WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: The Climb 0:00:03.560 --> 0:00:06.160 Hike and everybody on Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.160 --> 0:00:11.280 The Bengals Booth podcast. The It's All About It's All 0:00:11.320 --> 0:00:16.759 About the Climb addition, as the Bengals look to wrap 0:00:16.840 --> 0:00:19.560 up the AFC North and earn at least one home 0:00:19.600 --> 0:00:22.600 playoff game as they host the eleven and four Kansas 0:00:22.600 --> 0:00:25.880 City Chiefs. Coming up, I'll talk to NFL insider Field 0:00:25.960 --> 0:00:28.960 Yates from ESPN. He's a former scout and will share 0:00:29.000 --> 0:00:31.240 some thoughts and how the Bengals have gone from first 0:00:31.280 --> 0:00:35.000 pick in the draft to playoff contender in two years. 0:00:35.560 --> 0:00:38.080 One on one player interview is with Mike Hilton, who 0:00:38.080 --> 0:00:41.479 has first hand experience in trying to slow down Patrick 0:00:41.560 --> 0:00:45.519 Mahomes and Travis Kelsey, and then Dave Lapham joins me 0:00:45.680 --> 0:00:50.040 to discuss the injury and COVID impacted situation at linebacker 0:00:50.400 --> 0:00:52.879 and what it's going to take to beat the Chiefs. 0:00:53.200 --> 0:00:56.520 The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by Ultimate Bengals, the 0:00:56.560 --> 0:01:00.480 free to play next level fantasy football game. It now 0:01:00.560 --> 0:01:03.360 from the App Store and Google Play. And here's a 0:01:03.400 --> 0:01:05.680 quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of 0:01:05.720 --> 0:01:09.280 this podcast delivered rite to your phone, tablet, or computer 0:01:09.400 --> 0:01:13.240 by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest 0:01:13.240 --> 0:01:18.640 thing since the Sixth Floor Museum at Daly Plaza. I'm 0:01:18.680 --> 0:01:21.679 recording this podcast from Dallas, where I'll be broadcasting the 0:01:21.680 --> 0:01:24.840 Cotton Bowl on Friday, and if you're ever here, I 0:01:25.080 --> 0:01:30.679 highly recommend visiting the Sixth Floor Museum, which chronicles the life, assassination, 0:01:30.840 --> 0:01:35.000 and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. It's located in 0:01:35.040 --> 0:01:38.920 the former Texas school Book Depository building where Lee Harvey 0:01:38.959 --> 0:01:43.200 Oswald shot and killed the president. The museum covers that 0:01:43.680 --> 0:01:47.960 as well as the various conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination. 0:01:48.440 --> 0:01:51.000 As I said, if you're ever in Dallas and haven't 0:01:51.000 --> 0:01:55.040 been there, it is well worth your time. Now, let's 0:01:55.040 --> 0:01:57.480 get to Sunday's game between the team that's currently the 0:01:57.560 --> 0:02:01.120 number one playoff seat in the AFC Kansas City and 0:02:01.280 --> 0:02:06.000 the team that's currently number three, Cincinnati Bengals. Win would 0:02:06.000 --> 0:02:09.720 clinch the AFC North, and I discussed that and more 0:02:10.040 --> 0:02:14.959 with a former NFL scout now working for ESPN. Our 0:02:15.000 --> 0:02:19.079 guest is ESPN NFL insider Field Yates Field. What did 0:02:19.080 --> 0:02:21.480 you think of the Bengals going into the season and 0:02:21.600 --> 0:02:24.000 what do you think of them now? Well, I had 0:02:24.000 --> 0:02:26.079 some optimism, but I would be lying if I thought 0:02:26.120 --> 0:02:28.639 they would be nine and six entering Week seventeen of 0:02:28.720 --> 0:02:30.880 the NFL season, And I'm glad to be wrong in 0:02:30.919 --> 0:02:34.519 this case. I thought that Joe burrows leap was predictable, 0:02:34.639 --> 0:02:37.440 but I'm not sure that anybody saw well. I should 0:02:37.440 --> 0:02:39.200 say not anybody, but there were I think there were 0:02:39.200 --> 0:02:41.520 more people that would have expected a smaller leap than 0:02:41.560 --> 0:02:44.480 the one that we have seen from Joe. But I'm 0:02:44.520 --> 0:02:46.760 so thrilled that not only is the offense playing well, 0:02:46.800 --> 0:02:49.000 