The Night Cap with Gary Jeff Walker -- 12/18/23

Touchdown Bengals. It's East Bengals Line on the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network, brought to you by Paycore. Pay Core is proud to be the official hr software provider of the Cincinnati Bengals. Alta fiber future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business, and community to a new level. Kettering health best care for the best fans, Kettering help, official healthcare provider of the Cincinnati Bengals. You're listening to the Bengals Radio network. There, let's

get to it at six eight on seven hundred WLW. It is, in fact Bengals Line on the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network and seven hundred WLW a victory Monday, just like we like it? Man, do we have stuff to sort through between now and nine o'clock? Players, coaches, conversation of all sorts to be had Bengals Line with a twist Tonight. Dave Lapham is out. He'll be back next week in his place. Oh and what

a treat this is going to be? You know, I love him as host of Bengals count And to kickoff the halftime report, the locker room Report after the game, you hear him on Bengals Game Plan on Wednesday's, on occasion Friday Bengals pep rally. It's like a where's Waldo, Where's Box? Depending on what day of the week it is. It is a pleasure to walk come in, Wayne Box Miller, how are you my brother? We

finally did it. We're finally working together. Glad to be aboard. And I will say lap hanging their brother and Dan, I hope your voices bouncing back. But yes, man, I feel like a Jamaican sportscast. Man. I've got a lot of Jobsiness Smith and the beauty of this is and

it's the first thing we said to each other when we walked in. We have known each other and we've been in this market for over long, over twenty years, from a professional standpoint, up and down the dial shows of all sorts, pre post in game talk shows of all the shows on all the stations. We have never ever worked together on a show. I couldn't believe it. And I was telling my mentor. I said, you know, I said, man, I've never worked with Lance And I said,

it's a mutual admiration society. And I want to say this before we even get into anything that. I appreciate your friendship and all that we've been through over the years. On both sides of a coin. You've always supported me. I try to support you, and my relationship with you goes well beyond the microphone, and so for me, this is really personal and just a holiday gift, so to speak right back at you. What a what a treat, what a joy. It's a at early Christmas present, a chance

to work with Box the night for three hours. Let's start here. We're about fifty hours removed from the final gun on Sunday and Box I still down seventeen to three in the fourth down twenty seven twenty fourth, seventeen with thirty eight seconds left. Even this time that's elapsed, and the processes, I'm still not sure how they won that game. It was amazing, you know.

It was one of those games where you just say, hang around, hang around, hang around, a break here, put together, and they play drive five first downs, hang around, get the ball back eleven, play drive five first downs on that drive, hang around, and by now the crowd is in a frenzy. And I think the one more drink that Zach Taylor kicked in for the fans because they put that last drive together. And obviously we'll talk about t Higgins, but oh my goodness, man,

unbelievable. And and when you Jermaine Pratt said it, when you go to moneymack head onto the parking lot, We're gonna listen to a lot that came out of the game on Saturday. I want to start with Zach from two different fronts. You're gonna hear Zach immediately after the game. Then you're gonna hear Zach yesterday. Because I want to compare and contrast the emotion. Let's

go inside the locker room immediately after the game. Here's Dave Lapham with Zach Taylor as the legendary Jim Volvano said, don't give up, don't ever give up. I mean, that's that's this football team. Yeah. I love these guys. You know, they just find a way to overcome the adversity. There's a lot of diversity in that game. Never panicked down fourteen points.

Things weren't going great. We weren't a great rhythm on offense at first, and then on defense eventually, and then everybody just came together and found a way to get it done. Just to tick off, you know, I mean just you know, there were plays to be made and take advantage of and just couldn't quite make them in the first half. But to come from behind twenty one points scored in the fourth quarter against that defensive football team,

that's pretty remarkable. Just proud of our guys, proud of the coaches for the plan that they prepare. That starts with Brian Callahan. I thought he did a great job this week steering that ship and guys believing in it. And again just sometimes it takes some time. You're playing a good defense. Stuff. It's an orthodox defense, so it's not going to be perfect the whole game. You just gotta hang in there and find your moments. And our guys did. What does it take to go against defense like that?

I mean, obviously patients, you know it's not going to always go the way you think. But I mean, what's the biggest thing to attack in the defense like that that's so unorthodox? I think just patients and you try to stay one step ahead. They throw a lot at you, so it can be difficult to do. It. Starts with the quarterback not not being overwhelmed to all the different looks you can get and Jake did not. He was not overwhelmed. He did a great job managing it. The guys

around him did a great job managing it. And I'll as to be successful through for over three hundred yards, I think hit at least eleven different receivers. I mean, he's he's tripping the ball very very well, isn't he. He's done a great job. You know, he bongs in this league, and he's proven that every week, and he's proven it to this locker room for a long time now. That's why he's got the opportunity has and I'm really proud of him. The touchdown run that Joe Mixon had was jaw

dropping to me. I'm like, dude, that's I mean, you talk about second third effort, huge fourth down, got to get in you know, that's a game changing play right there. And he did it very similar last week and he did it again this week. So they were five for five on fourth and one coming into the football game. Fourth and one, you score a touchdown fourth and two inches, they lose three inches. I mean, that ended up being a big deciding factor in the football game.

Fourth down in a Scooch. Yeah, I saw our guys get a tremendous push on that fourth down, you know, at the end of the game to get them stopped, and they looked like you bobbleed the snap because of it. And so again, it was very similar to when we beat Minnesota a couple years ago, got a defensive stop at the same field and overtime gave the offense the ball hit one big play and then Evan steals a for US, same score. Okay, I think it was. Yeah, I'm

pretty sure, man, I'll tell you so. I know. I know it's one week at a time, up next to Pittsburgh steel as they're playing today as well. I mean, do you even think can you celebrate for a while? Can you go home and celebrate this game for a while? You're going right to Pittsburgh. I can go home and relax. Yeah, I'm not. We're done with football for today. We'll pick up tomorrow morning, you know. And it's a normal seven day week for once. We

haven't had a seven day week and since last year. I think you know, what you've done keeping this football team fresh down the stretch is paying off once again. But coach Man, what was the deal with the injury? Gods? I mean, they took some took some shots at us today. That's the way we're you know, sometimes it's gonna happen like that and we're gonna have to have other guys step up, and you know, it is tough to see, you know, a key player, especially like DJ Reader

go down and hopefully hopefully he doesn't get us elsewhere. Appreciate your time, a full week of preparation for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They're in trouble. Appreciate you, Thank you. Appreciate that. That was Zach after the game, immediately after the game on Saturday, and I play this now to compare and contrast the emotions because this was Zach yesterday when the medical reports were back,

the realization was in and we'll make this our Kettering Health injury Report. The Kettering Health the official health care provider of the Cincinnati Bengals and pay Course Stadium, providing the best care for the best fans. Here's Zach with the announcement yesterday on the news of both DJ Reader and dj Ivy. Yeah, dj will be out with the Quad terror uh and dj Ivy with an A C L. And then Jamar will just continue to see where this week goes.

He's just such a such a consistent force on the defensive line. I think he's playing outstanding, just so consistent every single day, someone that coaches could count on, some of the other players could count on, always has the right mindset day to day, even has the right mindset, you know, seeing him come off the field, seeing him in the training room last night, and and so I know that he'll respond the right way, and and uh, you know, it's it's unfortunate for DJ's unfortunate for all of us

because he's such a big part of of all of us, and so it's killer to see something like that to happen to him, and say, with dj Ivy, you know, dj Ivy has really worked hard to put himself in a position to help us. And so again both those guys be poring for them their covers. Yeah, I could tell. I mean it was

it was tough. There was there was not much he could do. And you could tell him coming off the field after want to tease touchdowns, there was gonna be no way he could play with that for the rest of to day. Yeah, I say, next man up all the time, is

next man up? When it comes to someone like sure, Yeah, yeah, I think that there's a lot of guys you know, that will fit in there, and we'll continue to dissess what that's going to continue to look like as we go, But it's kind of that that moment, that time of the year where where you need on a lot of guys that have have gotten a lot of reps for you and know what's going on, and now they're numbers called, and so again guys get an opportunity now to rise up

and make an aim for themselves. And so again we've got some guys that we can count in there, Zach Taylor. Yesterday Bengals make it official. Today DJ Raider goes on IR DJ Ivy goes on IR box. It's we fully know full well it's the cruel reality of the business. Injuries. You feel for both of them, but it's an opportunity for other guys. And that's that's been the DNA of this football team this year, you know,

and it's the next man up mentality. I think what Magus most of Zach about DJ is he was one of his biggest signs, you know, at twenty twenty. He convinced him to come over here and said I'm going to change this around and if I can get you here, we can do this together. And literally that started everything with the perception of playing in Cincinnati, and you've been in the locker room. DJ Reader is just one of those

guys. And I at sounding redundant. I tell people all the time, the chemistry in this locker room is reminiscent of the ninety world series Cincinnati Read. These guys genuinely like each other. Linebackers hanging out with running backs, and wilde receivers with lineman. It's just a good group. But at the heart of that is a DJ Reader and DJ Ivy as a kid fraternity brother of mine, a young man who was just starting to find his way. And I told you, this has to be one of the nicest young men

I've ever met in my life. And just to see him pull that jersey up over his face, We're wishing him all the best, man, no doubt. We are just getting started tonight, just getting revveed up. Much more to get to. We'll hear from QB one Joe, I almost said,

Joe Burrow used to saying Joe Burrow, Jake Browning. We'll get into him and so much more as we crew through three hours of conversation tonight, It's Bengals line on the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network and seven hundred WLW six twenty one seven hundred WLW and Bengals line of the first Star Logistics Bengals or Radio Network. Lance McAllister Wayne box Miller and Ohio Catt is proud to support the Cincinnati Bengals as Ohio's premier construction equipment provider. We know what it

takes to be a first place team. Regardless of your need, whether it's sales service or equipment rental, you can count on Ohio Cat to be a trusted teammate to see how we can help your company win. Be sure to visit ohiocat dot com, hooday and Go Bengals. Jake Browning was on it again on Saturday. What a run during this three game winning streak. So listen to a QB one after the game on big plays made by his guys

and how he felt after the victory. I feel like I need a beer, but I'm right off of a cramping incident, so I'm probably gonna pass on that. But uh, yeah, that was that was oaster. Yes, obviously the overtime was similar to Jacksonville, but you know, Jacksonville were always kind of even with them. Got it just when we got down. Yeah, I checked with him because they emailed a big day earlier today. I said, Hey, what I said, I'm not taping, so I

have no idea what I need to end each top of our model. So I got it from him, So I'm good. There's some big time plays being made. A couple of shout outs, first of all to Drew Sample, who played with a stomach virus uh and was feeling terrible and we needed him really bad because these guys blitzed a lot and he's getting incredible in protection. The other one to Joe Mixon. No running back wants to sit there and running don't want in protection all day long. But that was kind of

the best chance to put up some points and all that. He did a great job. And then we all lines starting with Ted Charrish just communication. You know, there was very few protection calls. I even needed to make here to stand here and talking because he directed and it was very in the game. And we know now that he was going to the d meetings and again no accident that the guy put the work. Yeah, I would have included him to I was hot and they and I always pressure serious question and

