00:00the week seven matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. And it could potentially be for first
00:05place, depending on what happens here with Baltimore and Cleveland. But I think that
00:10the one thing, and tying the Seattle Seahawks to the Baltimore Ravens, the one thing that Mike
00:17McDonald did very, very well in his career with the Ravens and ultimately got the head coaching
00:22job in Seattle. And we've seen what he's done with that defense. He had a magic potion that
00:28was slowing and agitating and irking Joe Burrow. And it felt like Joe was starting to figure
00:33it out. And then Mike McDonald gets a head coaching job. And it was a really big win for the
00:37Bengals
00:37that that happened, at least on paper, right? Well, next week, i.e. week seven, this is going
00:43to be their first crack at Jesse Minter. Defensive-minded coach, someone that they faced in the past,
00:49but first time that he's going to be calling plays against them. Obviously, you have the
00:54Trey Hendrickson element of it. And he's taking some heat right now, had a surgery on his hand,
00:59has multiple fingers that he's dealing with, multiple fingers that are in a wrap, brace,
01:04whatever you want to say. He's going to play in Cleveland. But the point remains, like that's
01:09going to be a big storyline this week. Him, Trey Hendrickson trying to get after Joe Burrow and
01:14obviously the Orlando Brown Jr. element of it and giving Orlando help. And that will certainly happen.
01:20Justin Matabike is someone that's really, really good on the interior of that Baltimore defensive
01:25front. But the two best teams, one thing I'm certain about going into today, I think the two
01:33best teams in this division are very clearly Cincinnati and Baltimore. And the Bengals should
01:38feel like they're the best team. And I'm sure the Ravens should feel like they're the best team.
01:41And they do. To me, those two teams are far and away better than the other two. And I get
01:46it.
01:46There are going to be Steelers fans that say, James, the Steelers just beat the Bengals. I get
01:49it. No doubt. I think the Bengals shot themselves in the foot a bunch. And when you do that in
01:54the
01:54NFL, you lose. And so that's a big part of it. And so for me, I'm looking at this game
02:01today,
02:01just kind of saying, all right, how does Baltimore without Lamar do against Cleveland? Do they just
02:06go there and handle business? And then two, if they don't or do, it doesn't really matter.
02:11How is this Bengals offense? How is Joe Burrow going to look against a new defensive coordinator
02:17or a new defensive mind, a new head coach? And there's going to be unknowns there.
02:21And you don't want to fall into that Mike McDonald element thing where, heck, Tyler Huntley in a
02:29playoff game had you tied 17-17 in the fourth quarter until the Hubbard yard dash, until the
02:34fumble in the jungle. And that's a very real thing that happened. And there are a bunch of reasons
02:39for that, but one of them was Mike McDonald in that defense, having Joe's number a little bit
02:43and having this offense's number a little bit. And that's the other thing. There's been a lot
02:47of talk about the Bren game. From a passing game standpoint, one, I think Jamar Chase is due for a
02:53huge, huge week. At some point, huge game. Hasn't had that yet. T. Higgins was on a scorching pace
02:59until this past week. Hopefully, he can be really, really close, if not all the way back to 100%.
03:05But Andrei Yosevich is still a few weeks away. Dante Myers has emerged some. Colby Young,
03:10I think, is going to make his return in week seven. And so you would love, love for these
03:18pass catchers at that wide receiver. Wide receiver three is more of like pass catcher three,
03:24right? And Mike Gesicki has four touchdowns. Every game he has a touchdown, or a catch-in,
03:28rather, he has a touchdown this year. He's been great. But you lose Tanner Hudson,
03:32you're going to be tweaking things tight end-wise. And so I'm just curious who emerges there.
03:37And it's going to be a need. Because if I'm Jesse Minner, I'm going to say, don't let Jamar beat
03:41you. Don't let T. Higgins beat you. That's why there's been so much talk about the run game.
03:45The Bengals are going to throw the ball all over that dang field. And we certainly know that.
03:49We're going to have you covered all week long. I want you to do one thing today. Enjoy the football,
03:56Bengals fans. Enjoy it. Enjoy every second. I hope you have fantasy football luck,
04:01if that's what you're doing. If you're wagering on some of these games, hope you have luck with that
04:04as well. But enjoy the time. Breathe. Kick your feet up. And until next time, which is going to
04:13be this week when it's Bengals, Ravens, and a lot on the line.