I think perhaps the most surprising part, I think too 0:02:49.000 --> 0:02:51.760 many has been just how sturdy this defense has been 0:02:52.320 --> 0:02:54.880 all season long for the most part, and I think 0:02:54.880 --> 0:02:58.480 with the Bengals offseason will be characterized by in twenty 0:02:58.520 --> 0:03:02.040 twenty one is that base. Basically every major investment that 0:03:02.080 --> 0:03:04.840 they made has worked out and worked out at an 0:03:04.880 --> 0:03:07.400 extremely high level. And I think part of the reason 0:03:07.440 --> 0:03:10.480 why they played so well defensively is because somebody like 0:03:10.560 --> 0:03:13.440 Trey Hendrickson or Chidobia Woozy has played as well as 0:03:13.480 --> 0:03:15.560 each of them has to see that and to see 0:03:15.600 --> 0:03:18.440 it manifest itself over not just the early portion of 0:03:18.440 --> 0:03:20.480 the season, when they were a nice story, but to 0:03:20.560 --> 0:03:23.600 sustain all the way to a likely playoff spot, I 0:03:23.639 --> 0:03:27.880 think as Bengals fans justifiably extremely excited. Well, I'm glad 0:03:27.880 --> 0:03:31.760 you mentioned Hendrickson and Woggier because you're from a scouting background, 0:03:31.800 --> 0:03:34.000 you worked with the Chiefs and the Patriots in the past. 0:03:34.440 --> 0:03:37.480 Evaluate what the Bengals have done between free agency and 0:03:37.520 --> 0:03:39.520 the draft over the last couple of years in building 0:03:39.520 --> 0:03:43.040 this roster. Yeah, so I understand that it's frustrating when 0:03:43.040 --> 0:03:45.400 you're a team that's picking in the back to back 0:03:45.440 --> 0:03:47.480 years in the top five, and that was obviously the 0:03:47.480 --> 0:03:51.080 case with Cincinnati. But the reality is that there is 0:03:51.080 --> 0:03:53.640 a sliver of hope, and the sliver of hope is 0:03:53.640 --> 0:03:57.520 that you can turn those premium picks into foundational pieces. 0:03:57.560 --> 0:03:59.680 We know the NFL draft is much more art than 0:04:00.320 --> 0:04:02.680 we understand. That they're going to be players taken first 0:04:02.760 --> 0:04:05.480 or second or third overall that won't work out every 0:04:05.520 --> 0:04:08.160 single year, but they're also going to be years when 0:04:08.160 --> 0:04:10.600 you draft a quarterback first and then you follow that 0:04:10.720 --> 0:04:13.000 up by taking a wide receiver for fifth, and they 0:04:13.160 --> 0:04:14.880 end up being the kind of pieces that you could 0:04:15.000 --> 0:04:18.760 vision and vision turning into ten or twelve or fifteen 0:04:18.839 --> 0:04:22.280 years superstars for your organization and then expands beyond just 0:04:22.400 --> 0:04:26.119 Joe Burrow and also Jamar Chase te Higgins has been unbelievable. 0:04:26.160 --> 0:04:29.120 Logan Wilson prior to his recent injury, has been exceptional 0:04:29.240 --> 0:04:33.200 as well. They've gotten basically excellent production in each of 0:04:33.200 --> 0:04:35.400 the first three rounds these past two years, which I 0:04:35.440 --> 0:04:38.080 think is critical to their success. And then looking at 0:04:38.120 --> 0:04:40.400 the free agency side of it, we understand the perils 0:04:40.440 --> 0:04:43.680 of free agency. We have seen many a team overspending 0:04:43.760 --> 0:04:46.040 free agency and part of the reason why there's some 0:04:46.160 --> 0:04:49.040 danger involved is that if a player is really good 0:04:49.040 --> 0:04:51.719 in the NFL, a team might not be motivated to 0:04:51.760 --> 0:04:54.560 let him reach the point of free agency because they 0:04:54.560 --> 0:04:57.360 want to invest in that player by retaining him on 0:04:57.400 --> 0:05:00.080 an extension or a new deal. Prior to the in 0:05:00.200 --> 0:05:04.320 market with the Bengals found players at different levels this year. Obviously, 0:05:04.400 --> 0:05:07.719 Trey was the biggest spending free agent pickup this year 0:05:07.800 --> 0:05:11.800 on defense, and he was a player whose production during 0:05:11.839 --> 0:05:15.640 his