The Cincinnati Bengals are contenders to win the Tremendous Bowl. That is who we knew they might be earlier than the season, and who we hoped they have been after the rocky begin.

Joe Burrow was good in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, main the Bengals to a 27-24 win. That’s the identical rating of the AFC Championship recreation, and, like that recreation, the Bengals needed to come from behind to win. Joe Burrow is 3-0 in opposition to Patrick Mahomes, and the Bengals have a brand new inter-conference rival.

Now at 8-4, the Bengals are in agency management of their very own future. They maintain the No. 5 spot within the playoffs as the primary wildcard workforce, however they’ve their sights on an AFC North championship and a doable first-round bye.

Listed here are some ideas on the sport.

Burrow was surgical on Sunday

Burrow accomplished 25 of 31 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns in opposition to the Chiefs. He additionally carried the ball 11 occasions for 46 yards and one other landing. He was nothing wanting masterful and led the Bengals to a different come-from-behind victory with a fourth quarter landing move to Chris Evans (gasp!). He shredded the Chiefs protection all around the subject, finishing passes to eight totally different receivers.

Burrow has performed in opposition to a number of the hardest competitors within the league during the last couple of weeks, however he has outplayed most, if not all, different quarterbacks within the NFL.

Pratt comes up large once more

Linebacker Germaine Pratt saved the Bengals once more by ripping the ball away from tight finish Travis Kelce after which recovering the fumble. The offense drove down the sector after the turnover and scored the go-ahead landing. Pratt has turn into one of many higher linebackers within the NFL and, I imagine, is essentially the most improved participant from final yr.

The mixture of Pratt and Logan Wilson is likely one of the largest causes the Bengals protection has been nearly as good because it has been.

“Chase is on the case” is Tony Romo’s favourite factor to say when he calls Bengals video games

Chase has been out for a month with a hip harm, and in that point, the Bengals gained video games in opposition to the Titans, Steelers and Panthers. The offense explored new methods to maneuver the ball, Tee Higgins cemented his standing as a real No.1 receiver and Hayden Hurst bought extra concerned. Add that to the emergence of the operating recreation and Samaje Perine, the offense was nonetheless buzzing regardless of Chase behind out.

Having mentioned that, it was superior to have him again. The entire subject opens up extra when he’s within the recreation. He led the Bengals in receiving with seven catches for 97 yards. He didn’t rating any touchdowns, however he requires a lot consideration that he makes getting open simply that a lot simpler for the remainder of the receivers.

Kevin Huber, thanks for every thing!

This doesn’t have something to do with the sport on Sunday, however, as you recognize, very long time punter Kevin Huber was launched on Monday. Huber struggled this season, averaging solely 37.4 internet yards per punt. The Bengals made the transfer to name up Dru Chrisman, activating him 3 times, the restrict, off the observe squad. Chrisman has earned the spot now, averaging 44.8 internet yards per punt, however that meant there was now no room for 2 punters.

Huber performed highschool soccer for the McNicholas Rockets on the east aspect of Cincinnati, then punted for the College of Cincinnati Bearcats and was drafted within the fifth spherical by the Bengals in 2009. He has been the Bengals punter ever since. He was on a playoff workforce with Carson Palmer, a number of playoff groups with Andy Dalton, and a Tremendous Bowl workforce with Joe Burrow. I want him the perfect in no matter he does, and I completely imagine he belongs on the Ring of Honor at any time when he’s eligible.

The Bengals keep at dwelling this weekend to tackle the Browns in an enormous AFC North battle. Profitable is totally mandatory if the Bengals need to host a playoff recreation as a substitute of play on the street. Mockingly, Burrow is 3-0 in opposition to Mahomes and the Chiefs, however he’s by no means defeated the Browns, and whoever occurs to be taking part in quarterback for them on the time.

Right here are some things to search for this weekend.

