We may have written off the Bengals before we should have!
The last single-digit week of the NFL season is in the books and that is terrifying given that it feels like it just started.
Nevertheless, November is here, the clocks fell back and serious stakes are now on the line on a week-to-week basis throughout the Football League of National which is exactly what we all live for. Amid the fear it feels incredible; that is what is so invigorating.
But with another round of action having passed, our opinions and assessments on everything happening continue to change. Each week we, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, specialize in sorting through the magic that the NFL just offered and we are about to do it again.
Welcome to The Skinny Post. Let’s have some fun.
We may have written off the Bengals a bit too prematurely
RJ:
I’ll be the first one to admit that I pounced on burying the Cincinnati Bengals when the opportunity presented itself about a month ago. I even said in this weekly column that their reputation from reaching the Super Bowl three years ago is doing a little bit of heavy lifting relative to our perceptions about who they really are.
That may still be at least partly true, but the Bengals are definitely digging in and making a fight of this whole thing which is why we have (except for maybe myself) learned to not disregard them in the Joe Burrow era. After Sunday’s latest win, where Burrow himself was stellar against the Las Vegas Raiders — who would go on to fire just about everybody — they are one more victory away from reaching .500 on the season.
The next game in question for Cincy is on Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens. As if that on its own didn’t excite you, consider that a win would up the Bengals to 5-5 on the season while dropping the Ravens to 6-4, right in front of them.
The Bengals are not dead yet!
Michael:
Man, the Bengals really have turned this thing around…or has it just been a cake walk of a stretch on the schedule?
Entering Week 10, Cincinnati has won four games. Those wins came against the Panthers (2-7), Raiders (2-7), Giants (2-7), and Browns (2-7).
Hmm. I think there’s something in common with all of these teams but I just can’t quite put my finger on it…
Oh yeah, they’re all tied for the worst record in the NFL. It makes sense that they’ve had what looks to be a recent resurgence as three of those also came in their last four outings. Their next three games come against teams with winning records in the Ravens (6-3 and whom they’ve already lost to), the Chargers (5-3), and the Steelers (6-2). There’s a pretty good chance that all three games are lost and then they’re staring at a 4-8 hole that would be almost impossible to climb out of for a postseason spot.
So are the Bengals actually back? I’m going to have to say no until they show me more over the next few weeks.
The new viral touchdown celebration inspired by an Incarnate Word wide receiver should stick around because the NFL needs more silly celebrations
Michael:
I don’t know why I feel so strongly about this but I do.
I don’t know if you saw the original, but a wide receiver who plays for Incarnate Word scored a touchdown on Saturday and then immediately did a headstand with his entire body stiff and sticking straight up into the air before gravity tilted him back to the ground. It was nothing flashy or spectacular, but it was very silly and gave the football world a good laugh.
On Sunday, receivers Drake London and Amon-Ra St. Brown both did the same celebration after scoring touchdowns in their respective games. London’s was a bit weak in execution but St. Brown’s was much closer to the original. Either way, it was cool to see a small-school player inspire some of the best in the league to do the same celebration.
The NFL has relaxed on celebrations in recent years which has allowed players to express themselves more freely in the biggest moments of games. In my opinion, the dances and such are cool, but there’s nothing like a celebration that leaves fans going, “hahaha….what?”
So in closing, I hope more players choose to be silly gooses on the field because the league needs it.
RJ:
There is no question that this is very cool. My favorite part is honestly the point of origin. That a small school like Incarnate Word serves as the genesis of it all makes it all the more awesome.
I’m not as passionate about this as Michael, but I have zero issue with the celebration sticking around and becoming a bit of a thing. Fun is good for everyone involved. I see literally no bad results from letting this be a thing.
Of course, this means that the NFL will find some way to ruin our fun and take it away and justify doing so in the dumbest way possible.
Which team is looking like the top coaching spot of 2025?
RJ:
Monday morning brought with it the news that the New Orleans Saints were firing Dennis Allen. Given that they have lost seven games in a row this is hardly shocking.
The Saints are officially the second team this season to make a coaching change with the New York Jets dismissing Robert Saleh something like five months ago or whatever it was. At present time, if I had to guess, these other teams all have a chance of needing a new head coach in the offseason as well:
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Chicago Bears
- Miami Dolphins
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Jacksonville Jaguars
I’ll admit that I am somewhat hedging my own bet by including the Bengals here, but I am just trying to imagine what could be available. This group is one of eight, and that is pretty normal for an offseason cycle. Just go with me for conversation’s sake.
If we assume these are (generally) the open posts across the league and you are the candidate on the block… which spot do you want? You can make an argument for the Bears I suppose, with Caleb Williams and the young nucleus that Chicago is developing. That kind of team flourishing under a new staff is a pattern we have certainly seen before.
The Bengals have to be mentioned because of the presence of the quarterback obviously, and there is an argument to be made that Joe Burrow could make them No. 1.
Ultimately I think that I think the answer is Chicago.
Michael:
I also believe Chicago is the answer here if you weigh the second-year quarterback they’ll have to begin with on top of the young nucleus you touched on. Rome Odunze paired with DJ Moore is going to be a great duo for years to come if the offense can gel even further over the upcoming offseason.
While the Bears are enticing for obvious reasons, the Bengals should not be overlooked as a team with a legitimate franchise quarterback and a top-5 receiver in the NFL. That side of the ball will always have a higher floor than most teams, simply due to what that pairing can do. I like this job potentially for a coach who appreciates and wants to invest in the trenches on both sides of the ball, because they sure do have Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard on that side to go with recent Day 2 pick Kris Jenkins and veteran BJ Hill along the interior.
Two important parts of any football team are already established here, and if a savvy general manager is also brought in, I could see the Bengals bouncing back quick with some early hits in the new regime’s first draft, similar to how the Chargers are looking more competitive than expected due to a great 2024 rookie class.
Who is one player you think deserved to be traded from a team with no playoff hopes to a contender?
Michael:
They’ll never do it because he’s just so amazingly good but Giants Dexter Lawrence 110 percent deserves to be on a better team than the G-Men. The guy is an athletic marvel at his size and has nine sacks through the first nine weeks of the season. His previous career high for an entire season was 7.5 in 2022. So let me reiterate: It is ABSURD how well he’s performing this year and it’s simply a travesty that his efforts are being wasted on a team that won’t make it to the postseason.
Free this man. Someone. Anyone.
RJ:
I’m going to stick with my team here and offer up Zack Martin, as painful as it is.
It was 10 years ago when Dallas boldly (and rightfully) took Martin over Johnny Manziel and uncovered one of the greatest interior linemen of all time, let alone just his era.
But the state of the Dallas Cowboys is what it is and I have watched too many legends of the franchise retired without even a conference championship game appearance. DeMarcus Ware was able to break free and hoist the Lombardi Trophy, but what about Tony Romo? Jason Witten? Dez Bryant? Sean Lee? Tyron Smith left for greener, no pun intended, pastures in the New York Jets and is learning that it is hard in a lot of places, but the Cowboys find a way to trap people differently.
Let Zack Martin fly free. Please.
