Week 1 Pre-Game Thread: Bengals
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
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Zac Taylor just announced Trent Brown will start at RT (as Amarius Mims returned to practice today) and Dax Hill will start at CB. Regarding Chase, Wednesday will be the moment of truth as that's usually their toughest day of the week and the first practice with the game plan implemented (although this could be a little different with it being Week 1). Even if he does return to practice, I doubt he'll play a full load of snaps.
Patriots announced their captains today.
https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-notebook-new-captains-set-the-tone
Six total, with 3 first-timers:
Andrews, Bentley, Brissett, Cardona, Peppers, Wise.
For the first time, the Pats’ captains will wear the C emblem on their uniforms.
https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-notebook-new-captains-set-the-tone
Six total, with 3 first-timers:
Andrews, Bentley, Brissett, Cardona, Peppers, Wise.
For the first time, the Pats’ captains will wear the C emblem on their uniforms.
Line has moved a bit towards NE, down to +7.5. I think I saw it as high as +9.5. Guessing it’s normal week 1 volatility.
Guessing the case for a closer game is the Bengals don’t have a great week 1 track record (1-3 with Burrow) and the uncertainty around Chase.
Guessing the case for a closer game is the Bengals don’t have a great week 1 track record (1-3 with Burrow) and the uncertainty around Chase.
I’d say it’s all Chase. Burrow was out a big chunk of camp the last two years and last year was a perfect storm of injury/rust/rain/bad matchup. For what it’s worth, Burrow played four games without Chase in ‘22 and was very good overall.
Chase has returned to practice and Jeremy Fowler (the actual Bengals outlet at ESPN, not Schefter) says there’s more progress towards a deal. I’d have to imagine he’s playing.
On the NE side, no Sidy Sow at the media portion of practice. Not good for an OL that is still searching for the right combo.
The Patriots have released their unofficial depth chart.
https://x.com/PatriotsHaven/status/1831033234731450577/photo/1
A few interesting details:
- Thornton, for all the talk of his camp improvements, is still not a starter. KJ Osborne is over him. Javon Baker is the 3rd X. Wouldn't shock me if he's out on gameday based on his run-in with the law/'gram.
- Boutte is the backup to Polk. No listed backup for Pop.
- VLowe is not a starter either, with Onwenu and Chuks officially the starters. Not a surprise per se, but welcome.
- Marcus Jones is listed as lead PR and KR. Stay healthy, little big man!
https://x.com/PatriotsHaven/status/1831033234731450577/photo/1
A few interesting details:
- Thornton, for all the talk of his camp improvements, is still not a starter. KJ Osborne is over him. Javon Baker is the 3rd X. Wouldn't shock me if he's out on gameday based on his run-in with the law/'gram.
- Boutte is the backup to Polk. No listed backup for Pop.
- VLowe is not a starter either, with Onwenu and Chuks officially the starters. Not a surprise per se, but welcome.
- Marcus Jones is listed as lead PR and KR. Stay healthy, little big man!
Makes sense. Chase is feeling limber after his holdout, so the smart money is on him to kick an extra point on Sunday.
There is a history between these teams of a star WR (who was also traded from one team to the other!) doing exactly that…
I'm very curious to see if the chart actually plays out at WR... Osborn isn't really an X, and he didn't play it much if any in pre-season (or in MIN), wonder if that's a bit of a nod to a vet and then Thornton continues to get the most snaps as the X.The Patriots have released their unofficial depth chart.
https://x.com/PatriotsHaven/status/1831033234731450577/photo/1
A few interesting details:
- Thornton, for all the talk of his camp improvements, is still not a starter. KJ Osborne is over him. Javon Baker is the 3rd X. Wouldn't shock me if he's out on gameday based on his run-in with the law/'gram.
- Boutte is the backup to Polk. No listed backup for Pop.
- VLowe is not a starter either, with Onwenu and Chuks officially the starters. Not a surprise per se, but welcome.
- Marcus Jones is listed as lead PR and KR. Stay healthy, little big man!
Higgins popped up as a Thursday limited (never a good sign) with a hamstring yesterday and isn't out there today. He talked to the media yesterday which he wouldn't do if he was hurt, but today's DNP doesn't help. Kris Jenkins Jr. (one of their three ostensibly quality bodies at DT) also isn't out there after going limited the last two days. As expected, Chase is out there again and looks on track to play.
They had a problem with Higgins two years ago so, he had 8 catches on 11 targets for 128 yards and a touchdown. Him being limited would certainly help. IIRC, in that game they had Marcus Jones on him which was a huge size missmatch. I'm not sure how the Pats will match up this time around, the secondary personel is largely the same. Maybe Jon Jones and a safety on Chase and Gonzo on an island with Higgins?
I think this will be something like 24-13 Bengals. I think the Pats defense will be respectable but I don't think the offense is going to put points up. Cincy's run defense isn't great (or atleast wasn't last year) so a glimer of hope is probably through ground and pound. That puts a premium on converting red zone opportunities and I'm not sure the Pats are going to be able to do that. Moving the ball between the 20's but settling for FG's isn't a winning strategy against an explosive offense.
