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The Bengals' 'Star Wars' formation was a Jedi mind trick on the Giants' defense
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert missed much of the Bengals first half of the season. He’s gotten two games under his belt, with Monday night his third. The Bengals lined up in a formation that left two lineman, running back Jeremy Hill, and tight end Tyler Kroft lined up at the numbers to the left.
Monday night ratings dip, again
Well, it was fun while it lasted. After Sunday's two-pack of Cowboys-Steelers and Seahawks-Patriots generated rim-rocking ratings, the year-to-year, apples-to-apples dip has returned. Via SportsBusiness Daily, the Monday night game between the Bengals and Giants generated a 7.
A.J. Green Nominated for Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award
Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green is one of 32 player nominees for the third annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. The award recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field. The award was created in 2014 in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney, Sr.
The Bears season has been over for a while (2-7 record), with injuries and all-around poor play as the culprit. As amazing as it sounds, things actually got worse for them on Monday when their No. 1 WR, Alshon Jeffery, was hit with a four-game suspension for violating the performance-enhancing drugs policy. The suspension means he is out until Week 15, which means fantasy owners can cut him in all redraft formats.
Bengals Miss Giant Opportunity
The defending NFC Champion Carolina Panthers are 3-6. Two of the league’s perennial powers – Pittsburgh and Green Bay – are 4-5. And after five straight trips to the playoffs, the Bengals are 3-5-1. “It’s very disappointing,” said Alex Erickson after Monday night’s 21-20 loss to the New York Giants. “You put so much into it, you know?”
Bengals at Giants Postgame Quotes
There was an opportunity there in the football game to win the football game. I look up there, and I think first off, third down, on the two sides of the football – offensively we didn’t do very good today. We didn’t get enough done on third down, and it makes a huge difference. I thought defensively, again, the same thing. They converted some that we can’t let conversions happen. But we played at times together, played right, did things right, but we have opportunities on offense to put more points up. We end up having to kick field goals, and that ended up probably being the difference in the football game. If we get touchdowns, especially from the 7-yard line there, an opportunity there. Did good things on offense, but not enough, and obviously, we’ve still got to protect the quarterback better all the way through.
Green on Dalton: ‘Can’t let him get beat up like that’
The sting of this latest Bengals loss still hung in the air even as Visitor Locker Room 2 inside MetLife Stadium mostly lie empty early into Tuesday morning. A.J. Green stood at his locker putting the finishing touches on his flight attire when he let out reality as he sees it for an offensive night where the Bengals failed to score on their final five drives of a one-point loss.
Jones went for 'hero' play on Beckham, Jr. touchdown
New Jersey – Adam Jones wasn’t interested in talking about what the offense or the defense as a whole did or didn’t do Monday night in a 21-20 loss to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. He just knows Odell Beckham, Jr. spun him around for a wide-open touchdown with 84 seconds left in the first half to give the Giants a 14-10 lead.
Notes: Fourth-down touchdown, rush attack key Giants' victory
Michael Johnson’s eyes widened, and his usually reserved tone of voice rose. Even after the loss, the prospect of the New York Giants going for it on fourth down while trailing 20-14 from the Cincinnati 3-yard line on the third play of the fourth quarter got the defensive end fired up.
Cincinnati Bengals should have let New York Giants score on Monday night
The Bengals made a costly, and ultimately decisive, mistake on the Giants' final drive of a 21-20 Cincinnati loss Monday night. On the play that sealed the game coming out of the two-minute warning, Giants running back Rashad Jennings should have been allowed to run for a touchdown and not get tackled. Once Jennings gained enough yards for a first down, the only way Cincinnati could have gotten the ball back would have been to allow the score. Otherwise, as we saw, the Giants could simply kneel out the clock.
AFC North Bytes
Steelers DE Cam Heyward out for the season
If the Steelers didn’t have enough trouble stopping the run and generating pressure on the quarterback, the task just got infinitely more difficult. Their best defensive player, Cam Heyward, will miss the remainder of the regular season because of a torn pectoral injury Sunday in the 35-30 loss against the Dallas Cowboys.
Anquan Boldin Among 5 NFL Players to Meet with Congress on Race, Police Issues
Many NFL players have symbolically taken a stand against racial injustice in the United States this season, and Detroit Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin will be among those who will discuss the country's cultural landscape with members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday. According to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, Boldin, Lions safety Glover Quin, Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown, Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins and Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins will represent the NFL and its players.
Kenneth Dixon's 'Breakout Game' Spells Good Things For Ravens Offense
The Ravens saw flashes of what rookie running back Kenneth Dixon can be during their preseason. A knee injury cost him some time in training camp, and another worse knee injury left Dixon sidelined for the first four weeks of the season. But Head Coach John Harbaugh never forgot what Dixon can offer.
Random Bytes
Tony Romo Comments on Dak Prescott as Cowboys Starting QB
Prescott has led the Cowboys to an 8-1 record—the best mark in the NFL. He has been superb, throwing for 2,339 yards and 14 touchdowns against just two interceptions and completing 66.8 percent of his passes. He's also rushed for 125 yards and four more scores. On Sunday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said, via Breer, that Prescott would remain the team's starting quarterback.
Growth of Gambling Across US Is Helping to Pull NFL Wagering out of the Shadows
Ten years from now, everything will be legal. Well, not everything. Just many of the things folks do to add a little sizzle to Sunday's NFL action. Wanna place a wager? No need to book a flight to Las Vegas, call your uncle (who knows a guy) or risk your credit card to some sportsbook licensed on Madripoor Island. Just head to the nearest casino. Or race track. Or your laptop. Or maybe even the stadium.
Jared Goff to start for Rams against Dolphins
The Los Angeles Rams are finally ready to see if No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff can turn their offense around. NFL Network's Michael Silver confirmed with Goff that the Rams plan to start the rookie Sunday against the Dolphins in Los Angeles. ESPN first reported the news, and the team later confirmed the switch to Goff. Case Keenum, who started nine games this season, will hit the bench after failing to lead the Rams to a touchdown in New Jersey on Sunday in a 9-6 win over the Jets.
Minnesota Vikings release kicker Blair Walsh
The Blair Walsh era is curtains in Minnesota. NFL Media's Mike Garafolo reported Tuesday that the Vikings have released their embattled kicker after another ugly performance in Sunday's 26-20 loss to the Redskins. The team later confirmed the move.