Bleav in Cincy

On this episode: The Bengals greatly bolstered their quarterback situation recently. Dugger and Taylor will provide a lot of defensive and special teams assistance. What do multiple defensive back signings in free agency mean for the Bengals’ draft plans? What is the state of the Bengals’ roster in the wake of their free agency signings? Zac Taylor’s comments at the recent owner’s meetings. And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The NFL Draft is nearly upon us! The Bengals may not have checked every box in free agency, but they checked enough boxes to give them the flexibility to draft the best available player with the 10th overall pick, rather than trying to fill a need. So who will it be? Could it be Sonny Styles? A moment ago, you were probably curing me saying that they haven't done enough in free agency and the word "Linebacker" surely came into your mind. Well, Zac Taylor repeated at the NFL owners meeting coaches' breakfast what he and Al Golden have said countless times before. Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter were in a tough situation as a starting tandem of linebackers and they kept getting better. You can believe that or not, but whether or not it is true, I Zac Taylor thinks it's true, and that is all that really matters. It wasn't coach speak. They genuinely think those guys can get it done. This is backed up by their approach to free agency. They spent big on a safety and an edge, then added an interior pass rusher. There may have been some interest in adding a linebacker, but we know they were never in on the top of the market guys. The weren't going to put Bryan Cook or Boye Mafe money into a linebacker. Why? Because they like the guys they have. So why Sonny Styles? Because he is a dude, that's why. Of course, it has felt all along like it will be a cornerback. Mansoor Delane and Jermod McCoy each put up crazy performances at their respective pro days. Matt and Willie talk about this duo and which one of them in the best fit in Cincinnati. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: Some final thoughts on Trey Hendrickson and how the Ravens handled that situation. Any truth to the Maxx Crosby trade rumors linking the Bengals? How do we feel about the Allen signing and Brown’s extension? What may be next for the team in free agency A little bit about draft buzz with workouts underway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It was a slow start to free agency for the Bengals, but noon turned into afternoon, the Bengals made their moves Seriously, they made both of their moves, and it's been radio silence for two days. I mean what is that about? But I digress. The team made two pick signings. They signed Bryan Cook who was widely seen as the top safety in free agency. Finally, they did something to solidify that position in a meaningful way. The former Cincinnati Bearcat comes home. Tears in his eyes, I suppose. This was a great move for the Bengals, but it was not enough. Should we do one more? Let's do one more. Okay, one more it is. People have asked, "Who is this year's Trey Hendrikson." Well, it might just be Boye Mafe. They gave the young edge rusher a huge contract betting more on his future than his past. Like Hendrickson he might be right on the fringe of his breakout The excitement from these moves slowly decreased then to turned largely into rage as we got into Wednesday night and there was still no third move. It's coming. I'm telling you, it's coming. They have the money. The Bengals were also involved in the John Franklin-Myers sweepstake, but despite an initial report from a phony Twitter account, Ed McMahon did not come knocking on their door. Logan Hall was the other name to consider in this unimpressive lineup of interior rushers, but he went to Houston on the cheap, so it appears the Bengals were not in on that deal. Which is wired because it would have made a lot of sense. I am not totally confident in Hall, but he has the versatility to play the run on the edge, which would at least give them some value if he didn't pan out as an interior rusher. Speaking of making sense, let's talk Leo Chenel. He would have made a lot of sense for this defense. He is a linebacker who has some crazy athletic traits, is young, and has that oh so important ability to line up on the edge. He would have been an excellent complement to Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight, but alas, it was not meant to be. He wound up in Washington on a very reasonable deal. There was lots of talk from the fan base about Devin Lloyd, but apparently they were never involved even though everybody and their brother has been reporting that they have been interested in him. Perhaps it is Ezekiel Elliott all over again. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: -The Bengals brought Bryan Cook back home to Cincinnati and he fills a major defensive need. -Cincinnati also agreed to terms to defensive lineman Boye Mafe from the Seahawks. -Which players may be next on the docket for them? -A few former Bengals signed elsewhere on Monday, as well. -And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: At last, some finality with the Trey Hendrickson situation. Dalton Risner is back with the Bengals and it's an early, positive key to the team's free agency period. What are the biggest needs for the Bengals heading into free agency at the draft? Who are the players we'd most want in free agency at defensive line, linebacker and safety? Our Pre-Combine Three-Round mock draft! And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: -Dissecting the recent quotes from Duke Tobin, Zac Taylor, Al Golden and Dan Pitcher. -Who are the known prospects with whom the Bengals have had visits thus far? -What's the latest Combine buzz around certain players? -Sonny Styles is a dynamic linebacker and could be in play for Cincinnati at No. 10. -And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: More updates on Trey Hendrickson. The Bengals re-signed some key young depth pieces ahead of free agency. Some thoughts from NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah and his media conference call. Might an intriguing slot receiver be in play for the Bengals at No. 41 overall? A versatile, but older defensive lineman could provide help along Cincinnati's defensive line. And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on Matt and Willie Know Ball, your favorite ball-knowers discuss the idea of a Trey Hendrickson tag and trade. Tagging a player does not mean you are on the hook for that money. Quite the contrary. You can rescind the tag at any time before it is signed, and Hendrickson will be in no hurry to sign it. He wants out. He wants more than a one-year deal. Hendrickson has no intention of playing another down for the Bengals, but they should not let him walk out the door for nothing. Yes, he is in his 30s. Yes, he is coming off an injury. Yes, whoever acquires him is going to have to pay him a hefty fee. It doesn't matter. He is still the top free agent. He is still a year removed from leading the league in sacks. He is still a guy who had 35 sacks in two years. No, they aren't going to get what the Dallas Cowboys got for Micah Parsons. Parsons is 6 years younger and wasn't coming off a season ending injury. They can however get something. It starts with a third. That should be the asking price, a third round pick in 2026. If a few teams are interested in him for that, maybe it becomes a little more. Maybe a day three pick or a player is added. Maybe the third even becomes a second. Or maybe it goes the other way and you only get a fifth round pick. Who cares? It is something! The idea that it could be Kenny Clark occurred to me until I saw his contract. If I have a choice between Trey for $30 million or Clark for $20 million, the Treys have it. But maybe the next unappreciated B.J. Hill type is out there somewhere waiting for his moment to shine. Like a peacock, you gotta let him fly. We also talk about the Jalen Davis extension. Not only is it crat news, it was the next thing that needed to happen before we get to Dalton Risner. Both Davis and Risner stepped in and solidified the team this season. They should both be very reasonably priced compared to what their contribution to the team is. These are guys you've got to sign. There is no reason to create a need on your roster. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: The Trey Hendrickson saga continues... It's obvious that the Bengals defense needs help--what's the best avenue? A former Chiefs linebacker could bring a versatile skill set to greatly aid the Bengals. Peter Woods is a polarizing, but talented interior defensive lineman in this year's draft. And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hot take alert! I (Matt) like Caleb Downs but find the prospect of drafting him at 10 rather uninspiring. I feel like I'm going out on a limb saying this. The consensus appears to be very high on Downs. There is, of course, the fact that he is a safety and safeties rarely go on the top 10. Honestly. I don't really care about that. It's not about position value. It is the lack of special traits. Downs is a good player who I would love to have on the Bengals defense, but I don't know if there is anything about him that is special. I know. You hate me, right? Not only is it a controversial take, but about a Buckeye no less. For shame. Can Willie talk him out of it? He's pretty high on Downs. Not only that, he's a true Ohio State guy. Surely Willie can talk some sense into me. Right? There is only one way to find out. Tune in to hear why I haven't bought in on Downs and see if Willie can bring me back into the light. Then we randomly veered off into a long conversation about pass rushers and money ball. What do the Bengals need to do to fix their pass rush? Is it on the inside? Is it on the outside? Is it in house? Is it in free agency? Is it in the draft? Maybe it's Maxx Crosby. Maybe it's Jeffery Simmons. Sorry, it's not Trey Hendrickson at this point. Matt and Willie discuss how to replace Giambi, I mean Henderickson. