The Return of Mr. Inevitable?

Ten Things: Joe does Joe in the desert

Evidently, nothing straightens the mind like the notion of a Must Win football game just five weeks into an 18-week season. Irrational panic is an NFL specialty. The apocalypse occurs weekly somewhere. This past week, it was Cincinnati’s turn. Was Sunday in the desert must-win?

Um, no.

Having watched five weeks of the AFC North, can you honestly believe a 1-4 start could not have been overcome?

Now, we’ll never know. The Bengals overwhelmed a lousy Arizona team Sunday. Their 34-20 W can be seen in a few ways.

Way 1: A semblance of the old Inevitability returned to Joe Burrow’s world. The Golden Calf performed like a champ, as we’ll discuss. That allowed Burrow to discover some of the rhythm to which he (and we) had become accustomed in the past two years. It also gave him the confidence to risk his leg in the name of mobility. If Burrow’s OK, the Bengals are OK.

Way 2, admittedly contrary: Is Burrow better enough for you to feel good again about Super Bowl dreaming? The Bengals won’t have Josh Dobbs to defend most weeks. This was a 24-20 game in the 3rd quarter. Against a bottom-three NFL defense, seven of the Bengals 24 came on a pick-six. Until Burrow unloaded the bomb to the unguard-able Ja’Marr Chase, the offense continued to perfect the horizontal passing game.

Do we quibble? Do we? If the team you follow has Super aspirations, no detail is too small. Do the Men look Super? Not yet. Might they? No reason to think they won’t.

Finally, a question:

If the Bengals lose at home to Seattle next Sunday, will we spend the bye week back on Death Watch? Would 2-4 be just as dire as 1-3 was?

Without further ado:

TEN THINGS FROM BENGALS 34, CARDINALS 20