This game does not surprise me. O-line not yet a unit, Joe still not right, a weaker running game than last year (why was Chase Brown inactive), a fired up crowd, and weather conditions that favored the run game, which admittedly Cleveland is head and shoulders above the Men. If this turns out to be an aberration, not the end of the world. Half the league starts 0-1. But it does put more pressure on next week's game against the Ravens. Going 0-2 is bad enough, but 0-2 in the division and conference is a bit of a hole. Much worse than losing to an NFC opponent like last year. At the end of the season, these games will matter for either making the playoffs or seeding.
I agreed with your prediction and continue to be amazed at Taylor's approach to the preseason. How can an offense be expected to execute their plays when they don't play in game conditions with each other. My greater concern is my fear that the egos will hurt the Bengals this season. I hope the stars don't think that all they have to do is show up and not put in the necessary work to play well together.
I also think the Browns may be a lot better this year than many predict in spite of not having a great quarterback. They may have the best defense in the conference. I'm also a KC fan, but predict they won't be in the championship game this year. Kelce is hurt and Bienemy will be missed.
A single play call that carried the chance to lose the game with 11 to play if it blows up on you seems like a call an NFL coaching staff should know enough to avoid.
Have thought that the whole “let’s not play the first team all of August” philosophy is, in a word, wrong. It would be nice for Joe to have a real pre-season one day, but no one had better breathe a word of that happening next summer. The jinx is in!
The offense was listless and embarrassing. The D looks good, esp since they had to play most of the game themselves.
Weather conditions weren’t great but that’s the same for both teams, so…🤷🏻♀️
Well, I’m disappointed as Hell but, honestly, not at all surprised. I’m also not really alarmed. I’ve seen this before. Let’s face it. Joe was, well, he was not JOE today. Yes, he was pressured, for sure. Cleveland is a real good defensive team and they showed but, a Joe in mid season form would have bounced back. Not today. I don’t know that he was hurt but he was just not in sync at all with his receivers.
One thing for sure...this makes next week’s Ravens game a big one.
Any coach in any sport will preach that preparation is the single most important key to success. The Browns started preparing for today's game in July. The Bengals don't appear to have given it a thought.
Playing the long game is one thing. Blowing off the preseason when you open with two division games is something else altogether.
After spending yesterday watching good wins from the Colorado Buffaloes, OSU, and U.C., this was very hard to watch. Even the midfield Brownie was laughing.
The NFL eliminated the 4th preseason game a year ago. No one has told Zac Taylor. His team plays like it’s the last preseason game. This loss could be the difference between playing AFC title game in KC, Buffalo or Cincy. Zac’s approach to preparing for the season is flawed. He knew that last year but clearly learned NOTHING. When a team shows up dead and not ready to play, that’s on the coach.
Sep 10, 2023·edited Sep 11, 2023Liked by Paul Daugherty
Painful, to say the least. I agree with your insight. You could tell they haven't played together. For receivers, in was out and out was in. short was long and long was short. Seemed to me they forgot the playbook. Maybe they all need little play calling cheaters on their writsts....Did they have their sticky gloves for the wet weather? Joe looked like he was wearing a golf glove, which gets really slick when it's wet. He rarely seemed to have control of the ball when throwing a spiral. And, of course, I realize the Brown's main objective was to slam Joe and his receivers whenever possible. It worked and they were definitely worn down. Sad to see. Also extremely tough crowd, as always in Cleveland, slamming beer in the stands and screaming like bigfoots. Not Burrows fault he missed camp...calf pull extremely painful and won't heal by playing on it. He made most of his throws trying to push off his right calf. One good home game with Cinci backing will bring them back and help them heal and forget this game.
If Joe had been healthy for preseason I would want the first team to get a few preseason snaps together. The fact that he was (and is) injured (again), I don’t think holding the starters out in preseason mattered much. Just 1 game but yeah, a lot of cleaning up to do.
How sure should we be that the announcement of the contract didn’t distract Higgins and Chase from thinking about their coming riches?
The Inevitable needed a Tom Brady-esque lackey to deflate the footballs a wee bit at halftime. It was clear to me that the rain didn’t allow Joe to grip the ball well enough to throw it with any speed which begets his practiced accuracy. You don’t need an enormous hand to throw a ball in good weather but it sure helps in the rain and the snow. Doc, as it was today, many of Burrow’s attempts may have reminded you of your youth watching Kilmer or Jurgensen. I forget which one threw ducks.
What’s that? Uh-oh. The Fam just realized a domed stadium prevents wet footballs.
Nailed it. It was hard to watch. Get ready for next week!