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on Matt and Willie Know Ball, the duo dips their toes into the waters of what is to come. The Bengals need help. We all know that it’s true. The good news is that they have money to spend and draft picks to select. So who should be the targets? Defense is the obvious need, which is a pretty broad statement and yet quite true. The defense was so bad in 2024, that it got Lou Anarumo fired and it was arguably worse in 2025. That puts Al Golden in a very awkward position and he looks to lead his unit on a massive turnaround next season. Whether it was the volume knob or the AM/PM, last year, the Bengals slept through most of free agency. In de facto general manager Duke Tobin historic post season press conference he proclaimed his affection for pass rushers and his deep desire to address that dire need, But to equate head coach Zac Taylor “I hear better than I see.” Will Duke put his money where his mouth is, or the Brown family’s money where his mouth is to be more accurate? He had better. Matt and Willie each share one of their favorite Bengals targets in both free agency and the draft. Not surprisingly, all four players are on defense. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: Chase Brown talks about the Offensive Line improvement last year. Tee Higgins and Chase Brown talk about the Bengals' mindset heading into 2026. the duo gives their thoughts about Dan Pitcher's abilities as an OC. And much more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some coaching dominoes are starting to fall, as the Conference Championship Games are this weekend. John and Anthony also look at a couple of intriguing prospects from out West that could intrigue the Bengals. Presented by FanDuel: https://www.fanduel.com/ Presented by FOCO: https://www.foco.com/collections/Cinc... Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jason and Alex are back to discuss the Bengals' last two losses to the Bills and Ravens. They talk about being eliminated from the playoffs for the third consecutive year, and the fact there will likely be no coaching changes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Darkness. As I examined the rest of the Bengals schedule after their most recent loss, I realized that they might now win another game. There are the Dolphins, who they have a history of blowing it against, the Cardinals, who have tight end Trey McBride who is likely to put up insane numbers against these safeties.and the Browns, who just seem to have the Bengals number inexplicably. Honestly, then I listened to some other podcasts and heard what the downers have to say and said to myself “snap out of it! Stop being such a quitter and figure out how they can get better.” So that is where I am at now. The next few weeks will be rough, but I see progress. Zac Taylor will be the coach next year. Al Golden will be the defensive coordinator. Duke Tobin will be the general manager. We are fooling ourselves if we say any different. Some of us love to claim that Taylor has lost the locker room every time they lose a game, but it isn’t true. They love him. Golden’s development of players has been slower than we would have wanted, but guys are starting to come along. Lou Anarumo’s defense wasn’t any good when he didn’t have the dudes either. Duke is Duke. We don’t need to rehash it. He has had some success in the draft, but the big difference from other teams is that when the Bengals flub up the draft, they don’t buy their way out with free agents. They are disciplined to a fault. That’s not Duke. That’s ownership. They are who they are too. On this week’s episode of Matt and Willie Know Ball, Willie and I reexamine the life choices that led tom us hosting a Bengals podcast, then we say FIDO and get back to work. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jason and Alex are back for another episode, brought to you by FanDuel. This time they react to the awesome win over the Ravens on the road on Thanksgiving, and their upcoming game against the Bills, as well as...... a possible path to the playoffs? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s almost Thanksgiving and Mattt and Willie have a cornucopia of thoughts on the state of the Bengals. Join us and follow on Bleav for all the latest Bengals news and takes. Matt and Willie are thankful for a defense that is finally showing life. In this episode of Matt and Willie Know Ball, the ball-knowers tackle the defense. Are the linebacker deep-fried turkey or a delicious turducken of talent with all the fixins? Just like when the parade is ending and pregame has begun, things seem to be trending in the right direction. Barrett Carter shook off his missed-tackle woes and had 16 total tackles this week. Carter has been calling the defensive shots and taking every single defensive snap since usurping Logan Wilson. Not unlike cranberry sauce in the shape of a can, he may be criminally underrated for what he has done as a rookie and the career trajectory he is