Defining Moment for Joe and Josh

Burrow-v-Allen will sharpen some perceptions, good and bad

Before we turn Friday over to the eat, drink and be wary crew, one last riff on Bengals-Bills. Specifically, Joe-Josh and the future of their worlds. Chili and chicken wings is the spiciest menu of the weekend, because it provides everything the NFL promises, but doesn’t always deliver: Good football, great melodrama, two QBs at the top of the Q-Scale.

Joe-Josh is fascinating even before a ball gets thrown. Burrow, somehow, remains underestimated. Allen, somehow, remains unproven.

Unproven, Doc?

Gimme a minute.

It was fun to see the smirk on St. Joe’s face this week, as he endured a round of “underdog’’ questioning. In one respect, Burrow has been a ‘dog since his TOSU days, when Urban Meyer decided Burrow wasn’t going to be his QB. Some of Burrow’s chops owe to the no-respect shoulder-chip. He is, after all, 3-0 v. the QB who’s supposed to be better than he is.

On the other hand, Burrow carries himself like he knows fools when he sees them. Fools are convinced Burrow and Patrick Mahomes don’t belong on the same stat-line.

This week, The Ringer asked this question of its eight football “experts”:

If you had your pick of any quarterback still in the playoffs to win you one game, who would it be?

Seven picked Mahomes. One took Daniel Jones.

Laugh Out Loud.

On Sunday, Burrow has another chance to make fools look foolish. Also, from The Ringer:

Joe Burrow’s postseason success in both college and the NFL has already earned him the “winner” label. But the third-year quarterback can further establish himself as one of the league’s best with a monster performance over the next month. We didn’t really get that last year: Burrow was more “fine” than “good” throughout Cincinnati’s playoff run, which was mostly sparked by the defense. If Burrow wants to prove that he’s truly this generation’s Brady or Montana, his playoff run needs to be special.

Point taken. But isn’t Burrow, you know, “one of the league’s best’’ already?

As for Allen, the worry is that the pressure could fold him. And there is pressure. His adopted burg lives and dies with every Allen run and throw. These were supposed to be Destiny’s Bills; Allen was to run point, all the way to the Promised Land.

Their record aside, the Bills season has not been smooth. A reason for the bumps has been Allen himself. The very best athletes are supremely confident enough, they never ponder failure.

I’m Joe Burrow. You’re not.

Josh Allen has 22 turnovers. Sixteen picks, six lost fumbles. He had three turnovers last Sunday, which led to 18 Miami points. You could suggest some of that fat stat owes to the amount of time Allen has the ball. He has carried it 124 times. In comparison, Burrow has 75 carries.

You could also suggest that Allen’s reaction to stress is to try too hard. Not trust his talent or his teammates. Then there’s this from former NFL exec Joe Banner, writing in the website, The 33rd Team. Banner notes that Allen’s stats this year are similar to last year, and that the Bills offensive numbers have kept pace. And yet against Miami last week. . .

He fumbled three times. He was sacked seven times. He failed to produce a fourth-quarter point when the game hung in the balance. Worse, the Bills had only 37 yards in three series that period, and that’s not how they’re used to closing games.

And his performance in the red zone. Specifically, his turnovers. They’re up. Way up. In his first three NFL seasons, Allen produced 65 TD passes and two interceptions (both on deflections) in the red zone. This season, that changed. Allen had 25 TDs, five picks and one aborted snap in the red zone.

Now look at his last three complete games: Eight TDs, five interceptions, four fumbles (including one that was lost). Contrast that to his previous five starts when he had one interception, and maybe you, too, are asking what’s going on.

Maybe it’s pressure. We’ll see on Sunday.

Meantime, Mahomes is at home v. Jacksonville. He’s still the teacher’s pet, the experts’ darling and very good in all those insurance commercials.

Now, then. . .

HEY MICHELLE IS SHUFFLIN’ OFF TO BUFFALO. . . But not before she orders your Who Dey Weekend.

Catalina Wine Mixer at Ludlow Garage ~ Friday 8:30 Grab tickets asap cuz this is one fun night! If you like to sing along to sounds of the 70’s and shake your tail feather this is the perfect outing for you. 

Boat, Sport & Travel Show ~ Duke Energy two weekends Jan 20th-22nd and 25th-29th go check out the newest and coolest in fishing, boating and travel! Ticketed event 

Tchaikovsky & Prokofiev  ~The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra presents this wonderful concert with American soloist Randall Goosby and our beloved conductor Louis Langrée . Ticketed event 

MashRoots in College Hill is celebrating their 2nd Anniversary! If you’ve never been to this freaking delicious elevated Latin street food spot you need to go! Saturday 6-9 is a great time to enjoy some dine-in specials. Fun giveaways and damn good food. 5903 Hamilton Ave. 

BENGAL WATCH PARTIES: 

Dead Low Brewery ~  Family friendly 5959 Kellogg Ave. 

Streetside Brewery ~ Game Ball Buckets $15, High Noon Buckets $25, Bloody Mary Pitchers $20 and more 4003 Eastern Ave. 

Acres Cincinnati ~ Tent & Bar Party raffles, giveaways, putt putt and more 9941 Reading Rd. 

Kitty’s Sports Grill ~ Perfect place to cheer on the Bengals and eat some perfect wings. Right across from Paycor Stadium

MLT ~ Mt. Lookout Tavern is always a great place to watch but get there early it’s small. 

O”Malleys & Blind Pig~ The home of one of last weeks game balls! Iconic and a personal fave since it’s my watering hole! Pig has t.v’s at every booth and other t.v.’s everywhere. 24 W. 3rd St. 

Lori’s Roadhouse ~ This place is great and it had plenty of room for everyone and special drink and wing prices 4924 Union Centre Pavilion Drive

Whooooo Dey ! I’m hitting the road to Buffalo to bring home a W for my birthday! 

IMBIBER DAVE tells us how to pregame. . .

Sometimes the imbibing needs to start a little earlier. Let’s say you already have plans on Sunday afternoon, and your crew needs to get prepared. We are lucky to have quite a few solid breakfast and brunch places in our city. One of our family favorites is Press in Newport.

This place has amazing breakfast sandwiches and bowls, allowing you to reach your daily intake of goetta quite easily. The star of the show without a doubt are the tot waffles however. Yes these geniuses figured out how to smash tater tots on a waffle iron and create the best possible base layer for your breakfast. Make sure to check out the classic breakfast with goetta or the southwest with chorizo and avocado.

Now under normal circumstances we are ordering a slightly more balanced quinoa bowl or salad (throw some goetta on there please), but we are talking about imbibing here right? So in addition to your hot honey sausage biscuit, you can enjoy one of many local draft or canned beer options, or a nice mimosa or bottle of wine to kickstart your boozy brunch.

My days of going out at 10PM are over, and trust me I’m not missing that one bit. No one tells you this can simply be swapped to 10AM and you still have a shot to feel human the next day, even if you did try to reclaim some of your former glory with friends.

Cheers!
cincybeerguydave@gmail.com

TUNE O’ THE DAY. . . Mobster Maximus (the one and only) sent me this one. I don’t usually take requests and my affection for country music is limited. But this is a good one, y’all.