WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Love Me Two Times 0:00:03.560 --> 0:00:06.439 Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.480 --> 0:00:11.560 the Bengals Booth podcast The Love Me Two Times bab 0:00:12.800 --> 0:00:18.040 Love Me twice today. Addition, as the Bengals win two 0:00:18.120 --> 0:00:22.080 straight games for the first time in two seasons, winning 0:00:22.079 --> 0:00:26.160 a shootout in Houston thirty seven thirty one. Coming up, 0:00:26.440 --> 0:00:30.680 you'll hear radio replays, postgame comments from players and coaches, 0:00:30.960 --> 0:00:34.640 and in depth analysis from Dave Lapham. And in this 0:00:34.640 --> 0:00:37.120 week's fun Facts segment, you'll get to know the person 0:00:37.240 --> 0:00:39.760 under the pads as I go one on one with 0:00:39.880 --> 0:00:44.440 offensive lineman Xavier sua Philo. The Bengals Booth Podcast is 0:00:44.479 --> 0:00:48.640 presented by bud Light Seltzer. Refresh the game, and here's 0:00:48.640 --> 0:00:50.920 a quick reminder that you can have the latest edition 0:00:51.000 --> 0:00:54.640 of this podcast delivered write to your phone, tablet, or 0:00:54.680 --> 0:00:59.640 computer by subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, or 0:01:00.000 --> 0:01:05.959 odd Bean. It's the greatest thing since a sit stand workstation. 0:01:06.680 --> 0:01:09.440 I spend a lot of time doing broadcast prep at 0:01:09.440 --> 0:01:12.360 my desk, especially during this time of the year when 0:01:12.360 --> 0:01:15.400 I'm not only broadcasting Bengals games, but you see football 0:01:15.440 --> 0:01:18.760 and basketball as well. All of that time on my 0:01:18.800 --> 0:01:22.160 back side is not good for my back. But I 0:01:22.200 --> 0:01:26.080 got something for Christmas that I already love. A sit 0:01:26.319 --> 0:01:31.640 stand workstation. It's basically an adjustable desk that allows me 0:01:31.680 --> 0:01:35.440 to do my work standing or sitting, or a combination 0:01:35.480 --> 0:01:38.560 of both. You just pinch the levers on each side 0:01:38.920 --> 0:01:41.399 and you can raise and lower the desk to the 0:01:41.480 --> 0:01:47.720 desired height. I give it a standing ovation. Now let's 0:01:47.720 --> 0:01:50.760 get to the game. In Monday Nights went over, Pittsburgh 0:01:50.840 --> 0:01:55.360 quarterback Ryan Finley only completed seven passes as the Bengals 0:01:55.400 --> 0:01:58.920 went to an uber conservative game plan to neutralize the 0:01:58.960 --> 0:02:02.920 Steelers pass. With Brandon Allen back from his knee injury, 0:02:03.240 --> 0:02:06.680 the Bengals didn't hesitate to throw it. At Houston. He 0:02:06.720 --> 0:02:09.560 went five for five on the Bengals opening drive and 0:02:09.680 --> 0:02:12.760 capped it off with a touchdown pass big third down 0:02:12.800 --> 0:02:15.320 in two play, coming up at the Houston eight yard line, 0:02:15.320 --> 0:02:18.200 empty backfield, five wide, three out to the left, two 0:02:18.200 --> 0:02:21.040 out to the right. Allan looking left, throws left, cut 0:02:21.080 --> 0:02:24.360 by the tight end Drew Sample, and he cruises into 0:02:24.400 --> 0:02:28.440 the end zone for an eight yard touchdown, his first 0:02:28.440 --> 0:02:31.720 in the NFL. It was the start of an outstanding 0:02:31.760 --> 0:02:34.360 performance by the twenty eight year old quarterback, as he 0:02:34.440 --> 0:02:37.720 threw for a career high three hundred and seventy one 0:02:37.800 --> 0:02:41.440 yards with a passer rating of one twenty six point five. 0:02:41.840 --> 0:02:45.480 Here's wide receiver Alex ericson you know Brandon's you know, 0:02:45.520 --> 0:02:48.240 when he was getting the start the first time, you know, 0:02:48.560 --> 0:02:50.680 you can really notice that you can really spin the ball. 0:02:50.720 --> 0:02:54.200 And he's a confident guy and really has the right 0:02:54.200 --> 0:02:56.160 deminuor looking for and he gets back there and everyone 0:02:56.200 --> 0:02:58.760 just believes in him, and he showed that today. You know, 0:02:58.760 --> 0:03:00.440 the old line protected him and he was back there 0:03:01.240 --> 0:03:03.640 picking him apart after the team's traded field goals. The 0:03:03.680 --> 0:03:05.760 Bengals had a ten three lead late in a half 0:03:05.800 --> 0:03:07.920 when Will Jackson had to leave the game due to 0:03:07.919 --> 0:03:12.000 a concussion. Deshaun Watson took advantage of his absence by 0:03:12.080 --> 0:03:16.200 frequently picking on his replacement, lis Shaun Sims. Fun first 0:03:16.240 --> 0:03:19.880 and ten Watson back to throw Karl Lawson with some pressure. 