Do I believe the game was rigged....truthfully, I am a pee-on like everyone else reading these posts and we will never know. The game was entertaining, one of four great games these two teams have played. Game of inches is still in play and I will never figure out how games are rigged when players make plays or don't based on a few inches here and there. I do believe the referees made some horrendous calls/noncalls, but am I to believe we lost because of the referees? Nope! We lost because our offensive line couldn't block an exceptional and possibly Hall of Famer in Chris Jones.
A defense that gives up 23 in this type of game always gives its team a chance to win. Proud of our defense, though this was the first time we had given up a 100 yards to anybody in any of the four games.
As far as the mayor goes....he needs to not put the team in a bad spot with his mouth. Players talk, mayors shouldn't be embarrassing the city or Bengal fans. Bengals fans were showing class with Hamlin's injury and afterwards, we needed to stay the course and he took us down a notch. Other than that, Kelce runs his mouth more than any Bengals player, so I guess we are even. We had a chance to win and could have if our QB would have been standing up.
The healthier team!! They played without 3 of the starting 5 O Linemen. Joe having no time was the sole reason they lost the game. Protection is EVERYTHING!!
As if anybody out there cares, here is my take on the Bengal loss at K.C. Sunday evening: 1) You simply cannot let the officials beat you. (Translated: play well enough to win despite the inevitable "bad" calls) 2 &3) Both K.C. TD's were plays the Bengals defense allowed and shouldn't have. I will give credit to the near pass breakup on the second one. Can anyone say game of inches? Finally, Home Team is responsible for the clock, or, in this case, the running clock which created the controversial replay of a Third and Nine which ultimately meant nothing, but did indeed use an additional minute of game clock before the Bengals got the ball back. That is 60-plus seconds the Cincinnati offense would have liked to have after that Butker FG at the end of the game. Now, maybe I am a Jabroni too.
I think Aftab’s comments were as gross as I’ve ever seen and he’s our mayor! You know that phrase what goes around comes around? Trash will yield trash X 2 or worse every single time. I was appalled at Eli Apple’s trash early in the week. C’mon! Let’s not give the other team a bulletin board worth of crap. Whoever thought of Burrowhead should have kept that to themselves. A little fun along the way is fun; evil trash talk is counterproductive and you will always always lose- in life and in sports. People in Cincinnati gave KC an extra edge that we couldn’t afford. The Bengals struggled against a team that was fired up and ticked off! The officials didn’t decide that outcome, we were just outplayed on that particular night. Next week if we had another chance, the score could go the other way. Two really good teams and one of them outplayed the other. On to the next….
Doc, I think the uptick in all the conspiracy/this game is rigged talk is partly due to the increase in sports betting which just became legal in Ohio 29 days ago particularly with those on the losing end of those bets. I joked yesterday that for every “this game is fixed” post that’s one less family going out to dinner to Applebees that week. I recently have taken part in placing bets but since I live in Kentucky I have to either walk across the bridge or drive over to Kellogg ave just to place an online bet. Check it out. I know your cheap but minimum bet is only 5 dollars!
I actually don't think Bengals are the better team. Because fanhood aside, the reality is that against any of the F4 last weekened, Bengals would have been dogs. They'd have been underdogs in the Super Bowl too. The Better Team isn't the underdog.
So with that said, it's finally time the Bengals exchausted its cap space. They were 1-2 games away from the franchise's first ring and that's with a cartoonish amount of cap space. You look at Ravens, Eagles, Chiefs, Bills, 49ers, etc. - what's the biggest difference between them and Bengals? They make massive additions to their rosters by way of free agency.
This may be the only Bengals championship window that's ever open - the Bengals must build a roster that's actually favorited against an all-healthy Chiefs, Eagles, Bills, etc. etc. etc. Because it's not there.
Where to start? Well last two Bengals Championship games have been ended by elite pass rushers - Donald last year, Jones this year. Is it too much to ask the Bengals to go get themselves a Von Miller type guy, like the Bills did? Mahomes could have literally played last night with two bad ankles having that much time.
The players have done everything possible, but together they aren't enough. The path to the Bengals' first ring isn't through Paycor, it's through the executive offices of the Brown Family.
I woke up this morning, and was still breathing, seeing, hearing and alive ... all in the wake of last night's game and result.
I'm good with that, to say the least.
