Bengals-Chiefs: The Winner Is. . .

Hint: Defense will tell the tale

Stuff rarely goes as predicted in the NFL. Game after week after season, Predictable meets Rod Serling.

Who’s Rod Serling, Doc?

This week, Bengals-Chiefs chatter has focused on both offenses. A shootout is presumed, which is logical, given you have the world’s best QB (Mahomes) against the QB who’s always as good as his team needs him to be.

If Joe Burrow is inevitable, what’s Patrick Mahomes?

The Chiefs lead the league in points, yards, first downs and tomahawk chops. They’re also best at something called Pass Block Win Rate, nerdspeak for They Block Real Good. Mahomes is Ben Roethlisberger with more athleticism and better toe shoes. Seven of his 30 TDs (29 by pass) have come after he has left the pocket.

Burrow’s numbers aren’t quite as gaudy, but his intangibles are.

So. . .

Take the Over, yeah?

Makes perfect sense. Question: Since when does the NFL make perfect sense?

This week, a KC safety named Jason Reid opened his mouth and drunken canaries flew out. Reid threw shade on, well, on someone. He referenced “Number 88’’ which would be Bengals TE Hayden Hurst, then said he meant Tee Higgins, without even mentioning Ja’Marr Chase, which makes you wonder if Reid had any idea what he was talking about. No matter.

“I’m gonna lock him down,’’ Reid declared.

Some miles east of KC, Ja’Marr Chase responded, “I don’t think I can be stopped.’’

Who wins Sunday? Whoever proves more prophetic. Reid or Chase.

Defense could decide this game. Specifically, how does Cam Taylor-Britt, rookie corner, fare against the wideouts of Mahomes? T-B had a very good game at TN last Sunday. Name two Titans receivers, win fabulous prizes chosen just for you. It was the football equivalent of hitting off a pitching machine.

It won’t be like that on Sunday.

The Bengals did a very respectable job against Mahomes in both games last year, partly by dropping eight defenders into coverage. Taylor-Britt won’t be alone, and there is no Tyreek Hill. Then again, can they get some steady heat on Mahomes?

Conversely, no QB is playing better than Burrow. In Game 1 v KC last year, Burrow was damned near perfect: 20-39, 446, 4 TDs, 0 picks. In the AFC title game at Arrowhead, he threw for 250, two TDs and one interception. Can Reid & Co. lock down that?

This game might end 38-37. But the game will be won late because one team made plays on defense.

The Chiefs have incentive, after last year. Plus, they don’t want to go into January knowing they’ve lost three in a row to arguably their biggest rival for a Bowl berth. Last week, the Bengals extended their run into Tennessee’s collective head. Does anyone in Tennessee think Tennessee can ever beat the Men?

Kansas City wants to eliminate similar thinking,

Meantime, methinks the Stripes could be a little ill of hearing Chiefs-Bills/Mahomes-Allen talk. (And Tua, current golden boy.) Burrow especially. Man was 2-0 v Mahomes last year, yet isn’t seen as a Top 5 MVP candidate. Well, OK. See you Sunday.

Who wins?

Bengals are playing every bit as good as KC, at home, with much to play for. Ja’Marr Chase (Number 1) will play. If last week was about validation, this week is about supremacy. The Bengals will take what they believe belongs to them. 34-33.

Of course, if the Bengals had performed all year the way I’ve predicted, they’d be 9-2 right now.

Now, then. . .

I REALLY ENJOY LISTENING to Mo Egger in the afternoons. Mo’s smart, measured and is good at taking his gig seriously, but not himself, a key survival trait in the media business.

I’m close to turning him off. Not Mo himself. His show.

Too many damned commercials.

It could just be me. So I’ll ask youse: Does 1530 air more ads than anyone, or does it just seem that way? I swear, Mo can’t exhale twice before he’s going to the next break. Eight minutes at least at the top of the hour. Several more at the :20 mark. Eight more at least at the bottom of the hour. Several more at :40. Et cetera.

It’s like watching the last two minutes of a Madness game.