I had to drift and give someone a chance a bit. Could you always feel good just throwing the ball up to teeth, I'm good block he's kind of throwing up to you. Good things seemed to happen, or you're really close and always get that dead pa and never thought about it like when themselves

like whenever my chance comes, I don't know when it's gonna be. And you combine that, yeah he's got yeah, yeah, watching but running joke is he told you was a pressure where they're bringing more than we can block because wherever he is next year, whatever protection has been bad. I think it was Harrison Smith and quarterback. I don't know if who's going to be

the quarterback New Orleans. I guess what's a lot They drop a lot about the ski but that was kind of part of it is is they they drop a lot of people three or four quarterback England Certainly there's not a lot of TI plays that are a lot of teams and the way he's winning pitch saying could be a quarterback who could play under pressure that they I'm gonna need to

move around and make some place in my legs. Throughout the whole week, he had kind of been saying that, and so this is very modest job coming back in front the angling and he was getting the ball as well. He's kind of you know, crossed full speed TV got the ball. I think that's kind of what spun on the run about to check. You know, there's them all is doing every just kind of ran into it, and so I thought he was gonna score, and I was glad, you know,

he's with ball security. I think if that was the second quarter and not the end of the game where that situation probably scored, how about that we shouldn't have cut me or whatever. Yeah, I mean I think that came open because we ran a similar play earlier in the game where I missed, uh, Charlie Jones down the middle. And so when you throw one of those and they're playing a lot of you know, too deep and then having someone run the middle, you know, once you throw one of those

early in the game, you gotta respect it later. And so I think that was kind of a product of that. The things were your words on mine, what's uh, what's wow? Yeah, I mean it was loud our fans definitely, uh, you know, had their one more drink and came to the game, so you definitely felt it when the defense was on

there and then just the energy in the stadium was was really good. I'm kind of in a position where I just detached from that and I don't really I feel like the louder it gets, the quieter it gets, just in my own head, I guess, But yeah, I think that played a big factor. There was some false starts, delay games. It was tough for them to communicate, and uh, and it was a fun atmosphere to play. Box. He he's been ready for the moment, and he certainly

does not lack confidence. He doesn't lack confidence, and he doesn't lack preparation. And you and I talked about that, and uh, he's a guy that you root for because he's done everything the right way. When we come back, one of our favorites, Solomon Wilcotts, is gonna check in. Can't wait to talk with him about Saturday in the Steelers week is well,

he's Wayne Box Miller. I'm llonce pacalister, thanks for hanging out with his on Bengals line on the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network in seven hundred WLW six point thirty six on Bengals Line on a victory Monday, Bengals Line on the First Star Logistics, Bengals Radio Networking, seven hundred WLW. I'm lionce Pacalister, Dave lap him out. He'll be back next week, Wayne Box Miller in. You hear him on countdown to kickoff, the locker Room report,

halftime as well Bengals gameplay and PEP rally. Wherever they need him, he is there and I'm glad he's here tonight because we're sorting through three hours of what took away. We may need four hours sort through what happened on Saturday in the Vikings game. We'll look ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers as well. Coaches and players to be heard from throughout the evening as well. Reminder

shop the Bengals Pro Shop find the best selection of Bengals merchandise anywhere. Visit the Pro Shop seven days a week, located on the north side of pay Course Stadium, or shop online at Bengals dot com. I am wearing a look. We're both dressed the occasion tonight. I know it's not a visual medium but I've got a Bengal sweatshirt on, and I've got a cap. You've got a cap and you got to pull over. Well, I got

all that, and I got the Bengal stripes on the sides. And you know, I told you, I'm like, I'm the radio Jake Browning. I mean, you know, you just call me and I'm ready, man, if you if you need me, I'm coming, you know, speaking of Jake Browning, the fifth quarterback since nineteen fifty lance with a passer rating of ninety five or high in each of his first four career starts, joining Gardner, Minshew, Chad Pennington, Mark Rippion, and some guy named Brock

Purdy. A pretty good company when you think of that last name. Yeah, and I saw a note from field Yates. The NFL has been tracking quarterbacks since it started the nineteen fifty season. Just one quarterback in that time has over one thousand passing yards and completed over seventy five percent of his passes in his first four starts. I give you Jake Browning as the only NFL quarterback to do that since nine unbelievable exclusive company for the Bengals starting quarterback.

You know, the only thing that I think people should focus on when they think of Jake Brownie. And I'm saying this more to younger kids than anybody. A lot of times, you know, kids think why I should be playing and why aren't I playing? And I say this all the time. If the guy in front of you went down in an instant, as football we all know, and really all sports, you just want to play away from being out there. Are you prepared enough that you could look the coach

in the eye and say, coach, don't worry, I'm ready. I know what needs to be done. And Zach Taylor said that when he walked in that huddle, those players knew that he was ready, and that's big. I love the fact that in the Bengals had certainly appreciated him for a while. I mean, they activated him a couple of weeks last year just to get him a game check. That's how much they appreciate him. They

had seen him. And it's funny. There was a lot of handwringing that the Bengals don't pay enough respect to the backup quarterback position, they don't invest in it, they need to spend money on the back, and then Jake gets an opportunity, and now I'm being told that, well, now they need to give him one hundred million dollar contract and trade Joe Burrow. And I'm like, wait, wait, wait a minute. You're all over the place here. But it's funny. The coaching staff saw something in him,

and what he is doing is backing up what they saw on him. Well, you don't throw ninety one touchdowns your senior year of high school by accident. You're not two time player of the Year, Gatoray Player of the Year in California of all states, by accident. You don't go to Washington and set records and do that by accident. You know, I kind of coined a little phrase, you know, in this business, ya just gotta have a phrase with This is Joe Burrow's team, This is Jake Brownie's moment.

And that's the way I look at this. This is Joe Burrow's team, but it's Jake Brownie moment. Still ahead of this hour, we're gonna hear from Jermaine Pratt, We're gonna hear from Tyler Boyd. Coming up in the second hour today, Former Bengal linebacker Joe Kelly's gonna check in. Can't wait to talk with him. We'll hear from Mike Hilton, BJ Hill, Evan

McPherson, and so much more between now and nine o'clock tonight. You're gonna want to stick around for Dan Hord's conversation with James Case of the Bengals title coach, which was so good. Yeah, in the pregame on Saturday, we are bringing it back radio term. We're gonna bring it back and play tonight it is gold as part of his fun facts that is all ahead and

more. He's Wayne box Miller, I'm Lance Pacallister. Thanks for hanging out with us tonight, a victory Monday, sorting through all that took place Saturday and all that might take place this Saturday against those Pittsburgh Steelers. It's Bengals Line on the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network and seven hundred WLW. Welcome back to Bengals Line on the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network and seven hundred

WLW. Lance Percallister, along with Wayne box Miller and Bengal fans, make sure to catch Dan and Lap every Wednesday this season for Bengals Game Plan presented by Bud Light on the air from sixth eight down the Dial on ESPN fifteen thirty. We've talked offense. Let's talk some defense and working conversation on that side of the ball with Jermaine Pratt, who continues to make plays for this team. Here's Dan Horde with the Bengals linebacker Jermaine. Let's start with the

fourth down stop in overtime. It was really back to back stops with less than a yard to go. What was the key for the defense to get the ball back there? It was huge, you know it was. It's a huge stop, Puss. You know you've been on the field and pull down. They're trying to do a sneak and we BJ did a great I think DJ sliced it, you know that, so it went lower. You know, I'm sinner. So it was a huge play. Bus. I mean that was fourth and about two inches, but that is almost impossible to

stop. And you guys did it twice. Yeah, you know this that mansel of defense being on the field. You know, it's like put on you that made the play and we did our job. Once you got that stop, you're thinking, all right with Monny Mack, we're gonna win this game now. Yeah, you know, his money man walks. The league is money every time he go out there and keep the ball. You know, you MoU walking, you walk to your car because it's just over.

We're chatting with Jermaine Pratt. I thought the game was over with about six minutes to go when you had to pick six. Unfortunately a penalty negated it. But tell us about the play because it looked like you read that beautiful like dam to the field. So with sket petition at eighteen and one, you had to tight in that on the point. So I knew a screen and I knew he was gonna give me whin. I just I just rated. I was I knew what it was like. He wan't know that.

In my mind, I just thought it was a great play by me. You know what. It doesn't count unfortunately, but you looked like a heck of a running back after you intercepted it. Yeah, you know, I just knew. The mindset was like since I you know, since them them them quarters for quarter, I turned on the suits that I need to make a play, that I need to be in the moment to make a big play for the team. I just embraced it. I just go into I

just training hostile situations, and I put myself through hostile situations. I know, I gotta make a play in big Tom momments. It's a huge win. It was an amazing game. What do you think of Jake Browning at this point? The guy of our culture, you know, started off brough, a guy that put the team on the back, that this grinds every day and then you know, ready for his opportunity, and he showcased it every week. You know, it's standing place, giving his prophecy, the

opportunity to make plays. The guy, a guy that's relentless, and I'm happy that he's our quarterback right now. You know this this I'm i'm, I'm, I'm, I'm this abbit for him, you know, just taking advantage of the opportunity take him in and the offense, you know, and doing his job, you know, not not trying to do too much, but he doing his job. He leading his team and I'm gonna rode this way with him. This could have been a tough day for the team.