• The Browns might be helmed by Deshaun Watson in his second recreation again from his lengthy suspension and sitting out the 2021 season with the Texans. Final week in his first recreation again, the Browns gained, however largely as a result of their protection was completely dominant in opposition to the worst workforce within the NFL. Watson accomplished solely 12 of twenty-two passes for 131 yards and an interception. He additionally ran the ball seven occasions for 21 yards. He was clearly rusty from not taking part in in over 700 days. I’m certain some rust might be knocked off between at times, however hopefully not all of it.
• The place the Browns might lack within the passing recreation proper now, they greater than make up for it with the operating recreation. They boast essentially the most gifted backfield duo within the NFL with the mix of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. The Browns have the fourth most dashing yards within the NFL, and so they’ve scored 18 dashing touchdowns. You higher imagine Lou Anarumo can have the Bengals taking part in completely totally different than they did in opposition to the Chiefs.
• The Browns have among the best edge rushers within the NFL in Myles Garrett. He has 10 of the Browns’ 25 sacks. The Bengals offensive line has been wonderful over the previous few weeks. They’re gelling on the proper time. They have been examined in opposition to excellent defenders during the last two weeks, and so they’ll be examined once more this week.
• There’s not plenty of love loss between the Bengals and Browns. The Bengals have to win with a purpose to win the division and the Browns would love nothing greater than to play an early spoiler. It’s time to place this complete “Burrow can’t beat the Browns” nonsense to mattress. In the event that they play like they did the final two weeks, they are going to.

Lastly, some random ideas on the Bengals win over the Chiefs.

• Perine runs like a freight prepare. Two weeks in a row he’s stiff armed somebody to the purpose that he bounced their heads off the bottom. When Joe Mixon is wholesome, Perine must share touches. You need to feed the recent hand.
• What we hoped this Bengals workforce can be earlier than the season began was who they have been on Sunday. The offense was unstoppable and the protection reminded the league why the Bengals went to the Tremendous Bowl final yr.
• Eli Apple and Cam Taylor-Britt have been wonderful in opposition to the Chiefs, solely permitting one reception for 5 yards between the 2 of them.
• Hilton gave up 5 receptions, however was graded extremely as a run defender. What he brings as an oft within the field defensive again is invaluable.
• Joseph Ossai’s sack pushed the Chiefs again simply sufficient for a missed subject aim that would have tied the sport. It was an superior play and Ossai confirmed his motor, by no means stopping till he introduced down Mahomes within the backfield.
• Jessie Bates’ superb timing on this harm was nice. I imply, if I noticed somebody try this in opposition to the Bengals and the Bengals misplaced the sport, I’d be pissed. However that’s not what occurred. So I believe it’s humorous.
• Lou Anarumo is likely one of the greatest, if not the perfect, defensive coordinators within the NFL. I completely anticipate there to be plenty of curiosity in him from groups trying to rent a brand new head coach.
• CTB is trying higher and higher every week after he was compelled right into a beginning function as a consequence of Chidobe Awuzie’s harm. The Bengals secondary is taking part in properly when it issues essentially the most.
• The offensive line has been nice currently. They began off gradual as a consequence of not taking part in within the preseason, and so they struggled within the first few video games of the yr, however since then they’ve gotten higher and higher, and now they’re taking part in nearly as good as some other line within the league.
• Behind that offensive line play, Burrow has performed at an MVP degree over the previous few weeks and completely deserves to be within the MVP dialog.
• Seeing Chris Evans concerned was good. Hopefully they discover extra for him to do as he’s such an ideal receiver out of the backfield.
• The Bengals had the time without work on Monday, however Bates reported when he went into the power to work out that just about the entire workforce was there. I really like that perspective and I can see they’re hungry.
• I believe the explanation there’s a saying “the great previous days” is indicative of the truth that we don’t acknowledge when issues are going properly, we simply miss them once they’re not. Let’s not make that mistake. Get pleasure from this and take in each minute. Let’s reside within the good previous days!

Who Dey!