0:03:19.960 --> 0:03:22.560 Here's a throw into the end zone and it's caught 0:03:22.639 --> 0:03:26.400 for a touchdown by Brandon Cooks. That was the first 0:03:26.400 --> 0:03:29.400 of three touchdown passes for Watson, who finished with three 0:03:29.480 --> 0:03:33.440 hundred twenty four passing yards thirty eight rushing yards. And 0:03:33.600 --> 0:03:37.120 a passer rating of one thirty three point nine. Here's 0:03:37.200 --> 0:03:40.000 Zach Taylor. Deshaun Watson is one of the best football 0:03:40.040 --> 0:03:41.880 players I've ever seen in my lifetime. I knew that 0:03:41.920 --> 0:03:44.160 going in this game. I knew it was gonna be difficult. 0:03:44.200 --> 0:03:46.080 There's gonna be moments on defense, it was gonna be tough. 0:03:46.640 --> 0:03:48.080 And he's done it to a lot of people over 0:03:48.080 --> 0:03:51.360 the last several years, and so losing, you know, a 0:03:51.440 --> 0:03:54.040 starting corner at that point was tough because this guy 0:03:54.040 --> 0:03:56.760 can extend plays and get first down to his feet, 0:03:56.840 --> 0:03:59.080 and he can throw a mile and he's got a 0:03:59.080 --> 0:04:01.040 great receiver, Brandon Cooks that can go get it. And 0:04:01.080 --> 0:04:03.040 so again, they can put in a lot of tough spots. 0:04:03.040 --> 0:04:06.080 And I did think it hurt us when Will window 0:04:06.200 --> 0:04:08.360 It was ten ten at the half with the Bengals 0:04:08.440 --> 0:04:10.240 due to get the ball to begin the third quarter. 0:04:10.840 --> 0:04:13.160 Going into the game, the Bengals had not scored a 0:04:13.200 --> 0:04:16.880 point in the third in more than two months. Here's 0:04:16.880 --> 0:04:18.800 a run to the left for somaj a p rhyme 0:04:18.920 --> 0:04:22.120 burst through a hole inside the Houston forty spins away 0:04:22.120 --> 0:04:24.839 from a tackle down the side lane toward the end zone. 0:04:25.080 --> 0:04:28.640 P Ryan takes it to the house as the Bengals 0:04:28.680 --> 0:04:33.279 score for the first time in ages in the third quarter, 0:04:33.400 --> 0:04:36.480 a drought of seven games comes to an end. That 0:04:36.720 --> 0:04:40.240 forty six yard run by two hundred forty pounds somaj 0:04:40.440 --> 0:04:43.480 p Ryan was the longest of his NFL career by 0:04:43.600 --> 0:04:47.599 sixteen yards, and gave the Bengals a seventeen ten lead. 0:04:48.080 --> 0:04:50.719 I asked him about it after the game. Have you 0:04:50.760 --> 0:04:53.760 seen your forty six yard touchdown run yet? And if not, 0:04:54.040 --> 0:04:57.080 are you dying too? Oh? No, I haven't seen it. 0:04:57.120 --> 0:04:59.880 I mean i'll see it in film, but it's not 0:05:00.240 --> 0:05:02.080 I mean a touchdown to the touchdown, So I'm not 0:05:02.120 --> 0:05:04.520 gonna I'm not gonna think about that play. I'd rather 0:05:04.520 --> 0:05:06.119 watch the plays where I didn't do what I should 0:05:06.120 --> 0:05:08.400 have done and learn from that, because you know, a 0:05:08.400 --> 0:05:10.960 touchdown is pay dirt, So I mean, I can learn 0:05:11.000 --> 0:05:13.440 from it, but not as well as I can learn 0:05:13.440 --> 0:05:15.480 from something that I didn't do so well. So you 0:05:15.520 --> 0:05:18.520 are not fired up to see a forty six yard 0:05:18.600 --> 0:05:22.160 run with a three hundred and sixty degree spin, breaking 0:05:22.200 --> 0:05:25.320 tackles that will be on every highlight show. You would 0:05:25.400 --> 0:05:28.799 rather study your mistakes, absolutely. You always got to study 