Cincy Jungle - Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns in NFL Week 9: Everything to knowWho Deyhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48495/cincyjungle_fave.png2021-11-14T09:36:00-05:00http://www.cincyjungle.com/rss/stream/225294212021-11-14T09:36:00-05:002021-11-14T09:36:00-05:00Bengals activate Chidobe Awuzie from COVID-19 list
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<img alt="Cleveland Browns v Cincinnati Bengals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RyrkO34HpfBDARnybq-mC4RLouI=/0x140:3072x2188/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70122757/1352143076.5.jpg" />
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<p>Awuzie spent just three days on the COVID-19 list.</p> <p id="6WxjFU"><strong>UPDATE</strong></p>
<p id="miyyBg">On Saturday, the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> returned cornerback Chidobe Awuzie to the active roster from the COVID-19 list, so he should be good to go in Week 11 vs. the <a href="https://www.silverandblackpride.com/">Las Vegas Raiders</a>.</p>
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<p id="Dux1Mo">Another player from Sunday’s game between the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> and <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a> has come in to contact with COVID-19.</p>
<p id="UycNaI">Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie has been placed on the team’s Reserve/COVID-19 list. </p>
<p id="yWBFOO">Since Sunday, the Browns have placed running backs Nick Chubb, Demetric Felton, John Kelly, and center Nick Harris on their COVID reserve list. The Bengals had to do the same with linebacker Markus Bailey on Tuesday. </p>
<aside id="BXy6op"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Nick Chubb tests positive for COVID-19 after Browns beat Bengals","url":"https://www.cincyjungle.com/2021/11/10/22773412/nick-chubb-covid-browns-news-bengals"}]}'></div></aside><p id="6ZKXi1">COVID protocols differ depending on whether or not the player is vaccinated and if the player tests positive or is deemed a close contact. If a player is unvaccinated and tests positive, he must isolate for 10 days. If he’s deemed a close contact, he’ll undergo the five-day quarantine period. A vaccinated player must isolate as well, but upon producing two negative tests 24 hours apart, they can return to the team. Vaccinated close contacts do not have to quarantine. </p>
<p id="7dETFb">The Bengals entering a bye week is promising news for both Awuzie and Bailey. Even if both are unvaccinated, they can complete their 10-day isolations before their next game against the <a href="https://www.silverandblackpride.com/">Las Vegas Raiders</a>, but they also may not be able to practice in time. </p>
<p id="qfVy1A">Hopefully all players involved will be able to recover and return as quickly as possible.</p>
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https://www.cincyjungle.com/2021/11/10/22774627/nfl-covid-19-bengals-chidobe-awuzie-covid-reserve-listJohn Sheeran2021-11-12T07:00:00-05:002021-11-12T07:00:00-05:00Bengals’ Week 9 awards in loss to Browns
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<img alt="NFL: NOV 07 Browns at Bengals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OD8tDOQxoP1AdPNQcVW2nUByexo=/0x0:2449x1633/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70131795/1236469018.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Cast your votes and sound off on your winners for the weekly awards in the Bengals’ 41-</p> <p id="FQjV4l">That was a rough one. The <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> took one on the chin from the <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a>, losing at home 41-16. </p>
<p id="PZDNcn">Even so, there were very limited bright spots in the blowout. Cast your votes and sound off on your winners for the Bengals’ Week 9 awards!</p>
<h2 id="LnrbLf"><strong>Most Valuable Player</strong></h2>
<p id="uvNR8M"><em><strong>Joe Mixon:</strong></em></p>
<p id="4mXJmv">It was a rough day on offense, complete with three turnovers, but Mixon had a nice afternoon. He found the end zone twice and was a threat on the ground and through the air, with 110 yards from scrimmage (64 rushing, 46 receiving) on 18 touches (13 rushes, five receptions). </p>
<p id="e3soKB"><em><strong>Tee Higgins:</strong></em></p>
<p id="cyet6O">While No. 85 failed to come down with a couple of tough catches, he did step up as the team’s leading receiver this week. He co-led the team in catches with six and was alone as the leader in yards with 78. </p>
<p id="clzRJ6"><em><strong>Sam Hubbard: </strong></em></p>
<p id="k9HbQK">The defense got torched, but Hubbard was one of the lone bright spots. He had the highest Pro Football Focus score on the team with an 82.9 score, with his four tackles, quarterback sack and three hits on Baker Mayfield putting him atop the PFF list. </p>
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<h2 id="3yAZrf"><strong>Unsung Hero of the Week</strong></h2>
<p id="Dm8aWl"><em><strong>Riley Reiff:</strong></em></p>
<p id="tSsGTO">It was a weird day for the offensive line, as five sacks were credited to the Browns’ defense. Still, a few came from free blitzers and Reiff had a decent day—particularly with Mixon doing well on outside runs. He was the team’s highest-rated offensive lineman from a PFF perspective on Sunday with a 73.7 overall score. </p>
<p id="tUcXwB"><em><strong>Drew Sample:</strong></em></p>