Of course I wanted the Men to win, and was slightly disappointed in seeing them lose in such fashion, but I have -- since the 2015 playoff disaster -- refused to get so emotionally invested in a game that it ruins the rest of my night, or the next day.
The refs stunk -- when have the NFL refs not stunk over the past two decades, at least? -- but, honestly, the Men had their chances and it simply didn't pan out. My wife had asked me over the past couple of days, leading up to last night, how I felt about the game. I told her I didn't feel all that confident about it. It seemed as if the team, which had let its play speak for itself all season long, was behaving in an opposite manner leading up to last night. It didn't feel right, at least for me.
Not the greatest ending to the season, obviously, but I can easily remind myself that, in my 45 years of life, I only witnessed 5 Bengals playoff wins prior to last year. My son, only 13 going on 14, has witnessed that many already in his short life. I'm not gonna complain about the endings of the past two years ... that would make me a jabroni.
A lot of truth today. This old heart of mine, by the Isleys, is one of my favorites. I kinda liked what Kielce said and the mayor loves the spotlight, so sometimes you get back what you put out there !
It’s easier to be a football fan cheering for your friends’ Team, and then lose. Been a long time since we had Men to cheer for in the championship. Also, try Quantum Leap. My cousin, Caitlin, from MD is the star!
I agree with your analysis, Doc. In a close game, the zebras are always going to get some heat, justified or not. I do have one personal complaint regarding the last call on Ossai. If the flag comes flying in on top of them immediately, I am OK. But when it takes three or four seconds, I know the ref had to think too much for it to be completely fair. Just my opinion, of course...
If it makes anyone feel better (and it probably won't) I looked at the Kansas City papers last year when the Chiefs lost and the fans were as angry with their Chiefs at what went wrong as Bengals fans are today.
There were definitely calls/no calls that impacted the end of the game.
1. There were 2 blocks in the back the big return, that were not called.
2. There was most definitely holding on the Mahomes run..... 2 actually. 1 from the center and the other from the left tackle. Both literally had their arms around Bengals' players' necks.
3. The left tackle for the Chiefs false started twice, twice on their last drive, and again no call.
4. No Roughing the Passer penalty when Burrow was dropped after a pass on the last possession. The Linebacker took 4 steps after the ball was thrown and took Burrow to the ground.
5. The bogus PI against Hilton.
6. Chris Jones was lined up in the neutral zone half of the game. His helmet was past the center's helmet. This makes you pretty much impossible to block, which we saw.
Funny thing, this was the same crew that did the same thing in the Super Bowl last year against the Bengals. Go back to the Rams last series in the Super Bowl. You will again see 2 false starts by Whitworth that were not called.
Now, with that said, the Bengals had every opportunity to win. Joe threw 2 picks, 1 should have never been thrown (deep ball to Tee). The Bengals abandoned the run. Bengals didn't put someone in Kelce's face to jam him off the line. The list goes on. But to say the officiating didn't impact this game is ridiculous. The Bengals were one of the least penalized teams in the NFL this season. They averaged 4.7 during the regular season. Last night they had 9. To think they'd suddenly commit double that in the biggest stage is disingenuous to say the least.
I don’t always agree with you but appreciate your insight…and your observations about the AFC Championship game are spot on. The Bengals had their opportunities; they didn’t capitalize. Yes, Ossai’s penalty may have been pivotal (we’ll never know if Butker could have made the longer kick) but the game need not to have come down to that. And no, neither Goodell nor the zebras cost them the game.
Sarah Michelle Gellar's new show Wolf Pack finally gave me the push to subscribe to Paramount +, at least long enough for the season to run its short course. Enjoying running through the former CBS show Evil on that app too. Remember more than I thought I would. There have been two app only seasons.
I have one more episode to watch of Reservation Dogs. Saving it. This second season is so good. I love a good coming of age story. Hulu.
May have to see if I can watch Poker Face with thousands of commercials on Peacock free. Came across the password yesterday.
Kansas City won. Bengals couldn't quite rise to the swagger last night. When they sacked Joe right off the bat I took it as an omen. Team is young. Should be hungry next season. Time will tell. Always said I would jump on the bandwagon if they developed one. That stadium got a little quiet at times. Good sign.