0:05:28.800 --> 0:05:31.279 in the mistakes first. It's good to look back at it, 0:05:31.360 --> 0:05:33.760 but the mistakes come first. You gotta get those figs. 0:05:33.760 --> 0:05:37.560 The Bengals scored on all five of their second half possessions, 0:05:37.920 --> 0:05:41.039 but the Texans kept matching them. Watson and the gun 0:05:41.160 --> 0:05:43.320 back at the nine catches the snap, hands it off. 0:05:43.400 --> 0:05:46.880 David Johnson runs with ease into the end zone. Not 0:05:47.080 --> 0:05:50.520 much resistance there, and Houston is a pat away from 0:05:50.560 --> 0:05:53.840 tying the game. Man, no questions, Dan, I think he 0:05:53.920 --> 0:05:57.040 scores in one hand touch. Johnson ran for one hundred 0:05:57.040 --> 0:05:59.600 and twenty eight yards, but his legs were offset by 0:05:59.680 --> 0:06:03.279 Al's arm. On back to back plays, he hit Alex 0:06:03.320 --> 0:06:06.640 Erickson for a forty two yard gain, followed by a 0:06:06.640 --> 0:06:10.560 touchdown pass to a sensational rookie. Alan drops back to 0:06:10.600 --> 0:06:12.680 pass again. He's gonna float one high and deep into 0:06:12.720 --> 0:06:16.080 the end zone. It is hot. Did the receiver get 0:06:16.080 --> 0:06:19.200 two feet down in bounds? No, te Higgins did not. 0:06:19.920 --> 0:06:22.360 Te Higgins is saying, are you sure he's got two 0:06:22.400 --> 0:06:25.320 feet down? He's dragging. Oh, that's a touchdown. Te Higgins 0:06:25.320 --> 0:06:27.600 telling the coaches to challenge it. You gotta challenge it. 0:06:27.800 --> 0:06:30.600 He's dragging the left foot possession left foot drag, right 0:06:30.600 --> 0:06:33.839 foot down touch down. As it turned out, the Bengals 0:06:33.839 --> 0:06:37.200 didn't have to challenge it. One official overruled the guy 0:06:37.240 --> 0:06:40.000 that got it wrong, and the twenty yard touchdown pass 0:06:40.040 --> 0:06:44.839 gave Cincinnati a twenty four seventeen lead. Higgins had six catches, 0:06:44.880 --> 0:06:48.560 allowing him to tie Chris Collinsworth's team record for a 0:06:48.640 --> 0:06:53.240 rookie with sixty seven. Tea's ninety nine receiving yards ups 0:06:53.240 --> 0:06:56.440 his season total to nine h eight, putting it within 0:06:56.600 --> 0:07:00.240 range of joining Collinsworth and Aj Green as the lead 0:07:00.279 --> 0:07:04.000 Bengals rookies to hit one thousand. Here's Zach Taylor. Being 0:07:04.040 --> 0:07:05.920 around him, it doesn't feel like you're around a rookie. 0:07:06.800 --> 0:07:10.080 He feels like he has mature. It is not the 0:07:10.160 --> 0:07:12.680 right word, because he's had the right focus since day one, 0:07:13.200 --> 0:07:15.360 and I've just really been fun to watch him. The 0:07:15.360 --> 0:07:17.320 confidence that he has as he gets through the season. 0:07:18.240 --> 0:07:20.200 You know, he's made plays against everybody in this league 0:07:20.240 --> 0:07:24.120 and he's got an extremely bright future. His approach is tremendous. 0:07:24.480 --> 0:07:26.640 We're really where we got him. When we got him 0:07:26.640 --> 0:07:29.080 in the second round is unbelievable now that you look 0:07:29.120 --> 0:07:30.640 back on it, but but we're lucky to have him 0:07:30.680 --> 0:07:34.600 once again. The Bengals seven point lead didn't last. Watson 0:07:34.640 --> 0:07:37.040 waits for the shotgun snap. Here comes a Blitz quick throw, 0:07:37.160 --> 0:07:40.880 touchdown running back David Johnson on the receiving end of 0:07:40.920 --> 0:07:43.760 that two yard throw, tying the game at twenty four 0:07:43.880 --> 0:07:46.720 heading to the fourth quarter. After scoring a pair of 0:07:46.720 --> 0:07:49.320 touchdowns in the third quarter, the Bengals had to settle 0:07:49.400 --> 0:07:52.360 for a long field goal try. On their first drive 0:07:52.440 --> 0:07:54.920 of the fourth Mark Harris ready to snap it back 0:07:54.920 --> 0:07:57.960 to Kevin Huber. Huber looks back at the kicker. Now 0:07:57.960 --> 0:08:00.560 it turns, his head, extends, the right hand, matches the ball, 0:08:00.600 --> 0:08:04.160 puts it