<p id="NK8FXL">In a week where we are forced to look for small victories, Sample fits that bill. After all, the “Unsung Hero” series is based on players stepping up in the wake of ineffectiveness and/or injuries to others. On a rough afternoon by the offense, Sample became a reliable target for Joe Burrow, catching three passes on as many targets for 36 yards—two of which went for first downs. </p>
<p id="l93IP2"><em><strong>Trey Hendrickson:</strong></em></p>
<p id="enPzom">It was an inconsistent day from the big free-agent acquisition, but he did get after Mayfield. He had a sack as his lone big play in the contest. </p>
<p id="3bSdZu"><em><strong>Evan McPherson:</strong></em></p>
<p id="I46DjO">Special teams performance wasn’t really an issue for Cincinnati on Sunday. The team’s rookie kicker hit what was asked of him, including a field goal and extra point. </p>
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<h2 id="3y5Ro4"><strong>Play of the Game</strong></h2>
<p id="x35wFB"><em><strong>Joe Mixon’s 11-yard touchdown run:</strong></em></p>
<p id="TlfA6r">Burrow threw a costly pick-six on the team’s opening drive, but they went right back to work. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Crack toss again to Joe Mixon. This time it's a touchdown. Put the moves on that DB faking inside before cutting outside. Left him grasping at air. <a href="https://t.co/qOSDrJ4Red">pic.twitter.com/qOSDrJ4Red</a></p>— Mike (Sans) (@bengals_sans) <a href="https://twitter.com/bengals_sans/status/1458086982425317376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a>
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<p id="yftzJy"><em><strong>Tee Higgins’ 20-yard reception:</strong></em></p>
<p id="jDGdzs">On that otherwise exciting opening drive, Zac Taylor dialed up a beauty of a play. It was a flea-flicker with a delayed wheel route to Higgins who got behind coverage and set the Bengals up nicely for what should have been emphatic opening points. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Bengals run this jet motion flea flicker wheel route. It's a similar play to the one in Taylor's first ever game where John Ross scored a touchdown. This time Tee Higgins gets matched by a linebacker that he toasts. <a href="https://t.co/DV4wReEeYE">pic.twitter.com/DV4wReEeYE</a></p>— Mike (Sans) (@bengals_sans) <a href="https://twitter.com/bengals_sans/status/1458076912224456706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a>
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<p id="zMarU7"><em><strong>Joe Mixon’s 2-yard touchdown run:</strong></em></p>
<p id="IFRNCd">The team’s star running back continued to show a high level of effort, even when things began to spiral out of control for the Bengals. Down 24 points, Cincinnati got some late life with a short burst by Mixon, although they failed to convert the two-point try. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joe Mixon plows his way into the end zone for another touchdown <a href="https://t.co/c5tOhQf2wO">pic.twitter.com/c5tOhQf2wO</a></p>— Mike (Sans) (@bengals_sans) <a href="https://twitter.com/bengals_sans/status/1458127243754938368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a>
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https://www.cincyjungle.com/awards/2021/11/12/22773690/bengals-week-9-awards-in-loss-to-brownsAnthony Cosenza2021-11-11T18:20:56-05:002021-11-11T18:20:56-05:00The Orange and Black Insider Bengals podcast: Bye-bye blues
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<img alt="NFL: NOV 07 Browns at Bengals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/p_4aqDNAgdogqMQ4L-z-HiYfIWA=/0x0:2449x1633/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70130175/1236469811.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Bengals are on a bye week and are looking to recover from two bad losses. What’s the best plan of attack for the second half of the schedule? That, and more from John and Anthony this week.</p> <p id="32RSwp">The Bengals are going into the bye week with a winning record, but major questions linger. It’s been a whirlwind past three weeks, as Cincinnati went from atop the AFC to barely clinging to midseason playoff life. </p>
<p id="5rVPMX">On this week’s show, we look at what to make of the loss to the <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Browns</a> and what is ahead. We also provide a “Stat of the Week” and make a midseason report card, of sorts. </p>
<p id="V95iEW">Here are some of the highlights of this episode:</p>
<ul>
<li id="DNiUve">Was Sunday’s loss just a bad day by the Bengals, a continuing matchup problem against the Browns, or does the two-game skid by Cincinnati signal long-term trouble for the rest of 2021? Maybe a mixture of all of the above?</li>
<li id="dPV4tD">John’s “Stat of the Week” centers around pressure rates, which is going in the wrong direction for the Bengals on both sides of the ball. </li>
<li id="G5Afto">Cincinnati is tied for sixth in the NFL for quarterback sacks, but somehow are one of the poorer teams in the league at forcing turnovers. </li>
<li id="IUMkOy">What have been some of the pleasant and disappointing surprises of the year, as we sit around the midway point?</li>
<li id="wmWWvy">What grades would we give major facets of the Bengals’ team so far?</li>
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<p id="as8LbD">Our thanks to those who joined us for the live show at the special day and time. If you missed it, you can catch it on your favorite streaming platform afterward!</p>