currently projecting. Like a forgotten side dish, it’s better late than never for Myles Murphy. Over the last two weeks he has really flashed. With both Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart out, Murphy has seen a lot more action. He has taken advantage of this, looking good against both the run and the pass and producing a sack. I’ll take seconds of that. McKinnley Jackson has finally been promoted from the kiddie table and is making me wonder why he spent so much time on the inactive list. You can pass the masked potatoes, but you aren’t getting anything past Jackson in the run game. He anchors down like Uncle Ricky on the lazy boy and he isn’t going anywhere. Deep in the back of the refrigerator, the Bengals found some leftovers that still have some flavor. No, not the scalloped potatoes, Jalen Davis. Moving Davis up from the practice squad and rounded out the Bengals secondary menu very nicely. He played a large role and for the defense last week and showed no signs of spoilage. Tryptophan aside, people are sleeping on this Bengals run game. Chase Brown and more importantly this offensive line have really caught their stride. New offensive line coach Scott Peters is looking like a great hire. Now can they keep it up as Joe Burrow looks to make his return on Thursday night? Burrow will have his work cut out for him if he hopes to get the Bengals season back on track. Black Friday may be coming up, but the Bengals win/loss record is so deep into the red, that it will take them until New Years to get them out. Oh well, the Rose Bowl is a better parade anyway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jason and Alex are back to discuss the fact Joe Burrow is practicing in full and all signs point to him making a return in 2025. They discuss whether or not he should. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: Joe Burrow was a full participant at practice this week. Is he going to play sooner than expected? What are the expectations for Burrow and the Bengals upon his return at 3-7? What's the impetus behind Burrow's rushed return? The Bengals are in the headlines in the worst way after their loss to the Steelers. What challenges do the Patriots provide this Sunday? And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Bengals are like a super-manipulative party who convinces you they are going to change just as you are about to give up on the relationship. They lost the must win game a week ago, and yet a glimmer of hop appears in Cartier glasses. Joe Burrow was a full participant at practice this week, which as we all know in light of the Lamar Jackson saga means he is not just practice but taking starter reps. With Joe, anything is possible. It is not likely, but all of the sudden running the table doesn't seem crazy. Infeasible, sure, but not crazy. Of course, the Bengals will be without Ja'Marr Chase, who gave Jalen Ramsey a Romanowski hello last weekend. Still, where there is Joe Burrow, there is hope. But does it even matter? This defense isn't getting any better. Al Golden told us after Week 1 that he didn't want to play Trey Hendrickson that much because it wasn't good for him, but that they had to in order to win. He nailed that take and he hasn't made a good call since (bada tish!). Seriously, Hendrickson was overworked and now he's hurt. The defense without him is... I don't even have a word. Whatever the opposite of "scrumtrulescent*" is. The rookies who needed to step up defensively, have stepped left and right and do-si-doed, but definitely not stepped up. In fact, as the weeks go on and on, this unit is looking more and more like a complete overhaul. Yeah, the defense is bad, so let's all just sit in the corner rocking back and former muttering to ourselves "Joe is coming, Joe is coming," like Bart Simpson at Kamp Krusty, *"Scrumtrulescent" is a made-up word from an old Will Ferrell Saturday Night Live Sketch in which he played James Lipton from Inside the Actors Studio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jason and Alex are refreshed after the bye week, but they're not overly confident the Cincinnati Bengals used that week off to make any improvements that will matter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: Joe Burrow returned to practice as of Monday, and the team has some big decisions ahead. What are the pros and cons with each quarterback, given where the schedule lands and how things have looked under Joe Flacco thus far. Between accrued injuries, affected mechanics and previous slow starts t Bengals seasons, what should we expect from a Burrow-led offense post-Thanksgiving? The AFC North appears wide open, but what are the expectations for the Bengals at 3-6? And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's all new installment of Matt and Willie Know Ball, the ball-knowers hit on the two biggest topics of the bye week. Joe Burrow returns to practice and eyes Thanksgiving return to the field. What can the defense do to get good enough that number one even matters? So what is the Burrow