down. The kick looks good. It is good 0:08:04.160 --> 0:08:08.160 by Austin Seibert as Cincinnati takes a three point lead 0:08:08.520 --> 0:08:11.320 on his forty eight yard field goal. It was twenty seven, 0:08:11.440 --> 0:08:14.040 twenty four Cincinnati, with ten and a half minutes to go. 0:08:14.400 --> 0:08:18.640 To that point, the Bengals had never trailed, but Houston's 0:08:18.640 --> 0:08:22.280 tight ends took care of that first. Pharaoh Brown caught 0:08:22.280 --> 0:08:25.920 an eight yard pass, broke tackle attempts by Jesse Bates 0:08:25.960 --> 0:08:30.080 and Germaine Pratt, and eventually carried five defenders on a 0:08:30.160 --> 0:08:33.720 twenty nine yard gain. A few plays later, it was 0:08:33.760 --> 0:08:37.080 more of the same shotgun snap watching straight back to throw. 0:08:37.400 --> 0:08:39.959 Now scrambling up the middle of the field, throws before 0:08:40.000 --> 0:08:43.160 crossing the line. It's caught for a first down. It 0:08:43.240 --> 0:08:46.840 is going to be a touchdown for Houston. They could 0:08:46.880 --> 0:08:50.240 not get Darren Fells, the tight end to the ground. 0:08:50.720 --> 0:08:54.240 Second time on this drive, the Bengals simply could not 0:08:54.400 --> 0:08:57.720 tackle a Houston tight end. Pratt and Bates had him 0:08:57.760 --> 0:08:59.920 wrapped up at the five yard line, but couldn't key 0:09:00.160 --> 0:09:02.880 Fells out of the end zone, and Houston had its 0:09:02.880 --> 0:09:06.520 first lead thirty one twenty seven with six fifteen to go. 0:09:07.480 --> 0:09:10.320 That's been the story of twenty twenty right. The Bengals 0:09:10.320 --> 0:09:13.079 had four games in the first seven weeks where they 0:09:13.080 --> 0:09:15.400 had the lead in the fourth quarter and blew it. 0:09:16.160 --> 0:09:19.920 But not this time. The Bengals ran seven times and 0:09:20.120 --> 0:09:23.000 passed three in marching down the field for the go 0:09:23.080 --> 0:09:26.120 ahead score. Aj Green out to the left, T Higgins 0:09:26.120 --> 0:09:27.880 out to the right. Now p Rhyan moves to the 0:09:27.960 --> 0:09:32.720 quarterback's right, shotgun snap insidehand p Rhyan into the end 0:09:32.840 --> 0:09:37.320 zone for a go ahead touchdown with one fifty seven 0:09:37.360 --> 0:09:41.240 to go. As the Bengals drive seventy five yards and 0:09:41.440 --> 0:09:45.160 take the lead. It was thirty four thirty one Cincinnati. 0:09:45.800 --> 0:09:47.720 Raise your hand if you were worried that they had 0:09:47.760 --> 0:09:50.800 left too much time on the clock for de Shaun Watson. 0:09:52.240 --> 0:09:54.760 You can put your hand down now because on the 0:09:54.800 --> 0:09:58.880 second play if Houston subsequent drive, Sam Hubbard delivered a 0:09:59.000 --> 0:10:04.680 knockout blow. Watch Sam hully right into the hands of man. 0:10:05.160 --> 0:10:09.080 That's an interception for the Bengals. As Hubbard got to 0:10:09.160 --> 0:10:11.960 the right side of Watson, poked the ball out of 0:10:11.960 --> 0:10:15.320 his arm. Watson is hurt and the ball fluttered right 0:10:15.360 --> 0:10:19.040 to Margus Hunt for the pick. Nice i hand coordination 0:10:19.080 --> 0:10:21.680 by the big boy, Margus Hunt and Sam Hubbard. For 0:10:21.679 --> 0:10:24.840 the second time he got to the armor Deshaun Watson, 0:10:25.040 --> 0:10:27.120 he hit him. The ball flooded out of bounce the 0:10:27.120 --> 0:10:30.520 first time and Deshaun Watson had some right elbow injury issue, 0:10:30.840 --> 0:10:32.920 and then Sam Hubard got him again. This time as 0:10:32.920 --> 0:10:35.800 the ball flooded, Marcus Hunt said, I'll take it. It 0:10:35.880 --> 0:10:40.000 was officially a fumble forced by Hubbard and recovered by Hunt. 0:10:40.559 --> 0:10:44.960 Watson's arm was not moving forward because his fingers actually 0:10:45.040 --> 0:10:49.400 got caught in Sam's face mask. Here's the Bengals defensive 0:10:49.520 --> 0:10:53.040 end on taking the ball away from Watson. Yeah, he's 0:10:53.080 --> 0:10:55.599 just he's really strong, you know, he's you know, you 0:10:55.720 --> 0:10:57.400 