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<p id="7rxqyP"><small><em><strong>If you’re unable to join us live here at Cincy Jungle or YouTube for every episode, all of our podcast content is available here on CJ, the </strong></em></small><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/show/cincy-jungle"><small><em><strong>Stitcher</strong></em></small></a><small><em><strong>, </strong></em></small><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3MKKe96uoIPUwhZSOBrQGK?si=1vVaxUnEQbGMqIHscHXqLA"><small><em><strong>Spotify</strong></em></small></a><small><em><strong>, </strong></em></small><a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1267-cincy-jungle-for-cincinna-30692036/"><small><em><strong>iHeart Radio</strong></em></small></a><small><em><strong> and </strong></em></small><a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Ihc3wd4tjdvrfywjyxwhaaz4e5e"><small><em><strong>Google Play Music</strong></em></small></a><small><em><strong> apps, our Orange and Black Insider </strong></em></small><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVaXlewzr5_f-iEhxa6ij_g"><small><em><strong>YouTube channel</strong></em></small></a><small><em><strong>, as well as through </strong></em></small><a href="https://cms.megaphone.fm/organizations/a0ad16ac-dec1-11e8-bc53-273addf660d7/podcasts/89e0f342-e6ca-11e8-892c-d701e79386c9"><small><em><strong>Megaphone</strong></em></small></a><small><em><strong> and, as always, </strong></em></small><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-orange-and-black-insider/id1142320492&xcust=___sb__p_22533674__t_w__r_cincyjungle.com/search__" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><small><em><strong>on iTunes</strong></em></small></a><small><em><strong>! Thanks for listening and go subscribe to our channels to be notified when we’re going live and when new episodes are available!</strong></em></small></p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2021/11/11/22777273/the-orange-and-black-insider-bengals-podcast-bye-bye-bluesAnthony Cosenza2021-11-11T11:00:00-05:002021-11-11T11:00:00-05:00Weekly Lineman: The 5-play stretch that ensured a Bengals loss
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<figcaption>Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Breaking down turning point of the game.</p> <p id="5k2aqY">It wasn’t just that the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> were 5-2 through seven games, their best seven-week start since 2015, it was that nearly half of their wins came against divisional foes that have dominated them in recent years. </p>
<p id="ZOWwYE">Coming off an ugly loss to the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a>, the Bengals got their act together and won convincingly against the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a>. It was their first win in Heinz Field since—you guessed it—2015, and factoring how the Steelers have rallied since that game, it looks more impressive now.</p>
<p id="HnW7u8">Cincinnati won two of their next three games after beating Pittsburgh, but both wins came against the lowly <a href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jacksonville Jaguars</a> and <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a>, and they barely defeated Jacksonville. There was still some doubt surrounding this team, and because of that, most expected them to lose to the <a href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Baltimore Ravens</a>. </p>
<p id="gojKxj">41 points later, the Bengals left doubt behind in Baltimore, and the NFL welcomed them to relevancy. Coincidentally, the 41 points they allowed at the hands of the <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a> has brought the Bengals back down to earth. </p>
<p id="JKPZa1">But wait, didn’t a loss to the terrible <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a> already do that? Mike White torching your defense is certainly not great on paper, but the NFL is susceptible to randomness and parity. No one expected anything like that to happen; not in that fashion. But it’s football. You move on and get back on track. Things will even out over time. </p>
<p id="qqx59l">A dismantling at the hands of the Browns is much more damning for the Bengals. </p>
<p id="ZRQ2uk">The Browns, much like the Steelers and Ravens, have had the Bengals’ number in recent years. Much of that has to do with Baker Mayfield channeling his Oklahoma days against them, but Nick Chubb and Cleveland’s offensive line have created a sizable gap in this once close rivalry. Chubb now has a 100-yard game against the Bengals in all four years he’s been in the league. The Browns have won all four of those games, including Sunday’s blowout.</p>
<p id="bNQWos">On the other side of the ball, Myles Garrett is a consistent force that Cincinnati’s pass protection can only hold back for so long every meeting. He commands double teams and constant awareness of where he lines up, because he can line up anywhere up front. And the complementary pieces next to Garrett only make it more difficult to slow down their defensive line.</p>
<p id="3NZWYe">In years past, the Browns’ secondary was what held their defense back from becoming a complete unit. Look back there now, there are no weak spots. Two first-round cornerbacks in Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II can run with the best of them, and when Ward has been out this year, Greedy Williams has been just fine in his place. Troy Hill and John Johnson III have filled out the rest of the backfield perfectly and made the entire unit dangerous.</p>
<p id="TRplhc">Despite the total makeover the Bengals’ roster has undergone, the Browns have accumulated the pieces to keep them at bay when everything clicks, which seems to happen when these two teams meet lately. Not ideal for a team that was created to spite the other.</p>