final year in New Orleans obviously was far more 0:05:15.680 --> 0:05:18.279 significant than what it was during the previous three years, 0:05:18.279 --> 0:05:21.080 and some people wondered is this an outlier year? Is 0:05:21.680 --> 0:05:23.760 the contract a year blow up or is this the 0:05:23.800 --> 0:05:26.279 sign of a guy who's just reaching his apex and 0:05:26.320 --> 0:05:28.800 could continue from there? And I would say with at 0:05:28.880 --> 0:05:32.560 least a half sack in eleven straight games, Tree Anderson 0:05:32.640 --> 0:05:35.159 has provides more than just a one hit wonder. Obviously 0:05:35.279 --> 0:05:37.560 plays with all out effort at all time, but he's powerful, 0:05:37.600 --> 0:05:40.039 He's got great explosiveness off the edge. He's been a 0:05:40.040 --> 0:05:42.080 foundational piece for them, and a guy that I think 0:05:42.120 --> 0:05:45.200 as a chance to go from a high priced veteran 0:05:45.240 --> 0:05:48.160 free agent signing to a bargain free agent signing or 0:05:48.200 --> 0:05:50.400 a value free agent signing by the time it's all 0:05:50.400 --> 0:05:53.960 said and done. Interesting point. Our guest is field Yates 0:05:54.000 --> 0:05:58.000 from ESPN. Joe Burrow was incredible last week, five and 0:05:58.040 --> 0:06:01.520 twenty five yards in four touchdown. He doesn't have the 0:06:01.680 --> 0:06:04.440 cannon of Josh Allen, he doesn't have the legs of 0:06:04.560 --> 0:06:09.080 Lamar Jackson. What is Joe Burrow's superpower in your opinion? Well, 0:06:09.120 --> 0:06:11.599 I think it's confidence is something that cannot be quantified, 0:06:11.640 --> 0:06:13.960 and I'm sure you see it much more being around him, 0:06:14.040 --> 0:06:16.560 or at least during normal times, being around him much more. 0:06:16.960 --> 0:06:19.200 It's pretty clear to me that there's an infectious energy 0:06:19.400 --> 0:06:22.440 that is involved with playing with Joe Burrow, and this 0:06:22.520 --> 0:06:24.200 is a league where you can't predict it's going to 0:06:24.279 --> 0:06:26.359 happen every single week. You might be up big, you 0:06:26.440 --> 0:06:28.360 might be down big. But my sense is that if 0:06:28.360 --> 0:06:30.800 the Bengals fall behind, no matter who they're playing, where 0:06:30.839 --> 0:06:33.280 they're playing, and when they're playing, Joe Burrow's not going 0:06:33.320 --> 0:06:36.440 to flinch. He has this moxie about him that makes 0:06:36.440 --> 0:06:38.760 me think he's more like thirty three as opposed to 0:06:38.760 --> 0:06:41.040 twenty three or twenty four now twenty five years old. 0:06:41.040 --> 0:06:43.880 In the next few years, he plays certainly well above 0:06:44.000 --> 0:06:46.440 his age. I think that part is really really clear. 0:06:46.760 --> 0:06:49.160 And then he's got an unbelievability to distribute the right 0:06:49.200 --> 0:06:51.880 place at the right time. He's processing things so fast 0:06:52.000 --> 0:06:54.279 right now that it feels like Joe knows what the 0:06:54.320 --> 0:06:56.279 defense is going to do as much as the defense 0:06:56.360 --> 0:06:58.240 knows what it's going to do on a snap in 0:06:58.560 --> 0:07:01.360 and snap out basis. That's why all of these wide 0:07:01.360 --> 0:07:03.640 receivers are playing well right now as we know. And 0:07:03.680 --> 0:07:06.520 I love the stat and I'm going to keep using 0:07:06.520 --> 0:07:08.800 it until I don't know at least a season is over. 0:07:08.960 --> 0:07:12.120 That you've got two one thousand yard receivers, you've got 0:07:12.120 --> 0:07:14.640 a thousand yard runner, you've got a four thousand yard 0:07:14.640 --> 0:07:16.840 pass or all of them are twenty five or younger. 0:07:17.000 --> 0:07:19.440 It's never happened ever in the history of the NFL. 0:07:19.720 --> 0:07:21.520 And Tyler Boy is a little bit above the age 0:07:21.520 --> 0:07:23.560 of twenty five has a real shot to reach a 0:07:23.600 --> 0:07:27.000 thousand yards as well. We're talking about and you probably 0:07:27.000 --> 0:07:28.880 have better perspective than I would, but like I think 0:07:28.920 --> 0:07:30.520 this has a chance to go down. Is one of 0:07:30.520 --> 0:07:33.640 the most exciting and best offensive seasons in franchise history. 