give him a lot of credit when you try and 0:10:57.440 --> 0:11:00.320 get your hands on him. He's out there really fast 0:11:00.440 --> 0:11:04.360 and just as strength and awareness as special. So you 0:11:04.400 --> 0:11:06.120 know to go for the ball and get it out 0:11:07.120 --> 0:11:09.240 after you know he's been getting the better of us. 0:11:09.800 --> 0:11:12.080 It felt awesome. We've had plenty of games where things 0:11:12.120 --> 0:11:13.319 are going your way and you just seek someone to 0:11:13.360 --> 0:11:15.000 step up and make that play. And really the play 0:11:15.080 --> 0:11:18.120 that Sam made, we've had We've been in that moment 0:11:18.200 --> 0:11:21.160 several times over the last two years and they've driven 0:11:21.200 --> 0:11:23.040 down and scored. I think you'll go whatever it was, 0:11:23.120 --> 0:11:24.840 but that needs to be a turning point for us. 0:11:24.960 --> 0:11:27.480 Austin Cyber tacked on a short field goal with eighteen 0:11:27.520 --> 0:11:30.920 seconds to go to make the final scores Cincinnati thirty seven, 0:11:31.320 --> 0:11:35.160 Houston thirty one. It was the Bengals first road win 0:11:35.520 --> 0:11:39.960 in sixteen tries under Zach Taylor and ended Cincinnati's twenty 0:11:40.080 --> 0:11:44.280 game road winless streak going back two years, two months 0:11:44.640 --> 0:11:48.800 and twenty seven days. They avoid reaching the Detroit Lions 0:11:48.880 --> 0:11:52.680 NFL record of twenty six road games without a win. 0:11:53.360 --> 0:11:57.280 Here are Zach Taylor, Alex Erickson, and Brandon Allen. Just 0:11:57.720 --> 0:11:59.200 tells you everything you got to know about the character. 0:11:59.240 --> 0:12:01.720 And there's all of this team. And like I told him, 0:12:01.720 --> 0:12:04.800 we practiced in ten degree weather on Christmas Day, you know, 0:12:04.880 --> 0:12:07.360 to come down and play a game to Houston, and Uh, 0:12:07.480 --> 0:12:09.600 not one guy. I didn't hear one guy complain about it. 0:12:09.600 --> 0:12:10.839 They all knew that we had to get some work 0:12:10.880 --> 0:12:13.200 done before we're gonna come win this big game. And UM, 0:12:13.400 --> 0:12:16.080 just couldn't be proud of the work that they put 0:12:16.120 --> 0:12:18.640 in here in week sixteen. Um, we're out of the 0:12:18.640 --> 0:12:21.720 playoff hunt. It's easy for guys to check out right now, 0:12:21.760 --> 0:12:23.200 and we haven't had a single player to do it. 0:12:23.240 --> 0:12:25.600 And UH just just brought to coaches. Guys. Man, it's 0:12:25.600 --> 0:12:28.280 crazy to even think about. You know this, This league's tough, 0:12:28.320 --> 0:12:30.280 and it's hard to win on the road, and UM 0:12:30.559 --> 0:12:33.200 to go two years though, man, a long time coming. 0:12:33.559 --> 0:12:35.719 It's just just a testament to you know, sticking to 0:12:35.800 --> 0:12:38.920 the process and believing. I know it's hard at times, 0:12:38.960 --> 0:12:41.320 and you know, when you lose that many road games 0:12:41.320 --> 0:12:43.760 in a row, it's you never think it's gonna happen. 0:12:43.800 --> 0:12:46.120 And then uh, just keep believing. And you know, I 0:12:46.120 --> 0:12:47.960 think on Monday night, you know, the energy was great 0:12:48.000 --> 0:12:50.600 and guys really believed, and uh, nice see the momentum 0:12:50.640 --> 0:12:52.839 picking up and guys are preparing the right way and 0:12:53.200 --> 0:12:55.640 uh starting to starting to get some momentum and that 0:12:55.679 --> 0:12:58.559 we've that we've earned and so it feels really good 0:12:58.600 --> 0:13:00.520 to come down here and get a victory, and it'll 0:13:00.520 --> 0:13:02.760 be nice getting on the plane for a long time coming. 