Caesar

A little salty aren't you? You obviously did not watch the Ravens or Patriots game. We are clowns if we lose in a championship game or Super Bowl after beating the Bills? I never said we are unstoppable, unless we are playing in Orchard Park apparently....

Really? The fumble was at the 12 minute mark in the 4th. The Bengals played extremely vanilla on purpose in the last 2 games vs the Ravens. We have beaten the Ravens the last 4 out of 5, their only win being a walk-off FG, and if you dont think the Bengals offense can score a couple TDs in 12 minutes then.... thats on you.

#1. The tickets thing was simply to get the players fired up. The Joe Mixons of the team didnt understand and probably still dont, as we were selling Jaguar tickets as well. Joe simply made a joke with the "refunds" comment - those upset with this are waaaay too fragile. #2. You guys are seriously going to crucify our entire team, coaches and fans because of Eli Apple? Half of our fans don't like the guy. There is a thread on our main board about this: Apple Needs to STFU (Pages: 1 2 3 4 ) The players had to tell Eli to stop tweeting during the playoffs last season. Judging everyone associated with the team because of Eli Apple is a bit shortsighted.

All of us with a an elite QB will eventually have cap issues. Extending Joe and Tee after this season gives us 2-3 yers before the big hit comes. Our only big money guys on defense are Reader ($11M) and Hendrickson ($10M), they both turn 30 when these current contracts expire. Hubbard is a hometown boy who has already taken discounts and isnt leaving. We will pay Logan Wilson but Germain Pratt and Jesse Bates are likely gone after this season. We have $22M tied up in Mixon and Boyd that would be freed up after next season, we would no longer have these luxury type players moving forward, IMO.

Mahomes deal really had nothing to do with him. His roster bonus was converted to a signing bonus that could be prorated. Thus a $21M roster bonus hit was lowered to $4M, saving $17M that season, with 5 more $4M payments down the road. Allen doesn't have a big roster bonus until 2025. They would have to restructure his base.

You obviously did not watch the game. Once we got the lead we ran the ball up the middle and had a couple swing passes, very conservative. In fact, the Week 18 game and wildcard we were very vanilla and sat on the ball with the lead. There was no domination by the Ravens whatsoever. Some perspective: Joe Burrow has a passer rating of 101.0 with 1,556 yards, 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in 5 games against the Ravens in his career.

These are good points, I will counter with the league has made a very large change in philosophy. This is now 100% a passing league, see the extensive pass interference and roughing the QB penalties. The Ravens and Steelers are very solid organizations. But both teams have defensive HC's with a philosophy of a strong run game and tough defense. This just isnt the way anymore. The Bengals have won 8 of 10 with these 2 clubs. And both losses were last second FGs. The Browns are an annual *****-show for one reason or another.

Why do you say this? If we are playing this silly game, the Bills should have lost to the Ravens much more than the Bengals.

You can say whatever you want, but it doesn't make it true. There was 12 minutes left in the Ravens game when Huntley fumbled. Burrow did not attempt a pass over 15 yards, we were using a preseason playbook. We basically ran out the clock the rest of the game, Mixon and swing passes. The Ravens barely beat us early with a last minute FG after we gave up the ball on our own goal line. We have beaten the Ravens 4 out of the last 5 and we are 12-8 over the last 10 years. We will always beat the Ravens playing with a backup QB.

The narrative "almost beat" is so lazy. The Texans almost beat the Chiefs a few weeks ago... Bengals have beat the Ravens 4 out of the last 5 games. The one loss was a last second FG by Tucker. The Bengals did not open the playbook the last 2 games vs the Ravens, the fumble recovery did not happen at the end of the last game. Ravens are a good team, Bills should hope Lamar doesn't end up with the Jets. Bengals have beaten the Steelers 4 out of the last 5 times. The loss opening day this season with new oline with no games together, Burrow off a surgery with no preseason. It took 5 turnovers, a missed extra point, and an OT FG for Pitt to win the game. The Browns are always a pain for the Bengals. If Watson were to regain his form they would be a problem, they have talent. The last 3 games: Bengals won. Bengals lost. 1st game without Chase, lost CB1 for the year early in the game, LT dislocated knee cap, worst of all the team found out before the game that a young assistant coach had died the evening before the game. Bengals lost. AFCN championship locked in, Cincy did not play any starters resting for the playoffs. It is definitely a physical division and playing the Chiefs & Bills during the regular season will not be easy as well. I could see the AFCW improving some and if the Jets find a good QB the East could become more competitive.

Ravens are a conference opponent that the Bengals played 3 times. The Bengals did not open the playbook in week 18 or the next week in the wildcard game vs the Ravens. That said, I have no idea how our oline was so successful and the Bills oline struggled, the trenches seemed to be the difference in the game.

Drafted Starters vs Bills: WR Higgins - 2nd WR Boyd - 2nd LT Carman - 2nd LG Volson - 4th RT Adeniji - 6th RB Mixon - 2nd DE Hubbard - 3rd LB Pratt - 3rd LB Wilson - 3rd CB CTB - 2nd FS Bates - 2nd K McPherson - 5th Rotational Players vs Bills: S Hill - 1st (#31) DT Carter - 3rd DE Sample 4th DE Ossai - 3rd LB ADG - 4th LB Bailey - 7th RB Williams - 6th

Why lie? Do you do this often? Actually... the Bengals have always paid QBs and WRs. Bates did not have a good season last year and wanted top 3 money, we knew Burrow and Tee would be due after this season. Drafting Dax Hill and tagging Bates was the right move, FS is not a priority position for us.