You had some significant injuries, you were down by fourteen points going to the fourth quarter. What's to say about the resiliency of the group to come out of here with a win. To go back to the coaching. You know, we we've been through a lot as a organization. We know when it's time to make blaze. Gods got step up. You know, somebody go down, but you gotta look at the guys around us. You know that they lead. They showed them the way, the rookies or God beyond the

way, and then you step in and make blaize. You know, be ready for a moment. You know, just going back to Jay leading us. You know he learned from Borough. He'd been in the SISTI forty two years and then he stepped out and make plays. Congrat sound a great win. Thank you bj Hill. After the game with Dan Horden, you know Bocks listening to what he said about Jake Browning, there is no doubt there

had to be some uncertainty when when Joe went down. When you're watching your leader on the sidelines against Baltimore, he tries to throw the pass and he winces and drops in pain. There had to be a thought by all man. We are up a creek right now, but it's like a shot of adrenaline. Jake Browning has given this team after the struggle of the Pittsburgh game, which I think everybody kind of anticipated. It was the Steelers and it

was his first chances, but he has been so good since then. I don't think there's any doubt in anybody's mind they can win week in and week out with Jake Browning. He's in still the confidence where they may have wavered for a second what he has shown them. They have a complete buy in on him, no doubt. He makes all the throws. Yep, he has the feet to play the Tyler boy. This perfect illustration of his head downfield, not head looking where the defenders are. I know you're behind me.

That's okay. I need to find my guy and I'm gonna keep my head up and downfield. And you talked about, you know, thinking about Jermaine Pratt. I mean this guy this year forty seven tackles, two interception, two force fumbels, two sacks. His compadre, Logan Wilson fifty seven tackles, three interceptions, three force fumbels, one sack. I you know

I did to Dave Lapham thing. You know, he started crunching the numbers and one hundred and four tackles, five interceptions, five force fumbels, and three sacks from the linebackers, starting linebackers, they are the most productive. I think people say ro qwand Smith and Patrick Queen, but you got to say, between that linebacker duo and this linebacker duel, is there any better

due in the NFL? No? No, And what I think Dave said during the broadcast, it was the twelfth time they've come up with a stop in the red zone. And consider this not just a stop, but a shutout in the red zone. Twelve times, twelve times an opponent got in there, could have gotten a field goal each time. That's thirty six points, could have gotten a touchdown each time, that's what eighty four points?

They got zero points, twelve different And Lou has told us in previous weeks this defense takes it personally when the opposition gets into the red zone and they find ways and it's not one guy, it's a different guy a different week finding a way to knock a ball loose, poke it loose, get a

stop, and they just don't give up points in the red zone. You know what it tells me, and you've been around sports Lands as much as I have, what it tells me is there are eleven guys on that side doing a whole lot of homework because they anticipate a lot of things based on

what they've seen on film. Yep. I have recalled numerous times, it's funny you say that, whether it's the defensive back and they've recited the going through the play saying I expected it because that's what they've done on tape. And for a coach, that's gold when you when you get a player who's into the studying and sees it on tape and then translate translates that moment into a game. That's exactly what it's all about. Yeah, and Jermaine said,

he said, I knew that he was going to do that. He said that with so much confidence that he was expecting the moment and the moment wasn't too big for him. And the moment is never too big for this defense. Whether it's Mike Hilton, the interception at the goal line, whether it's Jermaine Pratt, whether it's fourth and one, whether it's DJ Reeder, you go down by committee. We got your back, brother. They just

do what needs to be done. And Trey Hendrickson MVP conversation, Yes, yeah, uh TJ Wide, I know got two more sacks yesterday, but Trey Hendrickson his quarterback sacked total. His quarterback hits, his quarterback pressures. He is the energizer bunny who is six feet four of three whatever he is, and the energizer bunny has got to be related to him some kind of way because his motor never turns off. Yeah, it's like you wind him up, that crank on the back on your back. You wind him up

and just let him go, and he just won't stop. And he's bopping around, him, bobbing around, and he does not stop. It's a great analogy. We'll talk more on the defense on the seven o'clock hour. We'll hear from Mike Hilton and bj Hill, among others. Let's head down the stretch in our first hour, Tyler Boyd on his big catch. As we continue, Wayne Box Miller, Lance Bacallister, Hey, thanks for hanging out with us on a victory Monday. Nothing better than a victory Monday.

Talking about an overtime win over the Vikings. We'll get into the Steelers in the eight o'clock hour as well. It's Bengals line in the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Networking seven hundred WLW. We're heading down the stretch, first of three hours about to be put in the books. Bengals line of the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Networking seven hundred WLW lance but callister Wayne box Miller Hate Pay Corps proud to be the official HR provider of the Cincinnati Bengals. Tyler

Boyd on the day targeted five times. He had two catches, the big one, of course, the forty four yarder. Here's Dave Lapham with the Bengals wide receiver. Take us through that last play, the one the football game. You're receiver on the left side of the formation, Scrambled, drill,

What goes through your mind? Yeah? Once I say Jake Scramble got the pocket, I just tried to find an open land for myself and for him to throw and so and then from there, you know, I just try to catch the ball, get the first first thing, to get the first down. Then from there just just just go chop ma make a play. Man. I'll tell you the throw that he made on the run, threatening the needle like that between a couple of defenders just unbelievable. Yeah,

it was. It was a hell of a ball by day man, right time, right place, then you get through a better body. Now. Man, it was just great, great, great chemistry and in a great connection for the two of us. What about this football team as a whole station adversity guys, Yeah, I just like again, like we always preach,

man, whoever I think we're the best team in November December. Man, we always draft through adversity, cold weather and any any type uh any any type roadblocks you throw towards us, and guys gonna bring the Mardyne. Guys gonna feed up each other and guys gonna do it for each other. So as long as we got that brewing up in here, I mean, this guy's a limit. This football team for the Vikings defensively was Swiss in the NFL and points all out. You guys put twenty one on them in

the fourth quarter in one quarter. They hadn't allowed twenty one points from about it. I don't know how many football games. What was the fourth quarter? Like? Yeah, they have a great offense, I mean, a great defense, a great coach and uh we we we knew we had to stay patient. Man. The game wasn't going our way offensively, and our

defense kind of kind of had to carry us saying. With that being said, we just had to step it up, our d. You know, we had to start to get things rolling because it gets to the point where it's like, okay, weren't get started and moved to boss court and we're gonna take a loss, and no guy like to lose, and and and and like like I man, guy is gonna feed off each other once it's come down to the wire. We step up every single time. Appreciate your man. Hello, a game, Thank you, bro. Tyler Boyd after

the game box, the wiley veteran twenty nine years old. He's seen some the tough times here, he's seen the good times. He's seen some guys passing maybe in the pecking order of receivers wide receiver one, two three, but he's never set a peep about it. He just goes about his business and he's there when you need him. You know, Brandon LaFell, AJ Green took Tyler under their wing. He'll tell you that in a heartbeat. But he is a guy that understands the team first mentality is critical for success.

And look at these numbers. One hundred and seventeen games, five hundred and five receptions, five nine hundred and eight yards. But more impressive than that to me, and the thirty one touchdowns is he's had seventy four catches for twenty yards or more and thirteen catches for forty yards of more. Now, this is not the speech straw on your team. This is the guy, the possession receiver, the third down guy. And yet seventy four catches for twenty yards or more. Wow, and a big one of plus forty

on Saturday in the games. Yeah, big one. All right, that's an hour in the books. Just like dad, Wait, what do you think? We should probably do two more? I like this. Yeah, let's keep it going. Joe Kelly, the former Bengals gonna lead off our second hour and a whole lot more to get to. Thanks for being here with us on this Monday night. He's Wayne box Miller, I'mlliance Pacalister, It's Bengals on in the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network and seven hundred WLW

Bengals Radio Network, host of Countdown. To kick off the halftime report, the locker room report, it would be Wayne box Miller having a blast sorting through all of this. We'll get to later on in this hour, Mike Hilton and Bjay Hill and Evan McPherson. We'll hear listen back to highlights. We tried, we condensed, We tried to convince that entire Saturday game into

like five minutes of highlights. Good luck with that. You'll hear a package coming up to end the hour or third hour tonight, James Casey, the Bengals tight end coach. If you missed the conversation with Dan Horde, it was it was something else. We'll play that in our third hour tonight. A little bit more from Jake Browning. We'll look at the Pittsburgh Steelers, and of course always wrap things up on a victory Monday with our game ball

presentation from the locker room. All of that between now and at nine o'clock. Hey, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the season, say five bucks off Mike's car wash and their top two washes for all washes sold on Wednesday, Mike donates. Mike's donates one dollar to the Anthony Munos Foundation. So far this season, how about this number box. So far this season there has been forty three and seventeen dollars donated. Mike's is open daily seven to nine,

Mike's car wash and Anthony Munho's getting it done. That foundation has been has been something else over the year, you know, the Marvin Lewis Foundation and then Anthony's Anthony helped him get going. But Marvin Lewis will tell you that Anthony Lewis Anthony Munos's foundation was a catalyst for him. And we just took

some ki It's from sane X High School to his leadership conference. I'm telling you, if you're at a high school and you want a leadership conference for your kids, take them to the Anthony Munios Leadership Foundation because what they do with that it lands. It's unbelievable, the organization and the precision with which they do this. The speakers they bring in, the breakout sessions, and

they give them work to do when they leave. So it's not just where you go there and you do something and then you leave and go happy, happy joy joy. No, you identify areas of your community you want to improve upon, and then you have to put a plan in action, and then those students have to carry that plan out. So it is a holistic

approach. But if your high school's not involved, I would urge you to get involved with that, and to that point, I think it says a lot about this team, and it's not just this team, but and Mervin I think set an example for a lot of guys as well with foundations, but Joe Burrows involved in some Ted Carris is involved with something on a larger scale. Among former players, there's all of them with tentacles in the community.

