Bengals News (12/15): Michael Thomas using experience to prepare for Tom Brady

Bengals Quick Hits: Burrow-Brady Edition As Bengals C And Former Patriot Ted Karras Weighs In
"I'll be interested to see how history looks like in 200 years," Karras said. "How (the NFL) has taken over the culture of entire communities based on the football team winning. It's very unique, very cool. I'm really happy to be a part of that. He's been at the apex of a lot of things He's been winning championships since I was eight years old."

Bengals Captain Michael Thomas Using First NFL Game To Help His Teammates in this One Vs. Tom Brady
On Tuesday, Thomas, the oldest player for the Bengals in the week they play the NFL's oldest player, emerged from the defensive backs' weekly off-day meeting with the message he had just delivered before they take the field this week preparing for Tom Brady's Buccaneers in a Sunday game (4:25 p.m.-Cincinnati's Local 12) in Tampa Bay.

Bengals 'Fan of the Year' raffling off two tickets to Super Bowl LVII
Amrein said he received several nominations, but the one that set him above the rest was a letter written to team owner Mike Brown by Amrein’s wife, Shelly.

Bengals-Buccaneers Week 15 Odds, Betting Insights: Cincinnati Listed as 3.5 Point Favorite
After starting the season with two losses, Cincinnati went 9-2, coming into this week's game with five straight wins. Their only poor showing came in Week 8 in Cleveland while playing without Ja’Marr Chase for the first time. Their defense allowed 17 points or fewer in five of their wins, helped by facing a below-par crop of quarterbacks on the year (Mitchell Trubisky, Cooper Rush, Joe Flacco, Tua Tagovailoa – hurt early in this game, Lamar Jackson, Andy Dalton, Marcus Mariota, Baker Mayfield, Kenny Pickett, Ryan Tannehill, Patrick Mahomes, and Deshaun Watson).

Why the Browns could not get Nick Chubb going against the Bengals: Film Review
CLEVELAND, Ohio — In the first meeting against the Bengals, the Browns controlled the line of scrimmage and cruised to a dominant 32-13 victory. Nick Chubb finished with 101 yards on 23 carries and the Browns finished with 172 total yards on the ground.

Cincinnati Bengals Select Illinois Cornerback Devon Witherspoon In Todd McShay's Latest Mock Draft
"Six cornerbacks in the past 11 picks, and the Bengals get a good one here," McShay said. "Witherspoon allowed fewer than 10 yards as the primary defender in eight of 12 games this season, and he had more interceptions (three) than TDs and 20-plus-yard catches against combined (two). Plus, Cincinnati's CB group thins out a bit after the season with Eli Apple and Tre Flowers hitting free agency.

Meet the 'Third Down Guy' at Cincinnati Bengals games
He's gained attention on social media as the "third down guy." Every time there's a third down when Cincinnati's defense is on the field, the cameras at Paycor Stadium zoom in on him as he waves a towel passionately.

Bengals’ top PFF grades, stats and film breakdowns before Week 15
That makes for some pretty interesting stats, grades and film highlights, so we thought it would be fun to sift through some of the best information from the best football minds out there and compile it for ease of viewing.

Around the league

2022 NFL season: Four things to watch for in 49ers-Seahawks game on Prime Video
The 49ers will clinch the NFC West with a win, which would be quite the achievement considering the injury issues the team has had to face this season. Quarterback injuries alone have been a season-long saga, with Jimmy Garoppolo replacing an injured Trey Lance in Week 2, and Brock Purdy stepping in for the injured Garoppolo two weeks ago.

NFL QB Index, Week 15: San Francisco 49ers rookie Brock Purdy soars into top half of rankings
With Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd and Hayden Hurst stripped from the lineup, Burrow ground out his first career victory against the Browns. Whipping passes to the Trents -- Irwin and Taylor, with the former hauling in a flea-flickered laser -- Burrow thankfully had Ja'Marr Chase around to pile up a 10/119/1 line. The Bengals reflect their quarterback, finding different ways to win with whoever suits up. Outmuscling the Titans, outdueling the Chiefs and tossing the Browns by the side of the road in workmanlike fashion. Burrow's 27:9 touchdown-to-pick ratio feels underreported. He's regained his status as one of the game's hottest performers.

NFL Week 15 underdogs: Can Dolphins halt slide against Bills? Will Jaguars prevail over Cowboys?
The Browns did the same to me, although in opposite fashion, falling flat in a must-win game against a Bengals team they had dominated for most of the last three years. Speaking of falling flat, are the Jets really going to drop completely out of the playoff race in the final month of the regular season? What about the Dolphins? Do the Chargers have a chance to salvage their campaign? Did the 49ers just score again?

Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins, his mother Sabrina Greenlee open up about her domestic violence incident on ‘Hard Knocks’
That led to Hopkins stepping up and delivering on his football goals. After high school, Hopkins decided to play college ball at Clemson. In his junior season with the Tigers, he recorded 82 receptions for 1,405 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns in 13 games.