Here is some tidbits from after the game:
https://elishasforce.substack.com/p/one-last-who-dey
Does State Farm work for Glendale or does the stadium in Glendale work for State Farm, asking for Mahomes?
https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2023/01/30/stop-steal-poor-officiating-afc-championship-game-sparks-accusations-that-nfl-rigged/
Do I believe the game was rigged....truthfully, I am a pee-on like everyone else reading these posts and we will never know. The game was entertaining, one of four great games these two teams have played. Game of inches is still in play and I will never figure out how games are rigged when players make plays or don't based on a few inches here and there. I do believe the referees made some horrendous calls/noncalls, but am I to believe we lost because of the referees? Nope! We lost because our offensive line couldn't block an exceptional and possibly Hall of Famer in Chris Jones.
A defense that gives up 23 in this type of game always gives its team a chance to win. Proud of our defense, though this was the first time we had given up a 100 yards to anybody in any of the four games.
As far as the mayor goes....he needs to not put the team in a bad spot with his mouth. Players talk, mayors shouldn't be embarrassing the city or Bengal fans. Bengals fans were showing class with Hamlin's injury and afterwards, we needed to stay the course and he took us down a notch. Other than that, Kelce runs his mouth more than any Bengals player, so I guess we are even. We had a chance to win and could have if our QB would have been standing up.
The healthier team!! They played without 3 of the starting 5 O Linemen. Joe having no time was the sole reason they lost the game. Protection is EVERYTHING!!
As if anybody out there cares, here is my take on the Bengal loss at K.C. Sunday evening: 1) You simply cannot let the officials beat you. (Translated: play well enough to win despite the inevitable "bad" calls) 2 &3) Both K.C. TD's were plays the Bengals defense allowed and shouldn't have. I will give credit to the near pass breakup on the second one. Can anyone say game of inches? Finally, Home Team is responsible for the clock, or, in this case, the running clock which created the controversial replay of a Third and Nine which ultimately meant nothing, but did indeed use an additional minute of game clock before the Bengals got the ball back. That is 60-plus seconds the Cincinnati offense would have liked to have after that Butker FG at the end of the game. Now, maybe I am a Jabroni too.
I think Aftab’s comments were as gross as I’ve ever seen and he’s our mayor! You know that phrase what goes around comes around? Trash will yield trash X 2 or worse every single time. I was appalled at Eli Apple’s trash early in the week. C’mon! Let’s not give the other team a bulletin board worth of crap. Whoever thought of Burrowhead should have kept that to themselves. A little fun along the way is fun; evil trash talk is counterproductive and you will always always lose- in life and in sports. People in Cincinnati gave KC an extra edge that we couldn’t afford. The Bengals struggled against a team that was fired up and ticked off! The officials didn’t decide that outcome, we were just outplayed on that particular night. Next week if we had another chance, the score could go the other way. Two really good teams and one of them outplayed the other. On to the next….
Doc, I think the uptick in all the conspiracy/this game is rigged talk is partly due to the increase in sports betting which just became legal in Ohio 29 days ago particularly with those on the losing end of those bets. I joked yesterday that for every “this game is fixed” post that’s one less family going out to dinner to Applebees that week. I recently have taken part in placing bets but since I live in Kentucky I have to either walk across the bridge or drive over to Kellogg ave just to place an online bet. Check it out. I know your cheap but minimum bet is only 5 dollars!
I actually don't think Bengals are the better team. Because fanhood aside, the reality is that against any of the F4 last weekened, Bengals would have been dogs. They'd have been underdogs in the Super Bowl too. The Better Team isn't the underdog.
So with that said, it's finally time the Bengals exchausted its cap space. They were 1-2 games away from the franchise's first ring and that's with a cartoonish amount of cap space. You look at Ravens, Eagles, Chiefs, Bills, 49ers, etc. - what's the biggest difference between them and Bengals? They make massive additions to their rosters by way of free agency.
This may be the only Bengals championship window that's ever open - the Bengals must build a roster that's actually favorited against an all-healthy Chiefs, Eagles, Bills, etc. etc. etc. Because it's not there.
Where to start? Well last two Bengals Championship games have been ended by elite pass rushers - Donald last year, Jones this year. Is it too much to ask the Bengals to go get themselves a Von Miller type guy, like the Bills did? Mahomes could have literally played last night with two bad ankles having that much time.
The players have done everything possible, but together they aren't enough. The path to the Bengals' first ring isn't through Paycor, it's through the executive offices of the Brown Family.
Go. All. In. It's time.
Thanks Doc for teaching me a new word and your truth about our deeply sad loss. I feel a tiny bit better this morning. But not much...
I woke up this morning, and was still breathing, seeing, hearing and alive ... all in the wake of last night's game and result.