And it's always impressed me the number of former Bengals who could have moved back to where they originally were, but have put down their roots here and are still giving back here, you know. And it's funny that they don't want to leave, you know. And a lot of them when they're playing, you typically hear them say, Hey, when it's over, I'm out of here, you know. I'm going back to you know, California, I'm going back to Florida. I'm going back to the big, bigger city,

or I'm going back to the quiet country. Cincinnati has a way of saying to these guys, we appreciate you, we now want you to be part of our community, and we're not going to pester you and come over your house every day with ten footballs asigned, but we are going to come over your house and invite you to a party or a function and say, hey, let me recommend the school levery recommend a place to do this or

do that. And as a result of that, you can go all the way back you as you said to the Bob Trumpet days, all the way up to you know, modern day. And I think it guys like a Preston Brown, I think is still here and you look at Vinnie Ray is still here, and it goes on and on and on, and these guys Leon Hall, who was the rule of the jungle is now here and coaching. They just find that Cincinnati is a good fit. We've got a lot to get to in this hour. We're gonna hear from a couple of defensive

players and their input and reaction to Saturday's game. I do want to circle back around to something we started the hour with, and I don't think we had enough time to do it justice. And it's the DNA of this football team. And I told you off air, I had said back when Joe Burrow got hurt. I remember saying on the Roundtable show with Rocky that we were going to learn a lot about this coaching staff without Joe Burrow, and

I didn't want to. I didn't want to see this team limp and go one and six the rest of the way with a backup quarterback because I thought the talent, the rest of the talent was still top notch. Joe Burrow is a heck of a quarterback, but the rest of the roster is a really talented roster. I thought it was going to be interesting to see what

this coaching staff would do with it. The results four games in, I think there's a lot of credit deserving of this coaching staff, which is Zach gets heat for the trick plays that don't go right at times, But what they've done to recreate this offense with Jake Browning in the DNA of belief in this team, in its coaching staff, I think was on display again on Saturday. I tell you two coaching moves that the coach has made that nobody

will ever talk about that. I think we're two of the biggest coaching moves this year. Keeping Stanley Morgan and Michael Williams Thomas rather the safety on the squad yep, because these are two of the most professional, classy, team oriented people you will ever meeting your life, and if you watch the game on Sunday and and there's Mike with the with the Microsoft you know, tablet

in his hand, and Stanley Morgan is talking to Yo Si Vosh. And these are two guys that have years in they could probably maybe go somewhere else and get on the fifty three man roster, but again, the value that they bring to this team. And and even you know Zach will tell you, hey, these guys have value. I think those two guys were two coaches that they added to the coaching staff that helped them create and maintain the

coach. And you mentioned something that I thought was very profound in that Zach maybe one of the best coaches at building relationships with his players in the NFL, no doubt, no doubt there is. And he's He's certainly not the older ilk uh. There's been Belichicks and others who are who are further removed from the playing days. But Zach there's a relatability there age wise with his guys, and and they clearly go to bat for him. They believe in

him. And it starts with you know, do you believe the coach cares about you. I think this roster, to a man would say, I feel like Zach and his coaching staff cares about me more. There the football player, but there's also the person, the human being, and I think that's the element that Zach is really good at. Ye know, our culture as a society as a whole has shifted to a caring culture in that sense.

You know, the old coaches, you could have a broken finger, be bleeding on the leg, and the guy would say, well, get a band aid and get back out out there. The coaches nowadays are like, hey, dude, let me take a look at that. You sure you can go? Are you good? Don't put pressure on yourself. We

need you maybe next week. And so there's that new caring component, but it reflects our culture, and I think Zach has done a great job of capturing what that means in value to making the team better, no doubt, no doubt about it. All Right, we're up and running in our second hour, We've got three to unfold. We're gonna go inside the locker room here for Mike Hilton, BJ Hill, Evan McPherson and more. We have

an action packed second hour tonight. Thanks for being here with us for Bengals Line and the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Networking seven hundred WLW seven nineteen seven hundred wl W and Bengals line of the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network Lands but catlister Wayne Box Miller talking to Saturdays when looking ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers as well and without further Ado Box welcome in a very special guest, no question about it. He's from the Dub. They call it you Dub.

He was the first round pick of the Bengals, the eleventh overall in the eighty sixth draft, and uh Man one hundred and fifty six games played, h and five hundred and forty two tackles. A pleasure to welcome Joe Kelly to the show. Joe, how are you, brother, I'm good man. Thanks for having me. Man. We'll excity again. I'm thinking we're back doing good things, man, So you know, good good time right

now. Well, they had to put me in concussion protocol. Actually gave a guy the wrong number and he says, I can't get to Joe, And I said, wait a minit, let me look at the numbers. So you blame I was waiting. I was in the home, man, I was waiting, you know, Joe this. We were just talking a little earlier about these two linebackers and Logan Wilson and Jermaine Pratt, and just the fact that this year all ready, man, they've got over one hundred

uh tackles and you know, five interceptions and five forced fumbles. These two linebackers have to be arguably some of the best in the NFL as a tandem. You know they are. You know, I I look at you know, like I say, fifty five, Logan logans that he's a he's a true linebacker linebackers, you know, and in fifty seven he's a he's a guy. He's he's built his reputation off of making big plays. Uh. You know, Logan Logan steps saying he plays downhill. You know, he's

solid all the way around. You know, he's a leader. Uh. Pratt, you know, Pride is not as rounded as as Logan. Uh. But every time you look up, Pratt is making a big play. Uh. You know, he had a big play last week unfortunately was a pimody. But those those are the things that that that he does. And you know, as a linebacker, as a duel, when you have that combination of a big play guy and uh and a guy who is just one of the most well rounded linebackers in football. Man, you're looking for some

good plays to be made in that line that linebacker room. Joe DJ Reader has been such a force in the middle and takes on double teams and does so much to help those linebackers. He's now done for the season. How significant a loss is that, it's it's it's it's a loss. You can't you can't. We can't go find a DJ Reader, you know there there

there's no DJ Readers on the street, you know. And and I say that, and no disrespect to some of the you know, veteran guys that may be out there on the on the wire, but you're not going to replace what DJ brings to the table. But what you can do, what you can do is as uh collectively as a unit, you can uh help one another. You can work in tandem, you know they can, they can get that rotation going. Uh. But but you can't you can't replace

someone like that. It's it's like us losing Crumbrie, you know, in the in the Super Bowl in the first quarter. There's no way we could have replaced Crumbrie. But David Grant came in and played his ass off, uh, you know, and had a great game. Uh, but Crumbrie is Cumbrie. Uh. You know, DJ readers DJ readers, so they don't have to do it collectively as a as a defensive line unit. JO, how long does it take? You know, you see that moment and

it was instantaneous that they call for the car. Then you're at the game, so you know, like this is not good. How long does it take for a unit to just absorb that the reality of that and then shake it off and say, hey, let's get back out here. And as they said, let's go do this for DJ. Well, you know what it's it's it takes the ears. It's like getting punched in the gut and

get your wind knocked out right. So when when it first acts, you know, you could be mad, you can be upset, but you can't say nothing right now because you can't breathe, you know, So it's it's no, it's really like that, you know, And and I think know when when when you see you know you've seen DJ go down and they brought the cart back, man, you know, your heart can go down. And then if you recall when DJ got on that that that gurney on that

cart. You know, you can see him telling his team. You know, I can imagine what was coming out of his mind. And I can't say that for you right now, but you know what you've seen that. You know what I'm saying. You've seen that, and you know I've seen that, and he was like, you know, let's go, let's go. So I've seen that. So that emotion. So now you know that

was a pick me up. You know you're down and didn't you Now you want to go out there, you know you want to you want to kick him, But for this dude, because he laid it all on the line and he's not going to be out out there to finish the game with us. Talking with Joe Kelly, selected eleventh overall by the Bengals in the nineteen eighty six draft, let me ask you about a fellow Washington Husky. How about the job that Jake Browning's doing under center right now for this team?

Oh? Man, I I am I am as a Husky. I'm I'm I'm zoned out. You know, I can't say enough you know a for him? Uh, you know he's a Husky. Looking back at the University of Washington. That's Jake is doing. What Jake is doing. This is what Jake did for four years, you know. And and you know, I'm excited for him. I'm happy for him. And you know, fans get the talking. You know, Jake, Jake Browning was a great college quarterback. Joe Burrow was a great college quarterback. But Joe Burrow is a

great NFL quarterback. Jake's a good quarterback right now. Right, So you know, there's there's levels to this thing. You know, there's levels, you know, and and but what he's doing and and and he is, he's out there managing the game. You know, he's not losing the game for US. Uh. And he's getting more comfortable in the offense. Uh. I think he's getting more confident in letting some of those balls go, those down the field balls. And you know, you can see that Pittsburgh

game. I think we tried to protect him too much. And because you looked at the first twenty passes, I don't think there was a pass over five yards, right, you know, because now because you're you're you're scared that he's gonna f the game out right, So here, let him play. Let him play the guy you know, look a high school the guy doing it ninety something touchdowns in one year. Yeah, you know, so

he can play quarterback. He can play quarterback. And the more comfortable that he gets, you know, I think, the better that he is, and now you know, it's it won't be so devastating. You know, if if Joe were to get hurt. You know, I'm expecting Joe to play another seven, eight years whatever, and we're not going to be, you know, jumping into the river if Joe, Joe gets hurt, because we've seen what Jake can do, and you know, I think we haven't

had a viable quarterback in a long time. You see, when our quarterbacks have traditionally gone out, we didn't get the same play if it was a tremendous drop off. And I think, you know, Jake, besides that that that one pick down on the goal line against Pittsburgh, you know, I think he's played his ass off, you know, Joe. Before we let you go, real quick, shout out to you Washington Husky's in the

BCS and Panis. Although he didn't win the Heisman, I'm sure you're going to be out there rooting for you dub Absolutely, I'm books books, you know, after Vegas. So you know, I'm excited. You know, I've got my U doub gear man, and you know it's you look at it. And the last year of the PAC twelve. We go out, you know, and the Oregon and Washington the rivalry, and you know the build up number number three versus number six, number five, you know,

and it couldn't been any better as far as rankings and all that. And we come out and win. And you know, here a PAC twelve team is, you know, as a representation in his playoffs. And man, ain't no way else but the top man. That would be insane. I'm getting excited right now. Joe, Thank you so much. Brother. We appreciate you man. Thank you, Joe. Thanks Joe. Take care all right, there you go, all right, Joe Kelly checking in. You told me before we came on. He'll get wound up, He'll get fired

up. He was wound up and fired up on day buy, no question about love. Joe Kelly Man and a good corporate citizen. He has a bunch of group homes that helps young people get their lives back on track. Great guy. Man played for the Washington Huskies, of course, was their MVP as a senior in nineteen eighty five, and that eighty four team finished second in the polls upsetting Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, and now they get number three Texas in the Sugar Bowl. There you go, all right,

we're rolling. That's the midway point. We'll call it's halftime. Well, usually Box would be running through the highlights, so well, we'll make an

adjustment to continue. We've got more interviews and more discussion to get. It's Bengals Line on the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Networking seven hundred WLW seven thirty six on this Monday evening Bengals Line and the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Networking seven hundred WLW Lions Bacallister along with Wayne Box, Miller, tonight Lap is out. They will be back next week. We're sorting through what transpired on

