A riddle for you: what happens when a team announces a coaching change less than two hours before a game?
That question lacks key pieces of context, and the result may not be simply a reflection of that. But knowing that just happened to the Bengals – already a team in dismal straits – their game’s result shouldn’t be shocking. It was hard to imagine the team looking nearly as bad as they did against the Bears last week. It would’ve been inconceivable to imagine a team looking that bad for two weeks straight without eventually making wholesale changes.
Yet, here we are. The team looked that bad for two weeks straight, and wholesale changes are already confirmed to be inbound. Marvin Lewis, the head coach in Cincinnati since 2003, and the Bengals organization have mutually agreed to part ways. This won’t affect his status with the team for the last two games, but honestly, who cares? This is a move that clearly indicates the Bengals have begun their focus on next season. The few fans that haven’t yet moved on as well will follow suit.
With the state of the organization, the depleted roster, and the fans, these last two games are essentially preseason games. After that, Cincinnati will be on to a much-needed new era of football.
Quick Notes from Sunday’s Action:
1.) Obligatory note about the quarterbacks: Andy Dalton threw 22 passes; the Vikings’ Case Keenum threw 23. Dalton completed 11, Keenum completed 20. Dalton threw two picks without a touchdown, Keenum threw two touchdowns without a pick.
A stark contrast given a similar raw sample size, but neither quarterback was the star of the show anyway. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who hasn’t seen a regular season snap since 2015, made a surprise appearance in the fourth quarter. The crowd gave an overwhelming standing ovation, and the moment was clearly emotional for several members of the team. In such a difficult game to watch, fans on both sides who follow the league at least had that moment. Sympathy for Bridgewater’s story isn’t exclusive to the Vikings’ fandom.
2.) Latavius Murray lead the Vikings in carries (20), totaling 76 yards and a touchdown. Jerick McKinnon added 16 touches between carries and receptions, for a combined 138 yards. The Vikings offense ran through them, over a cast of backup linebackers unable to oppose them (even before Vincent Rey left).
The Bengals offense, on the other hand, didn’t run. Giovani Bernard found 30 yards on 14 carries. Josh Malone managed to find four yards on a single botched end-around attempt. Brian Hill came in to contribute a whopping twelve yards on five carries. By the end of the whole mess, the booth was talking about Jarveon Williams being promoted from the practice squad. That’s how you know it’s preseason football.
-
Ep 102: Chiefs, Eagles Advance To The Super Bowl
by Full Press Coverage on January 30, 2023 at 11:26 pm
3.) Back to quarterbacks – the other way you know it’s preseason football is when both teams play their backup signal-callers. Bridgewater was in for sentimental reasons in addition to practical ones, but by the end the Bengals had A.J. McCarron on the field as well. The fourth-year backup oversaw the Bengals’ lone scoring drive, but went 3/6 passing for 19 yards, not scoring himself. Given that the drive started from well within field goal range after a turnover, nothing about it is particularly impressive. Just spares the Bengals from having a goose egg in the final score sheet.
Bridgewater only threw two passes in the game – both were incomplete, one was the interception that started that drive. The whole thing may as well have been an early Christmas present from Mike Zimmer to Marvin Lewis.
4.) The defense at least, for how long it was on the field and accounting for injuries, didn’t play poorly. The linebackers couldn’t stop McKinnon, but the front end put up a pass rush and the back end covered well. Geno Atkins recorded two sacks up front, padding his stats on an already-impressive year. Adam Thielen, who’s had an incredible year so far, recorded three catches for 30 yards and a long of 21. Stefon Diggs, a pretty solid second banana, recorded as many yards on five catches.
There’s a chicken-and-egg thing at work here, for sure – why would a team attempt X when Y works? Were the Vikings scared to test William Jackson’s coverage downfield, or were they content to win easily without trying?
Regardless of the answer, it’s hard to hold the end result against Jackson. For many Bengals fans who wanted to watch their effectively-rookie phenom against top competition, this game wasn’t bad. That’s the point of preseason football anyway, isn’t it?
