BENGAL-MANIA

 My usual Friday story about the Bengals occurs on Tuesday this week because our boys play on the Thursday night game this week.  It is one of two national audience games they have this year.  In case you didn't know it, the Bengals record on such games is ... miserable.  Their opponent is the Cleveland Browns.

Last Sunday, Cincinnati endured one of their most heart wrenching loses in memory.  I don't want to dwell on any particular play - just an overview.  I didn't expect a lot out of them and I was pleasantly surprised by their effort.  Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow played about as well as could be expected despite the offensive line playing about as bad as could be expected.  In general, the defense was formidable even though stalwart Geno Adkins was unable to play because of injury.  As I had prophesied, the most critical play came from special teams when place kicker Randy Bullock evidently got a leg cramp while he was attempting what should have been an easy game-tying field goal with seconds to go.  It all spelled a 16-13 loss which could easily have been a win.

The Cleveland Browns played the Ravens in Baltimore last Sunday.  Can you imagine how they felt when they walked away with a 38-6 loss.  I doubt they are that bad.  If they are having temporary troubles, I hope we can take advantage of them.  Smart-ass quarterback, Baker Mayfield, may have spent too much time making commercials this Summer - they definitely had. trouble scoring.  Their defense was shredded by fleet-footed Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson.

So this week we have the unenviable task of traveling to the 'Mistake on the Lake' for a game under the lights that might make or break one team's season.  The odds-setters in Vegas originally had the Browns as an 8-1/2 point favorite.  After last Sunday's games, the margin has been reduced to 6 points.  The total points over/under bet has been reduced from 46 to 44 points.  

My warning is this.  After any NFL team takes a 30-plus point loss, my experience is that they are a good bet to win the following week.  

My grim note is this:  Likable young head coach Zac Taylor, who seems to be doing almost everything right, has now lost nine (9) games by less than one score - seven (7) points.  This is a bad sign for a coaching staff.   "Good teams win the close games" - or maybe it should be "mature teams win the close ones."   Let's hope they grow up soon.  

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