0:07:34.440 --> 0:07:38.240 Is that the best young nucleus of skill position talent 0:07:38.280 --> 0:07:40.640 of any team in the NFL. You've got a darn 0:07:40.720 --> 0:07:42.800 good case for it, and I'm sure that there are 0:07:42.800 --> 0:07:44.680 people and their fan bases that would try to make 0:07:44.720 --> 0:07:47.000 their case for it. But this year, I don't think 0:07:47.040 --> 0:07:49.520 it's debatable that's been the best sort of one two 0:07:49.640 --> 0:07:52.480 three punch at wide receiver, number one running back and 0:07:52.480 --> 0:07:54.720 then also a quarterback as well. They've just been so 0:07:54.760 --> 0:07:57.360 good and it's kind of been each one of them 0:07:57.400 --> 0:08:00.480 doing some heavy lifting during different portions of the season. 0:08:00.800 --> 0:08:03.200 You know, Jamar Chase was incredible. Four of his first 0:08:03.200 --> 0:08:05.960 sixteen catches find the end zone for a touchdown. Tee 0:08:06.000 --> 0:08:09.120 Higgins has been on fire the past four or five weeks. 0:08:09.360 --> 0:08:12.080 You know, Joe Mixon had that nine straight games in 0:08:12.080 --> 0:08:14.920 which he scored at least one touchdown, plus the four 0:08:14.920 --> 0:08:17.920 straight games in which he scored at least two touchdowns, 0:08:17.920 --> 0:08:20.120 and then Joe has been steady for the most part 0:08:20.200 --> 0:08:22.840 the entire season because, as we all know, ultimately no 0:08:22.840 --> 0:08:25.280 matter how great your wide receivers and your running backs are, 0:08:25.480 --> 0:08:27.520 if your quarterback is not playing at a high level, 0:08:27.520 --> 0:08:30.800 it's really difficult to function offensively every single week. So 0:08:30.880 --> 0:08:33.199 Joe has been rock solid. It's been a really fun 0:08:33.240 --> 0:08:35.800 week to a season, team to watch all season, and 0:08:36.240 --> 0:08:37.920 I know I keep I don't want to make Tyler 0:08:38.000 --> 0:08:40.000 just a footnote. Tyler Boyd has been really good for 0:08:40.040 --> 0:08:42.000 them in critical moments recently. I mean, he had the 0:08:42.040 --> 0:08:44.440 long touchdown this past week that helped break that game open. 0:08:44.520 --> 0:08:46.920 He nearly had a second one late then, I've got 0:08:46.920 --> 0:08:48.280 to be honest with you, I thought that might have 0:08:48.320 --> 0:08:50.160 been a catch in the end zone, but I understand 0:08:50.160 --> 0:08:52.560 why the replay review has turned it over. But fun 0:08:52.600 --> 0:08:54.160 to watch and I feel like this team is sort 0:08:54.200 --> 0:08:57.040 of just scratching the surface right now. Our guest is 0:08:57.120 --> 0:08:59.720 Field the Age. You can follow him on Twitter at Field. 0:09:00.000 --> 0:09:03.120 As we've obviously touched down many of the Bengals strengths, 0:09:03.280 --> 0:09:05.720 what question marks do you still have about this team 0:09:05.720 --> 0:09:08.640 with two games to go? I think there's probably and 0:09:08.679 --> 0:09:10.680 this is something that's out of their control. But until 0:09:10.720 --> 0:09:13.520 you see a team do it in the playoffs with 0:09:13.559 --> 0:09:15.760 the current nucleus that they have, you want to see 0:09:15.800 --> 0:09:18.560 them do it. Joe Burrow, it's not a fault of theirs, right, 0:09:18.600 --> 0:09:20.240 I mean, it's not Joe Burrow's fault that he doesn't 0:09:20.240 --> 0:09:22.800 want a playoff game before, because ever lost one either before? Right, 0:09:22.880 --> 0:09:25.120 So you got to get there first before we can 0:09:25.120 --> 0:09:27.360 start to judge the merits of you. That's probably the 0:09:27.400 --> 0:09:30.040 one thing that I think any team it's got relatively 0:09:30.080 --> 0:09:32.320 fresh blood as some of the key spots, is going 0:09:32.360 --> 0:09:34.840 to have to answer in the playoffs. So they're one 0:09:34.840 --> 