Flying Pigskin Podcast: Bengals’ playoff hopes dashed again

It’s over, people.

This was the main topic in this week’s version of The Flying Pigskin podcast, which was hosted by Tanya O’Rourke and featured panellist Keenan Singleton. The show also featured Mo Egger, the host of Sports Talk on 1530 AM. I was busy getting The Crete News ready to go to press and missed this week, but will be back next week.

You can listen to this week’s show at any time, and be sure to tune in to get all of the latest news and commentary on your Cincinnati Bengals.

Whatever else came out of the loss Monday night, most fans are washing their hands of hand coach Marvin Lewis, who has lost the trust of the fanbase.

Over the course of 15 years, Lewis has done some really good things.

But his days are numbered.

It is time for an infusion of fresh blood, and a young, offensive-minded coach is just what the doctor ordered.

This team lacks discipline, which was abundantly clear after amassing the most penalties yards in franchise history Monday night. And the continued failure of the Bengals to make adjustments at halftime is a big part of the problem

When the Bengals go into the locker room, nothing seems to happen. They just don’t adjust. Cincinnati went into halftime with a 17-3 lead (it should have been 17-0) and scored all of three points in the second half. Pittsburgh adjusted. Cincinnati did not.

There is something different about the way the Steelers responded to their head coach and the way the Bengals responded to their head coach. Which is more evidence of why it is past time for Lewis to go.

Monday night’s game was probably one of the more violent ones in the long history of this rivalry, and had many calling for even more reforms. One-game suspensions were handed down to Juju Smith-Schuster for his blind-side hit on Vontaze Burfict and to George Iloka for his head shot to Antonio Brown.

However, Iloka got his suspension reduced to a fine, while Smith-Schuster’s appeal was denied.

The bottom line is that these two teams genuinely do not like each other.

One of the highlights of the program came with an exclusive interview of Hall-of-Famer and Tampa Bay legend Warren Sapp, he did not necessarily agree that the game was as violent as many made it out to be.

Before all of the rules changes meant to protect players, this was just how football was played.

“That was not a dirty game,” Sapp insisted. “People get caught up in all of the hoopla. I think people went a little overboard (they way they talked about it).”

Sapp also addressed the Lewis issue, and noted that, “when you watch how efficient they were in building a 17-0 lead, and then letting it slip away, that all starts and stops with Lewis.”

He pointed out that a head coach has to be more than just a philosophy. He has to be able to change the culture of a team, like Jon Gruden did when he came to Tampa Bay.

“Gruden walked in the door and he absolutely held us all accountable,” Sapp recalled. “He challenged us, not just to be good . . . .”

Next up for the Bengals are the Chicago Bears. The schedule does not get any easier from there, with the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens all looming. Someone needs to challenge these Bengals to step it up and find a way to finish strong.

Please join us on twitter @flying_pigskin and let us know your thoughts on anything and everything Bengals.

You can also tweet Keenan directly @CKJMSingleton, or contact Tonya @TonyaORourke. In addition, you can now call in and leave a voicemail at 513-449-0716.

Some examples of voicemails we received this week were Steve, who was just dumbfounded how we let this team run over our emotions year after year, and called the loss “devastating.”

Michelle pointed to consistency as the Bengals’ biggest problem, noting that they play good for three quarters, then get to the fourth quarter and it all falls apart, and that goes back to coaching.

Be sure to tune in to The Flying Pigskin podcast this week and every week. You can find us anywhere podcasts are available, or go to Stitcher or Google Play. The show normally airs live every Monday afternoon, but will be heard on Tuesday this coming week after the Monday night game against the Steelers.

Who Dey! Who Dey All Day!