<p id="RTPgF6">That wasn’t a talking point leading up to this game, though. The Bengals appeared to be the superior team based on their record and offensive revival from the previous month. The Browns were reeling from three losses in four weeks and the fallout of the Odell Beckham Jr. saga. The stage was set for one team to break the other and get back on track. The consensus sided with the Bengals, and that’s why they play the games. </p>
<p id="OvJvD1">We’re going to see if the Browns are indeed back on track in the next few weeks, just like we’ll see if the Bengals’ season has been broken from this loss. The tenacity of the AFC North has the Bengals in last place currently with a 5-4 record, but to say their season is over because of one loss in early November is the definition of premature, like calling a game over early in the second quarter.</p>
<p id="nKemcM">But it did feel like this game ran away from the Bengals following the end of the first quarter quarter. After a 99-yard pick-six from Ward, the Bengals responded well by finishing their next drive with an equalizing touchdown. The Browns were not phased, as an 11-play drive concluded with Chubb punching in a one-yard touchdown to give them a 14-7 lead. They only ran into just a single third down on the drive, and a pass interference penalty on the Bengals negated the incompletion on the play.</p>
<p id="Zq5ITX">A shootout was looking like the only way the Bengals were going to come out victorious. Brandon Wilson sacrificed his ACL to give the offense the ball at the 26-yard line, and they started the possession with two quick first downs. </p>
<p id="l3llog">What followed were five plays that shrunk the Bengals’ win probability from 37% to 19%. These are those five plays, with a focus on the trenches:</p>
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<p id="38qSG1">Compelling wins over the Steelers and Ravens validated the Bengals’ progress to the same degree that this loss makes us pause. <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/2021/11/8/22769041/new-expectations-proving-too-tough-for-bengals-to-match">Expectations started to shift in the right direction</a>, but this felt like a bucket of ice cold water was poured on the franchise. There remains plenty to be improved on despite getting to this point so much quicker than anyone expected. </p>
<p id="4UPGrI">Much like that five-play sequence ended up being the turning point of the game, the game itself will ultimately end up as a turning point for the season. There is equal evidence to support things getting better or worse. For as promising as the offense looks at times, major inconsistencies in protection and decision-making can prove to be its downfall. The defense seems to go as far as the defensive line can carry it, and that group can’t always cover up tackling issues behind it. </p>
<p id="kbER4L">We are entering a truly exciting time in recent Bengals history. Not exciting in the sense that we know they’re going to be fine, but exciting in the sense that we truly don’t know. How can anyone be sure when they destroyed the division-leading Ravens the same way the Browns destroyed them?</p>
<p id="f41VyA">Unlike college football, we can confidently say the games matter here. And they’ll provide the answers we are desperate to know in time. </p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2021/11/11/22774189/bengals-film-room-joe-burrow-offensive-line-brownsJohn Sheeran2021-11-11T07:00:00-05:002021-11-11T07:00:00-05:00The good, the bad and the ugly in Bengals’ 41-16 loss to Browns
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<figcaption>Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Unlike many other weeks in 2021, there wasn’t much to cheer about in Week 9 against the Browns. </p> <p id="hLOB8W">Well, that was less than ideal. </p>
<p id="PIerer">The <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> had an opportunity to regain traction in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-playoff-picture">AFC playoff picture</a> and largely take their bitter rivals out of it on Sunday. Instead, their blowout loss to the <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a> muddied the conference bracket, with a slew of teams sitting at five wins around the midway point of the season. </p>
<h2 id="pSXsC5"><strong>The good</strong></h2>
<p id="OK6eXB"><em><strong>Joe Mixon:</strong></em></p>
<p id="ggat6p">It was actually a really wise move to get the team’s star running back involved. Zac Taylor and Brian Callahan figured they could sustain drives and keep the Browns’ own rushing attack at bay with methodical, chain-moving chunk plays from No. 28. </p>
<p id="8VmHM7">He responded well, even in a blowout that limited his touches as the game wore on. He had 110 scrimmage yards, two rushing touchdowns and made quality plays through the air and on the ground. </p>
<p id="1eUVtL"><em><strong>Ability to move the ball:</strong></em></p>
<p id="lhbce7">Thanks to Mixon’s performance and an otherwise effect day from Joe Burrow outside of the two interception throws, Cincinnati was actually able to move the ball on the Browns’ defense. This was evident on the Bengals’ second drive wherein they marched back down the field after the pick-six and punched it in the end zone. </p>
<p id="cnF9tv">The offensive line was getting push in the run game, while Tee Higgins and the tight ends were factors to varying degrees. It was the Bengals that were their own worst enemy on Sunday. </p>
