On today’s episode, the guys dive into a passionate, unfiltered conversation about the state of the Cincinnati Bengals — and whether fans should believe the team’s late-season surge is real or just another dose of “Kool-Aid.” The show opens with a wild history lesson on the origins of the phrase “don’t drink the Kool-Aid,” before shifting into a raw, honest breakdown of the Bengals’ roller-coaster season.

With Joe Burrow back and the team coming off its most complete performance of the year against Baltimore, national media are suddenly buying Cincinnati stock again. But is it warranted? One host isn’t convinced — laying out why the Bengals’ razor-thin margins, defensive inconsistency, coaching questions, and missed opportunities during Burrow’s eight-game absence make a miraculous run unlikely. From frustrating losses to the Jets and Bears, to what December football typically means in the Burrow/Taylor era, the conversation balances hope with realism.

Stone weighs in, urging patience while acknowledging that optimism needs to be earned. If the Bengals show up again this Sunday in Buffalo, the tone could shift — but with no room for error, one great game isn’t enough to declare a turnaround.

It’s a candid, emotional look at fandom in Cincinnati: the highs of dominating a rival on Thanksgiving, the lows of thinking about what could’ve been, and the eternal belief that as long as No. 9 is under center, the season isn’t dead. A must-listen for Bengals fans riding every twist of this chaotic year.

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