By Matthew McAdow
NKyTribune sports columnist
In the words of Joe Burrow, all the ticket sites “better send those refunds,” as Cincinnati made a statement on Sunday against Buffalo.
Cincinnati put on a near-perfect performance against Buffalo and showed the entire world they deserve more respect. After a 17-point victory for Cincinnati against the Bills and being undefeated against Mahomes, Cincinnati has a really good chance of playing in the Super Bowl for the second straight season.
This playoff run feels a lot different than last year though, as fans aren’t just content with a playoff win. This year is a true Super Bowl or bust season. and for the first time in my life, I truly feel like Cincinnati is the best team in football and that Burrow will be holding the Lombardi Trophy on February 12th.
I can remember the frustration when the poor start to the season occurred, but this team has turned the 0-2 start completely around and they now have a 10-game win streak. Talk about a turn of events, right? This week, I felt as if all I listened to on ESPN was Josh Allen’s greatness, the potential matchup with Allen and Mahomes, and how our offensive line wouldn’t be able to “hold up.” After watching a stellar performance from the offensive line, I think Frank Pollack deserves some huge praise, and it is more than time for those to include Joe Burrow in the top quarterback discussions. If Burrow takes down Mahomes for a fourth time, the torch has officially been passed on.
Positives
• Joe Mixon had himself a day. 105 rush yards, 1 touchdown, and 18 receiving yards. With an injured offensive line, Mixon managed to have one of the most impressive performances of his career.
• The Joe Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase duo continues to impress week in and week out. Chase reeled in another touchdown along with 5 receptions.
• 10 points? The Bills only scored 10 points? Lou Anarumo is a defensive magician and I hope to see him on this staff for years to come. That is the lowest amount of points they have scored in a game all season.
• The offensive line took all the slander personal. Burrow had all kinds of time on Sunday and was only sacked one time. Frank Pollack’s group blocked well all game and I was highly impressed with Jackson Carman, Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, Max Scharping, and Hakeem Adeniji. Ted Karras even stated after the game that “Jackson Carman proved he’s a left tackle in the league.” Joe Burrow also stated “On first look, he was unbelievable. I felt nothing from that side all day.”
• Mike Hilton was all over the field and put together quite a stat sheet on Sunday. He recorded 8 total tackles and 2 quarterback hits. I can’t name a better tackling cornerback in the NFL.
• Cam Taylor-Britt and Eli Apple were unbelievable. Diggs was held to 35 receiving yards and Gabe Davis was right behind him with only 34. It was awesome to see Taylor-Britt reel in an interception at the end of the game along with the raw emotions he had afterwards.
• Hayden Hurst was only a few yards short from leading this offense in receiving yards. Having him healthy and on the field provides so much for this offense.
Matt McAdow
• Special teams was phenomenal in a very cold and snowy environment. Chrisman pinned their offense once at the 10-yard line and McPherson looked like his old self again.
Negatives
• In the NFL, it is very hard to beat a team four straight times. Cincinnati will look to do this on Sunday and defy NFL odds.
• Having to play in Arrowhead Stadium is always tough, as we all know it is one of the loudest stadiums in football.
• Cincinnati will have to go through this week more than likely wondering which quarterback they are going to face on Sunday. While a high ankle sprain typically takes a long time to recover from, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mahomes takes the field this week. Should he be too injured to play, Chad Henne would lead the Chiefs offense at 37 years old for a chance to make it to the Super Bowl.
Hold on tight Bengals fans, as it is time to take down Mahomes yet again. 6:30 PM on Sunday evening is when the game will take place, so get your P.T.O. days scheduled for Monday and grab your cigars, as we have an AFC Championship to win. Who Dey!
Jake Fraley joins Matt’s Take
Cincinnati Reds outfielder, Jake Fraley kindly joined Matt’s Take this week. Jake was a bright spot in the lineup during the end of last season and many look for Jake to be a leader for this ball club in 2023. Jake came to Cincinnati along with Justin Dunn, Brandon Williamson, and Connor Phillips in exchange for Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker. Since joining, Jake has made a huge impact in Cincinnati and he looks to continue that during the upcoming season. Jake has even stated on Twitter, “I do feel right at home. I love Cincinnati and I love that this is the city I’ve found my love for the game again with.” I think I can speak for all of Cincinnati when I state that Cincinnati welcomes Jake with open arms and wants him around for a long time. While Jake dealt with an injury last season, after returning he truly “mashed” as the season came to an end. In 199 plate appearances after coming back to the field, Jake averaged .295 along with 18 extra base hits and an 11.1 BB%. I can’t wait to watch the electrifying left hander bring excitement back to Great American Ball Park in 2023.
Q: What is your goal for the 2023 season?
A: “My goal is to do as much as I can on the mental side. I am focusing on discipline, such as remaining on-task and the daily process. Attacking my daily execution and remaining locked in and focused day to day for 162 games is my goal. I’m focused on one day at a time, 162 times.”
Q: What has been your favorite moment of your time in Cincinnati so far?
A: “On occasions last season, you could see at sporadic times the feeling of Cincinnati baseball. The fans here love baseball and I could feel that during last season.”
Q: What is one piece of your game that you are working to improve this off-season?
A: “I am dialed in with arm strength and I am working to clean up some unneeded movements. I am working on getting out of my comfort zone and embracing fear face-to-face. I am really focusing on the mental side of the game.”
Q: What does this team need to do in order to contend in the division?
A: “Getting away from social media and opinions of others with negativity towards the roster. We have a solid team up and down the lineup and health plays a big factor. As a team, we need to understand what it takes and remain disciplined throughout the season.”
Q: Who in the clubhouse is the best to turn to when looking for advice?
A: “Last year it was Kyle Farmer, but you can’t go wrong with going to Votto. Hall of Fame career and he didn’t get there by accident.”
Matthew McAdow is a freelance sports columnist writing about the Bengals and the Reds. His column appears in several regional publications, including the NKyTribune.