<p id="m17oJf">There is a yin-yang relationship in different ways between the offense and defense. The latter may not have held up to provide an opportunity for a win, but we’ll never really know because of the numerous times the offense put them in precarious positions. </p>
<p id="52ieyc"><em><strong>The timing of the 2021 bye week:</strong></em></p>
<p id="UyvM2l">We’re taking a negative, from a big picture perspective, and turning it into a positive. Based on where the team is at overall and what has transpired the past two weeks, this break in the middle of the season couldn’t have come at a better time. </p>
<p id="5hiw5g">They get time to regroup, heal up, take a break from football, while simultaneously studying up on how to get to the postseason. They have the Raiders on tap, who are sneaky competitive, but are also facing an unbelievable month of off-field distractions. </p>
<p id="P0bLhZ">If Cincinnati finishes at or even slightly above .500 the rest of the way, they should be in the playoff picture. </p>
<h2 id="w6cpx4"><strong>The bad</strong></h2>
<p id="obcHUg"><em><strong>Inconsistencies along the defensive line:</strong></em></p>
<p id="5oHDTF">Sam Hubbard had a nice day with a sack, three quarterback hits and four tackles on the line and Trey Hendrickson had a sack. However, the lack of others pitching in—which was a key to the early-season success—was obvious. </p>
<p id="kiYUMV">Cincinnati isn’t getting the push from the interior guys that were part-and-parcel of the defense’s rise to prominence through the first seven games. Additionally, the lack of additional rotational pass-rushers (get well soon, Joseph Ossai) is crippling the unit. </p>
<p id="ovWNci">It’s an odd dichotomy because Hendrickson and Hubbard are having two of the best seasons in their respective careers, but we’ve also seen some dry spells there. D.J. Reader and B.J. Hill have graded well by Pro Football Focus metrics this year, but again, inconsistencies on the interior have been prevalent. </p>
<p id="EJaWEm">And, then, there is one of my favorite free agency additions in recent years with Larry Ogunjobi. He’s been an overall force, but my colleague, John Sheeran, had an amazing analogy, as it goes with his 2021 performance. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">truly a wild 9-game stretch. he's t-7th in sacks and t-3rd in stops while also bottom 10 in pass rush win rate and last in missed tackles at his position.<br><br>he's the .180 hitter with 40 homers. <a href="https://t.co/Wif1EjHwMq">https://t.co/Wif1EjHwMq</a></p>— John Sheeran (@John__Sheeran) <a href="https://twitter.com/John__Sheeran/status/1458479632727126016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2021</a>
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<p id="hWi0zE"><em><strong>Trae Waynes’ absence becomes more painful and an overall lack of turnovers:</strong></em></p>
<p id="ZYnqYK">In the first few weeks, the Bengals were able to mask Waynes’ absence from the lineup. Then, they got him back for the Jacksonville game, although he was a minimal factor. </p>
<p id="ojW7Q8">Still, Cincinnati is struggling getting interceptions and recovering fumbles for game-changing plays. Eli Apple had a few nice weeks after a rough start, but he was targeted again for a deep touchdown to Donovan Peoples-Jones. </p>
<p id="UMq2cI">He’s not the only one, though. For how well Chidobe Awuzie has played overall this year, he has just one interception, while Jessie Bates III also just has one to his name. Cincinnati’s seven interceptions are middle-of-the-pack, in terms of NFL standings and most of those have come from Logan Wilson. Did we mention he hasn’t had one since Week 6 in Detroit?</p>
<p id="AsYKNh">And, even while being tied for sixth in the NFL in quarterback sacks with 23, they aren’t getting those coveted sack-fumbles. With just seven forced fumbles, the Bengals have a paltry two recoveries. </p>
<p id="cX1vTM">While this provides the big picture, Sunday was a microcosm in these areas. Mayfield has taking care of the ball relatively well this year with just five turnovers (three interceptions, two fumbles), but this unit needed big plays of its own to offset the ugly turnovers by the offense. </p>
<h2 id="uP9oos"><strong>The ugly</strong></h2>
<p id="8akZuk"><em><strong>Injuries to Brandon Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither:</strong></em></p>
<p id="SjvqEd">A big part of Cincinnati’s early relative success has to do with their overall roster health. Through the first half of the season, the team has been able to keep many of their major key players healthy, which hasn’t been the pathway in Zac Taylor’s first two seasons. </p>
<p id="hD6MNl">Unfortunately, the bug hit the team on Sunday, causing them to lose key contributors on the defensive and special teams units, respectively. Wilson hadn’t been having the outstanding season in kickoff returns we’ve seen over the past two years, but his loss from an ACL injury leaves a void. </p>
<p id="EMErMB">Davis-Gaither was cementing his status as a solid role player on defense after being one of the most improved players in preseason. His early exit undoubtedly hurt the Bengals’ ability to stop some of the Cleveland offensive attack. </p>
<p id="8oXNlP">Both have been placed on I.R., with Davis-Gaither getting a second look at his foot. The hope is that this will be a short-term stint, but the losses hurt, regardless. </p>
<p id="JuPev9"><em><strong>Letting the Browns have their way at home in familiar fashion:</strong></em></p>