0:09:36.920 of those teams this year in the AFC. There are 0:09:36.920 --> 0:09:38.680 a couple of others that might be in that same 0:09:38.679 --> 0:09:40.959 group if the Chargers wind up in the playoffs. Same 0:09:41.040 --> 0:09:44.839 question applies to Justin Herbert, Joe's draft classmates. And then 0:09:45.080 --> 0:09:47.880 you know, I think this year in the AFC for 0:09:47.920 --> 0:09:49.760 a while, it was looking like maybe it was going 0:09:49.800 --> 0:09:53.280 to be a defensive conference, as you've got teams like 0:09:53.320 --> 0:09:55.599 the chief playing really well on defense. The Patriots have 0:09:55.600 --> 0:09:57.760 been playing really well on defense for much of this year. 0:09:57.840 --> 0:10:00.040 Buffalo has got great strength on defense, even if I 0:10:00.040 --> 0:10:02.360 had a couple of games that weren't quite what they 0:10:02.360 --> 0:10:04.560 were looking for during the middle of the season. But 0:10:04.600 --> 0:10:06.240 it feels like we're starting to see a much more 0:10:06.280 --> 0:10:09.800 balanced group in the AFC. And I think that ultimately 0:10:10.240 --> 0:10:11.760 one team is going to be happy at the end 0:10:11.760 --> 0:10:15.440 of this year, and NFL is the NFL is different, 0:10:15.440 --> 0:10:18.360 and it's NBA and MLB and NHL counterparts, and that 0:10:18.400 --> 0:10:20.280 it's not best of seven, it's best of one and 0:10:20.280 --> 0:10:23.959 then given Sunday. So playing your best football is going 0:10:24.000 --> 0:10:26.520 to apply. And I know the Bengals have. They've learned 0:10:26.520 --> 0:10:28.640 that less than this year with some difficult losses to 0:10:28.800 --> 0:10:31.480 unexpected opponents. That's going to be the challenge once we 0:10:31.520 --> 0:10:33.440 get to the postseason, assuming they do make it, which 0:10:33.440 --> 0:10:35.960 I like their chances very much right now, and they're 0:10:36.000 --> 0:10:37.679 going to be tested even these next two weeks, right 0:10:37.720 --> 0:10:40.880 I mean, Kansas City is certainly profiles this I made 0:10:40.920 --> 0:10:44.680 this comparison. If the NFL since College Game Day, or 0:10:44.679 --> 0:10:46.920 we had the equivalent of College game Day and they 0:10:46.920 --> 0:10:49.000 were sending it to a game each week, it would 0:10:49.040 --> 0:10:51.520 be in Cincinnati this weekend to watch the Chiefs and 0:10:51.559 --> 0:10:53.880 the Bengals. I like the sound of that. Well, let's 0:10:53.920 --> 0:10:56.200 talk about the Chiefs. This is a team that started 0:10:56.280 --> 0:10:58.720 three and four, They had a couple of blowout losses 0:10:58.720 --> 0:11:02.280 early this year, and now they runoff eight consecutive wins. 0:11:02.320 --> 0:11:04.440 What are a couple of things the Bengals must do 0:11:04.760 --> 0:11:07.240 to have a chance to beat Kansas City on Sunday. 0:11:07.640 --> 0:11:09.640 You know, it's kind of become old news because it's 0:11:09.679 --> 0:11:11.960 been something teams have been doing for much of this year. 0:11:11.960 --> 0:11:13.800 But I think it's evident that what you have to 0:11:13.800 --> 0:11:16.160 do against the Chiefs is you have to make sure 0:11:16.200 --> 0:11:18.320 that if they're gonna beat you on offense, it's going 0:11:18.400 --> 0:11:20.280 to be more death by a thousand paper cuts then 0:11:20.280 --> 0:11:22.920 it will be a quick strike seventy five yard touchdown. 0:11:23.320 --> 0:11:25.400 The Chiefs played Philly early this season, and that was 0:11:25.480 --> 0:11:27.880 kind of a one game where Patrick Mahomes really had 0:11:27.920 --> 0:11:30.320 his way and just threw the ball way behind the 0:11:30.360 --> 0:11:33.360 deep safeties on too many acages. Tyreek Hill scored three 0:11:33.400 --> 0:11:35.880 times in that game. If you fast forward to some 0:11:35.920 --> 0:11:38.560 of the games that Patrick Mahomes played more recently, he's 0:11:38.559 --> 0:11:40.600 been good. He was good against the Raiders twice. He 0:11:40.640 --> 0:11:42.920 was good against the Steelers this past week. But