanted to travel with him and the family and watch him play. I’m glad I chose to do that. Everything happens for a reason, and it led to me coming back here.” Then in September, Burrow was struggling with his calf injury and practice squad quarterback Will Grier signed with the New England Patriots. At the time, Browning was the only fully healthy quarterback in the building. The Bengals brought McCarron in for a workout and signed him to the practice squad on Sept. 23. “He has played a lot of football, whether it was in the XFL last year, or all the years that he played in the NFL,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. “And so there's confidence there that this guy can go in and this isn't foreign to him. He's a two-time national champion. He's done a lot of great things in his career.” Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron briefly filled in for Jake Browning last Sunday and threw a completion on his first pass. McCarron’s first snaps in four years were a whirlwind. Last Sunday, Browning left the game against the Colts with a cramp in his hand. McCarron was thrown into the game without a chance to warm up or talk to the coaches. Taylor had enough confidence in McCarron to call a pass on 3rd and 6. The throw down the field wasn’t there, but McCarron went through his reads and checked the ball down for a completion short of the sticks on third down. The Colts fumbled the ensuing punt, which gave McCarron another opportunity. On 3rd and 8 from the Colts 10-yard line, he connected with wide receiver Tee Higgins in the back of the end zone. The play was overturned due to an offensive pass interference penalty, but Tripp (7 years old) and Cash (who turns 5 years old this week) still got a memory out of it. “My kids saw dad throw the ball, and they saw Tee catch it,” McCarron said. “It was awesome.” After the game, Tripp and Cash were celebrating with AJ in the locker room. Maybe, AJ thought, he’ll have many more moments like this one. “It’s been a heck of a run, but I don’t think I’m done playing by any means,” McCarron said. “This is probably the first time in my career where I’ve ever been on a staff where people on the staff have a bunch of opportunities to get other jobs and get head coaching jobs. I show on a daily basis that I can still move and throw it around. If people believe in me moving forward, in practice I’ve shown I can still play at a high level. But I’m taking it day-by-day.” https://sports.yahoo.com/heck-run-bengals-quarterback-aj-185633472.html

4 Vikings who could be difference makers in Week 15 vs. Bengals Tyler Forness Wed, Dec 13, 2023, 2:45 PM CST·4 min read In a battle of 7-6 teams, the Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday afternoon. The last time the Vikings played on Saturday afternoon was also in week 15. They beat the Indianapolis Colts 39-36 in overtime, setting a record for the largest comeback (33 points) in NFL history. The Vikings don’t have the greatest history against the Bengals. The series is tied 7-7 but the Vikings are only 1-7 in games played in Cincinnati. Their only win in Cincinnati came in 1992 where they won by a score of 42-7. Heading into Saturday’s game, our staff broke down one player for the Vikings that could be a big difference-maker. OLB Danielle Hunter Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports When Hunter signed a restructured contract at the beginning of training camp, there were three bonuses he could meet with $1 million attached to each threshold. Hunter has bet two of the three already and needs just 0.5 sacks to reach the last threshold. He is going against a really tasty matchup. Both Orlando Brown and Jonah Williams are tied for the 49th-best offensive tackle per Pro Football Focus and neither is the most nimble on their feet. With Jake Browning in the game over Joe Burrow due to injury, Hunter could be primed for a big game on Saturday. WR Justin Jefferson Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports Jefferson suffered a chest injury early in his first game back last Sunday and was taken to the hospital to be examined. After getting the all clear, he expects to play against the Bengals. That would be great news for Nick Mullens. Jefferson, who had missed seven games because of a hamstring injury, should make life easier on the pocket-passing Mullens as he makes his first start for Minnesota. Vikings’ receivers have had issues with drops this season, a problem that continued against the Raiders, but adding Jefferson back into the mix will help with that. It also will create more opportunities for rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison to get open. RB Ty Chandler Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports Asking Alexander Mattison to go on Saturday after his high ankle sprain on Sunday will be a tall task. It’s got all the makings of Ty Chandler making his first start against the Bengals on a shortened week. Chandler gives a semblance of hope to a run game that has been inconsistently good but mostly pedestrian this season. With the Vikings starting their fourth quarterback of the year, this will be a team effort to get past a Cincinnati defense that has struggled but looked to find their stride against the Colts last week. The Bengals were second in rushing EPA/play in week 14. A tall task awaits Chandler, it’s time to see if he’s up for it. QB Nick Mullens Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports It feels like a given to say that all Vikings fans are going to have a watchful eye on new quarterback Nick Mullens on Saturday, but it’s an unavoidable fact. The play at the position simply has not been good enough the past few weeks, and that’s a season-ender if it continues. Minnesota is still in the playoff picture – for now – but they’re fading fast thanks to the subpar play from the quarterback. Is it *all* the quarterback’s fault? No. Seldom does everything that happens in a game come down to one player, let alone a string of games. But the move had to be made if this team has any hope of holding onto their playoff positioning. Now it’s time to see what Mullens can do for the Vikings. We got a brief glimpse of it last week, and we’ve seen a couple games worth of what he can do during his time in San Francisco. But that was several years ago with a vastly different set of circumstances. Can he be what the Vikings need? We’re about to see. https://sports.yahoo.com/4-vikings-could-difference-makers-204518381.html

We discuss whether or not the Cincinnati Bengals will make the AFC playoffs. By Grace McDermott Dec 12, 2023, 7:11am PST Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images The Cincinnati Bengals started the year off on a slower note, which has become a trend for this franchise in the last few years. Joe Burrow was recovering from a preseason injury, and the Bengals opened at 1-3. Things turned around quickly, though, as they notched wins over the 49ers on the road and the Bills and Seahawks at home. They haven’t fared particularly well in divisional play this season. It looked like the year was all but over when Joe Burrow sustained a season-ending injury, but backup Jake Browning has been holding things together and is now 2-1 as a starter with a Wild Card bid in his sights. We break down the Bengals’ chances to make the playoffs. Cincinnati Bengals current odds DraftKings odds: To make playoffs — Yes +300, No -400; AFC North +15000 DVOA playoff odds: TBD ESPN FPI: 24.3% NY Times odds: 25% Upcoming Schedule Week 15: vs. Minnesota Vikings Week 16: @ Pittsburgh Stealers Week 17: @ Kansas City Chiefs Week 18: vs. Cleveland Browns The Bengals are on a roll after winning two games in a row, and they meet the Vikings and Stealers at the right time. Both of these games are winnable, even in the absence of Joe Burrow, as both are currently starting backups (the Vikings even moved to their third string last week). Cincinnati wins at home over the Vikings and ekes out a close on in Pittsburgh. However, things will probably take a turn from there. Beating the Chiefs will be a challenge without Burrow, especially on the road, and the Chiefs win in Week 17. The Browns will also likely have their quarterback issues somewhat more sorted by the time Week 18 rolls around, and their defense should do the rest for them. The Bengals go 2-2 in the final stretch. Final record prediction: 9-8 Current AFC playoff standings Baltimore Ravens 10-3 Miami Dolphins 9-4 Kansas City Chiefs 8-5 Jacksonville Jaguars 8-5 Cleveland Browns 8-5 Pittsburgh Stealers 7-6 Indianapolis Colts 7-6 Houston Texans 7-6 Denver Broncos 7-6 Cincinnati Bengals 7-6 Buffalo Bills 7-6 Using ESPN’s playoff predictor, if the Bengals beat the Vikings and the Stealers lose to the Colts in Week 15, the Bengals are projected to get a No. 6 seed. However, if the Stealers win, the Bengals are projected to get a No. 7 seed in the AFC. If either Denver or Houston wins, the Bengals are not projected to earn a Wild Card bid. The six-game 7-6 tiebreaker will likely begin to work itself out in the coming weeks. Verdict Yes +300 It will be close, but I think the Bengals sneak in at No. 7 in the AFC. They have a head-to-head win over a fairly mediocre Colts team and a solid Bills team, and many of their competitors are dealing with quarterback issues and other injuries. If Jake Browning can keep his cool and continue to get through these games, Cincinnati will get into the playoffs by a hair. https://dknetwork.draftkings.com/nfl/2023/12/12/23997134/cincinnati-bengals-playoff-chances-2023-scenarios-odds-afc-wild-card-seeds-Stealers-browns-ravens

Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase provides holiday shopping experience for elementary students CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase gave 100 local elementary students a day to remember on Monday with an exclusive winter shopping experience. One day after Cincinnati's win over the Indianapolis Colts last weekend, Chase visited Woodford Academy in Kennedy Heights for the shopping experience. The 23-year-old Chase partnered with Integrity Express Logistics and Activities Beyond the Classroom for the event. The shopping event is one of several outreach initiatives that Chase has participated in this year. In November, Chase visited Silverton Elementary School to pass out food for Thanksgiving. Elsewhere in Cincinnati on Monday, other Bengals players, including quarterback Jake Browning, led a community event at the Boys & Girls Club in West Price Hill and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie held a holiday shopping spree with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati and The Awuzie Kickstep Foundation. https://www.wlwt.com/article/cincinnati-bengals-jamarr-chase-shopping-woodford-academy/46096301#

Katherine Webb-McCarron and Sons Are Greeted by AJ McCarron at His NFL First Game in Almost Three Years The couple's three kids were there to bear witness to a very special game By Angela Andaloro Angela Andaloro Angela Andaloro is a Parents News Writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on BuzzFeed, Entertainment Weekly, and LittleThings. PEOPLE EDITORIAL GUIDELINES Published on December 11, 2023 12:59PM EST Katherine Webb-McCarron and sons at Bengals game. PHOTO: KATHERINE WEBB/INSTAGRAM Katherine Webb-McCarron got to enjoy something special with her three sons. On Sunday, the family headed to Paycor Stadium to watch the Cincinnati Bengals face off against the Indianapolis Colts. What they didn't know at the time was that AJ McCarron would take the field in his first NFL appearance since a knee injury in 2021. Webb-McCarron, 34, smiled in the stands with sons Gunnar Cruz, 2½, Cash Carter, 4, and Raymond Anthony McCarron III, aka Tripp, 6. They were greeted by McCarron, who gave his sons a high five as he warmed up for the game. When Bengals quarterback Jake Browning was injured in the fourth quarter, McCarron, the 33-year-old backup quarterback took the field, marking the first time his younger two sons had ever seen him take the field in the NFL. Katherine Webb-McCarron and sons are greeted by AJ McCarron at his first NFL game in almost three years. KATHERINE WEBB/INSTAGRAM Patrick Mahomes' Son Bronze, 12 Months, Is a Whole 'Mood' as He Makes Rare Appearance on the Sidelines The former Miss Alabama USA and the football player tied the knot in 2014 after they began dating in 2012. McCarron played for five teams as a career backup before leaving the NFL in 2022, when he was drafted to join the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL, a minor league coalition. In June, McCarron talked to reporters about what it means to him to be able to play in front of his boys after a big win, shared by the team on their Instagram. "It's awesome," he began, tearing up as his little boys ran over to him. "It means a lot." "AJ McCarron has held a lot of titles, but 'Dad' is the most important one of all," the caption read. https://people.com/katherine-webb-mccarron-and-sons-are-greeted-by-aj-mccarron-at-bengals-game-8414169

Cincinnati has posted 30-plus point in consecutive weeks. RUSS HELTMAN 2 HOURS AGO CINCINNATI — The Bengals got another nice performance out of Jake Browning as he settles in as a competent replacement for Joe Burrow. The accurate passer threw for 275 yards (18-of-24 passing), two touchdowns, and one interception on Sunday while adding a rushing score. He made it clear the only way to slow down his offense is if he turns it over. "Threw a bad pass to Tanner Hudson," Browning said. "He tried to make a play on it. Didn't throw it to him in the chest, and then they return it for a pick-six. It was tough. But I think coming into halftime, my thought process was the only time they stopped us is when I threw to the other team. So just don't do that and you move the ball well." Browning left for a few plays with a cramping thumb and joked about it afterward. "Probably the main takeaway from the game is hydrate better," Browning quipped. He has plenty of time to hydrate this week as Cincinnati closes out its NFC run this season with a massive game against Minnesota with a chance to get to 8-6. https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/news/jake-browning-confident-offense-only-stopped-when-turnovers-happen#google_vignette