effect? True, the Bengals defense may have given 88 points in the last two weeks, but if the Bengals had 17 seconds and Joesph Lee Burrow after Colson Loveland scored his go ahead touchdown for the Bears, wouldn't you have felt better about the situation? Granted, you still wouldn't have felt good, but better. Joe Flacco has had this offense going on all cylinders. Under Joe Burrow, they really weren't. They won those first two games on the back of good defense. Does the Burrow effect extend to the defense through some kind of Tom Cruise witchcraft? And What about Al Golden's unit? Could the defense be revamped after the bye? Could they have sat down and put together a plan to make this thing functional for the next few weeks? Can they be good enough to win? I've got news for you. This division is still wide open. The Bengals play the Steelers, the Browns, and the Ravens twice. They are still very much in control of their own destiny. The Steelers are in the lead, but crumbling. The Ravens are looking better, but they have a touch road ahead. Check this. They play the Steelers twice, the Bengals twice, and the Patriots in a span of 5 weeks. That is an insane stretch. 10 games could be the division. 9 wins could even do it, if they were the right wins. Sweep the division and you have got a shot. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: The Bengals had one of the most improbable comebacks against the Bears, followed by an inexplicable collapse...again. Zac Taylor said that no coaching changes are going to transpire, even after the past two weeks and with the team heading into the bye. Logan Wilson was traded to the Cowboys, Trey Hendrickson stays with the Bengals, while Cincinnati doesn't make any other additions. And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Darkness has fallen. The Bengals beat the Steelers two weeks ago and everything was looking hunky-dory. Then came the New York Jets. The Bengals had it and they lost it. There were defensive failings to be sure, but a lot of it was just losing the battle for those important inches. They should have won that game and they could have one that game with one defensive player stepping up and making a play. And yet, here we are. With Trey Hendrickson sideline, the defense generated no pass rush and in turn the secondary struggled. The run defense saw guys out of position and massive holes opened up just like they did in August. We were told this defense was less complicated, but is it? Jordan Battle doesn't seem to think so. Seriously, what is up with this defense? Is it a coaching issue or a scouting issue? It does make you feel differently about Lou Anarumo and even Teryl Austin. They didn't have the dudes and neither does Al Golden. Anarumo had them once, when Duke Tobin went on a hot streak drafting Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson and signing Trey Hendrickson, D.J. Reader, and Chidobe Awuzie. Players seem to be cutting bait and attempting to move on from this defense. That isn't really a surprise, particularly when you are talking about a benched veteran in Logan Wilson, who surely thinks that he can be a starter and young McKinnley Jackson who is eager for a shot but keeps seeing newcomers come in and surpass him on the depth chart. Matt and Willie discuss all of this and more, including an odd concusses about Joe Pesci. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jason and Alex are back to discuss the Bengals' embarrassing defensive collapse and loss to the Jets in Week 8, their upcoming game against the Bears, and Alex shares some memories of his time at OSU with the recently passed Nick Mangold. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: Cincinnati suffered its worst loss in the Zac Taylor era, and one of the biggest collapses in recent memory. The Bengals' defense is somehow worse than last year, with failures occurring at each level of the unit. Is a rebound possible? Will the Bengals be buyers, sellers, or holders at the trade deadline? The sequence of events that reportedly (or even rumored) to have unfolded Saturday-Monday surrounding the Bengals was downright staggering. And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: Logan Wilson has formally requested a trade from the Bengals. When and will Wilson be dealt, and for what? The latest on the Cincinnati injury front. Even though the Bengals are just 3-4, can this game against the Jets be considered a "trap game"? If they want to get to .500, the Bengals can't afford to let little mistakes become problems on Sunday. Some thoughts on Lemar Parrish, Dave Lapham and other Ring of Honor Inductees. And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Logan Wilson, longtime Bengal/first time captain, has requested a trade. What does this mean for the team going forward? Is it likely to happen? What could the possible return be? We have one name in mind. Matt and Willie discuss this as well as the underrated legacy of linebackers Wilson and Germaine Pratt. The there is Cam Taylor-Britt. What is going on