I think the Bengals are going to win this one

[Jolly]

Football is not a contact sport, it is a collision sport.

At the pro level, nobody escapes unhurt.

[Mik]

Cats, if you watch the players carefully you will see many things they do and ways they tackle where they try very hard not to injure another player. But it still happens.

[Catseye3]

@mik I'm glad to hear that, and have no problem believing it. Maybe Gronk's tackler overestimated the force necessary to bring him down, seeing Gronk is a GIANT.

He had an MRI done on his ribs; it came back negative.

[Jolly]

As someone who played the game at a very minor level, I don't think anybody ever pulled up on a hard hit. It's why you play the game.

You don't take cheap shots and you don't intentionally try to maim or hurt people, but hit them just as hard as you can? That's football.

I've slobber-knocked some guys, I've knocked some guys out. I had a guy hit me so hard, it broke all the bolts in my four-way chinstrap.

As long as the hit is clean, it's just football...

[LuFins Dad]

3-1, congratulations again!

[Jolly]

It was a good game, featuring two future stars.

[Mik]

Jacksonville sure did not look like an 0-4 team. Still, Meyer lost the game. When you are 0-3 and ahead by 14 you take the field goal. Your team has already been playing well enough to have confidence.

[Mik]

But what I saw was a team that adjusted at halftime successfully. That never happened during the Lewis years. Bravo coaches.

[Jolly]

@mik said in I think the Bengals are going to win this one:

But what I saw was a team that adjusted at halftime successfully. That never happened during the Lewis years. Bravo coaches.

The Bengals are a second half team. Seems to be their personality . Lawrence is going to continue to get better. Hopefully, Jacksonville doesn't stay mired in dysfunction.

[Catseye3]

A mixed bag for the Bucs. Gronk was kept out of practice yesterday because of his ribs; I'm hoping it's just a matter of extra precaution. Bucs signed Richard Sherman this week; apparently this is good news as Sherman is a respected cornerback and the Bucs' secondary is causing worry and it's thought Sherman will help with this. Don't know if it's a legitimate worry that they're putting him in on Sunday already; are they that worried about the lineup as it stands?

Scotty Miller is out for three weeks with turf toe.

The good news is that Antonio Brown is off the COVID list and will play Sunday.

Brady was hoarse during his press conference yesterday; second time. Making me a little nervous, but maybe it's just that he's been straining his vocal chords during practice.

Not sure, but I think the Bucs are the favorites at this point.

God, I wish this game was over with. I'm not cut out for this level of suspense.

[Jolly]

I think Sherman is past his sell-by date.

[Catseye3]

Stupid CBS headlined that Brady appeared to be "extremely sick" at his presser.

He did NOT look extremely sick. It's not like he was streaming sweat and using the podium to hold himself up. Other than his voice, he seemed fine -- although he did look tired. Big surprise, on the Thursday before Foxboro. CBS ginning for ratings.

Assholes.

Bucs had loud recorded crowd noise during practice this week. Brady had to shout over it to be heard.

[Catseye3]

Season-ending hip injury to Pats' James White. HUUGE implications apparently.

https://www.sportscasting.com/patriots-suffer-devastating-injury-blow-season-altering-implications-mac-jones/

[Catseye3]

Is it me, or is this game shaping up as a match between the lame and the halt?

[Mik]

Nah. Both teams want badly to win. But nobody knows better than Belechik how to frustrate Brady

[Catseye3]

@mik And vice versa.

But seriously, both teams are starting without some key people. I think the rah-rah press anticipation is leaning over the skis -- or however that expression goes.

[LuFins Dad]

They both know the other’s favorite cheating maneuvers. Should be interesting.

[MainerMikeBrown]

So the Bengals are 3-1 right now.

Good for them!

I'd like to see the Bengals do well enough this season to make the playoffs and maybe even win the AFC North title.

And I would like to see them actually win a playoff game, something that has eluded them for so long.

[Mik]

Not only that but U of Cincy is beating Notre Dame, whose coach Brian Kelly used to coach UC.

It's a good week.

[MainerMikeBrown]

The last time the Bengals won a playoff game was during the 1990/91 season.

They just haven't had the same success as the Steelers, a division rival of the Bengals, have had over the years.