Published Dec. 11, 2023 4:45 p.m. ET Associated Press CINCINNATI (AP) — With a 34-14 thumping of the Colts on Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals climbed above the .500 mark for the first time in a month. That didn't seem likely after Bengals franchise quarterback Joe Burrow was lost to a wrist injury and backup Jake Browning was pushed into service. The 27-year-old Browning was a superstar in high school in California and threw for 12,296 yards and 94 touchdowns at the University of Washington but hadn't gotten much traction in the NFL. Browning is taking advantage of the opportunity. He's been outstanding in his past two starts and has the Bengals hoping to reach the playoffs again in a crowded AFC race that has them among six teams sitting at 7-6. Browning threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another score in Sunday's win over the Colts. In the previous game, he passed for 354 yards and a touchdown in a win at Jacksonville. He distributed the ball to eight different receivers Sunday as the Bengals tied their season high for points. “Jake is leading the offense and running the show,” said Tee Higgins, who had critical receptions of 46 and 26 yards Sunday. “We’ve got to keep playing to his strengths and keep doing what we do.” Coach Zac Taylor said Browning, who was on the Bengals practice squad for the past two seasons, was a well-prepared veteran by the time he was called on to replace Burrow. “(The backup) just needs to step up, be prepared and play as best as he can without our starter out there. Jake has done that,” Taylor said. “The guys believe in him, but it's not about one guy. It's the unit coming together, and the defense and special teams up supplementing that. I think the team effort has been outstanding the last two weeks.” WHAT'S WORKING Cincinnati's offense was balanced against the Colts. Running backs Joe Mixon and Chase Brown combined for 104 rushing yards and 126 receiving. The offensive line had one of its best games, allowing zero sacks. The defense held the Colts to 46 rushing yards and sacked Gardner Minshew three times. “It all seems to be flowing well,” Browning said. WHAT NEEDS HELP The Bengals converted just 3 of 11 third down attempts. ... Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. often got between Bengals defensive backs, getting eight catches for a team-leading 95 yards. STOCK UP Brown has made the most of his playing time after dealing with a hamstring injury earlier this season. He had the biggest play of the game against the Colts, gathering in a short pass and racing 54 yards down the right sideline for Cincinnati's first score. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Brown hit a top speed of 22.05 mph on the touchdown. That's the fastest by a Bengals ball carrier since NFL Next Gen started tracking in 2016. STOCK DOWN TE Irv Smith Jr. hasn't had a pass reception in the past two games. He was signed as a free agent to be a pass catcher, but Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson are being used more in that role. INJURIES CB Cam Taylor-Britt (ankle) was put on injured reserve on Dec. 4. The second-year player has been one of the Bengals best defensive backs. He could possibly return before the end of the season. KEY NUMBER 0 — Points allowed in the second half by the Bengals against the Colts. NEXT STEPS Continue to play well around Browning for a tough closing stretch that includes the Vikings (7-6) on Saturday, followed by the Stealers (7-6), at AFC West-leading Kansas City (8-5) and Cleveland (8-5). https://www.foxsports.com/articles/nfl/bengals-hope-to-stay-in-playoff-race-behind-backup-qb-jake-browning