This game does not surprise me. O-line not yet a unit, Joe still not right, a weaker running game than last year (why was Chase Brown inactive), a fired up crowd, and weather conditions that favored the run game, which admittedly Cleveland is head and shoulders above the Men. If this turns out to be an aberration, not the end of the world. Half the league starts 0-1. But it does put more pressure on next week's game against the Ravens. Going 0-2 is bad enough, but 0-2 in the division and conference is a bit of a hole. Much worse than losing to an NFC opponent like last year. At the end of the season, these games will matter for either making the playoffs or seeding.
I agreed with your prediction and continue to be amazed at Taylor's approach to the preseason. How can an offense be expected to execute their plays when they don't play in game conditions with each other. My greater concern is my fear that the egos will hurt the Bengals this season. I hope the stars don't think that all they have to do is show up and not put in the necessary work to play well together.
I also think the Browns may be a lot better this year than many predict in spite of not having a great quarterback. They may have the best defense in the conference. I'm also a KC fan, but predict they won't be in the championship game this year. Kelce is hurt and Bienemy will be missed.
A single play call that carried the chance to lose the game with 11 to play if it blows up on you seems like a call an NFL coaching staff should know enough to avoid.
Agree with all 10 Things.
Have thought that the whole “let’s not play the first team all of August” philosophy is, in a word, wrong. It would be nice for Joe to have a real pre-season one day, but no one had better breathe a word of that happening next summer. The jinx is in!
The offense was listless and embarrassing. The D looks good, esp since they had to play most of the game themselves.
Weather conditions weren’t great but that’s the same for both teams, so…🤷🏻♀️
All that being said, all that’s left to say is:
#GoReds
No worries. We agree that today was pretty hard to watch, to say the least.
Well, I’m disappointed as Hell but, honestly, not at all surprised. I’m also not really alarmed. I’ve seen this before. Let’s face it. Joe was, well, he was not JOE today. Yes, he was pressured, for sure. Cleveland is a real good defensive team and they showed but, a Joe in mid season form would have bounced back. Not today. I don’t know that he was hurt but he was just not in sync at all with his receivers.
One thing for sure...this makes next week’s Ravens game a big one.
St Joe was wise to sign his contract last week. Tee didn't help his cause.
Jonah Williams had preseason game time and he played like...Well Jonah Williams. Horrible
Arrogance indeed.
Any coach in any sport will preach that preparation is the single most important key to success. The Browns started preparing for today's game in July. The Bengals don't appear to have given it a thought.
Playing the long game is one thing. Blowing off the preseason when you open with two division games is something else altogether.
That’s what I just said to my wife. These other games today show so much creativity on offense and the bengals showed none today.
After spending yesterday watching good wins from the Colorado Buffaloes, OSU, and U.C., this was very hard to watch. Even the midfield Brownie was laughing.
The NFL eliminated the 4th preseason game a year ago. No one has told Zac Taylor. His team plays like it’s the last preseason game. This loss could be the difference between playing AFC title game in KC, Buffalo or Cincy. Zac’s approach to preparing for the season is flawed. He knew that last year but clearly learned NOTHING. When a team shows up dead and not ready to play, that’s on the coach.
Painful, to say the least. I agree with your insight. You could tell they haven't played together. For receivers, in was out and out was in. short was long and long was short. Seemed to me they forgot the playbook. Maybe they all need little play calling cheaters on their writsts....Did they have their sticky gloves for the wet weather? Joe looked like he was wearing a golf glove, which gets really slick when it's wet. He rarely seemed to have control of the ball when throwing a spiral. And, of course, I realize the Brown's main objective was to slam Joe and his receivers whenever possible. It worked and they were definitely worn down. Sad to see. Also extremely tough crowd, as always in Cleveland, slamming beer in the stands and screaming like bigfoots. Not Burrows fault he missed camp...calf pull extremely painful and won't heal by playing on it. He made most of his throws trying to push off his right calf. One good home game with Cinci backing will bring them back and help them heal and forget this game.
If Joe had been healthy for preseason I would want the first team to get a few preseason snaps together. The fact that he was (and is) injured (again), I don’t think holding the starters out in preseason mattered much. Just 1 game but yeah, a lot of cleaning up to do.
How sure should we be that the announcement of the contract didn’t distract Higgins and Chase from thinking about their coming riches?
The Inevitable needed a Tom Brady-esque lackey to deflate the footballs a wee bit at halftime. It was clear to me that the rain didn’t allow Joe to grip the ball well enough to throw it with any speed which begets his practiced accuracy. You don’t need an enormous hand to throw a ball in good weather but it sure helps in the rain and the snow. Doc, as it was today, many of Burrow’s attempts may have reminded you of your youth watching Kilmer or Jurgensen. I forget which one threw ducks.
What’s that? Uh-oh. The Fam just realized a domed stadium prevents wet footballs.