he 0:11:42.960 --> 0:11:45.400 had a couple of games where he was a little 0:11:45.400 --> 0:11:48.120 bit more, a little bit more mortal, and that felt 0:11:48.120 --> 0:11:50.720 like what teams were doing were basically, no matter what happens, 0:11:51.320 --> 0:11:53.400 nothing gets getting behind us. We talked about the two 0:11:53.480 --> 0:11:56.320 deep safety alignment that so many defenses are relying upon 0:11:56.400 --> 0:11:58.559 this year to make sure that quarterbacks don't beat them 0:11:58.559 --> 0:12:00.840 down the field. I think part of what the Chiefs 0:12:01.000 --> 0:12:03.000 have done really well for a long time as those 0:12:03.040 --> 0:12:06.320 explosive plays. Bengals can't do that. And then on offense. 0:12:06.559 --> 0:12:09.440 This is gonna sound so boring and so simple, but 0:12:09.640 --> 0:12:12.280 as much as I watch the NFL this year, and 0:12:12.320 --> 0:12:14.160 the more and more I watch it, the more and 0:12:14.200 --> 0:12:16.800 more that I see games where teams that we don't 0:12:16.840 --> 0:12:19.280 expect to lose do lose, it becomes clear to me 0:12:19.840 --> 0:12:21.560 you have to win the turnover battle and you have 0:12:21.600 --> 0:12:23.240 to be good on third down. I think about a 0:12:23.280 --> 0:12:26.600 game last week, the Texans hosting the Chargers, The Texans 0:12:26.600 --> 0:12:28.440 are a team that we know they got a lot 0:12:28.440 --> 0:12:31.160 of roster reparations they need to make at some point, 0:12:31.320 --> 0:12:33.840 but ultimately they were the better team in the turnover 0:12:33.880 --> 0:12:36.400 department than the Chargers, and they were the better team 0:12:36.440 --> 0:12:39.079 on third down as well. That's the difference between winning 0:12:39.080 --> 0:12:41.440 and losing in the NFL. The Chiefs, if they have 0:12:41.520 --> 0:12:44.800 a third and twelve situation, not only is a conversion 0:12:44.800 --> 0:12:47.959 on third and twelve, not only is it a fresh 0:12:48.000 --> 0:12:51.160 set of downs, that's just demoralizing to a defense. Right 0:12:51.240 --> 0:12:54.640 third and twelve, you're thinking to yourself, eight or nine 0:12:54.640 --> 0:12:57.240 in the ten times we're forcing a punt or a 0:12:57.360 --> 0:13:00.719 field goal that when the defense it allows a big 0:13:00.720 --> 0:13:04.119 conversion that to me, I think can change the confidence 0:13:04.200 --> 0:13:06.680 level that they're playing with. So I know it sounds 0:13:06.720 --> 0:13:09.520 like the least spicy analysis that I could ever give. 0:13:09.600 --> 0:13:11.480 But you've got to be good in the turnover department, 0:13:11.559 --> 0:13:14.080 you've got to be really good on third down. If 0:13:14.080 --> 0:13:16.480 you're not, then the Chiefs they are just too talented 0:13:16.880 --> 0:13:18.920 against most opponents that they're just going to end up 0:13:18.920 --> 0:13:21.880 finding a way to win. That might be simple. It 0:13:22.040 --> 0:13:26.200 certainly didn't sound boring to me. Field. Yeah, it's great stuff. 0:13:26.240 --> 0:13:28.400 We appreciate your time, keep up the great work, and 0:13:28.480 --> 0:13:30.400 thanks for joining us now. Thank you, Dan, and happy 0:13:30.400 --> 0:13:32.320 for all the Bengals fans out there that should really 0:13:32.360 --> 0:13:34.760 be soaking up all this excitement right now. It's a 0:13:34.760 --> 0:13:37.400 good time to be a Cincinnati fan. And no matter 0:13:37.400 --> 0:13:39.480 how much fun we're having this year, I think there's 0:13:39.480 --> 0:13:43.079 even more good stuff ahead as well. So field Yates says, 0:13:43.120 --> 0:13:46.360 the Bengals secondary can't give up the deep ball. They've 0:13:46.360 --> 0:13:49.800 got to try to force Patrick Mahomes to methodically march 0:13:49.920 --> 0:13:53.040 up the field and hope he makes a couple of mistakes. 