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There was little else anyone could talk about heading into this week than the return of Tom Brady from his 4-game suspension. And, to make matters worse, the Patriots took on the Browns in a game that might make you think this whole thing was scripted in some sort of WWE storyline. One thing was for sure though, Brady and his bunch were going to have a chip on their shoulder and hit the Brows with everything they had on Sunday!
The team’s mindset is doing better than the numbers. The offense is tracking to gain its fewest rushing yards in history and their fewest points with a starting quarterback since Jon Kitna, a Free Agent Odyssey in 2001. The defense is on pace to allow its most points in six years a season after setting a franchise record and they were down 28-0 after the Cowboys’ first snap in the second half Sunday for the first time since the 2009 finale, a game they didn’t have to win while savoring an AFC North sweep and title.
Watch: Pat Sims, Ken Anderson on Beyond the Stripes
Bengals defensive tackle Pat Sims will join us on Beyond the Stripes tonight at 7 p.m. at Hofbräuhaus Newport. Bengals legend Ken Anderson will also appear as a special guest. They will join Bengals beat writers Paul Dehner and Jim Owczarski, columnist Paul Daugherty and sideline reporter Lindsay Patterson.
First look: Bengals vs. Patriots
The Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) slipped back below .500 on a short week after getting beat by the Dallas Cowboys 28-14 on Sunday in Texas. The Bengals fell behind 21-0 in the first half and 28-0 early in the third quarter as the defense had no answer for Ezekiel Elliott and the offense once again couldn’t manage points.
Power Rankings: No. 19 Bengals visit No. 1 Patriots
The Cincinnati Bengals fell six spots from No. 13 to No. 19 in the latest USA TODAY Sports NFL Power Rankings, and it doesn't get any easier for the 2-3 team this week as it prepares to face the top-ranked team in the rankings - on the road. New England ranks No. 1 despite the fact that No. 2 Minnesota is the only unbeaten team remaining in the NFL.
This week on the Bengals Beat Podcast, Enquirer beat writers Paul Dehner Jr. and Jim Owczarski talk through the team's problems on offense and defense while considering whether a clear ceiling was placed on this season Sunday in Dallas. Hear from Brandon LaFell, Adam Jones, Marvin Lewis and Dre Kirkpatrick.
AFC North Bytes
IT'S A TRAP! Why Steelers will lose to Dolphins
The Steelers overcome some early hiccups and went on to dominate the Jets, prevailing 31-13. Although they dismantled the Jets trap, Pittsburgh’s real test comes next week in Miami.
Browns WR Andrew Hawkins Scores TD, Obeys Rules by Placing Football on Ground
The NFL wants its players to keep their celebrations to a minimum, so Cleveland Browns receiver Andrew Hawkins did just that. Days after the league detailed to media which celebrations are and are not allowed, Hawkins found the end zone against the New England Patriots. Rather than break out a dance or jump into the Dawg Pound, the sixth-year wideout deliberately set the football on the ground and walked robotically away.
Running back Justin Forsett has found a sixth NFL home. The former Pro Bowler signed with the Detroit Lions on Tuesday, one week after being released by the Baltimore Ravens.
Random Bytes
Do the Texans Have Buyer’s Remorse over Brock Osweiler?
The quarterback was supposed to make Houston a contender, but there are no guarantees beyond the millions of dollars. Midway through the second half of the Texans’ lopsided loss to the Vikings on Sunday, Bill O’Brien’s conversation on the sideline was more important than what was happening on the field.
Child prodigy's approach to diagnosing concussions nabs spot in pediatric medical device contest
Averia, co-founded by Rohan Suri (a 17-year-old from Virginia), has developed a way to diagnose concussions which combines an iPhone, an app and a cardboard headset. On Saturday he will be taking the device to a competition organized by Children’s National Health System in Washington, D.C. There, he will compete against a dozen other entrepreneurs. Suri will be the youngest competitor in the four years since the event began.
Washington Still Waiting for Cousins to Prove Himself
Another so-so performance in a so-far so-so season leaves Washington still waiting to see whether Cousins, its franchise-tag quarterback, is worthy of removing the "tag" part.
Michael Smith, Jemele Hill Will Take Over ESPN’s 6 PM ‘SportsCenter’
Michael Smith and Jemele Hill will become co-hosts of ESPN's 6 p.m "SportsCenter" as the network tailors the show to different day parts. Smith and Hill will place emphasis on putting sports headlines in context, King said. "By 6 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the West Coast, we understand that audiences have pretty much come across the headlines that have happened in the course of a day, either through social content, or through mobile or digital content," said King. "What they actually really need is a sense of why it matters, and a sense of context, as opposed to just news."
Brett Favre: Romo should wait until Prescott struggles before returning
Brett Favre is "extremely impressed" with what Dallas Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has shown so far. But that isn’t the sole reason he believes the Cowboys are better off sticking with Prescott rather than restoring Tony Romo as their starter once he is medically cleared to return from a broken bone in his back.
Hosted by our senior writer — and former NFL cornerback — Domonique Foxworth, Practice Squad is a weekly variety show that features various segments inspired by our love of the game and filtered through our awkward, weird and subversive minds. This is not your average weekly NFL recap show.
Special Session Day 2: State senate votes to pass stadium deal
The state's senate voted 16 to 5, to pass the stadium deal on the second day of the Special Session held at the Nevada State Capitol, Tuesday afternoon. The deal will now go to the General Assembly to be voted on, which will resume on Thursday.