The playoffs are back in Cincinnati.

Exactly one year removed from their historic wild card win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the Cincinnati Bengals host a playoff game once again this weekend when the Baltimore Ravens come into town on Sunday night. This marks the first time both of these divisional foes have ever met in the postseason."

Third times the charm, right?

These teams are a week removed from their regular season finale matchup when the Bengals handed the Ravens a 27-16 loss, giving the Bengals a home playoff game after they won the AFC North with controversial playoff implications. Baltimore will be without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson and backup quarterback Tyler Huntley is questionable with tendonitis in his right shoulder.

That has the sixth-seeded Ravens as perennial underdogs coming into Cincinnati, but nothing is set in stone until both teams take the field. Baltimore's highly ranked defense will look to exploit a Bengals offensive line that will be down two starters on the right side with the hope of giving quarterback Joe Burrow relapses of his playoff nightmares last year.

Does this mean a potential upset is looming in Cincinnati? Or will the Bengals shut out their critics and win their franchise record ninth-straight playoff game?

The Strictly Stripes crew goes into a lengthy debate about whether or not the Ravens are as depleted as they look on paper or if the Bengals truly are favored in this wild card matchup. They also give their predictions and thoughts on who might be the biggest playmakers and how much the Bengals' offensive line will take a beating.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Andrew Gillis and Michael Niziolek.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

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The Cincinnati Bengals rush offense hasn't seen much efficiency lately.

A pass heavy team that has leaned in on quarterback Joe Burrow's passing glamour, the Bengals haven't witnessed much efficiency from their run game. After Bengals' running backs Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine respectively bounced back in the middle of the season with respective top-notch performances, those seem like a distant memory again.

Mixon, who is averaging 3.9 yards per carry this season, and Perine, who's slightly north of him at 4.1 yards per carry, will need to find some sort of rhythm again after being mostly quiet since December. On top of the fact that the right side of the offensive line is hampered by injuries, the Bengals won't rely exclusively on Burrow who might be in for a long day against the Ravens this weekend.

Baltimore will likely have all of their defensive starters rested and healthy for Sunday night's wild card matchup in Cincinnati after losing to the Bengals less than a week ago. The Bengals enter this weekend with a franchise-record eight game win streak, while the six-seeded Ravens want to spoil the party as they'll be without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson for the sixth straight game.

What will the Bengals have to do in order to have an efficient run game this weekend? And how much will Burrow be safe from a ravenous Ravens pass rush?

The Strictly Stripes crew debates how much is necessary from Perine and Mixon and what their roles could and should look like against Baltimore. They're also joined by special guest Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic as they examine the role and significance of having momentum entering the playoffs.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Michael Niziolek and special guest Paul Dehner Jr.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

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No matter who's under center for the Ravens this weekend, the Cincinnati Bengals are coming prepared.

After Ravens starting QB Lamar Jackson didn't practice with the Ravens on Wednesday, there's doubt the former MVP will start in Sunday night's wild card game in Cincinnati. Compounded by the fact that backup Tyler Huntley might be questionable for this weekend, that leaves Baltimore's QB situation in limbo.

Anthony Brown Jr. made his first-ever career start as an NFL QB when the Ravens came to Cincinnati last weekend. There's a good chance that he might be under center again this Sunday.

When the Bengals look at their takeaways and turnover margin, they should be confident. They rank in the top ten amongst all teams in those respective categories. Sure, there isn't one player who sticks out as one of the league's most feared at their respective position. But big game changing plays have gotten the Bengals up to this point.

The Strictly Stripes crew looks at the Ravens' current situation under center and examines what the Bengals need to do to make sure they avoid any funny looks from head coach John Harbaugh's playbook. They also look at what the Bengals need to do to avoid a breakout game from Huntley and/or Brown, which includes stopping tight end Mark Andrews.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad and Andrew Gillis.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

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A Cincinnati Bengals offensive line that stayed fairly healthy all season has caught the injury bug.

After losing right guard Alex Cappa in Sunday's regular season finale victory over Baltimore, the Bengals could now be without two of their offensive line starters this week. Right tackle La'el Collins is already out for the rest of the year on the injured reserve after tearing his ACL against New England.

The right side of the offensive line is in deep, deep trouble.

Assuming Cappa isn't good to go for the Bengals' Wild Card round rematch with the Ravens on Sunday, backup Max Scharping will get the nod. He had 33 career starts with the Houston Texans before being picked up off of waivers before the start of this season. Hakeem Adeniji will continue filling in for Collins, meanwhile.