0:13:53.600 --> 0:13:56.840 One member the Bengal secondary who has faced Mahomes before 0:13:57.320 --> 0:14:00.120 is Mike Hilton, and he joined me this week for 0:14:00.200 --> 0:14:04.120 my one on one player conversation. Like, you signed a 0:14:04.160 --> 0:14:06.520 four year contract with the Bengals, and I know you 0:14:06.600 --> 0:14:10.679 expected Cincinnati to become a contender, but did you expect 0:14:10.720 --> 0:14:14.160 it to happen this fast? I had an idea, um, 0:14:14.520 --> 0:14:16.240 you know, the one just playing these guys. I always 0:14:16.280 --> 0:14:18.520 knew the type of talent that they had over here, 0:14:18.600 --> 0:14:21.640 and well, once I signed and see who we drafted 0:14:21.680 --> 0:14:24.720 and other free agents we brought in, I was just like, yeah, 0:14:24.800 --> 0:14:28.040 we have all the ingredients to be a Super Bowl contender. 0:14:28.440 --> 0:14:30.800 You know, we've been playing well this year and you 0:14:30.840 --> 0:14:33.600 know we got a big one Sunday, so we're all 0:14:33.600 --> 0:14:37.280 excited for for what this opportunity. This team appears to 0:14:37.320 --> 0:14:42.440 have great chemistry and camaraderie. Is that true? And this 0:14:42.480 --> 0:14:45.480 isn't a big reason why you're in the first place? Absolutely? 0:14:46.120 --> 0:14:48.440 Number one, you got to be a tight group. These 0:14:48.440 --> 0:14:50.560 are guys that you're with twenty four seven. You know, 0:14:50.760 --> 0:14:53.560 guys that you're with more than your family sometimes. So 0:14:53.960 --> 0:14:56.280 you know, you got to be able to connect owning 0:14:56.320 --> 0:14:58.880 off the field, and you know it does nothing but 0:14:58.960 --> 0:15:02.000 just bring you together and just build that confidence and 0:15:02.560 --> 0:15:06.240 that chemistry that can lead to wins. And we've been 0:15:06.240 --> 0:15:08.680 doing that well this year. We're chatting with Mike Hilton. 0:15:08.840 --> 0:15:11.120 This might be hard for you to answer, but in 0:15:11.160 --> 0:15:14.040 addition to your play on the field, what impact do 0:15:14.080 --> 0:15:16.960 you think you've had on the secondary as a group, 0:15:17.520 --> 0:15:19.400 just being a bit of a presence, being being that 0:15:19.440 --> 0:15:22.200 calmon effect. You can't ask any of the guys, you know, 0:15:22.240 --> 0:15:24.600 I just try to be the one in the ear 0:15:24.640 --> 0:15:26.640 that's keeping us calm even if we give up big 0:15:26.680 --> 0:15:29.360 play or give up a penalty or something like that. 0:15:29.440 --> 0:15:31.520 You know, I'm always the guy to all right, guys, 0:15:31.520 --> 0:15:33.400 you know, let's focus in, let's lock in, let's do 0:15:33.400 --> 0:15:35.640 our job and get off the field. So I just 0:15:35.680 --> 0:15:37.920 feel like just being that voice in the room and 0:15:38.000 --> 0:15:40.760 keeping keeping guys calm and ready to play. You've got 0:15:40.760 --> 0:15:43.120 a one game lead with two games to go. But 0:15:43.200 --> 0:15:45.440 it's been a bit of a roller coaster ride of 0:15:45.440 --> 0:15:48.200 a season. You've got four wins over the Steelers and 0:15:48.240 --> 0:15:50.000 the Ravens, and all of those games are by two 0:15:50.080 --> 0:15:52.960 touchdowns or more. But there were losses to the Jets 0:15:52.960 --> 0:15:55.600 and the Pairs. There was a lopsided loss to the Browns. 0:15:56.080 --> 0:15:59.040 Is that just the sign of a young team that's 0:15:59.160 --> 0:16:03.520 learning to can end? Absolutely. You can point to a 0:16:03.600 --> 0:16:05.680 couple of plays here and there throughout those losses that 0:16:05.720 --> 0:16:07.960 if we make that play, you know, it's it's pretty 0:16:08.000 --> 0:16:09.760 much a win. You know, Green Bay, we make one 0:16:09.840 --> 0:16:14.080 the field goals, Jets, you know, if they don't call 0:16:14.120 --> 0:16:15.800 it the penalty on me, you know who who knows 0:16:15.800 --> 0:16:18.400 where where we could be now. But it's just a 0:16:18.440 --> 0:16:20.520 part of the learning and growing process of it. And 0:16:20.720 --> 0:16:23.960 you know, it's good that we're getting that experience. This year. 0:16:24.640 --> 0:16:27.480 Let's talk about Sunday's game against the Chiefs. You faced 0:16:27.560 --> 0:16:30.840 Patrick Mahomes before in your years with the Steelers. It 0:16:30.960 --> 0:16:33.920 was actually one of his signature games in his MVP season. 