0:13:02.800 --> 0:13:06.640 There's never been a question, um within this team of 0:13:06.720 --> 0:13:08.320 us moving in the right direction, and like you said, 0:13:08.320 --> 0:13:10.880 there's there has been. There have been a few games 0:13:10.920 --> 0:13:14.160 where we're literally one play away from from it being 0:13:14.160 --> 0:13:16.400 a win, and so you know, those are tough, but 0:13:16.480 --> 0:13:18.160 you have to you have to be able to move 0:13:18.200 --> 0:13:20.440 on and an approaching next week that you're gonna win 0:13:20.520 --> 0:13:22.280 it again. So I think you kind of can just 0:13:22.360 --> 0:13:25.079 see in his last two weeks that, um, you know 0:13:25.160 --> 0:13:27.240 that this team knows how close it can be, and 0:13:27.280 --> 0:13:29.640 we find them been able to have two really good 0:13:29.720 --> 0:13:32.240 games and put them together and get wins, and um, 0:13:32.400 --> 0:13:34.600 you know, we can just take that momentum and move 0:13:34.640 --> 0:13:37.679 it forward. The Bengals are four ten and one with 0:13:37.920 --> 0:13:41.400 one game to go. Now time for postgame analysis with 0:13:41.600 --> 0:13:46.240 my broadcast partner Dave lapham Well Lapp. The Bengals had 0:13:46.320 --> 0:13:48.680 two wins in the first thirteen weeks, and now they've 0:13:48.720 --> 0:13:52.200 got two in six days. Who saw back to back 0:13:52.280 --> 0:13:56.280 victories over Pittsburgh and Houston coming. I'm telling you in 0:13:56.360 --> 0:14:00.679 the fashion you know that it happened. Man Finley the 0:14:00.800 --> 0:14:03.400 star of the Pittsburgh game with his quarterback run game, 0:14:03.960 --> 0:14:07.079 and then Brandon Allen was just He threw the ball 0:14:07.160 --> 0:14:09.920 as well as just about any quarterback I think could 0:14:09.960 --> 0:14:12.560 throw the ball today. Who would have thought the Bengals 0:14:12.600 --> 0:14:15.880 were better than a touchdown underdog two touchdown undog to 0:14:15.920 --> 0:14:19.280 Pittsburgh toucheddow underdog plus in this game. And I wonder 0:14:19.320 --> 0:14:21.320 what the odds makers, how many of them thought that 0:14:21.600 --> 0:14:25.040 Brandon Allen and samaj p Ryan would lead the troops, 0:14:25.160 --> 0:14:28.240 lead the force to the victory. Let's talk about Brandon Allen. 0:14:28.240 --> 0:14:30.720 He passed for three hundred and seventy one yards, two touchdowns, 0:14:30.800 --> 0:14:33.320 no picks, pass a rating of one twenty six point five. 0:14:33.480 --> 0:14:35.120 First time in his career he stoned for more than 0:14:35.160 --> 0:14:38.120 three hundred yards in a game. When Joe Burrow got 0:14:38.240 --> 0:14:41.400 hurt a lot of people myself included, started saying, well, 0:14:41.480 --> 0:14:44.600 let's see what quarterback should they sign in the offseason 0:14:44.720 --> 0:14:48.040 just in case Joe Burrow is not ready for Week one? 0:14:48.680 --> 0:14:51.600 Should that quarterback be Brandon Allen. I think that he's 0:14:51.640 --> 0:14:56.000 proven that he understands the offense. He understands what's Zack's 0:14:56.040 --> 0:14:59.720 trying to do within that offense. And I know Zach 0:15:00.000 --> 0:15:02.840 feels good about Colin plays for him, which is big. 0:15:02.920 --> 0:15:05.040 And I think you know his relationship with Dan Pitcher, 0:15:05.400 --> 0:15:07.680 Brian Callahan. I mean, if if all these guys are 0:15:07.720 --> 0:15:11.680 back offensively, I would not be shocked at Brendan Allen 0:15:11.800 --> 0:15:14.280 is back offensively as well, you know, And I think 0:15:14.760 --> 0:15:19.160 the charge they're making here down the stretch, obviously they 0:15:19.200 --> 0:15:21.520 still have the locker room. Guys are still playing hard, 0:15:21.560 --> 0:15:25.160 Guys are still believing. Honestly, when when Houston took the 0:15:25.280 --> 0:15:26.920 lead in the fourth quarter of their first lead of 0:15:26.960 --> 0:15:32.080 the day in the past, you'd think, yeah, they're done, 0:15:32.680 --> 0:15:34.560 these guys came right back and answered. You know, it 0:15:34.680 --> 0:15:39.920 was impressive and and I thought the execution it was 0:15:40.080 --> 0:15:45.479 at a very high level. Tennessee and Houston no turnovers, 0:15:45.560 --> 0:15:48.520 no quarterback sacks. That's that's a formula for winning games 0:15:48.560 --> 0:15:51.200 in the National Football League. If Zach Taylor was ever 