Quite a challenge for the Bengals as quarterback Joe Burrow will need all the protection in the world against a Ravens defense that will be as stout as it was even on Sunday. Could this be a repeat of Burrow's playoff horrors last year when he was sacked left and right?

More importantly, Burrow will have to make sure that his offense's performance in the second half against Baltimore was just simply a fluke. If not, the upset-minded Ravens might try to have a chance to play spoiler this Sunday night.

Speaking of which, the offseason hasn't arrived, yet, but there's already five head coaching vacancies across the league that could turn into six. Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo might be in the mix for either of those jobs. How realistic is that?

The Strictly Stripes crew sets up the big stage for the Bengals as they look to begin their journey of running back the AFC crown through another challenging postseason. They also explain how dire the situation for the Bengals' offensive line and debate whether Callahan or Anarumo are really in the mix for any head coaching jobs.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Andrew Gillis and Michael Niziolek.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

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The Cincinnati Bengals are celebrating.

After holding off against a feisty Baltimore Ravens squad that wanted to play spoiler on Sunday, the Bengals wouldn't let anyone spoil their AFC North crown. Cincinnati wins back-to-back division titles for the first time in franchise history with their 27-16 win over Baltimore.

Instead of having to flip a coin to determine home field for next week's wild card round, Bengals running back Joe Mixon flipped his own personal coin to celebrate in the middle of the game. Whether you want to say there was a chip on the Bengals' shoulders or not, they were fired up and ready to live up to their motto, "They gotta play us."

The Bengals sported a 24-7 lead at halftime and nearly watched it slip away in the second half despite the Ravens' not playing multiple players on Sunday, including running back J.K. Dobbins and quarterback Tyler Huntley. There were flashes of the same miscues that they showed against Tampa Bay and New England several weeks ago.

How much are those miscues a concern for the Bengals though? The Ravens will certainly have a different looking team next week when they return to Cincinnati. What can the Bengals do to avoid a repeat of anything from their last three games when Baltimore comes back?

The Strictly Stripes crew breaks down how the Bengals played in the second half, what changed and what the concern is entering next weekend. Already without right tackle La'el Collins for the rest of the year, they could be without Alex Cappa based on the severity on an ankle injury that caused him to exit the game early.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Andrew Gillis and Michael Niziolek.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

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The Cincinnati Bengals are fizzing with frustration after the NFL's latest decision on the upcoming playoffs.

After the league officially cancelled the Bengals-Bills game this week, they confirmed what the playoff implications for the AFC would look like after reaching an agreement. However, that has Bengals head coach Zac Taylor and most of the team frustrated and dissatisfied with a resolution that they consider inequitable.

One of the biggest concerns stems from the fact that despite winning the AFC North by virtue of the cancellation, the Bengals will have to flip a coin, if they lose to Baltimore this weekend, and are matched against them in the playoffs, to determine where the game will be played. All of that, amongst other changes, comes as Taylor said the league didn't go by the written rules.

This doesn't overshadow the emphasis on Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's progressive recovery. But this is a crossroads for a Bengals team that has gone through a long and challenging week since Hamlin collapsed on the field at Paycor Stadium on Monday night. Now their focus shifts to a rematch with a Ravens team that beat them back in Week 5.

The Ravens will look different on both sides of the ball. Most notably, Lamar Jackson won't be under center as he hasn't practiced in a month with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Baltimore's defense boasts Pro Bowl linebacker Roquan Smith, who was acquired via trade from Chicago earlier this season.

With the latest implications and challenges the Bengals have faced, they will certainly be fired up as they look to close out the regular season on a strong note after an adverse week.

The Strictly Stripes Crew tries to make sense of the lengthy and tricky implications the Bengals are potentially facing in the postseason. Then, they delve into Sunday matchups and preview Sunday's regular season finale.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Andrew Gillis and Michael Niziolek.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

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The future has become a little clearer for the Cincinnati Bengals as they move forward with the end of the regular season.

They know they will not finish their Week 17 game with the Buffalo Bills that was cancelled after Damar Hamlin's medical emergency postponed the game. What they don't know exactly, though, is how the playoff picture will look based on the inequities that result from the cancellations.

There are countless scenarios that the NFL will run through to decide what happens from here, but one thing is certain: The Bengals, who are technically back-to-back AFC North champions, have to beat the Ravens on Sunday if they want to have any shot at hosting a playoff game. Everything else from there is relative.