I'm good with that, to say the least.
Of course I wanted the Men to win, and was slightly disappointed in seeing them lose in such fashion, but I have -- since the 2015 playoff disaster -- refused to get so emotionally invested in a game that it ruins the rest of my night, or the next day.
The refs stunk -- when have the NFL refs not stunk over the past two decades, at least? -- but, honestly, the Men had their chances and it simply didn't pan out. My wife had asked me over the past couple of days, leading up to last night, how I felt about the game. I told her I didn't feel all that confident about it. It seemed as if the team, which had let its play speak for itself all season long, was behaving in an opposite manner leading up to last night. It didn't feel right, at least for me.
Not the greatest ending to the season, obviously, but I can easily remind myself that, in my 45 years of life, I only witnessed 5 Bengals playoff wins prior to last year. My son, only 13 going on 14, has witnessed that many already in his short life. I'm not gonna complain about the endings of the past two years ... that would make me a jabroni.
A lot of truth today. This old heart of mine, by the Isleys, is one of my favorites. I kinda liked what Kielce said and the mayor loves the spotlight, so sometimes you get back what you put out there !
It’s easier to be a football fan cheering for your friends’ Team, and then lose. Been a long time since we had Men to cheer for in the championship. Also, try Quantum Leap. My cousin, Caitlin, from MD is the star!
I agree with your analysis, Doc. In a close game, the zebras are always going to get some heat, justified or not. I do have one personal complaint regarding the last call on Ossai. If the flag comes flying in on top of them immediately, I am OK. But when it takes three or four seconds, I know the ref had to think too much for it to be completely fair. Just my opinion, of course...
If it makes anyone feel better (and it probably won't) I looked at the Kansas City papers last year when the Chiefs lost and the fans were as angry with their Chiefs at what went wrong as Bengals fans are today.
There were definitely calls/no calls that impacted the end of the game.
1. There were 2 blocks in the back the big return, that were not called.
2. There was most definitely holding on the Mahomes run..... 2 actually. 1 from the center and the other from the left tackle. Both literally had their arms around Bengals' players' necks.
3. The left tackle for the Chiefs false started twice, twice on their last drive, and again no call.
4. No Roughing the Passer penalty when Burrow was dropped after a pass on the last possession. The Linebacker took 4 steps after the ball was thrown and took Burrow to the ground.
5. The bogus PI against Hilton.
6. Chris Jones was lined up in the neutral zone half of the game. His helmet was past the center's helmet. This makes you pretty much impossible to block, which we saw.
Funny thing, this was the same crew that did the same thing in the Super Bowl last year against the Bengals. Go back to the Rams last series in the Super Bowl. You will again see 2 false starts by Whitworth that were not called.
Now, with that said, the Bengals had every opportunity to win. Joe threw 2 picks, 1 should have never been thrown (deep ball to Tee). The Bengals abandoned the run. Bengals didn't put someone in Kelce's face to jam him off the line. The list goes on. But to say the officiating didn't impact this game is ridiculous. The Bengals were one of the least penalized teams in the NFL this season. They averaged 4.7 during the regular season. Last night they had 9. To think they'd suddenly commit double that in the biggest stage is disingenuous to say the least.
I don’t always agree with you but appreciate your insight…and your observations about the AFC Championship game are spot on. The Bengals had their opportunities; they didn’t capitalize. Yes, Ossai’s penalty may have been pivotal (we’ll never know if Butker could have made the longer kick) but the game need not to have come down to that. And no, neither Goodell nor the zebras cost them the game.
Sarah Michelle Gellar's new show Wolf Pack finally gave me the push to subscribe to Paramount +, at least long enough for the season to run its short course. Enjoying running through the former CBS show Evil on that app too. Remember more than I thought I would. There have been two app only seasons.
I have one more episode to watch of Reservation Dogs. Saving it. This second season is so good. I love a good coming of age story. Hulu.
May have to see if I can watch Poker Face with thousands of commercials on Peacock free. Came across the password yesterday.
Kansas City won. Bengals couldn't quite rise to the swagger last night. When they sacked Joe right off the bat I took it as an omen. Team is young. Should be hungry next season. Time will tell. Always said I would jump on the bandwagon if they developed one. That stadium got a little quiet at times. Good sign.
My Birthday is on Super Bowl Sunday. There goes that gift...the only one I was looking foward to...not the one that reminds me how old I am...