I think this will be something like 24-13 Bengals. I think the Pats defense will be respectable but I don't think the offense is going to put points up. Cincy's run defense isn't great (or atleast wasn't last year) so a glimer of hope is probably through ground and pound. That puts a premium on converting red zone opportunities and I'm not sure the Pats are going to be able to do that. Moving the ball between the 20's but settling for FG's isn't a winning strategy against an explosive offense.
Yeah, there were two go balls where he outmuscled Marcus Jones. I'd expect to see more Gonzalez on him and have them try to bracket Chase as you mentioned. Obviously the Pats pass rush took a big hit without Barmore and Judon, but this is still a good secondary - it'll be interesting to see how the Bengals can attack with their different tertiary options (Gesicki and Iosivas mainly along with Chase Brown out of the backfield).
The Pats best path to victory is controlling the clock for 35+ minutes - certainly easier said than done, but the Bengals are really short on quality DT depth (especially if Kris Jenkins is out). It helps for the Bengals the Pats are starting two rookie/journeyman guards and Hendrickson could terrorize Okorafor.
Aaaaaaaand Zac Taylor just said Jenkins needs thumb surgery. The Pats should be running the Wing-T Sunday.
I think this is a little bit of gamesmanship, as he's openly admitted he likes to fuck with the media. Based on the timeline of actual events, I'd be very surprised if he doesn't play.
Chase is going to play. It sounds like the contract is almost done. It's possible he's limited a bit due to conditioning but he's played a million years with Burrow so I don't think he really needs those reps in training camp to get on the same page. The only concern is the conditioning.
Higgins, the Pats could catch a break. There's a scenario where he doesn't want to push it on a bad hammy when he's playing on a franchise tag.
Higgins, the Pats could catch a break. There's a scenario where he doesn't want to push it on a bad hammy when he's playing on a franchise tag.
Higgins is doubtful while Jenkins (as aforementioned) and Amarius Mims are out. I think Trent Brown can hold down the fort when he's out there, but if anyone's at risk for reinjury Week 1 after missing a chunk of camp it's him and Cody Ford is barely an NFL tackle.
Higgins being out would help a lot, easier to help on Chase if the other WR is Iosivas not Higgins.
Have to think Patriots' best chance is to play good D and hope the Bengals atrocious run D from last year carries over
Have to think Patriots' best chance is to play good D and hope the Bengals atrocious run D from last year carries over
I’ve already committed to increasing my alcohol intake substantially this season. I’m all in on the 2024 Pats. Roll the ball out on the field and let’s get this party started.
The corner 300 sections at Gillette this year are the new bleachers at Fenway circa 1990-2002. This is when the real memories are made.
The corner 300 sections at Gillette this year are the new bleachers at Fenway circa 1990-2002. This is when the real memories are made.
Chase now also has an "illness" on the injury report. Who knows what exactly that means, but I may have underestimated how much he's willing to sit out. It's very hard to see him playing a full complement of snaps tomorrow - I'd sign up for him playing at all at this point.
I spent fifteen years sitting in the 300s on the old and new stadiums, haven't they always been the bleachers in terms of boozing and behavior?
It's a good game for him to sit out for leverage, I think. If he does, and they lose to the lowly Pats, that's a big motivator to sign him. If they beat the lowly Pats without him, then at least in terms of record he's made a point without hurting the team.
What's the hold up on a contract at this point anyways? Aren't the terms more or less known to both sides with the recent WR contracts?
Yeah, I don’t get it. Jefferson and Lamb are comparable in skill and age. What is the issue here? The market is set.
Their immensely cheap owner had a decades long policy to never sign anyone before FA. He was forced to break it for Burrow, and now he's trying to put it back in place.
The issue is for better or (probably) worse, they don’t want to give out extensions with two years remaining (QBs excepted as Burrow got his) - Jefferson/Lamb/Aiyuk only had one year left. Before this year, non-QB first rounders didn’t get deals after three years but then Sewell/Waddle/Smith got them. That being said, it’s highly unlikely they’ll have a guy as good as Chase where they’ll have to cave to an extension after three years and this is how the market has evolved. I don’t know exactly what his side wants, but it’s certainly not a good look for the team to have this drag into the season.
They’ve extended a billion people before FA. I’m not saying they’re right, but the issue is Chase has two years left.
sorry you're right, it's 2 years left that was where they made the Burrow exception (also new guaranteed money apparently?).
Oh great, another season of people rooting against their favorite team. So much fun.
Pats Inactives:
Offensive line possibilities:
LT: Lowe or Okorafor
LG: Leverett or Jordan
C: Andrews
RG: Onwenu or Robinson
RT: Okorafor or Onwenu
Trystane Hill and Michael Jordan were elevated. None of the 4 waiver claim guys is active.
Offensive line possibilities:
LT: Lowe or Okorafor
LG: Leverett or Jordan
C: Andrews
RG: Onwenu or Robinson
RT: Okorafor or Onwenu
I think the only times it is acceptable to hope your team loses are if 1) you are obviously in a season where you need to draft a QB in the draft like top 5 or early, and 2) if you aren't making the playoffs, the culture is good despite that, and you want a slightly better draft spot the last game or two of the year. Aside from that though it's full steam ahead. That being said you still root for them to win even if that cognitive dissonance causes your head to explode. 
