On today’s episode, we dive deep into the Cincinnati Bengals’ season-shifting Thanksgiving win in Baltimore and what Joe Burrow’s return really means for the rest of 2025. Was it perfect? Far from it. But his presence changed everything—energy, urgency, confidence, and the way the entire roster competed. We break down how Burrow reshaped the offense, whether the defense’s recent improvement is sustainable, and why DJ Turner’s emergence matters more than you think.

We also look across the AFC landscape and explain why the conference is more wide open than usual. From Buffalo’s inconsistency, to Denver’s surprising rise, to the chaos in Pittsburgh and Cleveland, the Bengals’ path to a playoff run might be improbable—but absolutely not impossible. We discuss the mini-bye advantage, key matchups ahead, and which trends actually give Cincinnati a legitimate shot to run the table.

Plus: what to make of the rookie linebackers, how Zac Taylor kept the team bought in, why sitting Joe Burrow was never a real option, and how recent games have quietly pushed the Bengals’ defense toward being “good enough” at the right time.

If you’re a Bengals fan—or just love in-depth NFL talk—this episode is packed with everything you need heading into a massive matchup in Buffalo.

OTHER CHATTERBOX PROGRAMING:

Chatterbox Reds: https://linktr.ee/chatterboxreds 

Chatterbox Bearcats: https://chatterboxbearcats.podbean.com/ 

The Stone Shields Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/west-4th-and-long/id1828384424 

Off The Bench: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/off-the-bench-by-chatterbox-sports/id1643010062 

The Flyin Lion (FC Cincinnati): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flyin-lion-fc-cincinnati-podcast/id1701368522 

513 Golf: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjPJjEFaBD7VUSfdVvGjbr1_CmCepLWpr