Kevin O’Connell says Vikings QB decision will come later this week By Josh Alper Published December 11, 2023 04:00 PM The Vikings made a quarterback change during Sunday’s 3-0 win over the Raiders, but they haven’t made a call on who will be under center against the Bengals in Week 15. That was the message from head coach Kevin O’Connell at Monday’s press conference. O’Connell said that the team will decide between Nick Mullens and Josh Dobbs later this week. Mullens replaced Dobbs in the fourth quarter against the Raiders and drove the team to their only points of the day. He was 9-of-13 for 83 yards while Dobbs was 10-of-23 for 63 yards in his fourth start since being acquired in a trade with the Cardinals. The Vikings are currently in wild card position in the NFC and they have two games left against the Lions, so winning out would make them the NFC North champions despite their quarterback issues in the wake of Kirk Cousins’ torn Achilles. Their choice for this week will have a lot of bearing on whether they can make that kind of run over the final four weeks. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/cincinnati-bengals

Justin Jefferson day-to-day with chest injury By Josh Alper Published December 11, 2023 03:30 PM Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson left Sunday’s 3-0 win over the Raiders with a chest injury, but it doesn’t look like he’s facing another long-term absence from the lineup. The injury occurred in Jefferson’s return after missing seven games with a hamstring injury and he went to the hospital to be evaluated after leaving the game. Jefferson was released in time to return to Minnesota with the team and head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team was encouraged by the wideout’s condition. O’Connell offered another positive update on Jefferson’s health Monday. He told reporters that Jefferson is considered day-to-day and that he thinks there’s a good chance that he will be able to play against the Bengals on Saturday. Jefferson had two catches for 27 yards against the Raiders and has 38 catches for 598 yards and three touchdowns this season. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/justin-jefferson-day-to-day-with-chest-injury

By Josh Alper Published December 11, 2023 10:42 AM The Bengals have shown an ability to weather storms on the big and small scales over the last couple of weeks. Joe Burrow’s season-ending wrist injury forced Jake Browning into the lineup at quarterback and a loss to the Stealers in his first NFL start moved them to 5-6 on the year. That put them on the fringes of the AFC playoff picture, but back-to-back wins have brightened the picture in Cincinnati. Both of those wins have shown the team’s ability to bounce back from bad situations. The Jaguars jumped ahead 28-21 with a pair of touchdowns in a couple of minutes late in the third quarter of Week 13 and the Colts went from being down 14-0 to tying the game 14-14 before halftime on Sunday. The Colts wouldn’t score again in the second half and right tackle Jonah Williams said after the 34-14 win that the Bengals have proven themselves to be a resilient bunch. “We’ve had a lot of adversity as a team,” Williams said, via the team’s website. “We’ve faced both sides of it. Both sides of momentum swings. It’s nothing to us. We know how to handle it. It’s one of the qualities of this team. Yeah, we’re not undefeated right now, but we know how to handle some uphill battles and how to overcome them and that’s what we were able to do today.” The Bengals will get a chance to keep the playoff push going next Sunday against a team that has gone through some similar things this season. The Vikings are also 7-6 after losing their starting quarterback and they may be going with a new starter after Nick Mullens replaced Josh Dobbs in Sunday’s 3-0 win over the Raiders, so the resiliency narrative will be tested on both sides in Week 15. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jonah-williams-we-know-how-to-handle-uphill-battles

Nate Atkins, Indianapolis Star Mon, Dec 11, 2023, 5:13 AM CST·5 min read CINCINNATI -- One by one, the Colts pass rushers burst through the Bengals line, only to slip into the mirage. They salivated at the sight of a backup quarterback dropping back in a back-peddle footrace to nowhere. Out there on the turf, in the cold of a December game, were the ingredients that have turned the Colts into the second-best pass rush in the NFL. And then they were gone. Like a magic trick on turf, Jake Browning flicked his wrist and lofted the ball over their heads and into the void. A Bengals running back kept catching those passes, turning his head and exploding through the open grass on a footrace through the throbbing heart of a hoodwinked Colts defense. Chase Brown took one of those passes 54 yards nearly untouched for a score. Joe Mixon turned another into a 45-yard gain that he punctuated by stiff-arming Darrell Baker Jr. to the turf. The top three screen passes went for 124 combined yards as the Bengals ran away with a 34-14 victory to shut the Colts' winning streak down at four. With an AFC wildcard spot up for grabs in a December game, the Bengals found the kill shot to a Colts' eight-headed pass rush built on momentum and an "attack" style. "We opened Pandora's box today with the screen game," Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said. Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye (51) moves in as Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron (4) draws back to pass Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. In the complex sport of football, even the most lethal units have a Kryptonite. The Bengals found the green rock that shriveled the Colts' pass rushers from the monsters of 42 sacks into some huffing and puffing men who could barely get a fingerprint on a backup quarterback's jersey. The Colts finished with zero sacks and three quarterback hits on 28 Browning drop-backs. Browning averaged 11.5 yards per attempt as the Bengals ran away with a blowout win that left the entire Colts team like those pass rushers on a screen play, chasing something they could not catch. "It's just understanding how the league is going to view you: When you're second in the league in sacks, ain't nobody going to sit back and let you go get them," linebacker and captain Zaire Franklin said. The Bengals took that approach to the maximum level Sunday by incorporating screen passes with play-action and pin-play rollouts. The design was to get the Colts' 30.5-sack quintet of Buckner, Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo, Samson Ebukam and Tyquan Lewis playing the way they love to -- attacking downhill and racing after the quarterback with reckless abandon. In the shadow of allowing 34 points, 388 yards and 6.8 yards per play, those pass rushers realize that living an aggressive style means backing it up with their play. "We can't just settle for getting the sack and pushing the yardage back," Paye said. "We need to get a strip-sack or tackle-for-loss. We've got to make sure we're holding them up and getting the ball out. All those things can change the course of the game." The Colts created one splash play as a defense, when a Browning pass bounced off a tight end's hands and into the arms of Colts linebacker Ronnie Harrison, who returned it 36 yards for a touchdown right before halftime. The Colts did not have another turnover or sack in the game. Indianapolis Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis (94) leaves the field after losing to the Bengals on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, after Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. The Colts lost, 14-34. It's antithetical of a unit that has been suffocating down the stretch of games lately. Their four-game winning streak featured two pick-sixes by Kenny Moore II to beat the Panthers, a game-sealing interception by Rodney Thomas II to down the Patriots, a game-ending strip sack by Ebukam to edge out the Buccaneers and an overtime stand against the Titans to get the ball back for a comeback victory. That success, plus the return of Grover Stewart on run downs, had the Colts defensive line running on fire. Just enough to slip into trap door the Bengals had ready. And now, opponents have a blueprint of what to try on them. It won't be as easy without Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd out wide, forcing the Colts to play off coverage in order to prevent the explosive play. And it might not feature a converted safety at linebacker once E.J. Speed returns from a knee injury. But it will showcase teams looking to insulate a young or backup quarterback against the terrors the Colts have brought to players such as Bryce Young, Mac Jones and Will Levis lately. That road continues in six days against the Stealers and Mitch Trubisky in a game that will be enormous for AFC wildcard positioning. "We know it's going to be the same situation next week: They have playmakers on offense and the quarterback is similar to this game. They're going to want to get the ball into their playmakers' hands so as not to put too much on the quarterback," Paye said. "I feel like it's going to be the same exact game next week." The trap door has been laid, and the Colts have fallen into the flames. Now the best piece of the Colts' surprise season has to find its way out. "We've got to put that fire out," Buckner said. "Quick." https://sports.yahoo.com/why-colts-pass-rush-meets-095009571.html