<p id="Qp0SxK">While the two games (both Bengals losses) in 2020 were nail-biters, the way in which Cleveland was successful was exactly how they wanted things to be drawn up. Namely, letting the offensive line pave the way for a devastating rushing attack, while minimizing Mayfield’s attempts to those in which he would be highly-successful. </p>
<p id="2uJYYA">The Bengals, Taylor and Anarumo know this formula now, as they’ve seen it in four contests prior to Sunday. Yet, Nick Chubb had yet another 100-yard rushing performance, complete with a trademark back-breaking 70-yard run on a two-touchdown day. </p>
<p id="vGgRH8">As if that wouldn’t have been obvious enough, Mayfield throwing deep downfield on play-actions should have been. The 60-yard bomb to Peoples-Jones was textbook Stefanski-Mayfield. </p>
<p id="5RQxxe">Yet, Cincinnati allowed this game plan to unfold...again. Despite the free agency additions on defense and the increased level of overall play, the Bengals just keep allowing “The Battle of Ohio” to go Cleveland’s way under Taylor, who is now 1-4 against the Browns. </p>
<p id="2vn7WK"><em><strong>The turnovers:</strong></em></p>
<p id="ExjzLB">Despite what the Bengals wanted and actually were able to do on Sunday, looking back at the end results from last year would indicate that this could go the way of a shootout. That being said, taking care of the football needed to be preached as of utmost importance this week. </p>
<p id="pzmSBK">Instead, Cincinnati committed three of them while forcing zero, pitting the entire team in a big hole. None of them were at the level of Burrow’s red zone, 100-yard return pick-six by Denzel Ward, that ironically occurred on a second-chance third down because of an offsides penalty. </p>
<p id="yE1fnP">To boot, Ja’Marr Chase had an uncharacteristic fumble and, simply put, you can’t have a chance to win when your best offensive players commit multiple turnovers. For all of the great things Burrow has done in his young career, the turnovers need to stop. </p>
<p id="P9NRX1">He’s tied for the league-lead in interceptions right now and with games against the playoff-sniffing AFC West as well as rematches against the AFC North and a <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> team that stomped them at home a couple of years ago with similar leadership. It’s also on the defense to mitigate these turnovers by forcing more of their own. </p>
<p id="D1Z5MQ"><em><strong>Urgency, or lack thereof:</strong></em></p>
<p id="I6Shps">In the week leading up to the game, Kevin Stefanski preached how his team was “desperate for a win” at 4-4 and heading into a divisional clash against Cincinnati. And, by George, his team played like it. </p>
<p id="hHjGB6">Though they didn’t say it and their 5-3 record may not have screamed it, the Bengals should have approached this game similarly. Maybe not “desperate”, but really embrace the “killer instinct”. </p>
<p id="y01VJz">After all, getting to 6-3, while rebounding to an ugly loss to the Jets via a 3-0 first half record against the divisional foes? Oh, yeah. </p>
<p id="RZm0QL">While the Bengals came out of the gates moving the ball, they crawled in a shell when Burrow threw the pick-six. They responded with a score right away, but fell prey to familiar issues for the rest of the contest. </p>
<p id="PpnteT">Maybe their mentality would have been wholly different, if not for the game-chaging play from Ward. Still, two more turnovers and a lack of improving on the basics on defense (scheme, adjustments and tackling) give pause to that optimistic “what if?”. </p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/analysis/2021/11/11/22771580/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-in-bengals-41-16-loss-to-brownsAnthony Cosenza2021-11-10T09:00:00-05:002021-11-10T09:00:00-05:00Rookie stock report: Jackson Carman demoted, Ja’Marr Chase cools off
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<p>Back to reality for the top of Cincinnati’s rookie class.</p> <p id="2V6VJ9">Even in a new era of team building through free agency for the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a>, the parallels between team success and rookie production is as strong as ever.</p>
<p id="g9YdGa">The Bengals’ two-game losing streak has been brought on by a multitude of problems. It just so happens that it coincides with their young players encountering struggles that are common with early NFL life.</p>
<p id="6gXUJ4">It’s a great time for a bye week. Let’s see how the rookies are doing after a 41-16 loss to the <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a>.</p>
<h2 id="2xhARW">Stock Stagnating</h2>
<p id="6NAZt4">Due to <strong>Cam Sample</strong>’s illness and knee injury, the Bengals needed <strong>Tyler Shelvin</strong> to dress for the first time all season. But if you blinked or already turned the game off in the fourth quarter, you may’ve missed him on the field. Shelvin played a grand total of four snaps, all in the final period.</p>
<p id="kOj42J">A game against Cleveland is the exact time you’d expect Shelvin to be active, but he didn’t enter the game until it was well over. The Bengals went heavy up front to combat the Browns’s rushing attack. The results didn’t quite match the intent.</p>
<p id="TxERCf">For all of their current flaws, Cincinnati’s defense has been more healthy than not this year. Stable depth along the defensive line has kept Shelvin in street clothes on the sideline, and that should be the case for the rest of the year.</p>