Saturday. We'll look ahead of those Pittsburgh Steelers as well. It's time for Make the Right Call, presented by the Law Offices of Blake Maslin. I'm gonna go with Jake Browning's decision. It wasn't a call, it was a created play, and he made the right call as he rolled out, extended the play, looked and found Tyler Boyd in traffic forty four yards. He streaks down the sideline sets up what turned out to be the game winning field

goal. We'll make that our the right call with Jake Browning, who made the right call a number of times on Saturday in victory. Let's talk defense. Certainly they played a major role in the stand up a game a third and one followed by a fourth and a half yard or so. For more on that, let's go inside the locker room after the game. Here's Dave Lapham with b J. Hill. B J Hill two interceptions in two weeks. What what's up? You know? Uh just said the right place at

the right time. You know, we've been wrestling together, uh together today back keep you in the pocket. That's what we did. We did a great job rustling, really did a great job rushing and he had he had takeaways. She won the turnover battle. That fourth down stop was immense. Looked like Zach Carter got off the ball pretty darn well and on that, on that stuff. But then all of you did, I mean, I think it was fourth and two inchests They lost the yard, so if they

lost interest. Yeah, that was our goal. Men. Hey, we gotta get this up right here. And that's what me and him got good knocked back, throwing him at the line and uh he was short. So what is it about this football team? The character and makeup of this football team. It's like, like the great Jim Valvano said, don't give up, don't ever give up. I mean, you guys score twenty one points

in the fourth quarter to take it to overtime. A lot of people gave up on this, and you can't give up on a team like this. Man. We were hungry. We love to get better each and every day, and we take ownership of what we do each and every week. Man. We just love each other. We're gonna keep on fighting to the end. Man, What about what's going through everybody's mind when I mean DJ goes down. You know Jamar Chase has a shoulder problem either injury. I mean,

the guys, guys are getting nicked up in this football game. It's a it's a violence board played by grown men. It hurt pretty bad. Same I got DJ going down. Man, hopefully it's done too bad, but but you know it did. It did hurt, But you know, we had to step up as a defense. Defensive tackles got more, most of them got some more snaps the usual. But it's all good. We got to win. Like I said, I hope everybody get back healthy. I know your guys, your mindset is one week at a time. Okay,

the Minnesota Viking game is over with it. We're winning overtime. Now come to Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh. I mean literally just one at a time, and who knows where it takes you, right, that's it. We don't want put anybody else hands. We got to put in our hands. How out the end the season gonna go, and that's our whole mindset. We got to take over, do what we gotta do and win games.

What was said at halftime when you guys came in here and uh in Medica Football team, Uh, we just felt like we just gave him some stuff. At the beginning of the game, they moved the ball along this a little bit, and then you got at one point they moved the ball at all and they got some more. Moment we just had to come in locking together and to play as the team that was it. Well, I know you do you talk about being a great athlete. You are a great athlete,

man, I'm telling you you're you're up there. There's a lot of defensive backs in the NFL that would like to have the number of interceptions you have. You know, I'm not bad, like I told like I tell you aboud, I'm a good athlete. You know, whatever you need me to do, I can do it. Appreciate your time, man, Oh yeah, you welcome BJ Hill. After the game part of that huge third and one stop and then fourth and a half yard stopping, you mentioned the

he was miked up for the Colts game. That was that was masterful stuff to watch on the TV. He's something. He is a great character, and he's one on five in that blocking scheme and he says, hey, hey, let me through, you guys. You guys are letting through. Yeah. And you know the thing about football that I really truly have come to love after having done a show with Eric Keg Thomas for so many years, You look at a guy like BJ Hill and you say, oh,

you know, fifteen tackles and you know that's it. But their job is not to tackle. Their jobs to take up space. And those linebackers scrape off them. But to have four sacks from the interior, YEP is impressive. And then to have two interceptions, as Zach said kind of jokingly, well the other one fell in his lap, but it still counts as an interception. And uh. But bj Hill is another one of those guys you

get traded from the Giants here and the Billy Price trade. He comes here, he fits, He and DJ Reeder just hit it off and become these kindred spirits. He went to North Carolina State with Jermaine Pratt and the chemistry and synergy all around this team is just everywhere. Yeah, that that trade was August twenty first, and when it happened, it was more of a non descripture. I think many were probably saying, who's bj Hill And some were saying, all right, Billy Price, we could afford to move on

from him. Maybe was change of scenery for both. But you talk about hitting that, you look back at the moves that Duke Tobin in this organization has made, the fact that they parlayed Billy Price into what bj Hill has been in. And no disrespect to Billy Price, but he's gone from the Giants to he was with Vegas for a bit Arizona, New Orleans, Dallas practice squad. Now you talk about winning a trade, that is a big w in that trade, no doubt, a big win. And again you

look at the culture of this team and a guy like him. But what you talked about and what Lap talked about, Cam Taylor Brick coming on strong, he goes down. Joe Burrow he's here, he goes down. You look at DJ Reader, he goes down. Last year, chitnabebe Woosey goes down. And as you said, next man up, plug and play. DJ Turner getting it out into the field. Now, Rookie, and I tell you this kid, every play, every game, he seems to be better and better. Yeah, there's a play here and there that dere just

Rookie plays. But DJ Turner, you know, we started out with three DJs and now we're down to one DJ. So let's keep the music going. DJ Turner still ahead, Let's talk some more defense. Mike Hilton ahead, It's Bengals Line on the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network and seven hundred WLW. Thank you seven. We're back on Bengals Line on the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network and seven hundred WLW Lance but Calluster along with Wayne Box

Miller Hey. Before each Bengals home game at pay Course Stadium, stop by pregame at the Banks located along Freedomway, Visit the BUTD Light tailgate zone near Joe Knucks Allway, and then walk through the Jungle Zone powered by Toyota for face painting, games and interactive stations. Activities begin three hours prior to kick off. By the way, a lot to get to in our third hour tonight, including James Casey Bengals tied coach. You're gonna want to hear that.

That and look at the Steelers as well, and we always wrap it up on a victory Monday with presentation of game balls that in our third and final hour, Let's stay on the defensive side of things. Heard from bj Hill in the last segment, the man who's always in the middle of things and always laying a hit on somebody is Mike Hilton inside the locker room. Here's Dan Horde with Mike Hilton. Mike, just an unbelievable victory for the Bengals today. Let's start with the fourth and inches stop in ot. I

don't even know who gets credit, but there's an incredible stop. Really, the guys up front, you know, they they they they held a line of scrimmags down and was able to stop his momentum. And then the rest of us got gotta push in and we got a big stimming over zone. I mean there was back to back stops as well. They had two chances less than a yard. You stopped them both times. That's just who we are as a defense, our heart, our mentality, like we take those

moments serious and you know it won us the game. And obviously red zone takeaways were huge. You had the first with a goal line interception. Tell us about that play. It was a double on Jefferson and you know, quarterbacks to kind of talk, gets your guys the ball, and I was able to kind of disguism who I was doubling, and I feel back on eighteen and made a play. We thought the game might have been over when Jermaine intercepted that pass took it to the house with about six minutes to go.

Unfortunately a penalty and negated it. But did you think it was over? Oh? Yeah, absolutely that that's the one of the momentum momentum plays that changes games. And you know, we found a way to finish it off even after that. So, uh, just you can see how resilient we are and we never give up. What can you say about Jake Browning at this point? Man as Jake and say, you know, he's a quiet, confident guy, but once he is on that field, he's a

game man. You know, when when he got the ball in his hand, we feel comfortable. Some of the wide receivers made unbelievable plays to play the teammate at the goal line with the fall behind us back toward the pylon. Have you seen anything like that? Never saying nothing like him. Man, that's when the best receivers in all the football, and when we feed him, we're hard to stop. Three games left in the regular season, you have now put yourselves in a pretty solid position if you can take care

of business. Yeah, you know, we still got everything in front of us. This was a tough matchup against a real good team. But you know, yeah, you're ready for a division game, you know in Pittsburgh. So we'll enjoy this one, but get ready for next seing, wild, thrilling game. Congratulations, save big win. Mike Hilton after the game. In one sequence, he had a tackle for loss he was. He was blitzing into a run and he ends up with a tackle for loss two

plays later, the pickoff at the goal line in box. He just makes plays. He's listed at five nine four, plays much bigger than that because he's not afraid to hit people. He's certainly not and he's certainly not a person that you worry about when they go to make the tackle. I told Mike last week his nickname was Vice Grips because once Mike gets you and you just that click when you have the Vice grips and you click, and it

just that's him. I mean, you think about it. He's been in Cincinnati three years, which means next year he will be in will have been at Cincinnati the same amount of you as in Pittsburgh gives in Pittsburgh four years. But you think about it. This guy has ten and a half sacks and twelve interceptions to go along with over three hundred tackles. And the thing

about it is he we talked about this in the first hour. Another guy studies film YEP, watch his tape, picks up tendencies and then in that moment he seems the goal where he thinks the play's going to unfold because that interception at the goal line, he was in perfect position to get the pick. Settle in. We're gonna wind up the hour with the Dan Horde highlight package. You think Saturday was wild, try condensing all of that into a

couple of minutes. You'll hear it is we hit down the Stretch in this hour on Bengals Line on the First Ster Logistics Bengals Radio Network and seven hundred WLW. See all right, hitting down the Stretch. The show is Bengals Line. We do we love First Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network in seven hundred WLW, presented by Betford Sportsbook, the official sports betting partner of the Cincinnati Bengals, Lance McAlister along with Wayne box Miller. Let's say we end the

hour this way. If you were their Saturday, if you listen Saturday, if you followed Saturday, you know what a roller coaster ride. It was ups and downs and a whole bunch in between. All of that condensed into a couple of minutes, here's what we will call the Dan Horde highlight package of how victory sounded on Saturday. Hit it With four games left in the regular season, nearly forty percent of the AFC has a record of seven and six six out of sixteen teams. The Bengals are one of them, and

chances are only two of those six will make the playoffs. That makes today's home game against the Minnesota Vikings critical. And it is time for the skin to fly. Here in the jungle, Browning throwing it deep for Jamar Chase. He's got it as he makes arms extended catch before going out of bounds at the twenty yard line. I'll tell you what, that's an unbelievable throw because Jake Browning that blown up Robbins with his right knee on the field turf.

He catches the long snap, puts the ball down. The kick is knocked through by Evan McPherson and the Bengals score on their opening possession to take a three to nothing lead. Browning back to throw his pass for Higgins in the end zone. Touchdown Bengals. A perfect throw from Jake Browning and an over the shoulder catch for t Higgins for the Bengals touchdown. Don't mess around. First down in the red zone, go for the gusto. Browning drops

back to throw four come after him. Browning fires down the field, caught by Chase. He's got a first down half the nineteen a Minnesota shake, Browning putting it right on the money for Jamar Chase. Browning's going to be in the shotgun. Joe Mixon to his right. Everybody bunched in tight.

