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I don't watch much college football anymore...so... Watching the games tonight, I see more creativity in offensive play calls than what I'm used to seeing in the NFL. Some very interesting and intriguing plays...mis-directions, lots of movement, impressive creativity...some successful, some not so much, but still intriguing. So my question to all you college football gurus out there...is this normal for college football or is it just the teams that are playing tonight??? While I'm at it, what's with the college punt formation where there's a line of 3 guys right in front of the punter? Seems like blocking at the line would be more effective, i.e. block before the defenders can get up a head of steam? I can see having one safety valve, but 3?

As much as I hate the teams in our division, I do share this sentiment. The AFCN is the toughest division in the NFL so it makes sense that winning the SB would solidify that as long as its not the Stealers (just spit up in my mouth a little). I like the Lions to win the SB too...I spent alot of time in Detroit and watched Ford Field being built, RedWings fan, so there's that too.

The DCB is simply inherent in my fandom DNA at this point after enduring so many years of it...sorry. Agree it may not be applicable the same way it was back in the dark days, but to me it is still a thing. If for no other reason than the Bengals are not in the playoffs, lost the last couple games in disappointing fashion, and a win against CFT would be a "gee we ended on an encouraging up note to give us hope/momentum/marketingSpin" during the off-season. Yeah, the "see what they have" is not what I was referring to and the preseason analogy doesn't really fit for me either. I'm thinking more about the skill positions and letting the younger guys who do have a future here get some valuable real in-season game experience and some real stats to boot. I want to watch Chase Brown be the feature back for an entire game...I want to watch a whole game where WR's don't include Chase, Higgins, and Boyd...I especially want to see Yoshi play an entire game as a featured WR. I'm not opposed to letting AJ QB. I want the coaches to spend the week developing a game plan with those players as key personnel for the entire game. That doesn't happen in preseason games where players are rotated ad-hoc between promising rooks and future insurance salesmen playing against other future insurance salesmen with little, if any, game plan involved. I agree with you on the draft stuff. I get Jaime's (and others) point, I respect his (and others) viewpoint, I don't dispute their "fandom", and arguably it is the smart and logical thing to do to improve the team going forward. However, at least to me, sports should be about competing, passion, and always playing to win. I simply don't like the idea of "tanking for a better pick" regardless of how much sense it makes on paper. You play the game to win...it's sports...it's a game...it's "Any Given Sunday". Drafting is still a crap shoot in my opinion regardless of draft position, especially with the Bengal's luck/past at the positions of need, so the difference between 14 & 17 (or whatever) is not really a concern to me.

There are also a number of individual and team "milestones" up for grabs in this game (Team winning record as you said, Mixon near 1000 yds, Chase near 100 receptions, etc)...not to mention the beloved annual dead cat bounce. That said, I'd like to see the young guns get some enhanced playing time.

Crazy ending...wow!

I don't think her getting a divorce moved the dial any for you. (sorry, couldn't resist)

"Can you even imagine the implosion that this is gonna cause over at Go-Bengals.com?"

Yeah, I really hate that part too...my biggest wish every season, regardless of how good or bad we are, is that we beat the Stealers. The fact that Pickens had his best game ever was also a kick in the balls...so he'll be a f-ing hero now after being a media devil earlier in the week...uggghhhhh.

I guess we'll see...I'm more confident about beating the Chiefs then I was about beating the "nothing to lose, everything to gain, pissed off due to losing streak, division rival, always tough against us, and their super bowl" Stealers. Honestly before today, I thought the hardest game to win of the remaining three would be against the Stealers. Their injuries and lack of expectations just seemed to give them more focus and drive...kinda like it did for us the previous few weeks.

Interestingly, that's exactly how I felt the previous 3 games during the winning streak with Jake. I guess it depends on what side of the fence you're on. Being a Bengals fan has always been a cruel roller coaster ride, even during the dark days with annual dead cat bounces.

I think so. I still get confused by all the different scenarios and I'm too lazy to play with the playoff machines. In general, my take is that we want a loss from any AFC team with a a winning record, so Go Chargers over the Bills. Tomorrow Go Atlanta over the Colts. Cleveland vs Houston seems to be a confusing scenario so I dunno there.

I just asked the person that gave me this item last Christmas. He said he got it at a seasonal/popup kiosk at the Kenwood Mall in Cincinnati this time last year. I can try to take a higher res photo of what I have if you'd like?

Ocho and the 105 year old: https://nbc24.com/sports/105-year-old-cincinnati-woman-florence-hackman-invite-join-chad-johnson-bengals-playoff-game

I know it was at one time. I got one for Christmas last year, so I'm not sure if its still available a year later.

I assume this is just a random drug testing program that is just a lottery system? I'm guessing just a coincidence that it happened to Jake on that day? Otherwise, let the conspiracy theories flourish.

Wow...very interesting.

Harry you're not 29 again are you??? Happy birthday sir!

The other interesting stat is that the AFC North in particular is the only division, AFC or NFC, where every single team has a winning record. No other division is even close to that feat.

Isn't he the WR that has had cost KC dearly with his many critical drops this year?

Is it just me or does it seem like the Stealers are always wearing throwback/specialty uniforms?

Oh, good point...how old is Jake Dolegala then?...he could be an even better option and wears mostly Carhartt stuff.

Why not trade both JB1.0 and JB2.0 and roll with A.J. "way better than all of them" McSkeeter? I mean he's not good at coin flips, but he's got a really hot <redacted> Normally I'd add something about Katherine Webb, but that seems to offend some folks lately.

Speaking of that... I'm not sure it was brought up earlier in this thread, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed in Burrow yesterday. I was under the impression (perhaps wrongly) that JB was going to be much more engaged...expected him to be standing right along side Zach and very, very active especially on offensive downs. All of the sideline shots of him yesterday he seemed completely out of it...sitting on the bench, sometimes with earpiece but often without it...often with a gazed look in his eyes. I dunno, I just expected him to be much more "active" and engaged into the game. He didn't seem to be the one talking to Browning after offensive series either...he seemed to stand and be somewhat distanced. Did I expect too much???

Speaking of injuries...who was the Dlineman who went down? Was it BJ? Did he come back in the game? Injury status?

I honestly forgot all about AJ McCarron until the sideline shot of him talking to Burrow after halftime. I know it seems like a cool and invigorating option to have him be the new starter, but I'm guessing there's a reason why he's still the #3 at this point. I mean he's been on the team long enough now that he could have moved up to #2 behind Burrow, but he obviously did not. I guess we shall see what they do...roll with Browning? Elevate AJ? Look outside the organization? Colin Kaepernick anyone? Still holding my breath on how bad the Burrow injury is and how long he'll be out...on the hand, the leaves are piling up in my yard and my garage is a f-ing mess.