CINCINNATI -- A little balance has gone a long way for the Cincinnati Bengals in a two-game winning streak that has rebuilt the team's playoff hopes. Over the past two seasons, the Bengals have leaned on a pass-heavy approach with quarterback Joe Burrow. But with Burrow sidelined with a torn wrist ligament for the remainder of the season, Cincinnati has changed its approach with Jake Browning at quarterback. A shift that has included more designed runs, screen plays and even more snaps under center has helped the offense thrive. They played a major role in the team's 34-14 win over the Indianapolis Colts to push the Bengals (7-6) over the .500 mark with four games remaining. "I feel very comfortable with how everything is going -- (coach Zac Taylor) calling the game, feeling like we're staying a step ahead as far as run-pass, having everything kind of look the same, mixing in some screens," Browning said. "It makes my job easy." Six days after Browning became the first undrafted player in the common era to throw for more than 350 yards and complete 85% or more of his passes, he was efficient against the Colts. In his third career start, he was 18-of-24 passing for 275 yards, three total touchdowns and one interception. But the usage of the running backs, both on the ground and in the air, is what makes the past couple of weeks notable for the Bengals. In 2022, when Burrow played all but the last game of the regular season, Cincinnati was fourth in the league in designed pass plays, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Between Weeks 5 and Week 10 of this season, when Burrow was fully healthy after he strained his right calf at the beginning of training camp, the Bengals were second in the NFL in designed pass plays at 70.4%. That number has dropped significantly the past two weeks with Browning -- a career practice squad player and backup -- behind center. Cincinnati is 20th in the league in that category after its Sunday win. In that span, the offense has yielded 34 points in back-to-back games and has scored touchdowns on 34.7% of their drives, per ESPN Stats & Information. Bengals running backs Joe Mixon and Chase Brown, a rookie, combined for 29 carries for 104 yards and a rushing touchdown. Offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. said the balanced approach is what keeps defensive lines confused. "I use the [phrase] 'Make them play us honest,'" Brown said. "When games are called the way they are and we're able to be physical at the line of scrimmage in the run game and take them out of certain coverages, you can't cover our playmakers one-on-one." But Brown and Mixon were most effective on screen passes. Brown, a fifth-round pick out of Illinois, scored his first career touchdown with a 54-yard reception on a screen that gave the Bengals a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. He finished with three catches for a team-high 80 yards. Mixon was behind him after he gained 45 of his 46 receiving yards on a screen. Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin said the screens were among the most frustrating things for Indianapolis' defense on Sunday. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said the screens were a factor. "It takes some relief off the quarterback and slows our pass rush," Buckner said as the Bengals did not surrender a sack for the first time since Week 3 of the 2021 season.Joe Mixon has 40 carries, nine receptions and three touchdowns over the Bengals' past two games. Over the past two weeks, opposing defenses have also had to face a Bengals team that has changed how it has lined up. During that span, Browning ranks 16th among qualifying quarterbacks in snaps under center. When Burrow's calf went back to full strength, Cincinnati lined up under center more often than previously in the season. Still, Burrow ranked 27th in that category in the five weeks before his wrist injury. "I think the more you can do, the more looks you present to the defense and the more that all those looks have multiple things you can run out of those formations or those sets, I think it makes it difficult," Browning said of the tendency shift. "I feel like we're doing a good job of that." Even the wide receivers have benefited from the balanced offense. Browning credited the run game for loosening up the Jacksonville Jaguars defense for a 76-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase in the Bengals' Week 13 win. After the Week 14 victory over the Colts, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins said it's fun when the ground game is clicking. "It's good to see our running backs with a big smile on their face the whole game," Higgins said. "As long as we complement each other, we'll be all right." https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39087518/balance-spurs-bengals-offense