<p id="IOBtd1">Turnovers cost the Bengals plenty of points on Sunday, and this made <strong>Evan McPherson</strong>’s day a lot less busier than it should’ve been. McPherson made a 27-yard field goal right before halftime and an extra point to boot. The offense went for two after their second and final touchdown of the day. </p>
<p id="nsun0o">Weeks 4 and 5 have been McPherson’s only slip ups this year. He’s 11 of 14 on the year and has yet to miss any of his 27 PATs. </p>
<p id="MZMxfT"><strong>Chris Evans</strong>’ hamstring was healed enough for the rookie to play for the first time in three weeks, but only three snaps on offense tells us he’s either not fully back, or he’s still clearly third in the running back rotation. Samaje Perine has done well behind Joe Mixon this year, and Evans might be headed for a new role anyways. </p>
<p id="rzyFDN">Brandon Wilson is now out for the year with an ACL tear, so there’s a chance Evans could become involved in replacing Wilson on kickoff returns. Special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons mentioned that to reporters on Tuesday. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"We're going to find out... We'll try to work him in." Darrin Simmons on Chris Evans and whether he could get reps returning kicks (and maybe punts) going forward in absence of Brandon Wilson. Simmons says punt return is "ever-evolving" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bengals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bengals</a></p>— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) <a href="https://twitter.com/Trags/status/1458117450021621766?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a>
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<p id="8mCNfF">Evans simply getting the ball more often on offense is a fine plan, but the issues within that unit transcend beyond the involvement of a sixth-round pick. Errors are being committed by every position group, which is what’s counteracting the production they’re getting from their stars. If consistency is what the coaches are after, it makes sense not throwing an inexperienced Evans out there, but watching Perine drop easy third-down conversions isn’t helping their case when Evans is standing on the sideline. </p>
<p id="ilC6jK">As garbage time ensued, <strong>Trey Hill</strong> was the only reserve offensive lineman inserted into the game. He played the final six snaps on offense, and since he was the only backup blocking for Brandon Allen, the logical explanation would be that Trey Hopkins was getting rest. Cincinnati has been managing Hopkins’ workload all year as he’s now 10 full months removed from tearing his ACL. </p>
<h2 id="FSKwjL">Stock Falling</h2>
<p id="AXSML1">As impressive it was to watch <strong>Ja’Marr Chase</strong> torch Marlon Humphrey two weeks ago, the combined efforts from Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II showed us he’s not impervious to top-tier cornerback play.</p>
<p id="LeaFoP">Ward had the highlight of the day with his full-field pick-six after he stepped in front of Chase on the goal-line. He was only targeted once more when he was covering Chase, and it also resulted in an interception.</p>
<p id="LFZCsa">Most of the 11 other targets for Chase came when Newsome was covering him, and the first-round rookie deflected two of them away and allowed just 30 yards on three catches. Newsome was responsible for breaking up the three biggest plays Chase could’ve had, one of them being a touchdown that went through Chase’s tightly contested hands. </p>
<p id="Nf5fRB">It wasn’t like last week when the Jets made an emphasis to keep Chase in front of them. The Browns weren’t afraid of playing single-high coverage, and when Burrow saw that and Chase had a vertical route, he wasn’t afraid of putting the ball out there for him. It was just a really off day for Chase and a really great day for Newsome, who is a special young player in his own right. </p>
<p id="10pake">There was also the fumble, Chase’s second in three weeks. John Johnson III made a fantastic play. Chase was the victim of it. </p>
<p id="KtcROZ">The bye week has come at a great time for the Bengals, and Chase has a week to make adjustments with his quarterback. He put the league on notice with his dominance in Baltimore. He’s still that guy, but he’s been humbled the last two weeks much like the rest of the team.</p>
<p id="BLnGGK">Being demoted out of the starting lineup is especially humbling. <strong>Jackson Carman</strong> did not practice last week despite leaving the Jets game with a back injury, yet it was Hakeem Adeniji who started at right guard and Carman who rode the bench aside from two snaps as a part of the field goal unit. </p>
<p id="7VrbYO">Adeniji had one week of practice under his belt and the coaching staff wasted no time getting him into the mix, and despite not playing great against Cleveland, he still has the edge at the position coming off the bye, according to offensive coordinator Brian Callahan.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bengals off. coordinator Brian Callahan said the team hasn’t written off rookie OL Jackson Carman yet. He did add that Hakeem Adeniji “has the edge” right now as he starts against LV</p>— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ben_Baby/status/1458120419555356672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a>
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<p id="fkuOu0">What does that say about Carman? Nothing particularly good.</p>
<p id="zB0tHF">Maybe Carman’s back is still bothering him and the team saw an opportunity to give Adeniji a chance. That’s the optimistic viewpoint. The likely one is Carman hasn’t done enough to remain the starter, and there’s tape to back that up. </p>