with that guy? The former second round pick was benched a few weeks ago, then made inactive on Thursday Night Football due to a coach's decision. That's never good. Like Andre Benjamin, I'm just being honest. No one likes getting benched. We are all prideful people, particularly professional athletes, but by all accounts, Taylor-Britt has been a professional throughout his struggles. Could he have been inactive because they were discussing a trade sending him out of Cincinnati? There is one particularly name that would make a lot of sense for both the Bengals and this individual's current team if they wanted to swap their former highly touted players. Matt and Willie discuss this scenario and Taylor-Britt's future in Cincinnati and the league. The Bengals are coming off of a huge win last week. What does that mean for the season. Matt and Willie discuss the road to Joe Burrow's return and what the Bengals need to do to get there in one piece. The path is narrow and unforgiving, but it is clear. What about the Steelers though. They currently have the lead in the division, but they have a difficult run in front of them too. The haven't seen the top of the NFC North year. The Bengals may still be back a game and a half, but that gap could shrink very quickly with the opponents that Pittsburgh has in front of them. How about the Ravens? They are way back, but are they too far back? If they can get healthy, could they make a run at the division championship. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: Joe Flacco looked every bit the part of "Elite" on Thursday night. The Bengals found a running game and the offensive line has improved the past two weeks! Ja'Marr Chase remains the best wide receiver in the NFL, despite three starting Bengals QBs in seven games this year. The Bengals defense MUST improve, should the Bengals make a playoff push this year. And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jason and Alex are back to discuss the Bengals' Week 6 loss to the Packers, why they're more optimistic, despite the loss, than you'd think, and what the Bengals need to do to beat the Steelers on TNF. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jason is joined by a new co-host, Alex, a former Ohio State defensive end. After his introduction, the two discuss the Bengals' acquisition of Joe Flacco, the fact he was driven to Cincinnati, and what they think he could possibly bring to the 2025 Bengals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt and Willie Know Ball, but even we did not see this one coming. The Bengals made a big splash adding a veteran quarterback who knows the AFC North as well as anyone. Why did the Bengals decide to add Flacco? What will the offense look like with Flacco under center? Should this rest our expectations for this season? Flacco was once a Super Bowl MVP, but has become a journeyman bridge quarterback who produces for teams just to be replace. Now he has crossed over into full-on mercenary mode, as he comes in to save the Bengals season. The Bengals have a herculean task ahead of them as the head to Green Bay, but hey, Flacco has already beat the Packers this season. After that the Bengals have some winnable games on the horizon. They have two matchups with the Steelers coming up, which could determine their fate. (Who would have guessed that the AFC Championship would go through Pittsburg of all places?) Then, what was once considered the most challenging part of the Bengals schedule comes as they play the Ravens twice in 18 days with the Buffalo Bills sandwiched in the middle. Oh, and by the way, the first of those matchups with Baltimore happens to be on the road on a short week. No biggy. Well, the Ravens aren't looking so tough all of the sudden, as their injury report grows like it just made a wish on a Zoltar machine. Could Flacco take care of business against the team he took to the Super Bowl all those years ago? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: Zac Taylor publicly backed Jake Browning this week, while the same confidence doesn't seem to be there for a former high pick at cornerback. Cincinnati remains relatively healthy, while the Lions are more banged up going into Week 5. Is this going to be a breakout game for Andrei Iosivas? Plainly put, Cincinnati needs to find a way to be explosive on offense this week. Believe it or not, the Bengals are 10.5-point underdogs at home, per FanDuel. And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: Cincinnati embarrassed themselves, this time on primetime TV, though the problems differed from last week. The offensive line is a mess. Should the Bengals consider a veteran quarterback addition? We can blame the roster, the coaches and others, but there remains an organizational problem. And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Uff da. The Bengals went up to Minnesota, in a battle of backup quarterbacks, trying to get a win and build confidence for the Jake Browning run. Could things have gone better? You betcha. The Minnesota Meltdown, as Willie