0:16:33.960 --> 0:16:37.440 He threw six touchdown passes. Shoot out forty two to 0:16:37.520 --> 0:16:40.840 thirty seven was the final score. It's one thing for us, 0:16:40.920 --> 0:16:43.760 but watching that guy on TV, it's another thing to 0:16:43.840 --> 0:16:47.640 compete against him. What stood out to you, man is 0:16:47.720 --> 0:16:50.760 what everybody sees. His arm strength and the way he 0:16:50.800 --> 0:16:53.360 can get outside the pocket and just make make throws 0:16:53.400 --> 0:16:57.600 that not many quarterbacks can mate. He's confidence guys, of course, 0:16:57.680 --> 0:16:59.760 starting with Kelsey and Hill. You know those are go 0:16:59.800 --> 0:17:03.320 to guys and they're they're supposed to playmakers. So we 0:17:03.400 --> 0:17:05.320 know as a defense we got to do our best 0:17:05.359 --> 0:17:08.680 to contain them. And what we've been saying is contained 0:17:08.680 --> 0:17:11.480 the second half of the play because he's gonna extend 0:17:11.520 --> 0:17:14.400 plays and get outside the pocket and look for those 0:17:14.400 --> 0:17:17.919 shots down field. So we know defensively and especially as 0:17:17.920 --> 0:17:19.960 the second day, we got to be smart and play 0:17:20.000 --> 0:17:24.280 top down. Let's talk specifically about Kelsey. In their last game, 0:17:24.280 --> 0:17:27.160 he had ten catches for one hundred and ninety one yards. 0:17:27.280 --> 0:17:29.880 This is the sixth consecutive year he's had more than 0:17:29.880 --> 0:17:33.119 a thousand yards, a record for a tight end. Of 0:17:33.200 --> 0:17:36.000 the many great tight ends in the league that you face, 0:17:36.440 --> 0:17:41.240 what makes Kelsey unique. He's probably the best run after 0:17:41.280 --> 0:17:44.240 catch tight end that I personally played against. Um. He's 0:17:44.240 --> 0:17:47.000 obviously a big dude six four six five two fifty, 0:17:47.040 --> 0:17:50.000 but he can run like a receiver. He makes cuts 0:17:50.000 --> 0:17:52.840 like a receiver. He's he's just real athletic, and it 0:17:52.920 --> 0:17:55.560 presents problem the defenses because he could be a mismatch. 0:17:55.760 --> 0:17:59.520 Too athletic for linebackers, too big for safety. So he's 0:17:59.520 --> 0:18:02.120 the guy that definitely gonna key on on on Sunday, 0:18:02.160 --> 0:18:04.800 and you know, do do our best to contain them. 0:18:04.880 --> 0:18:08.119 What's a week like this like for you to build 0:18:08.200 --> 0:18:10.320 up to a huge game at the end of the 0:18:10.400 --> 0:18:14.200 year with so much at stake. Oh, it's everything. UM. 0:18:14.480 --> 0:18:16.320 A lot of guys have actually asked me, like, just 0:18:16.440 --> 0:18:18.720 how does this feel. I'm just like, guys, this's what 0:18:18.760 --> 0:18:20.959 we've been fighting for, you know. I be I told 0:18:21.040 --> 0:18:23.440 him I've been down this road before, playing meaningful games 0:18:23.440 --> 0:18:26.200 in late December, and I just told him, like, don't 0:18:26.280 --> 0:18:28.600 change up anything, Just treat us another week, you know. 0:18:28.680 --> 0:18:30.760 We of course, we know a lot more as a state. 0:18:31.200 --> 0:18:33.320 But if we if we do everything that we did 0:18:33.359 --> 0:18:35.560 to get us here, you know, the outcome could be 0:18:35.600 --> 0:18:37.919 the same for us on Sunday. So guys are excited 0:18:37.960 --> 0:18:40.320 about the challenge and we were ready ready to play. 0:18:40.600 --> 0:18:43.360 You can clinch the division with a win over the Chiefs, 0:18:43.400 --> 0:18:46.200 but beyond that, people are wondering now if Cincinnati is 0:18:46.200 --> 0:18:50.639 a legitimate contender to advance in the postseason. Make the 0:18:50.680 --> 0:18:53.640 case for why you think the Bengals are. I believe 0:18:53.680 --> 0:18:56.159 we got all the ingredients. Um it starts. We have 0:18:56.200 --> 0:18:58.960