Bengals News (11/20): Zac Taylor talks about evaluating Ryan Finley

Cincinnati Bengals LB Germaine Pratt trying to take advantage of opportunity
“It’s very exciting. Each and every day you come to work to play football, and then you finally get to start in the NFL,” Pratt told The Enquirer. “Things probably aren’t going so well around here, but it’s a little bright side for you to be able to start and try to change the culture and help try to win games.”

Taylor-Made Takes: Zac Taylor wants to see more of what quarterback Ryan Finley brings to the table.
You know there are going to be ups and downs with any young quarterback. He didn’t go to training camp as the starter. He didn’t get starter reps until the last few weeks and I feel we continue to see growth in a lot of different areas with him.

Experience of a Lifetime: Bengals Fan Travels with Team
The Experience of a Lifetime contest was part of the year-long NFL 100 celebration. Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz surprised Ava on the sidelines before the Jacksonville game to tell her she was the winner.

Game Preview: Week 12 Steelers at Bengals
The Bengals got off to a fast start at Oakland and jumped on top 7-0 in the first quarter, thanks to a 12-play, 77-yard drive that was capped by a three-yard TD run by Bay-area native Joe Mixon. Mixon celebrated the TD, his first rushing score of the season, by handing the ball to his mother in the stands.

The Bengals signed DE Freedom Akinmoladun and WR Cody Thompson to the practice squad
Akinmoladun (6-4, 295), a rookie out of the University of Nebraska, was originally a college free agent signee of the N.Y. Giants in May. He was waived by the Giants at final cuts, and then signed to the team’s practice squad before being released on Nov. 12.

Bengals Booth Podcast: Dan Hoard and Dave Lapham recap Week 11 against the Oakland Raiders with highlights and interviews.
In the latest Bengals Booth Podcast, broadcasters Dan Hoard and Dave Lapham break down the Week 11 game against the Oakland Raiders with postgame analysis, interviews and highlights.

Why chasing Young is the wrong idea for the Cincinnati Bengals
Ideally, one would not like to be looking ahead to the draft at the 10 game mark of the season, however, the very fact that the most exciting player for the 2019 Cincinnati Bengals has been kickoff returner Brandon Wilson epitomizes their catastrophic season. Zac Taylor still awaits his first win and Paul Brown Stadium has been merely scattered with fans since the bleak situation of the team became apparent.

Cincinnati Bengals 7-round 2020 NFL mock draft: Who goes No. 1?
The 0-10 Cincinnati Bengals are an absolute mess this season. With the worst offensive line in the NFL protecting fourth-round rookie Ryan Finley for the rest of the season, it is certainly possible that the Bengals do not win a single game. Even if they do come away with a lucky win, the Cincinnati Bengals will likely hold the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Around the league

Coaching finalists announced for NFL 100 All-Time Team
The NFL is revealing the 100 greatest players and 10 greatest coaches in NFL history. Every Friday night at 8 pm ET through Dec. 27, NFL Network will announce the latest members of the All-Time Team during a one-hour special hosted by Rich Eisen and featuring Bill Belichick and Cris Collinsworth.

Marcus Peters on facing Rams: 'That's done for me'
When it comes to playing football, Peters is doing a bang-up job of it in 2019 after enduring an offseason in which he had to hear about how he'd become a liability in man coverage while with the Rams. Instead of serving as the lockdown defender Los Angeles thought it was getting when it acquired Peters from Kansas City in 2018, Peters became the target of opposing quarterbacks, especially down the stretch of Los Angeles' 2018 run to the Super Bowl. His presence shifted from a defensive strength to an uncertainty at the very least, and the Rams promptly dispatched of such perceived unreliability near the deadline, moving Peters and eventually acquiring Jalen Ramsey to replace him.

Fins cut Mark Walton after aggravated battery charge
According to a Broward County (Fla.) arrest report, Walton allegedly pushed the victim against a wall and punched her several times in the face and head after an argument. The victim is five weeks pregnant, according to the report, and Walton is the father of the child and was made aware of the pregnancy Sunday.

Marrone: Lack of Fournette carries is 'on me' as HC
Fournette rushed just eight times for 23 yards in a 33-13 loss to Indianapolis, his lowest single-game total of his career. Jacksonville unsurprisingly lost its way offensively in the second half, going from a 10-7 deficit to a 24-7 hole that was clearly insurmountable, despite there still being a quarter left to play.

Jason Witten calls Patriots matchup a 'defining' game
"There are defining games that happen," veteran Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said, via the Dallas Morning News' Michael Gehlken. "You look at last year's season ... and you beat a good New Orleans team. This is one of those games. There's still a lot of games out there, so I don't think it's make or break. But at the same time, to be able to go on the road and play against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and their team -- they're 9-1 like they are. A great opportunity for us."