They handed to Mixon. He gets hit. Try filling in a double effort and does the second effort gives the Dangles a touchdown as Joe Mixon spikes the ball triumphantly after taking it in. He got hit by Ivan Pace in between the one and the two, bounced off him, kept fighting and got in. He was not gonna be denied. Mullins sends another receiver in motion he

will look to throw. Mullins, standing now rolling to the right, being chased towards the sideline, throws it into the end zone, caught by Addison for the touchdown, and the Vikings have the lead with three forty eight to go. Forty eight seconds left in regular on second and ten, Browning, scrambling right in trouble, throws it off his back foot toward the end zone.

T Higgins wins a jump ball for the football hit the touchdown. An incredible catch by t Higgins and the Bengals have stored with thirty nine seconds to go. I can't believe what t Higgins just did. Unreal. I mean Jake Browning to put it in the area, and then Higgins catches it at the one and just throws it back without losing control of it. He just swoops his arm over his head and the ball crosses the goal line and the

Bengals get a tying touchdown. Can the Bengals stop Minnesota on fourth down in about two inches in overtime? With at the forty one yard line, wouldn't you love to have Dj Reader in there for this? Snow Mullins will be under center, Chandler lined up behind him. The Vikings try the bush, the Bengals appear to have stopped it. Cincinnati got a great search up front. He looks like the Vikings lost jarnage going for the tush push. Let's see about the spot. It all comes down to the spot, man.

I'll tell you they got off the ball faster than the offensive lineman digs. The Bengals will take over at their own forty two yard line. An incredible job by the defense. That's the first time all year Minnesota has been stopped on fourth and one, and it was fourth in an inch or two, the Vikings showing pressure. Here comes the blance Browning looking scrambling to the right, Browning towing downfield. It is cod got him. Tyler Boyd still on

his feet. He's at the twenty. He will be brought down inside the fifteen. He's tackled at the thirteen. An incredible throw in a narrow window by Jake Browning. Tyler Boyd made the catch, state on his feet. The Bengals convert on third down and nine, and now they are well within

the field goal range of Evan McPherson. This will be from twenty nine yards away from straightaway, shorter than an extra point, looking for the seventh walk off field goal of his NFL career and his second in a span of three weeks. Robbin's ready to hold the snap, the placement, the right footed kick. It is good and the Bengals are still alive in the playoff hunt as they rally from a fourteen point deficit in the fourth corner and beat them

in a Sona Vikings in over time twenty seven to twenty four. And that is how it sounded, and that puts two hours in the books, Hang Tight, Third to Unfold James Casey, Bengals tight End coach I would call a must listen. You'll hear the conversation he had with Dan Horde as we continue with the Bengals Line on the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Net and seven hundred WLW Touchdown Bengals East Bengals Line on the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network,

brought to you by Paycre. Paycor is proud to be the official HR software provider of the Cincinnati Bengals alta fiber future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business, and community to a new level. You're listening to the Bengals Radio Network anyway, we go our number three Tonight Bengals Line and the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network and the seven hundred WLW Lance Bcallister alongside of Wayne box Miller in for Dave l Appham Tonight. Dave will be back

next week. You of course catch Wayne as host on the Bengals Radio Network Countdown to kickoff, the Halftime Report, the Locker Room Report, you name it, Bengals gameplay, and pep Rally. He is everywhere and We've had a blast tonight in our first two hours. This third hour is headlined by the first conversation you're going to hear. This is James Casey the Bengals tight Ends coach with Dan Horde, part of Dan's weekly Fun Facts, and I

think everybody who heard it yesterday had the same thought. That was so good. We should play that tonight on Bengals Line. If you missed it, this is definitely worth the listen. Here's Dan Horde with the Bengals tight Ends coach James Casey. So, James, this segment is called fun Facts, but it's really your life story in ten to fifteen minutes. And your life story includes heartbreak and a devastating loss. Your mom passed away in a fire

when you were sixteen years old. I can't imagine the fear. I can't imagine the trauma. How did you get through it? Yeah? I mean I never talked about it, just because it's bad emotion, bad feelings and bad memories. But I was at school one day and they came and got me and said my trailer burned down and my mom was inside, so I lost everything. So it was, you know, devastating. Of course, I had. Only I had was like backpack that I was wearing, the

clothes was in that day, and then my mom was gone. But eventually came I had a like a kind of like epiphany, r like awareness to say, like, well, my mom would not have wanted me to just feel siden for myself and be moping around and and you know, making bad grades in school and not trying in sports. So I just said, you know, she would have wanted me to you know, that happened. It's

it's it's there, nothing can change about it. So the only thing I could do is, you know, try to make the best of whatever I can do and make her proud. So you know, I really just said, you know what, she would have wanted me to do great things and

be good. And so after that happened, I really picked it up even more so like my work ethic, my my school, my sports, I just try to be wanted to try to be the best, just to just because that's how I feel like you should do things like try to maximize everything, all your potentials, and it's like you don't want to let people down.

And I had a ton of support from the city, like azel text, like I had I had people buying me clothes, you know I had There was a guy that got me a truck, like you know, I ended up having nicer things afterwards. I mean, a terrible situation, but I had a lot of people around me to help them me. And you know my wife, you know, I'm married high school sweethearts. We been

married seventeen years, so she came along ride for that. And like anything in life, you need a lot of people helping you no matter how hard you work. And I had a lot of people around helping me. We're visiting the tight Ends coach James Casey, you were a hard throwing pitcher as a kid. You got drafted by the White Sox right out of high school and spent four years in pro baseball, playing in places like Bristol, Virginia

and Great Falls, Montana. How would you describe the experience. It was an unbelievable, valuable experience for me, like coming out of high school on azel, you know, dealing with the story you just heard about my mom and having even before that happened, and you know, I lived in like really bad trailer. We had roaches, like we we didn't have a lot of money, so I grew up real poor, and then I got drafted in baseball in the seventh round. So I'm thinking, I'm going to the

big leagues. I'm going to be an all star. And I was. I was talented. I mean, I had the potential to, but I didn't have the mindset. You know. I was eighteen years old, never even really been out of the city, and then I go play minor league baseball and I'm traveling around on buses and the minor leage years don't make any money whatsoever. I had a little bit of a signing bonus, but you

know, I thought I was rich at that time. But I think I had My signing bonus was one hundred and twenty thousand, which to me, it was like, I'm rich, you know, but you know, big picture wise, that's not that's not going to sustain me for my whole life. But I learned, like it was a great experience getting meet a lot of different people. Being a professional athlete eighteen years old, I learned a

lot of valuable lessons. And then once I got fired in baseballs, I couldn't throw strikes and I just I didn't have like any training as a kid. So that was my only training that was professional. And I've heard the two worst players, and I would believe in the two worst players you can coach that are the players that don't do anything you say, and then the

player that does everything you say, like exactly I was. I was a kid that did everything they said exactly, which you know sometimes you know, coaches are great sometimes, but sometimes coaches say some things that are more like, you know, maybe it doesn't fit you as well, and you got to, you know, be respectful, but say you know that's not going to work for me that well, like I need to, I need to stick with some of the stuff that got me here. So after I got

fired in baseball, it's like I've not had many regrets. Nobody's out working me. I'm always going to be the guy that works hard on everybody else. And because I'm if, like if NFL coaching, if it didn't work out, I'm still going to hold my head uph because I know why I'm doing everything I possibly can to be a great coach and to help the time ends as much as I can. So after four years of minor league baseball, when you realize you're not going to the big leagues, what were your

options in your own mind. I got married at twenty one to my high school sweetheart and we've been married seventeen years, would be eighteen years in December, and so we got married, and then two weeks later, I got fired in baseball. So I'm like, oh, man, like, you know, hopefully she doesn't leave me. Shit she didn't, luckly, But my mindset was I knew I was going to go to college. That's why I was. I was willing to get you know, I got drafted high

school's, I was willing to go play minor league baseball. It's because I knew, worst case scenario I get fired, I'm still going to go to college and graduate and get her degree, and you know, you go into the workforce and you know, make money and have a job every career. I knew I was gonna do that. I knew I was just enough to do that. So I was like, Okay, I'm gonna I want to I'm gonna go to college, so you know, I'm gonna play football too.

So and nobody was contacting me. Obviously. It's been you know, I've been in high school like four years, and I didn't really have any film. But another adage like you know you, you know, you gotta you always need help, regardless of what you're doing, and it doesn't hurt to ask, you know. So the only way you can get information out to college is is like just to send them things to go talk to them and call them. And so I filled out like every questionnaire from any college

in Texas and out of state. I sent like these this envelope full of my information and and just silly stuff like I took a picture. My wife took a picture of myself in my tights, and I thought it was douchey, but but I saw I was just watching TV and I saw in the combine they do it. So I was like, well, and I knew

I was like as a baseball player. So a lot of these college coaches are probably gonna think I'm, you know, out of shape person or like real skinny guys, so like I needed to show them though, I'm in good shape. And that's really what got me the opportunity. Long long story, but so I just sent that information everywhere because I was going to go to college and I was gonna see, well, if I'm gonna go, maybe I can get a I don't even know how scholarships work, but I

was like, maybe I can get a ten percent scholarship or something. I didn't even realize it was like full scholarships until I got the scholarship. And long, long story, but Rice took a chance on me and gave me a scholarship to play defense, and I was I jumped on it like right away and I didn't and realizing it was a full scholarship and Rice's unbelievable university and so on. You know, Once that happened, my life kind of

really like took a one eighty right there. Like I was like, okay, I got an opportunity, and I was like, I am, this is not gonna pass me by. And I was like a mad man in college, like in a good way, but I was. I was. All I did was football in school, like just NonStop, and I worked out and it led to like successful the field, and then I got opportunity

to play in the NFL. You got moved from defense to offense at Rice and had two tremendous season to your final year one hundred and eleven catches for more than thirteen hundred yards, fifty seven rights for two hundred and forty one more. You're listed as a tight end, But how would you describe your position at Rice? Yeah, I was. I mean, it's a long story about how I kind of got in those situations. But I started off as a linebacker and then the second day of the movie, it's a defensive

end. So I played defensive end the whole spring. And because I got there in the spring and I was probably going to be the starting defensive end, but I kept staying after practice each spring practice and like playing catch to show the coaches that I could throw really well. Because when I was trying to recruit myself to college, I was I was trying to be a quarterback because you know, obviously I drafted in baseball as a picture like I could

