Marvin Lewis not considering pulling starters with two games left
Marvin Lewis says the Bengals "owe it to everybody" to try to win their final two games and that means playing their best players. "Our thought is to win these last two football games with the best players we can put out there to play, and that's what we owe to everybody," Lewis said. "This isn't junior high school."
Bengals Walkthru: 23 drives that doomed the season
A breakdown of the statistic that tells the failure story of the 2016 Bengals, plus, should A.J. Green play, Steelers pop off, Burfict not talking, Fisher's snaps and playing the role of The Fixer.
Cincinnati Bengals Report Card from loss to the Steelers
Here is a look at the good, the bad and the key plays from the 24-20 loss the Bengals suffered against the Steelers on Sunday in this week’s Report Card.
Marvin Lewis news conference transcript
To recap yesterday, the outcome of the game rested in what we did in the second half, after a good first half. We failed to convert two of five third downs in the second half. We didn’t make enough first downs or put ourselves in position to score points. We had some negative plays; the turnover and four other ones that contribute to that. You can’t have that when you have a lead. You want to keep moving the football forward.
Notes: Bengals draw Savage assignment in QB's first NFL start
Texans quarterback Tom Savage gets his first NFL start against the Bengals on Christmas Eve and he won’t have the gift of history Saturday night (8:25-NFL Network) even though he’s at home. According to Elias, head coach Marvin Lewis’ Bengals have teed it up against five others in their NFL debut and while they’ve lost two of them they’ve done it while allowing 50 points total, just one touchdown pass and a combined passer rating of 63.5. Savage can take heart from San Francisco’s Shaun Hill. Hill threw the lone TD pass and racked up the best passer rating of the five with 105.8 in a nationally televised Saturday night 20-13 victory over the Bengals in a December 2007 game at home.
They never got the one play on offense or defense. But then, if you watched the Bengals lose, 24-20, when the Steelers pulled off a second-half rally with 15 unanswered points, you saw the entire 2016 season in microcosm that unofficially ended Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium with the Bengals eliminated from the playoffs for the first time in six years.
Doc: I'm starting to believe Marvin Lewis
I tried to work up a good outrage after the game Sunday. But, you know, I just couldn’t. I’m in Apathy Mode. Watching the Bengals lose in similar fashion week after month evokes a certain numbness to the proceedings. It’s possible I’ve been Bengalized. Again.
AFC North Bytes
Steelers Injury Report: Some big names are question marks heading into Week 16
Heading into the Week 15 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Pittsburgh Steelers were a relatively healthy team. In fact, they only ruled out two plays prior to the game Sunday. However, as games against the Bengals usually go, there were several injuries of note following the game.
Browns sticking with Robert Griffin III as starter
After the Browns fell to 0-14 on Sunday against the Bills, coach Hue Jackson said that “everybody is in play” to start at quarterback when they face the Chargers on Saturday. Everyone might have been in play, but Jackson has opted to stick with the same guy who started the last two games.
Ravens' news, notes and opinions including potential Pro Bowl picks
The Pro Bowl rosters will be announced tonight and the Ravens figure to be well-represented. The selections often amount to a popularity contest, but it’s hard to imagine offensive guard Marshal Yanda, safety Eric Weddle and kicker Justin Tucker not receiving the honor.
Random Bytes
I thought Roger Goodell was riding a hot streak recently. After solving breast cancer, domestic violence, and getting to the bottom of a second deflate-gate in record time without costing a penny in legal fees, it looked like smooth sailing ahead for the NFLs head honcho. But after Sunday nights debacle I am left with the conclusion that Goodell might possbly be going too soft on players, perhaps after getting to know too many of them.
Panthers' Path to Contending Again Clear If They Can Stop Beating Themselves Up
Despite suffering through a frustrating, disappointing and often puzzling 2016 season, the Panthers can turn things around quickly and return to Super Bowl contention next year. They don't have to trade Cam Newton, re-educate him into becoming a traditional pocket passer or follow him through his life and fashion choices like middle school hall monitors.
Butler shut down Emmanuel Sanders? 'Child please!!'
he Broncos' offense had no answer for the Patriots on Sunday -- the defending champs were held to just three points in a damaging home loss that could keep them out of the postseason. We've heard about the internal strife within the walls of the Denver locker room. On the outside, one of the Broncos' biggest offensive stars was in spin-control mode after being held to three catches for 48 yards in the loss.
What we learned: Redskins' playoff hopes take big hit
The Washington Redskins' playoff hopes took a severe blow after falling to the Carolina Panthers 26-15 on Monday night. Here's what we learned in the Week 15 finale