Obviously, ads are good for business. Mo’s no doubt grateful that the ads march on unimpeded, like a nation of ants at the family picnic. But c’mon, man. Give us a break.

AND NOW. . .

Imbiber Dave roughs it with Eagle Rare. And other tasty libations.

Spent a very relaxing few days in Hueston Woods over the holiday. This lodge near Oxford, OH may look the same as it did in the 70’s, but there is something to be said for the utter silence of waking up in a rustic cabin the middle of the woods.

A long walk with the dog in the woods can cure quite a few ills. Two small men running amuck in a 325-year-old cabin can create others. We really found balance in the imbibing world.

After enjoying a few too many Thanksgiving dinners it was time to head south, to my alma matter the University of Kentucky. Despite not being a traditional football powerhouse, it was super fun to watch the Cats best the Cards on our home turf.

You know we had the imbibing station set up in a big way. It was a little cool, so our friend was kind enough to serve Maker’s ciders all afternoon. I fired up the tailgate grill and was slinging sliders all afternoon. I’ve become quite adept at this, and think using Jeff Ruby’s steak dust as my seasoning really places these above all other mini burgers.

A new but instantly good friend brought a bottle of Eagle Rare, which I hadn’t seen in the wild for quite some time. Nothing washes grilled meat and seven different snacks down better than that.

We finished our evening at The Thirsty Fox, located in the old Fayette County Courthouse. This bar is very warm and laid back, with excellent food and cocktails. I particularly enjoyed my twist on a gin fizz, made with Hefeweizen to provide the bubbles and lemon accent.

Cheers!
cincybeerguydave@gmail.com

HEY MICHELLE BRINGS TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY

Christmas Tree Sale ~ Tis the Season .. Hit up Findlay Market now -Dec 18th grab your tree and receive a free ornament from Lucca Workshop. Fridays 11-6, Saturdays 8-6, Sundays 10-4 .. They will also deliver trees that are 4-6’ 

Winter Market at Washington Park ~ Nov 25th-Dec 18th shop and stroll the park featuring different regional artisans and crafters every weekend. This weekend hours are Sat & Sun 11-5 

Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt at Moerlein Lager House ~ This holiday themed Christmas festival with Chalets lining the park featuring food, beverage, merchandise, holiday lights, musical entertainment with a German/ American Holiday theme. Now thru December 31st Thursdays & Fridays 4-9, Saturdays 12-9 and Sunday Home Bengal games. Enjoy the igloos, festive decor and all the fun. 

Redsfest ~ After a 2 year hiatus it’s back! Friday & Saturday at Duke Energy bring the family to meet & greet with current and former players, grab some autographs and play some interactive games. Some added fun is that some members of Zac Brown Band will be there Saturday at 12:45 for a live performance and some Q & A. 

Cirque Dreams: Holidaze~ Get in the holiday spirit with the whole family with this whimsical holiday show. It features circus acts and performers with characters from holiday storybooks.  Showing  just this weekend Friday 7:30, Saturday 11:00, 3:00 & 7:30, Sunday 1:00 

USA World Cup round of 16 ~ I don’t know if I’ve ever watched this much soccer but I’m all in. Watch party at The Pitch across from the TQL Stadium Sat game is at 10am doors open at 7:30.. USA .. USA .. USA 

Hey Michelle,
Do you want to know where to eat, drink and have fun in Cincinnati? Check out my page  
https://heymichelle-help.com

TUNE O’ THE DAY. . . Watched an hour or so last night of Howard Stern interviewing Brooooce on HBO. It’s funny. Springsteen was open and engaging. Stern’s fanboy questions were OK, if not exactly incisive. . . and I learned almost nothing about The Boss. No mention of bandmates, no talk of the chemistry that makes the live shows s good. Not much of a look into the forces that shaped the man’s life and work. He writes incredibly poignant lyrics. How?

He sat at the piano and did a lovely version of Tougher Than The Rest, off my favorite Bruce disc, Tunnel of Love. Maybe there’s nothing more to him than his music. No thanks to Stern, maybe we’ll never know.

Anyway, here’s maybe my favorite Bruce ballad. And no, it’s not Thunder Road.