Bengal Bytes (9/27): Can Bengals stay hot?

Bengals extend Andrew Whitworth through 2016

Enquirer sources confirmed the oldest starting left tackle in the league agreed to a one-year extension with the Bengals, who just drafted tackle prospects with their first two picks. That tells you all you need to know about how the Cincinnati Bengals' organization feels about Andrew Whitworth.

Which NFL teams with 2-0 records are built to last into the playoffs?

The build-up to Week 3 of the NFL season has largely centered on a surprising group of 0-2 teams and which ones — Baltimore Ravens? Indianapolis Colts? Philadelphia Eagles? Seattle Seahawks? — can avoid a death spiral given clubs winless through two weeks have missed postseason 88% of the time since 1990. But what about the unbeatens? Who would have thought the Atlanta Falcons or New York Jets would start 2-0? Or the Dallas Cowboys with Tony Romo and Dez Bryant sidelined? Dating from 1990's expansion to 12 playoff teams, history shows 63% of 2-0 teams reach postseason. We rank this year's 2-0 teams by the likelihood they'll play into January

NFL fantasy mailbag: Don't give up yet on C.J. Anderson, Jeremy Hill

Hill had an awful day last week, fumbling twice, getting benched in real life and actually scoring negative-one point in ESPN's standard fantasy scoring. But as Bengals reporter Coley Harvey wrote, the Bengals aren't giving up on Hill yet and hope the humbling experience will benefit the second-year pro going forward.

This week's Cincinnati Bengals objective: Keep the hot start going

Since 1990, 75 percent of teams that have started a regular season 3-0 have gone on to make the playoffs. Those are much better odds than the 53-percent chance teams with 2-1 records have. Can the Bengals keep their undefeated record intact? Not only will you want to watch Sunday's game to see if the Bengals can keep their hot start going, but you'll also want to see how well they match up with the Ravens.

Notes: Less is more for Gilberry; Report says Whit back in '16

Less is more when it comes to the Bengals defensive line rotation. Just ask the first man off the bench in Wallace Gilberry after he played less than half the snaps in the win over San Diego last Sunday. Gilberry took 28 snaps, or 46 percent of the plays, and logged a huge sack and forced fumble in the first quarter. He now has one sack this season after having 1.5 all last year despite playing 840 snaps, or about 73 percent of the plays. In the previous two seasons he had 14 sacks on just 836 plays.

Behind Enemy Lines

Baltimore Ravens hope Bengals don't end another 100-yard streak

The Baltimore Ravens hope their latest streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher will suffer the same end as their previous ones. From 1998 to 2001, the Ravens went 46 consecutive games without giving up 100 yards to a running back. But the third-longest streak in NFL history was stopped by Corey Dillon and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Batimore Ravens DE Chris Canty out, RB Lorenzo Taliaferro questionable - ESPN

The Baltimore Ravens ruled out two starters -- defensive end Chris Canty and offensive tackle Eugene Monroe -- as well as first-round pick Breshad Perriman for Sunday's game against the first-place Cincinnati Bengals. Canty and Monroe didn't practice all week, and Perriman was limited in his first practices since the end of July.

AFC North Play Gives Ravens Big Opportunity

As disappointed as the Ravens are with the results from the first two weeks of the season, they know they have a golden opportunity sitting in front of them. Baltimore opens its division schedule at home Sunday against the first-place Bengals, and follows that up with matchups against the Steelers and Browns. It’s a tough stretch, but the three straight division games give Baltimore a chance to put itself right back into the thick of the race.

Baltimore Ravens | Unscripted Week 3: Can Ravens Overcome 0-2 Start?

ENS UNSCRIPTED tackles the important Raven topics going into Sunday's game. How can the Ravens avoid an 0-3 start? Who are the Ravens? How will this defense stop the Bengals without Suggs?

Random Bytes

Mike Evans would play Manziel over McCown | ProFootballTalk

Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans spent his college career with Johnny Manziel and the first year of his NFL career with Josh McCown. So Evans has more insight when it comes to picking between the two than most. Evans would pick Manziel.

Michael Crabtree, Mike Evans, Jared Cook could star in Week 3 - Sunday NFL preview

NFL Nation previews what to watch for around the league Sunday, including the Week 3 fantasy football value of Raiders WR Michael Crabtree, Bucs WR Mike Evans and Rams TE Jared Cook.

Jimmy Graham says he's not frustrated over role with Seattle Seahawks

Jimmy Graham admitted Friday he's still adjusting to his new role with the Seattle Seahawks, but he downplayed the notion he's frustrated after being targeted just twice in last weekend's loss to the Green Bay Packers. "I'm doing what's asked of me," said Graham

Luke McCown has limitations, but gives Saints a chance to win - ESPN

This scenario is the reason why the New Orleans Saints kept veteran Luke McCown as their backup quarterback over Ryan Griffin. Griffin had a higher "upside" and might even have the chance to develop into a starting NFL quarterback one day. But McCown was more ready to step in if, say, Drew Brees injured his shoulder in Week 2 and the Saints needed someone to fill in for a week or two.