throw the ball. I could throw the ball well, and and I just

kept kind of showing them like I was. I wasn't being disrespectful. I was like, hey, I think I was just being honest, like I'm not I can play defense, and I think I would have been a really good defensive player, but I was, I think I could help this team better if I want offense, Like if that's what I've done my whole life, I've always been you know, even when I was a little kid, I was like the running back or and so I was trying to show them

that I think I could help on offense, and they started getting me more involved at a receiver, and then I started doing wildcat quarterback stuff. And then they kind just kind of started evolving where I started doing all kinds of stuff like and they I mean credit to them. That's the advantages of being

in a place like rights. They gave me a lot of opportunities to do a bunch of different stuff, and eventually they started putting in the games, and then I started doing a great job in the game and it just kind of took off from there. So you lasted seven years in the NFL with Houston, Philly and Denver. What did you love most about being an NFL player? The you know the reason why I'm coaching. I love everything about

football. I mean, it is to me, it's like one of the greatest things on earth is that you get all these different people together and it's a true team sport where everybody you know. On offense, we get eleven guys out there. All eleven of those guys got to do their job and got to be if one guy doesn't do it right, that could completely kill

the play. And there's so much strategy that goes into it that, you know, I wish some of the fans and people could see how much goes into the past protection stuff, how much goes into the run game stuff, and the different you know angles the defensive ends up playing, and how the linebackers play and special teams. What kind of return are they doing? Like who's gonna be blocking me? What kind of guys that is a big big guys he quick, Like, there's just so much strategy involved, and it's

like you can you get you get it. You can get out what you put in in football if you're tough and you're physical and you have technique and you and you know what you're doing. You play hard and you can make yourself a good player. And it's it's a lot of like correlations of life. You know, there's a lot you can everybody's got to work together, and you can you get out what you put in. So I just love the entire game of football. And we're trying to you know, put on

a show and we're trying to win. We're trying to win for the city. We're trying to win for each other. We're trying to, you know, just anything. We're trying to be successful. You want to win anything. You're competitive, and football is the most competitive NFL for sure, it's the most competitive thing out there. So I love being competitive. I'm trying to win and I want to try to maximize everything, you know, maximize everything within my human you know, potential. And no better way to to

test yourself to NFL football. You know, if you think you're good, well you got to see how good you are, you know, going against the NFL guys. Final question, This one's kind of deep. If you could meet anybody in history, living or deceased, who would that person be? Oh easiest question ever Jesus Christ for sure. I mean I just I'm

thirty nine. I try to be well, well thought out about everything, and I wasn't very religious until recently till this last off season where I said, Okay, my kids are going to school and they're going to Catholic school, and I was like, I always believe in the Creator because I'm like, no way, this just came about randomly from sales. Like everything's way too order and too structured, and there's way too much things that makes sense for it to just be random. So I was like, I need to

learn about this, and I didn't. My parents never you know, took me to church. You know, I grew up report that wasn't not a part of my life. And so as an adult, as an even in high school, it's like I was hearing some of things, like for the first time. I finally said, Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna study this. And I've read like eight books this offseason about Christianity and like the very beginning and and now I'm a believer, so that, you know, I

would love you just you know, talk to talk to Jesus. You know, he can probably give me some wisdom on some things and probably calm me down a little bit on some things too. This has been really enjoyable. I took more of your time than I said I would, but I really appreciate it. And that's the luck the rest of the year. Thank you. Have great day. That was Bengals tight end coach James Casey with Dan Horde for fun Facts and Box. We were shaking our head during listening to

it again today. He he gets it, he appreciates it. The big picture perspective is just, man, what an impressive guy. You know, his adversity and the ability to take it had on the community to rally around him. Uh. The understanding that I can use this as fuel to make

my mother proud. Uh. The evolution of continuing to get better and to have a good partner wife that helped him along the way of the you know, the tights of the whole yards, and then to use football and to have the courage and character to say I think I can help you more on offense. A lot of guys would never do that, but through his through line. One thing about James Casey that I totally admire was everything about him was about work, effort, and sacrifice and focus. And those four character

traits for him have served him well. And I mean, I'd be honest with you, man, I you know you and I've listened to fantastic fun facts for as long as Dan's been doing them. The skyrocket at to the top of the list for me right now, no doubt. Good stuff. Very well said, and thanks to Dan for passing that along and allowing us

to play that tonight as well. Up next, Zach Taylor on the impact of losing DJ Reader and how Zach fuse the playoff scenarios right now as we continue with the Bengals line of the First Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network and seven hundred WLW, A twenty four Bengals line on the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network and seven hundred WLW Lance Pactist along with Wayne Box Miller Tonight hanging out three hours of Bengals conversation and Bengals fans on Fridays, make sure to listen

to Dan and Lapp for Bengals pep Rally presented by Wings and Rings on the air from three to six on ESPN fifteen thirty. Do I remember hearing you correctly during the breaks? You will be involved in that on this Friday. Yeah, it'll be because Dan and Day willieve Friday going for going to Pittsburgh. I'll be on the next three Fridays. Dan has conflict with U see basketball, so it'll be me. I think Eric E. T. Thomas

and Doug Pilfrey may I'm trying to get them on board. The following two weeks, Dave Lapham will be with me, so we should be talking playoffs at that point. I'm gonna be optimistic saying that very nice. By the way. For the record, I as you say, et there were many a Knight's driving home, I listened to you and E T. Eric Thomas doing your shirt. Well, well, I gotta say this because people don't understand we had a little friendly competition. But then it wasn't because our shows

weren't identical, but they overlapped. Yes, And I would get to work early because you and I are the same kind of guys. We like to get there early in prep. And then I listened to you and I said, damn it, I didn't know about that. When are you you come at one of those lance McAllister stats and I say, well, I ain't nothing I could do with that. Let me go find an interview with something

that I could get on the show. But it was just a mutual admiration because I loved how you always had everything aligned and the data points and you know, we weren't using the where's data point back then, but you know the facts and things that you have, And I just always appreciated you because it made me do better when I came on in five and I think you onre from three to six, and we were on from five to seven, yep, and I'd say, I never told you this, and I just

said, man, this, that's the Lancet guy's putting pressure on you. Man, I got I gotta come up. Let me call Oscar Robertson to see if I for an hour. That's great because I was doing the same thing. I was like, I was writing things down and then like and then I hear like a Glenn, I go, oh, Now, Glenn made a point I hadn't thought of with uh, Wayne and et. And those are the days. Yes, yes, brother, I always admire you work the same same to you as well. All Right, there's been a

blast night. Let's before we check news. Bottom of the hour. Zach Taylor yesterday met with the media. He was asked about the Steelers second time around the playoffs and and he was asked first about the impact of losing DJ Reader and what it means going forward. Take a listen. I mean every step of the way. Uh, he's represented everything that we we talked about in the locker room, everything we talked about on the field, everything we

talked about in practice, the way you conduct yourself. He's he's represented everything. And then that's why he's elected captain and he's earned all of that and and you know he's he's been invaluable in his time here. What's a challenge you like and making sure that you could still attain what you want to attain given the calboy players that you won't be able to. You just move forward, you know, we don't. We don't. We can't sit here and

dwell on on the guys that aren't with us. Obviously there's a respect we have for those guys. Those are guys are a huge part of why we are here today. But at the same point, you have to just pick up and move on to the next game, and we'll utilize those guys certainly.

I mean Burrows on the headset yesterday talking. You know, he I was text with him last night and he said, you know, I just never know how much to say, and I said, I'll tell you when to shut up, trust me. So I'm not scared to tell people to shut up on the headset. Uh. But again, just guys like that that are invaluable to be on the sidelines. They see it from a different

lens than we do, so his perspective is invaluable. DJ Reader probably won't be able to be you know, if my head to guess, probably won't be on the sideline, but you still want a guy like that around and and just the insight that he has for his teammates. And so again, those guys still provide great value to us, give in the role, the leadership roles that they're in and and what they can do for us moving forward. Well, we need to play better than we do the first time we

point them, you know, just rewatching that tape. So many correctable things that that we need to do a better job of. So that's that's good, and that's that's gonna there's a lot of fuel there for us, you know, to to certainly play better than we did the first time around. And you know, so you know, overall messaging, we'll get to that as the week continues to go. There's a lot of people talking about playoff scenarios right now, like if this team beats this team, that we need

this for another team. How much do you take time to pay attention to that stuff this one season when you are no. I just know, if if we could just continue to win, I think we're in good shape. So just win and and uh, that way you don't have to worry about what's going on with other teams. So again, I we're just in a position where we just control, we can control and take a week to week

still ahead, Solomon Wilcotts will check in. Can't wait to talk with Sally as we continue with Bengles Line and the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network and seven hundred WLW. We're moving right along in this Monday Night, a victory Monday on Bengals Line and the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network in seven hundred WLW. Lance Pacalister along with Wayne box Miller. He is in for Dave Lapham will be back next week. And we've had a blast sorting through what

took place Saturday. Talk a little Steelers as well. Speaking of having a blast, we always enjoy talking with our next guest. You know that's right, my fraternity brother and former Cincinnati Bengal one of the best CBS sports analysts in the game. He also has a podcast to talk about, but the Colorado Buffalo himself, Solomon wilcot Sally, how you doing, brother Wade doing great? Lance, Great to hear your voice as well, and good to be on with both of you. Yo, Sally, thank you one of

the things I want to go to right away. You look at this team and injuries and next man up, and you know, losing DJ Reader and Am Taylor brid But talk about the mentality it takes to step in and just feel those shoes as best you can. Yeah, I mean it's easier said than done, right, next man up. You hope that the next man is up to the task. But I think this is a testament of how deep the roster is, something that we've talked about to quite some time and

now it's manifesting itself. I think it speaks to how good the coaching staff is that you you know, they don't just throw the ball out and say, okay, Joe Burrow, go win it for us. They're actually coaching, They have schemes, they they're developing talent, and look, I couldn't be more proud of this team just from the character that they showed. You lose a player significant as Joe Burrow is to this team and then to win three Street Games in the fashion in which they've been able to win it,

I think it speaks to the character of the team. Says a lot about the player development process and player and and what's happening. I think with Jake Browning speaks for itself. We got ourselves a really good coach in Zach Taylor Selle. Along those lines of developing players, we've seen Chase brown start to come into his own added an element to this team and the speed. You recently had him on your Believe in Bengals podcast. What are your impressions of

him? He's got juice, man, he brings he brings something to our offense that quite frankly, we don't have. I mean, as much as we appreciate Joe Mixon and the other running backs and all the skilled players, this guy has a certain electricity to him and you can tell he puts pressure on the defense that have to tackle him in space. Just watch and see

the first unblocked defender doesn't get this guy on the ground. He has the propensity to make people miss and he's a home run hitter and our offense was in search of that kind of player. He's a luxury for us to have, let's face it, and I think you know, if I say we're happy to have them, I'm sure everyone would agree. You know, Sally, you play the game, you called the game, and when you think

about the secondary of this team. You know, Chittabey Woosey, another Colorado Buffalo, Cam Taylor bridges down, the DJ Turner steps and Dak Dax Hill is now back there and Nick Scotten Jordan battle. But how long does it typically take for a four person group in the safeties and corners to really get to a place where they feel comfortable with each other. Yeah, it takes a while, it really does, and it does depend on the players.