<p id="dgPujA">Carman is not the first offensive lineman to experience major ups and downs as a rookie, and he won’t be the last. For now, he’s back at the bottom of the ride like he was in August.</p>
<h2 id="6N0dYF">Did Not Play</h2>
<ul><li id="FPYHGq">
<strong>Cam Sample</strong> (injured)</li></ul>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2021/11/10/22770669/bengals-week-9-rookie-stock-report-jackson-carman-demoted-jamarr-chase-cools-offJohn Sheeran2021-11-10T06:00:00-05:002021-11-10T06:00:00-05:00Hakeem Adeniji to get another shot at right guard
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<p>The surprising pull of rookie Jackson Carman continues with Hakeem Adeniji getting another opportunity.</p> <p id="NmnvyO">The <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> made a fairly surprising move for Sunday’s game when they decided to start Hakeem Adeniji at right guard over rookie Jackson Carman. It looks like that will be the case following the bye week as well.</p>
<p id="CuWBv9">Head coach Zac Taylor told reporters Monday that Adeniji will remain in the starting lineup at right guard.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zac Taylor says team is going to stick with Hakeem Adeniji at right guard. "He has earned another opportunity." <br><br>Praised him showing up in his first practices all season two weeks ago and playing like he did. Not perfect, obviously, but impressed him.</p>— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) <a href="https://twitter.com/pauldehnerjr/status/1457801096785588228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2021</a>
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<p id="7WZLSF">Adeniji had just been activated to the roster following a stint on the Non-Football Injury list that began at the start of the season. He has always been highly thought of as a developmental player after being taken in the sixth round of the 2020 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL draft</a>. The best part of his game seems to be his versatility to play just about any position on the offensive line.</p>
<p id="EMefWm">That makes their decision to take out Carman when it seemed like the line was finally getting on the same page a bit questionable. However, it is easy to question it when the entire offensive line struggled to slow down a <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a>’ pass rush that was able to pin its ears back early on Sunday.</p>
<p id="HaoNHW">One speculation could be that Adeniji is viewed as the future right guard while Carman is viewed as the right tackle. That really seems to be one of the few reasonings for such a quick benching of a young player who was seemingly improving.</p>
<p id="4CCHF5">It will be curious to see if this is a move that sticks, and what kind of impact it could possibly have on the team’s matchup with the <a href="https://www.silverandblackpride.com/">Las Vegas Raiders</a> in two weeks. Adeniji’s performance will be under a microscope considering the circumstances.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2021/11/10/22771340/bengals-hakeem-adeniji-to-start-at-right-guard-after-bye-weekPatrickJudis2021-11-09T16:44:46-05:002021-11-09T16:44:46-05:00Bengals land Clay Johnston; place Brandon Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither on IR
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<img alt="NFL: AUG 27 Preseason - Steelers at Panthers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RG1OZilfPt_0ZuvYB2qesH5RRpE=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70118709/1234968352.0.jpg" />
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<p>The Bengals also placed Markus Bailey on the COVID-19 list.</p> <p id="PRsrta">The <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> have announced a host of roster moves, which are as follows:</p>
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<li id="Mq5cdc">Acquired linebacker Clay Johnston on waivers from the <a href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Carolina Panthers</a>. The 6-foot-1, 232-pound Johnston is a second-year player out of Baylor. He was originally a seventh-round pick of the <a href="https://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Los Angeles Rams</a>. He spent the 2020 offseason with the Rams before joining the Panthers during the regular season. He has played in eight career games (all with Carolina), and has 10 tackles.</li>
<li id="hXbjPI">Placed safety/return specialist Brandon Wilson on injured reserve. A fifth-year player out of Houston, Wilson suffered a left ACL tear in Sunday’s game vs. the <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a>. He had played in every game this season (one start), and had three tackles on defense and three on special teams. He also averaged 22.4 yards on 13 kickoff returns.</li>
<li id="D0hse0">Placed linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither on injured reserve. A second-year player out of Appalachian State, Davis-Gaither suffered a left foot injury in Sunday’s game vs. Cleveland. He had played in every game this season while making 26 tackles, three pass deflections and a forced fumble on defense. He’s also made two tackles on special teams.</li>
<li id="ln1jRW">Placed linebacker Markus Bailey on the COVID-19 list.</li>
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https://www.cincyjungle.com/2021/11/9/22772951/bengals-roster-news-clay-johnston-brandon-wilson-akeem-davis-gaitherJason Marcum