However, the shift of focus on the Ravens for the Bengals locker room has been aided by the progress made in Hamlin's recovery on Thursday. Multiple players personally impacted by Hamlin's collapse, including Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, seemed to be in good spirit after the reassuring news on Hamlin.

The specific focus will be on a Ravens team that has Roquan Smith but doesn't have Lamar Jackson. What will that look like for the Bengals? How do they outlast the Ravens to solidify their new division title?

The Strictly Stripes crew explains all the different playoff scenarios, what they mean and how they impact the Bengals. Plus, they're joined by special guest Elise Jesse who covers the team for AllBengals Sports Illustrated. Finally, they wrap up by discussing Willie Anderson's chances of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Andrew Gillis, Michael Niziolek and special guest Elise Jesse.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

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The last 48 hours have been a whirlwind for the Cincinnati Bengals.

After Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during Monday night's game at Paycor Stadium, there was lots of uncertainty surrounding his condition, the status of the game and what was to come all in that moment. Both the Bills and Bengals were left confused in what was described as chaos by Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and fellow team captain D.J. Reader.

The Bills-Bengals game will not be made up this week but there hasn't been any determination as to whether the game will resume in the future or not. There also isn't a clear consensus from Bengals players on how this Sunday's game with Baltimore should unfold, with mixed feelings in the locker room, according to Burrow.

The focus is undoubtedly on Hamlin's health and recovery. But that's where players have had to figure out how to cope with Monday's tragic events while trying to focus on the end of the regular season and beyond.

There's a lot to unpack in the here and now while moving forward. What's next for the Bengals? How will the future look or depend on what's decided by the players and the league?

The Strictly Stripes crew reconvenes after several days away following Monday's events as they first and foremost wish nothing but a healthy recovery for Hamlin and his health. They layout the framework of how Monday unfolded, what got us here and what to expect moving forward.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Andrew Gillis and Michael Niziolek.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

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The final Monday Night Football game of the season is shaping up to be a good one.

AFC supremacy is on the line in Cincinnati when the six-game win streak-riding Bills battle the Bengals who are hoping to get their franchise-record eighth straight win. Depending on what happens between Baltimore and Pittsburgh in prime-time on Sunday night, the Bengals could even clinch the AFC North on Monday.

The last time the Bengals hosted a Monday Night Football game, they upset a then-playoff bound Pittsburgh Steelers team in a rainy, crowd-less game without quarterback Joe Burrow two years ago. His season ended prematurely to an ACL injury and the Bengals were already eliminated from the playoffs.

That was then. The weather should be clear, Paycor Stadium just might be hosting another near record-setting crowd and there will be playoff implications for both teams on the line. The minds behind the NFL schedule truly did save the best for last with this game in mind.

The hype will continue building into a crescendo until the ball is kicked off on Monday night. So, who comes out on top, and who leads the way for either team?

The Strictly Stripes crew gives their final thoughts and predictions for the big game. They also debate whether Burrow or Josh Allen is the quarterback to beat.

This podcast features Andrew Gillis, Mohammad Ahmad and Michael Niziolek. You can listen by using the player below.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

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As the weeks pass, the challenges only rise even higher for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Maybe that's why Josh Allen and the top-seeded Buffalo Bills coming to town is only fitting for the final Monday Night Football matchup of the year. Allen, who was the preseason favorite for MVP entering this season, is still in the mix for potentially beating out Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow depending on how Monday night goes.

The Bills will bring a six-game win streak to Cincinnati while the Bengals will look to tie a franchise-record with their eighth straight victory. Buffalo brings a top-ten offense, and a top-ten defense that will keep the Bengals' hands full. Allen has proven to be a challenging quarterback to defend, tackle and confuse for most defenses he's faced this season.

Even more challenging? Trying to keep Allen from hitting one of the best receivers in the league: Stefon Diggs. Although Diggs has been quiet for the last three weeks, he's still shown why he's one of the league's most elite receivers. But just how elite will he be against the Bengals?

Furthermore, will the Bengals' defense shut down the hype and quiet down the Bills' offense? If they do that, it will require making sure the game isn't quite a tale of two halves like each of the last two weeks have been.

Jay Morrison of the The Athletic joins the Strictly Stripes Podcast crew to talk about how much the hype for this game compares and contrasts to other Monday Night Football games the Bengals have played in franchise history. He also dissects what makes Allen so good and how the Bengals can achieve success against him. The Strictly Stripes crew talks more about what defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has to draw up to keep up the streak he's had since the bye week.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Michael Niziolek and special guest Jay Morrison.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

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