CINCINNATI -- The Bengals are in their first Super Bowl in 33 years after a stunning overtime win against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship. But leave it to Tom Brady to steal some of the spotlight this week as his hand was forced and he formally announced his retirement Tuesday via Instagram. Trags, who covered Brady for 20 of his 22 NFL seasons, is joined by his former Patriots beat colleague and CLNS Media teammate Evan Lazar to discuss how badly the announcement was handled since Saturday, how Joe Burrow compares to Brady and much, much more, including:

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CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Bengals will be playing in their first AFC Championship since 1988 when they visit Arrowhead Stadium Sunday to take on the two-time defending AFC champion Chiefs. The Bengals are 2-0 in AFC Championship games, having beaten the San Diego Chargers in 1981 and the Buffalo Bills in 1988. Both games were at Riverfront Stadium. But the Bengals finally have a road win notched on their playoff belt and hope they can make it two straight Sunday. The Chiefs beat the Titans and Bills in the last two AFC championship games at Arrowhead after losing in 2018 to the Patriots in overtime. Trags is joined by SI.com's James Rapien to break down how Joe Burrow can slay the Chiefs in Kansas City and what the Bengals defense needs to do to control Patrick Mahomes. Also:

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CINCINNATI -- Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson says Cincinnati's AFC Divisional playoff against Tennessee this weekend will be the tough run game they've faced all season. Starting with Derrick Henry, who is expected back after missing nine games with a foot injury, and continuing with D'Onta Foreman, the Titans run behind a massive offensive line. The Bengals defensive line, without Larry Ogunjobi, must counter. Offensively, Joe Burrow might have some downfield opportunities against a Titans secondary that was ranked just 25th in the NFL this season against the pass. How will Bengals go about winning their first road playoff game in franchise history?

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CINCINNATI -- The AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals this Saturday have their ninth chance to win a playoff game since their last postseason win on Jan. 6, 1991, a 41-14 rout of the Houston Oilers at Riverfront Stadium. The opportunity comes against the Las Vegas Raiders, the same franchise - two cities removed - that started the eight-game losing streak over 31 years and two days. On Jan. 13, 1991, the Bengals lost to Bo Jackson and the Raiders at the L.A. Coliseum, 20-10. They then lost to the Steelers in Jan. 2006, the Jets in Jan. 2010, the Texans in Jan. 2012 and '13, the Chargers in Jan. 2014, the Colts in Jan. 2015 and the Steelers again in Jan. 2016. What do the Bengals have to do this Saturday to stop the madness? Trags is joined by Bengals.com writer Geoff Hobson to discuss:

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CINCINNATI -- In the wake of the greatest season in the 137 years of Cincinnati Bearcats football, Trags talks with Justin Williams, on the Bearcats beat for The Athletic. Trags reflects on what made the 13-1 season so special for the players, coaches and, of course, fans. Trags and Williams also look ahead to what's in store in 2022 and how head coach Luke Fickell could possibly orchestrate an encore to its breakthrough year that ended with a disappointing loss, 27-6, to Alabama in the Cotton Bowl/CFP semifinal game. 

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CINCINNATI --  With the Bengals entering the final weekend of the 2021 season having already clinched their fifth AFC North championship, what to do with Joe Burrow? Do they play for the chance at a No. 1 or 2 seed that would give them either a bye week or at least another home game if they win in the first round? Do they not take any chances, rest their star and start anew in the playoffs? Was the win over the Chiefs the best ever in the 20-year history of Paul Brown Stadium? So much to discuss with AllBengals.com's James Rapien. We also discuss:

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CINCINNATI -- In this episode, former Cincinnati Bearcats star quarterback Tony Pike joins Trags to discuss how the No. 4 Bearcats need to play a near-perfect game but have the skill to do it and beat No. 1 Alabama in the Cotton Bowl and advance to the CFP Championship on Jan. 10 in Indianapolis. Also:

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CINCINNATI -- Inconsistency has defined the 2021 Cincinnati Bengals. Can they shake it over the final four regular season games to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2015? Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer joins Trags to discuss why these Bengals are so very difficult to figure out.

Also:

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CINCINNATI -- The Bengals have a chance to get back on the right track this Sunday in the finale of a three-game homestand but they'll have to beat back Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers. How will Zac Taylor and the Bengals attack Kyle Shanahan's offense? How will Joe Burrow bounce back this week? Trags talks with the NFL Network's Mike Giardi about how the Bengals could be on the path to the playoffs.

Also:
What is it about Jimmy G that is so effective?
What can the Bengals do to apply pressure?
What is so impressive about the Bengals defensive front?
How Mac Jones compares with Joe Burrow as a young QB of the future.
Are the Bengals the best team in the AFC North?

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CINCINNATI -- Trags and James Rapien of AllBearcats and AllBengals discuss how the city of Cincinnati will be the epicenter of the football world this weekend as the Cincinnati Bearcats look to make college football history as the first non-Power 5 team to be selected for the four-team college football playoff. To do so, the 12-0 No. 4 Bearcats must first beat 11-1 and 16th ranked Houston in the AAC title game at Nippert Stadium. If the Bearcats win, they will find their fate at noon on Sunday as the CFP Committee announces the four teams and their seedings. An hour later, at Paul Brown Stadium, the Bengals host the Los Angeles Chargers in a matchup of Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert. The two didn't get to face one another last year in the 2020 season opener as Tyrod Taylor got the call for the Chargers. 

Trags and James also talk

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