0:15:51.320 --> 0:15:53.840 on a hot seat, seems pretty cold right now. Yeah, 0:15:53.880 --> 0:15:55.680 I think some people threw some cold water in that 0:15:55.760 --> 0:15:57.920 bad boy. I think some of his h some of 0:15:57.960 --> 0:15:59.800 his players and assistant coaches might have come to the 0:15:59.840 --> 0:16:03.040 rescue there. I think, you know, you have your first 0:16:03.080 --> 0:16:05.720 two game winning streak as a head coach, and it 0:16:05.800 --> 0:16:08.760 comes at a very opportune time. So, I mean, worst 0:16:08.800 --> 0:16:10.760 case scenario, you're winning two out of your last three 0:16:10.840 --> 0:16:14.920 football games. That's a good way to finish Without your 0:16:15.800 --> 0:16:19.400 franchise quarterback Joe Burrow, guy that you gave a bunch 0:16:19.400 --> 0:16:21.400 of money to at the running back position, Joe Mixon. 0:16:21.480 --> 0:16:24.280 I mean the people they didn't have. And look the 0:16:24.360 --> 0:16:26.240 Texans in the same boat. They were missing a bunch 0:16:26.240 --> 0:16:28.400 of people too. That's life from the National Football League. 0:16:28.720 --> 0:16:31.800 But the fact is the Bengals have responded, and one 0:16:31.880 --> 0:16:35.440 with guys that when the season started, there's no way 0:16:35.520 --> 0:16:39.560 people thought that guys that are playing now in significant 0:16:39.600 --> 0:16:42.000 roles would be the guys that are playing in those 0:16:42.040 --> 0:16:45.040 significant roles. So for the first time since the Cleveland 0:16:45.120 --> 0:16:47.360 home game on October twenty fifth, the Bengals had the 0:16:47.400 --> 0:16:50.560 same starting offensive line as the previous game. For the 0:16:50.680 --> 0:16:54.600 previous seven games, it was musical chairs, with anywhere from 0:16:54.680 --> 0:16:58.880 one to four changes from the previous week. How significant 0:16:59.080 --> 0:17:03.160 was they continued ay? And did anybody stand out today 0:17:03.240 --> 0:17:08.000 where you thought, Okay, maybe that guy clinched a spot 0:17:08.440 --> 0:17:11.120 in the offensive line for next year. You know, I'm 0:17:11.200 --> 0:17:15.760 looking at the interior of the offensive line now. Trey 0:17:15.840 --> 0:17:18.399 Hopkins has been very consistent all season long. I think 0:17:18.440 --> 0:17:22.080 he's had a really good year. Spain, Spain got some 0:17:22.119 --> 0:17:24.639 push in there today on p Rhin's four yard touchdown run. 0:17:24.720 --> 0:17:26.920 He drove his guy three yards into the end zone. 0:17:29.200 --> 0:17:34.719 And honestly, Xavier Suafilo is given a stabilizing force at 0:17:34.800 --> 0:17:37.720 that left guard position. I think, you know, Bobby Hartson, 0:17:37.800 --> 0:17:39.879 a veteran guy and experienced guy. I think he enjoys 0:17:39.920 --> 0:17:45.639 playing next to Spain. And I think Fred or Identity 0:17:45.840 --> 0:17:47.800 or whoever is out there at the left tackle position 0:17:47.840 --> 0:17:51.119 would appreciate playing next to Xavier Suafilo. So I do 0:17:51.280 --> 0:17:54.320 think that there's there's a good mix, you know, of 0:17:54.920 --> 0:17:59.200 of guys in terms of their experience. They're all intelligent. 0:17:59.359 --> 0:18:01.720 That's one thing I telling you this this offensive line. 0:18:01.720 --> 0:18:04.879 Bobby Hart is a very smart guy. Ty Trey Hopkins 0:18:05.200 --> 0:18:07.680 is a very smart guy. Jonah Williams, who isn't in 0:18:07.760 --> 0:18:10.400 the in the mix. Again, there's another guy they're playing 0:18:10.440 --> 0:18:14.359 without is a very smart guy. Xavier sue A, Philo Spain. 0:18:14.640 --> 0:18:17.280 All these guys can play multiple positions. They're all smart guys. 0:18:17.320 --> 0:18:20.800 So I don't think I don't think the offensive line 0:18:21.440 --> 0:18:25.800 is does it need work? Yes? It still does. I mean, 0:18:25.960 --> 0:18:27.800 do you want to try to upgrade if you can? Yes? 0:18:28.440 --> 0:18:31.000 But is it a functional group? Can you work with 0:18:31.119 --> 0:18:34.000 that group? They're proving down the stretch that they're a 0:18:34.119 --> 0:18:37.560 functional and they can be worked with. With the win, 0:18:37.840 --> 0:18:40.200 the Bengals as of now have dropped from third and 0:18:40.320 --> 0:18:43.800 next year's draft to sixth. If they win again next week, 0:18:43.960 --> 0:18:46.159 I think they could go as low as number twelve. 