I think it depends on the coaches. And look, lou Anoromo asked a lot of the safeties and the defensive backs, but we have you know, when you have a guy like Mike Hilton back there and you got linebackers like Logan Wilson and Jermaine Pratt, I think that really helps expedite the growth and development of those young guys. And then after that, you just gotta get a lot of You got to play through maybe some difficult moments. Are you

going to give up some plays? Yeah, because you learn from the trial and error and the mistakes that you might make, whether you're losing leverage on a player, whether you took a poor angle, which is so very important playing in the secondary. But usually if you're playing a lot, I would say by half the season. When you get to the second half of the season, you should be playing at a much more comfortable pace. You got to see things before they develop, which is what really allows you to make

plays in the secondary. Sally we're into officially Steelers Week. Take me back to your day. What did Steelers Week mean? What was it like? You knew it was going to be a physical game. You had to bring an extra mouthpiece, and you knew you were going to have to get in the whirlpool or in the hot tub the next day. You know you were going to be paying a visit to the trainer. Dick Lebow I remember when,

you know, in the eighties we were here. They were you know, Chuck no was still there, but they were on the down side, we were winning at a very high level. I think probably in the four years that I was with the Bengals, I think we have probably lost once to the Steelers. They were still good. And he and coach Lebo said, look, anytime you play this team, you know it's they're gonna give you a fight. That's who they are. They're gonna make it hard for

you to win. And you're gonna have to pay a price because it's gonna exact its toll. And he was one hund right. And you will know I went to finish my very last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers with Dick Lebo and I found out that he was right because I ended up playing with some very tough, hardened guys. And you know that both these teams are kind of built in the same way. That's what it's like playing in the AFC

North and so this game will be no different. Yo Sally as a quarterback on the defense side of the ball, you're looking at a guy like Jake Browning. Uh, what do you like about him and how he plays the game? You know, he plays, I think with a certain confidence because he's got this. It's not that he's he's just not afraid. Let's put it that way. He's not praid to make a mistake. He never wanted the training wills to be put on him. He was going to succeed or

fail, fly or fall, no matter what. He was going to do it doing it his way. And that is going in with guns are blazing and everyone loves that. You know. He Look, he didn't want things to have to change where he can't get the ball to Jamar Chase or t Higgins where they were going to put the training wheels on him. And I love the way that he approached it. And yeah, it's I think in some of these games, do they have to do six man protections maybe more

than they would if Joe Burrow was playing. Absolutely, so you got to do a few things to help him out, but after that, it just allows him to play it at the highest level. That ball he threw early in the game down the wad right sideline to Jamar Chase was a that was a big time threw up. That's a big time throw by big time quarterback

and he's playing what we would call above expectations for a backup quarterback. Sally, tell everybody about your opening drive and tell him about the Believe In Bengals podcast. Well, that's right. You can go on Serious XM NFL Radio on the Sirius XM app and listen to the show. We're there Monday through Friday on the opening Drive from seven to ten am Eastern Time, and then of course you can watch on Balle's channel forty three to Believe in Bengal podcast.

Earlier today, I had an interview with Ben Roethlisberger the preview upcoming game, and we were able to talk about his time at Miami, talk about growing up in Ohio. He's a kid from Finley, Ohio, and I told him, I said, Pittsburgh only gets to claim you so much. It's still an Ohio boy. We talked about what it's like growing up in Ohio and playing football, and then I kind of told him, I said, we got one that's just like you. He's a tough guy. He

plays the game in a physical way at the quarterback position. And then he went on to talk about how much he appreciate and loves Joe Burrow. So it's a rare moment that you get a Steeler guys a Bengals guy. But I was able to bring it back home for him, and that's what we did. It's a it's a good show. It's fun. I hope you'll enjoy the I love the show. Excellent. It is fantastic stuff. Hey, app we know you're busy. Thanks for making time for us. Always

enjoy the conversation. All the best guys, take care, Thanks for having Thanks, Thanks Sally, There you go. Salmon Wilcott's good stuff, take a time out, come back, head down the stretch. We'll wrap things up in the back end of this with the game ball presentation. Maybe a thought or two on the Steelers up next, Bengals line on the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network and seven hundred WLW WLW and the Bengals Radio Network.

It's Bengals line and the first Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network. Lance Bcallister along with Wayne box Miller. We're just reminiscing old NBA stories during the break. Don't mind us. The Cincinnai Bengals upgrade. They upgrade of the Wi Fi at pay Course Stadium with the help of their new internet provider, aulti Fiber. Future proof fiber Internet capable of delivering multi gigabit speeds designed to take your home, business, and community to a new level. Elevate your connection with

Alti Fiber. We love Altifiber. Let's talk about these Steelers before we run out of time. Big news of the day, Mike Tomlin is benching Mitch Trubisky, who had replaced the injured Kenny Pickett. Now it's Mason Rudolph who gets to start on Saturday against the Bengals. Their third different quarterback in the

last four weeks. Also, safety Makea Fitzpatrick is out this week with an injury, and safety Demonte Cazi has been suspended the rest of the season for I believe the sixth time he's been fined for unnecessary roughness or relations of the health and safety rules the hits he's delivered on the field. So they're with chaos and the secondary. They're seven and seven, and we were talking off air earlier in the show. It's just not a typical Steelers right roster.

And it felt like early in the year Box it would catch up with them. They never felt like they'd be able to sustain that success of the run they were having. Yeah, you know, the first thing I want to say is desperate times call for desperate measures. And if you get a quarterback named Rudolph going into Christmas, I mean, you've been saving that all day. I mean, but you know, Lance, what we talked about, and I think a lot of people have never addressed this. Did Kevin Colbert

to former GM resign because he has whiffed the last five drafts. The Steelers have not had the Steeler talent and roster that they usually have. He think of Already Burns this corner from Miami. He didn't do well. Devin Bush from my beloved Mission did not do well. They've drafted on the offensive line, Nazi has really hasn't been gang busters. They got Minca in the tray,

so they didn't draft him. So I'm thinking, really, when you look at the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kevin Colbert leaving a lot of it may have been because what he's done in the draft the last few years has really set this team back. Personnel wise. Yeah, it's just not you look at it. Yes, there's a TJ. Watt, there's guys like that, the splash players, but roster wise, depth wise, it's just an impact wise, it's just not the typical Steelers team of years. Passing final note

on the safety position. Not only is Minca out because he has been suspended, their backup Trenton Thompson suffered a stinger in the third quarter Saturday against the Colts. They're already without Kean O'Neill, a safety who's on injured reserves. So it's gonna be musical chairs. And how does Mike Tomlin get this team

to seven and seven? Yeah, that's the amazing thing. Yeah. I mean, you know, we're happy with our coach, but in this division, you've got horrorball, You've got Tomlin, you've got Zach Taylor Stepanic. You know, maybe the jury's out on him, but I mean, hey, they're in the playoff line, so you can't say he doesn't know what he's doing. But the coaches in this division, the type of play that's in this division. When teams played this division, like last night, Jacksonville

found out that the AFC North is a very physical brand of football. Take one final time out, come back, you'll hear game balls and we'll wrap things up. It's Bengals Line on the First Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network and seven hundred WLW and down the stretch. Final segment tonight on Bengals Line and the First Star Logistics Bengals Radio Network and seven hundred WLW Lance Butcallister along with Wayne Box Miller tonight, we leave you with this and the Bengals do a

fantastic job social media wise of getting this out. And yet his Box pointed out during the breakdown, everybody has social media, so I think there's great value in taking you behind the scenes, behind the curtain end of the Bengals locker room on a victory Monday. This is the sound of the game Ball presentation and what Zach Taylor said to the team after the win on Saturday. Take a listen. When did we say at halftimes, don't care what the

score is, just find a way to get the win. And you guys faced more adversity than maybe you face all season in one game today, and you guys found a way to come through at the end. And last fact, when we talk about the reason we do everything and so we're able to finish at this time of year, and there is no better image of that than on third and one and fourth and one, Trevion Williams stepping up the huge spot a final way to extend to play TV's stepping up for the huge.

As you guys can tell, there's no way I can sort through game ball. So what does that mean Tuesday? You play next Saturday. We play next Saturday at Pittsburgh. Okay, all that matters right now is winning and staying healthy. Okay, So Tuesday is a Wednesday, and I will see you guys on Tuesdays. But I cannot be more proud this game represents everything that we are as as a team, as an organization, as a fan base. That you hear of going nuts in the fourth quarter, give

me the saw that juice, we got momentum. They were a big part of that. Love them up, Okay, we're gonna need a master the season goes. Love you guys, Appreciate you. This was an incredible winning That's a good football team. Rest up, I'll see you on Tuesday TV. That's a good team. The days. Hodays hoday hoday. Oh. Now, that's a perfect way to wrap up the show tonight. That is fantastic stuff behind the scenes from the Bengals and their social media department. This

was a This was a blast tonight. I'm so glad we finally got to do this together. I'm under the weather. I had tea and coffee and wipes and Kleenex in front of me. You carried me and you put up with me. Thank you. And I hope Dan's better, and I hope Lap is better, and I hope someday we can do this again, because this was really a treat tonight. Well, may I offer you a game ball of friendship? Brother, You've been a great friend and so on. Behalf of me, and I'd like to offer you a game ball myself.

Man, you've been very good friend of mine and this has been the dream come true. It really has. This was this was fun tonight, perfect capper to it all. Have a great night. Everybody back at your box, will be at you, back at you on Frida Bidy for the Bengals, Pepper Ally, oh Fred you and in Kentucky, man, we're there. Let's get it on all right, let's do it. Hang tight, the news is next. This has been Bengals Line and the first Star Logistics Bengals Ready Network in seven hundred WLW