We get mostly Sunday 1pm games next season. Lol

I hate non-Sunday & non-1pm games.

Grumpy old man rant over

He knows his assignment

Ja’Marr Chase says he doesn’t worry about the defense “My job is to score touchdowns and block for Chase Brown.”

— Matt (@CoachMinich) December 6, 2024

https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/664ef6a3-b875-4260-81ad-0aed6065cf3c#bucketId=8301

Not sure if you will be able to see this or not being on ESPN+ but its a breakdown on the Dallas/Bengals game. Really cool to see Belichick break down the schemes and executions of the Bengals past few games. Of course, they absolutely love Burrow Chase and Tee...

But...

When you see them breakdown the defense you will be convinced Lou HAS to go after this season. The scheme and execution are a perfect storm of garbage. At one point they are showing numerous examples of the Steelers and even Ravens games and how the scheme is so bad that the offense could score or get major yards in numerous ways.

You love watching how well Burrow and company do on the breakdowns, but the defense is so bad that if we don't see new coaching on that side this offseason in addition to actual playmakers, I'm going to start a ping pong club for the members here so we don't sit through another season like this year

We have seen way to often in the Marvin Lewis era the classic dead cat bounce and as a result front office would keep everything status quo moving forward.

Do you think this will happen for the remainder of this years game with Zac Taylor and as a result the front office keeping all coaching personnel moving forward in 2025?

As noted in another thread Logan Wilson had knee surgery this morning. Per Zac, he is likely heading to IR. Orlando Brown is doubtful for Monday

For the Cowboys, OL Zach Martin is out

The best offensive player for the month of November. Their lowest points total was 34. He accounted for 15 touchdowns. And they went 1-3.

I'm sure he would be the first to say it was a bittersweet award

#Bengals LB Logan Wilson had a surgical cleanup on his knee this morning, sources say. He’s expected to miss the rest of the regular season. Another tough blow to the Cincy defense. pic.twitter.com/x71o8mPofL

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 5, 2024

Orlando Brown is the Bengals Walter Payton Man of the Year award candidate

Former Bengal Andrew Billings is the Bears nominee

and

Former Bengal Larry Ogunjobi is the Steelers guy

You see a lot of people bashing Lou because his 2 best seasons, 21 and 22, "werent even all that good".

Yet I never see anyone mention that these 2 seasons were Jessie Bates' worst 2 years in the league. He even went on record saying his head wasnt into it because of his contract situation.

So those 2 years in the regular season, the Bengals got a compromised Bates. Bates played around or just below league average those 2 seasons.

And in those 2 seasons, the Bengals had the 17th best scoring defense, and the 6th best scoring defense. May I remind you that this was with Bates playing well below his standard.

Look at how great Bates has been outside of 21 and 22. He is an all pro caliber Free safety. This isnt even a question.

The 21 and 22 playoffs got those all pro version of Bates. Bates absolutely turned it on come the postseason. That defense turned into a juggernaut.

Now lets go back, people are bashing Lou's 2 best seasons as being sort of average...

How do those 21 and 22 defenses look with Bates playing uncompromised? Pretty damn good. I'd venture to say the Bengals defense wouldve been considered elite in 2022, and the 21 defense would flat out just be good instead of "little below average".

Keeping these facts in mind, the whole argument about the "underwhelming-ness" of Lou's best years sort of go out the window. And how does the narrative around Lou change if Bates wasnt playing it safe because of his contract problems those 2 years...

My final thoughts: I really dont know if this is a Lou issue. Now has he adapted with these downgrades? Idk. But I truly do think that it could be a long term mistake by firing him after this year. Thats just me though. It's a question that I cant even truly figure out. I get youre supposed to fire guys after horrid performances like this, but Im really not so sure.

Groin injury.

https://x.com/MikeGarafolo/status/1864372337308553411