– Andy Hammel is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Bengals and the Division Editor for Full Press AFC North. Follow @Andy_Hammel Follow @FPC_Bengals Follow @FPC_AFCN
-
Ep 141: Andy Reid, Eagles, And Conference Championship Weekend w/ Joe Bannerby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 5:36 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by former Eagles President Joe Banner to talk […]
-
Ep 140: The 49ers/Cowboys Rivalry With Former San Francisco Tight End Brent Jonesby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 9:02 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by former 49ers tight end and three time Super […]
-
Ep 137: Hall Of Fame Discussion w/ John Turneyby Full Press Coverage on December 30, 2022 at 5:33 pm
Football historian John Turney of Pro Football Journal joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 136: Remembering The Longest Game Ever Played With Larry Littleby Full Press Coverage on December 24, 2022 at 1:09 am
On the 51-year anniversary of the longest game ever played (Chiefs vs. […]
-
Ep 135: Hall of Fame Semifinalist Jahri Evans Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on December 16, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Former Saints guard and 2023 HOF Semifinalist Jahri Evans joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 134: Remember AFL/NFL Star John Hadl with Nick Canepaby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Former Hall of Fame voter, Nick Canepa, joins Clark and Ira to discuss the […]
-
Ep 133: Hall Of Fame Semifinalist Henry Ellard Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Former Rams and Redskins wide receiver, Henry Ellard, joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 132: Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Semifinalists w/ Rick Gosselinby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Rick Gosselin […]
-
Ep 131: 'Football Heaven' With PFHOF Senior Advisor Joe Horriganby Full Press Coverage on November 17, 2022 at 5:55 pm
Pro Football Hall of Fame Senior Advisor, Joe Horrigan, joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 130: Remembering John McVay With Hall of Famer Eddie DeBartolo Jr.by Full Press Coverage on November 13, 2022 at 1:42 am
Clark and Ira are joined by Hall of Fame owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. to […]
-
Ep 271: NFL Championship Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 26, 2023 at 1:58 pm
-
Ep 270: NFL Divisional Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 1:31 am
-
Ep 269: NFL Playoff Previewby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 4:13 am
-
Ep 268: Week 16 Fantasy Rankingsby Full Press Coverage on December 21, 2022 at 9:45 pm
-
Ep.130: Bowling For Talentby Full Press Coverage on January 28, 2023 at 6:00 am
Biggs sits down with Kenneth Berry from the Tangents And Touchdowns […]
-
(Season 3.1) Commanders Roundtable w/ Deuce, DH, and DTby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 3:56 am
George Carmi hosts Deuce, DH, and DT as they discuss the latest topics of […]
-
1/31 - Tom Brady and the 49ers, Aaron Rodgers Futureby Full Press Coverage on January 31, 2023 at 9:00 am
Ian and John discuss whether or not the 49ers loss in the NFC Championship […]
-
1/30 - Conference Championship Recap: Eagles, Chiefs Advanceby Full Press Coverage on January 30, 2023 at 10:35 am
Ian and John recap the Eagles and Chiefs victories on Conference […]
-
1/27 - Conference Championship Preview: Who is Going To The Super Bowl?by Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 9:50 am
Ian and John preview Conference Championship Weekend and give their picks […]
-
1/23 - Divisional Round Recap; Chiefs, Bengals, Eagles, and 49ers Advanceby Full Press Coverage on January 23, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Ian and John recap Divisional Round Weekend in the NFL. Learn more about […]
-
Talkamania Episode 230by Talkamania on September 6, 2022 at 11:43 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 229by Talkamania on August 5, 2022 at 3:37 am
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 211 "Steel Reserve"by Boot 2 The Face on January 28, 2023 at 6:59 pm
We preview the Royal Rumble and other things in the week of pro wreslting. […]
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 210 "No Monè, No Monè, No Monè"by Boot 2 The Face on January 19, 2023 at 12:55 am
Rucker and EJ are back discussing Rucker going to Impacts Hard to Kill […]
-
1/31 - Tom Brady and the 49ers, Aaron Rodgers Futureby Full Press Coverage on January 31, 2023 at 9:00 am
-
Episode 80 Criss Partee discusses NBA trade rumorsby Full Press Coverage on January 31, 2023 at 6:25 am
-
Ep. 261: Nashville Elite Owner Tahnesia Richmondby Full Press Coverage on January 31, 2023 at 6:00 am
-
Full Press MMA - Monday, January 30thby Full Press Coverage on January 30, 2023 at 11:38 pm
-
Ep 102: Chiefs, Eagles Advance To The Super Bowlby Full Press Coverage on January 30, 2023 at 11:26 pm
-
Hawks at Blazersby Broken Controller Media on January 30, 2023 at 10:30 pm
-
Raptors at Sunsby Broken Controller Media on January 30, 2023 at 9:30 pm
-
Pistons at Mavsby Broken Controller Media on January 30, 2023 at 8:30 pm
-
Wizards at Spursby Broken Controller Media on January 30, 2023 at 7:30 pm
-
Pick & Rollout: Baylor at Texasby Broken Controller Media on January 30, 2023 at 7:00 pm
-
1/6 - Damar Hamlin Update, Bills/Bengals, AFC Playoffs, Week 18 Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 6, 2023 at 3:11 pm
-
Winter Classic: Bruins Rally To Beat Penguins At Fenwayby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:09 am
-
1/3 - Bills/Bengals Postponed; Bruins Topple Penguins In Winter Classicby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:05 am
-
1/2 - Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Week 17, Bills/Bengalsby Full Press Coverage on January 3, 2023 at 3:22 am
-
12/30 - New Year's Eve, Luka Doncic, NBA Talk, Week 17 Preview and Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 1, 2023 at 2:29 am
-
Aaron Rodgers, Packers Win Third Straight; Playoffs In Sightby Full Press Coverage on December 27, 2022 at 7:36 pm