has coined it, could not have been much uglier. Carson Wentz, of North Dakota State fame, looked like villain from the Fargo franchise (most of which actually takes place in Minnesota), but it was the Vikings defense that put the Bengals in the woodchipper. The Bengals fumbled five times, losing three of them. Browning also threw two interceptions. All of these turnovers led to points for Norway's finest, two of them immediately. In all, the Bengals gave up 31 points as a result of turnovers. They were also in field goal range on two of those occasions, meaning that they gave up at least six more points that they could have scored. All and all that is a 37 point swing from turnovers in a game they lost by 38 points. These numbers are insane. That was the biggest problem, but not the only problem. The run game was, uh, did not exist. The defense gave up touchdowns on four of five Red Zone appearances, which is less than ideal. There were some good performances on that side of the ball, but when they needed to make a play the fumbled away their chance like... well like the Bengals offense. The way the Bengals lost this game is unsustainable. The run game is troubling, for sure, but there is no way they continue to turn the ball over at that rate. They had some good luck in the first two weeks with turnovers, but this far surpassed regression to the mean. In fact, it gave them a soybean field's worth of room to progress back to it. Matt and Willie are here to tell you that this team has some problems, but they are fixable and the Denver Broncos are not unbeatable. So let's all hope the Bengals cleansed themselves in the waters of Lake Minnetonka and got the stink of this loss off them before they boarded the plane back to Cincinnati. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: -The Bengals were steamrolled in Minnesota for a historic loss. -Are things fixable? -Was this an outlier or a trend? -A conversation about Zac Taylor. And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: The Bengals added a new quarterback to their roster and placed Joe Burrow on IR. What will the game plan be on offense now that Jake Browning is taking over? What does the defense need to do going forward with a backup QB at the helm? What are the keys to a win over the Vikings this week? And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Look. This sucks. I know it. You know it. Joe Burrow had a normal offseason. He played in the preseason. The Bengals went 2-0 for to start the season for the first time in Zac Taylor's tenure, and now "poof" Burrow goes down to injury once again. It sucks. I'm not a silver linings guy, not a Mr. Brightside. But I'm also not a quitter. This season is not over. Jake Browning can chuck the ball around and win some games. Of course, it doesn't hurt that he has a vast arsenal of offensive weapons. This defense isn't bad. In fact, they might even be good. All I'm saying is, that they could still be a good team without Burrow and if they can be a good team without him, just imagine how scary they will be when he returns. Matt and Willie dive into the Burrow loss and what it means for the future. More pressingly, they discuss what happens next. This team isn't tanking. They are not hanging up the towel. They aren't cashing their paychecks and saying, "oh well, there is always next year." The did not waver when Burrow hit the turf and I would not expect them to do so anytime soon. The fun has only begun. Who Dey! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On tap this episode: The perceived timeline of Joe Burrow’s return. Can Jake Browning get this team into the playoffs? What did we see in the trenches? The Bengals’ defense is opportunistic! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: -Sam's life post-retirement. -His conversations with Trey Hendrickson amid his contract negotiations with the Bengals. -His thoughts on the team's Week 1 win, and the outlook ahead in the 2025 season. -Sam's manning of the "Royal Rig" from Crown Royal and tailgating with fans on Sunday. And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: -Jaguars vs. Bengals mid-week injury reports. -The Bengals made a flurry of moves to start off their week. -Which players are under the microscope this week? -Jacksonville provides a lot of problems for the Bengals' defense at their offensive skill positions--can Cincinnati's defense keep their momentum from Week 1? And a special announcement! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jason and Kevin are back to share their thoughts on the Cincinnati Bengals' Week 1 one-point, ugly win over the Browns, and why neither of them are overly worried. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode: -A win is a win. -What's with the Bengals' offensive struggles? -An impressive and surprising performance by the Bengals' defense. -Were you encouraged or discouraged by the Bengals' Week 1 performance? And more! Brought to you by FanDuel! Also brought to you by FOCO! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.