Bengals LAST-MINUTE News & Rumors Before NFL Week 8 vs. Titans...

Bengals last minute news before they host the Titans in this week eight matchup as we look at keys to victory and what to avoid in this game that could be a trap game for the Bengals. Thank you for joining us here today on Bengals Digest. I'm your host Adam Ianni. Appreciate you guys joining us here today on game day. We're bringing you all the news, all the things to look out for in terms of this game, what What the Bengals should really try to avoid in this game and really like. What the Titans have to offer at this point in the season, because we don't want this to be a trap game. This is a pretty beaten down, rough looking roster in the Titans and the Bengals on paper should very much win this game. And I think that they will, but there's a few things you really gotta, you just gotta be careful in terms of this. But before we do that, I did want to bring to you guys some awareness to the sponsor of today's video, which is Mars Men. 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And so I really think that this is someone I talked about recently that I thought maybe the Bengals should go out and get, and maybe he'll be gone by Sunday. I mean, who knows? You know, I'm recording this video a little bit early, so maybe he's gone at this point in this point in time, but regardless, I think that their running game is something they got to watch out for, and they're really surging upwards. I mean, 85 average yards in the last three games, which is over the previous four games. Now, someone that they need to beat, because most teams in the NFL have beat him, is Cam Ward. And they have to beat him with the pass rush. If you look at Ward's stats this season, it's nothing to write home about. He's thrown four touchdowns, five interceptions. He's got a 73.8 rating across seven games, two rushing touchdowns. So he does have a little bit of threat with his legs. I'm not saying he's a bad quarterback, but I am saying that I'm not as worried about him as I even was last week against Tyler Huntley. Um, and I think that it's just lack of experience, lack of talent around him, and they really got to collapse on that offensive line and get the pass rush home. And I think that opens the field to continue this streak of five straight games with an interception. And I think the Bengals can definitely do that. Looking at the Bengals' defensive roster, of course, that's the offense there looking pretty much the same across the board, but then when you look at the defensive side, I really think that these guys got to get home. You got to get some more guys involved in the pass rush. You got to get Boye Mafe in there attacking in the backfield, bring the blitz, make him panic back there, and I think it opens the field for your corners and safeties to get some interceptions. Now, in terms of where he throws the ball, I mean, it's all over the place, but I really think they can target him on that left side of the field, which is likely going to be where Dax Hill is lined up, if not, maybe DJ Turner. I'm trying to think in terms of who he'd be lined up against. I believe Karnell Tate would usually be on that left side, so definitely could attack him there, but also on the right side. Not that impressive from over there, at least past 20 yards. Definitely better in that intermediate range, so I think the Bengals can look to really avoid that. And he checks the ball down a lot. You look at most of his completions, they're coming at that 0-9 yards rate, and so you've got to make sure you're taking advantage of that. Now, recent news came out about the Titans. They sold away Jeffrey Simmons, which was a huge move, and I think it's going to benefit the Bengals this week. Definitely happy we don't have to be going up against him. But Robert Sala said trading Jeffrey Simmons has nothing to do with where the organization is on Cam Ward. So Cam Ward is still going to be playing in this one. Still business as usual in terms of that, in case any of you were wondering. Now, I mean, like I said, big news this week, uh, when they, when they traded away Jeff Simmons, it seems like they're going to be sellers at the trade deadline. I still think there could be some opportunities for the Bengals to pick up some guys off this Titans roster. And we'll get to that as, as we get closer to the trade deadline, but, uh, got an offer from the bears to two first round picks. I got a great deal out of them. And, uh, one guy who's very happy about this is Bengals offensive lineman, Ted Karras. He said that Two hours of anxiety last night is gone when he found out about the trade there. So happy he doesn't have to go up against him this week. Now, rounding out today's episode with the Bengals, what they need to do. They need to start fast. I mean, the division is on the line here. It's not a divisional game, but it is a conference game. And it's something that I really think the Bengals need to take advantage of these. Now, hot take that I got from the comments in one of the recent videos is From Mike Coons, 1981, saying to let Burrow play in the shotgun, quit messing with your quarterback, Zach, and while we're at it, quit calling stupid plays. Now, fair enough, I see the comments talking about Zach Taylor, of course. That is something that we could talk about in the future. At this point, they are a winning football team, and I don't see them firing Zach Taylor. So I think, honestly, arguing it is kind of pointless. He led us to a Super Bowl. Did we win? No. But unless he has some really, really horrible mistakes this season, I don't see this being his last year as the Bengals' head coach up to this point either. Um, but in terms of letting Burrow play in the shotgun, I think there could be some validity to that. Um, when you look at his recent form, the way that he has been playing, he's been playing pretty well and they went under center quite a bit last week, um, in terms of, you know, what they, what they did at the beginning of the season. And so I don't know that I would really agree with that sentiment and shifting back, putting all your focus on the shotgun. I think that under center opens up a lot of things for this team and they should. Continue to do that and continue to test it out in games like this where you have a little bit more freedom with how you can move that defense around. Now, of course, some keys to victory. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, I mean, they're balling out. Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase, they really are just... They look phenomenal. We know that it's one of the best receiving cores in the entire football league. Tee Higgins really stepping up and being a top 3% receiver in terms of yards per game and yards per catch. Very, he's up there with the best and I know Jamar Chase gets a lot of the spotlight and I talked last week about Tee Higgins having a big game. I can see him very seriously, seriously punishing this secondary as well in this one, as well as Jamar Chase. So on the other hand, so, you know, I don't think there's a whole lot to worry about there. Thank So let me know what you guys think down in the comments. What do you think decides the Bengals and Titans game? Do you think they got to stop Tony Pollard and that's number one priority? Or do you think it's more on the offense and Joe Burrow to attack that defense that does not have Jeffrey Simmons anymore? Let me know in the comments down below. And with all that being said, you. thank you guys for joining us here today on Bengals Digest.