0:18:46.480 --> 0:18:49.080 So for all of the Bengals fans who are heartbroken, 0:18:49.119 --> 0:18:51.479 as much as they enjoyed watching a victory, they're now 0:18:51.600 --> 0:18:55.200 heartbroken over the likelihood that Pinney Sewell is no longer 0:18:55.280 --> 0:18:57.960 going to be a Bengal. What would you say, you know, 0:18:58.240 --> 0:19:02.320 I would say that I'm of the belief that some 0:19:02.480 --> 0:19:05.000 guys have been saying even with the third pick in 0:19:05.040 --> 0:19:08.520 the draft, I trade back, I trade down and get 0:19:08.760 --> 0:19:12.280 you know, an additional high pick. It's not just one guy. 0:19:12.680 --> 0:19:16.760 And even though the tackle position is vitally important, a 0:19:16.920 --> 0:19:19.480 tackle is not going to take you from a five 0:19:19.560 --> 0:19:23.159 win team to a playoff team. I mean, so I 0:19:23.320 --> 0:19:26.199 try to I try to increase my my odds. Uh. 0:19:26.720 --> 0:19:31.240 You know, Sue, Sue has all the projections to be 0:19:31.359 --> 0:19:33.760 a dominant player, and I don't disagree with that. But 0:19:33.880 --> 0:19:37.440 if you can find two high caliber players in the 0:19:37.520 --> 0:19:40.879 offensive line instead of that one, why not. Or if 0:19:40.960 --> 0:19:43.200 you can find you know, a good edge guy and 0:19:43.359 --> 0:19:47.720 defensively with one of those picks, you know, I don't 0:19:47.760 --> 0:19:50.720 have any any real problem with the Bengals doing that, 0:19:51.320 --> 0:19:53.760 no matter where they end up in the draft. I 0:19:53.920 --> 0:19:57.199 think for people to cast their lot on one player 0:19:57.560 --> 0:20:00.200 and that player only and be heartbroken if you don't 0:20:00.240 --> 0:20:03.159 get that one player. And fully, it's things changed that 0:20:03.240 --> 0:20:06.280 it's an offensive tackle that people are ready to mortgage 0:20:06.320 --> 0:20:08.480 their houses over. I mean, god, that was never the case. 0:20:09.000 --> 0:20:12.040 And this is still a quarterback league, a quarterback driven league, 0:20:12.200 --> 0:20:14.560 and you do have to protect the quarterback obviously, but 0:20:14.840 --> 0:20:17.200 you've got to get them weapons too. And you know, 0:20:17.280 --> 0:20:19.000 the defense has to get them the football. I mean, 0:20:19.040 --> 0:20:22.520 there's so many things that they need to improve on, 0:20:22.640 --> 0:20:25.680 and I think the more picks they get, the better 0:20:25.760 --> 0:20:27.600 chances they're going to have of putting their bat on 0:20:27.640 --> 0:20:31.240 the ball and improving their football team. Jacksonville has clinched 0:20:31.440 --> 0:20:34.720 the number one pick, Trevor Laws. Trevor Lawrence will come 0:20:34.760 --> 0:20:37.640 to Paul Brown Stadium next year. The Jaguars are scheduled 0:20:37.680 --> 0:20:40.480 to play here next year. The Jets. With their win 0:20:40.800 --> 0:20:43.240 over the Cleveland brow and back to back wins for 0:20:43.280 --> 0:20:45.679 the Jets after an owing thirteen start, they are now 0:20:45.760 --> 0:20:47.920 in the two spot. Then you've got several teams with 0:20:48.119 --> 0:20:50.560 four wins, including the Bengals, but since the Bengals have 0:20:50.640 --> 0:20:53.000 a tie, they're down near the bottom of the four 0:20:53.119 --> 0:20:55.760 team wins. I find it interesting that the fourth team 0:20:55.800 --> 0:20:58.480 in the draft order right now should have been Houston, 0:20:58.880 --> 0:21:01.280 but they traded that pick to Miami. How happy are 0:21:01.320 --> 0:21:04.119 the Dolphins to see the texts in sitting there with 0:21:04.240 --> 0:21:06.560 the fourth pick in the draft? Unbelievable? I mean, fits 0:21:06.680 --> 0:21:10.320