The Bengals second and third best players (arguably I guess) finally showed up tonight and it made a difference. They are going to have to continue to play well because the best player on the team is not his normal self. Hopefully they can continue making plays, JB gets healthier and Tee remembers how to catch. Tonight won’t work vs teams like SF and KC but I am happy with the W - (especially living out here in So Cal).

The boys win their 6th Primetime game at home in a row and get their first win of the season. So we get to award our first game ball of the season.

JOE MIXON: 70 total yards, 1 TD

JAMAR CHASE: 12 catches 141 yards

TREY HENDRICKSON: 2 Sacks

LOGAN WILSON: 4 tackles, 2 INTs

DAX HALL: 8 tackles, 1 Sack

EVAN MCPHERSON: 4 FGs all over 45 yards

Bengals
WR Trenton Irwin
HB Chris Evans
TE Irv Smith Jr.
C Trey Hill
OT Jackson Carman
DT Jay Tufele
CB DJ Ivey

Rams
RB Zach Evans
OL Kevin Dotson
OT Warren McClendon
DE Earnest Brown

https://twitter.com/fox19joe/status/1706415353893368017?s=46&t=pkni6GRbeTj3sw_si0D37w

With Irv Smith likely out, Tanner Hudson has been elevated for game day

additionally

so has Reid Sinnett

Update from this morning:

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QB Joe Burrow is going through a workout this morning. I'm told there's optimism he will play and his status for tonight is trending in the right direction, per sources. Burrow is campaigning with the coaching staff and trainers to play, however his status is still uncertain.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) September 25, 2023

Saw a pic of Kelce leaving the game last night with that Swift girl. When she inevitably dumps him and writes one of her whiny breakup songs about him, that has to go on the PBS playlist to be a touchdown song whenever to Chefs come to Cincy. Golden!!!

And the past 2 seasons, the Bengals have taken advantage of it.

While the Bengals have drafted well the past 4 drafts (Burrow, Chase, Higgins, McPherson, Wilson, etc).

This team has also been built with free agency: (Reader, Hendrickson, Awuzie, Vonn Bell, Karras, Hilton, Cappa, Orlando Brown, etc.) <-- That's a massive amount of talent to infuse into a roster.

And trade (BJ Hill).

One would have to expect the Top 5 picks to stop happening, so free agency is a big path to success.

So with a QB highly paid, it's imperative to hit on draft picks AND to optimize development and scheme. Another way of looking at it is that it's back to using the same model they used under Marvin where they signed 3rd and 4th tier free agents because of cost...which puts a premium on draft picks.

Do the Bengals have the right staff in place to win without the cheat code on? I'd argue that offensive lineman atleast aren't being developed. How many players actually improved on the line from what they started as?

This isn't a knock on him or another lack of pass rush thread.

I have noticed around the league that other elite pass Rushers move around the line of scrimmage. So why don't we do that with Hendrickson? Can't we isolate him one on one with guards more often?

According to teammates via Jay Morrison..
https://twitter.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/1705662232426590268?s=19