Really? This is the answer? That fumble happened with 12 minutes left on the clock. We played a very vanilla offense the entire game. I expect better football knowledge out of this fanbase. This is a real possibility even if the Bengals return to the SB again this season. But I would still rather be the disrespected team playing in the last game rather than the media's preseason favorite.

Joker: If Tee gets a much better deal than we offer I have no doubt he will leave, but that is the reason we are offering him this spring. Other teams cannot make offers until after next season. He has the same agent as Deshaun Watson so I am prepared for the worse. Dr. Sack: We paid Palmer $100M, we paid Dalton, every team knows the impact of a high priced QB. Our hope is a long term deal with rolling guarantees, we wont know until the deal is done. Turk: We can make Burrow the highest paid player and still have a cap friendly structure. Frenchie: Why?

I think you and many other teams "hope" Burrow does not take a Mahomes deal. Joe is in a unique situation as he is now a part of the player acquisition process. It is his team, he has said it, he knows Brady took less to win rings and his competitiveness is off the charts, almost weird. He hasn't spent any of his $24M and his goal is not spend any NFL compensation. Joe will need to be compensated very well, a 10-12yr $500M deal would make him the highest paid and with certain provisions will allow for others to be signed as well. We will see. Jokeman - your comment regarding Tee makes sense, except that Tee is not an alpha. He is very quiet and best friends with Chase. He prefers Chase being out front. A 4 year $80M deal should be doable and keep him in Cincy. I cant stress enough how much credit the WRs give Burrow for their success. They understand the difference a QB could make. Any team not named Bills or Chiefs would be a downgrade as to their next QB, if they were to leave.

Burrow and Chase won't have an immediate cap impact like many believe. You guys can over pay for a 30 year old Tyler Boyd. I'm guessing we draft another deep threat opposite Tee with Chase playing the slot much more.

Boyd will be 30 in the 2024 season, Bengals will not consider anything crazy. Burrow and Higgins being in the same class isn't really the same. We will exercise Joe's 5th year option avoiding a huge cap hit for the next 3 years. Chase's big hit won't likely make a huge impact until 2027. It will be interesting.

Higgins is the biggest question mark, Boyd will not get a big contract. Reader signed thru next season and Hill thru 2024. Hubbard is never leaving Cincy, born in Cincy, went to OSU, guy will be the Mayor one day. I dont expect it to happen 100%, I am glad we are trying. Tee will be the most questionable, he has a very tough agent and he may want to be a #1 elsewhere. Tee is extremely close with the other WRs and a bit of an introvert, he may stay for the "family aspect", but that is a long shot, better chance we pay him large or tag him. Jamar has already said he is never leaving Joe, they are "bread & butter". We are in pretty good shape cap wise with a relatively young roster.

Couple things. 1. Bengals will have enough money to sign who they want. Mike Brown is not pulling the strings anymore. The Bengals have been very active in free agency the last couple of years. The narrative that the Bengals won't/can't spend money is not as limiting as it once was, we will always have issues with the guaranteed escrow requirements. 2. Bengals will attempt to extend Burrow and Tee immediately after this season. Burrow's high salary will most likely not have a major impact until 2026. The goal is to sign Burrow to a Mahomes-like longterm contract with rolling guarantees, perhaps a 10 yr, $500M deal which would make him the highest paid, but also limit the required escrow, and spread prorated payments every season. 3. If Burrow agrees to the Mahomes-like deal, the Bengals would be able to keep the team together much easier. 4. I expect the Bengals to lose Bates and most likely Pratt after this season.

This is a dated truth. Mike Brown is not in control anymore, since he stepped away Cincy has spent aggressively in free agency lately. DJ Reader, Von Bell, Mike Hilton, Hayden Hurst, Trey Hendrickson, BJ Hill, Chido Awuzie, Trey Flowers, Eli Apple, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, La'el Collins, Max Scharping - all signed in the last couple years and all have been impact players. It is no secret ownership's main focus is on extending Burrow and Higgins immediately after the upcoming Super Bowl. If Burrow accepts a long-term (10 year) deal with rolling guarantees the Bengals will be in ok shape moving forward. We are definitely limited by the required escrow, but it can be managed with Burrow's assistance. Of course he can simply name his number and we will pay it, he has said he wants to keep the core together, we will see....? We will lose 2 key players from this team - Jesse Bates and Germain Pratt, both are up for big contracts.

Josh is so hard to tackle, we get pressure and can’t get a hold of this guy. A little surprised Bills are not running the ball more?

Yes and he missed the first 8 games or so with an injury.

The 2nd half opening drive will be important, Bengals cant let Bills get momentum. Feels like Josh is about to explode anytime. Happy with the backup oline thus far, of course our only legitimate starter, Karras the center, was injured early in the 2nd.

There are a handful here that just cant help themselves.