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    Home Blog Page 5

    Reds Sign Austin Hays

    By
    Jonathan
    -
    0
    austin

    We got our outfielder! The Cincinnati Reds have signed free agent OF Austin Hays to a 1 year 5 million dollar contract. The Reds have needed an outfielder since the offseason began and they finally get their guy in Austin Hays.

    What Austin Hays brings to the Reds

    Austin Hays is a 29 year old OF that has previously played for the Orioles and Phillies. Hays, who was an all star in 2023 for the Orioles, brings a nice bat to a Reds team that desperately needed an outfielder and can also play in one of the corner OF spots. Hays did not play much last year due to injuries, one of those being a kidney infection which sidelined him for quite some time. However, when healthy, Hays can be a very sold ballplayer. In his career Hays has slashed .254/.304/.415 against RHP over 1,502 PA and has slashed .277/.331/.469 against LHP in 702 PA. Hays can be that spark the Reds have needed against LHP for quite some time, which seems to be an area of struggle for the team.

    Austin Hays’ Defensive Skillset

    While most people will notice Hays for his offensive production, his defense is not something you should sleep on. Hays has an amazing arm that certainly will be the best arm in the Reds outfield heading into the 2025 season. Hays also has been a solid fielder with a defensive runs saved stat line of: +4 in 2021, +5 in 2022, +6 in 2023, though he did have a rough season last year with a -8 in 2024. However, if healthy, I believe that we could see Hays return to the fielder he was in previous years.

    Low Risk, High Reward

    Signing Hays to a 1 year 5 million dollar contract is a low risk high reward situation. If Hays does not return to All Star form you are only out on 5 million dollars which is not a lot. However, if Hays does return to form you got an absolute steal for 5 million dollars. I do believe the Reds should still keep their eyes on the market with a guy like Randal Grichuk available. However, I could see the Reds being done with offseason deals with Spring Training only being a few weeks away. Especially having added guys like Trevino, Lux, and Singer. Overall, I feel this is a good move that could help propel them to that NL Central Division win that we are all hoping for!

    Five Reds Are Amongst MLB’s Top 100 Prospects

    By
    chrisball96
    -
    0

    It’s no secret that the Cincinnati Reds prefer to develop talent from within. Though they may make some trades, the front office relies on its young farm talent to make it to the big leagues and have an impact. It’s good news that the outlook in the minor leagues is so promising. 

    Cincinnati placed five players on Major League Baseball’s Top 100 Prospects list. This is the most by any one team apart from the Cubs, Mariners, White Sox, Dodgers, and Tigers. Let’s take a quick look at who made the list and why: 

    Chase Burns lead the way at number 26. He was the number 2 overall draft pick for the Reds in 2024. Burns will report to spring training soon in February as a non-roster invitee. 

    In his final year at Wake Forest, the flame-throwing right-hander was 10-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He had 191 strikeouts in 100 innings. Chase was also the ACC’s Pitcher of the Year and a Golden Spikes finalist. His fastball routinely tops 100 MPH and his slider has improved as his secondary pitch. 

    He joins the Reds alongside former Wake Forest pitcher Rhett Lowder, who the team drafted at number 7 overall in 2023. Though we might not see Burns at the big league level in 2025 his arrival will no doubt be eagerly awaited. 

    The aforementioned Rhett Lowder placed at number 35. He started strong for the Reds last year after being drafted in 2023. After making 22 minor league starts Lowder moved up to The Show and went 2-2 with a 1.17 ERA in 6 starts in 2024. During that time he posted a 1.9 bWAR which is very respectable for a rookie in his position. 

    It’s a good bet that Rhett will be heavily in the mix for a spot in the Reds 2025 rotation. Given his strong showing last year he will merit a lot of consideration. The Reds were understandably cautious with his development but he might see significant work in 2025. 

    The other Reds placing in the top 100 included third basemen Sal Stewart (84) and Cam Collier (91) as well as shortstop Edwin Arroyo (92). 

    The development of young players is always going to be of paramount importance for a team like the Cincinnati Reds. The market they inhabit makes effectively identifying talent in the draft so crucial to their ability to become contenders down the road. That’s why seeing so many prospects ranked so well has to be refreshing to those looking towards the Reds’ future. 

    Rumor Mill: The Ask For Taylor Ward Is WHAT?

    By
    Nati
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    0
    Taylor Ward Cincinnati Reds

    The Cincinnati Reds need a outfield bat, and let me tell you, they’ve engaged in just about every avenue that there is to engage with to get one. Their financial restraints that they’ve been continuing to cite hasn’t helped them, but it’s time for them to pony up and land one, especially if the rumor about what is desired is out of Taylor Ward’s return is accurate, and it sure makes sense.

    Taylor Ward & the GABP Effect

    First things first, Taylor Ward is such an offensive upgrade from everything we have in the OF it’s actually wild, and, like the heading suggests, the GABP effect is only going to cater to that even more. He hit 25 HRs in 2024, and our favorite stat, the ‘Expected Homeruns by Ballpark’ from Statcast suggests he would’ve hit 35 if he had played at GABP, so there’s that. Just look at the dudes peripheral, would you? Speaks for itself.

    Taylor Ward’s Statcast Metrics in 2024

    Not only was he great offensively, he was dandy in the field as well defensively. 3 OAA would’ve lead our corner outfield in production, so like we’ve stated, if what is rumored to be desired in a package from the Angels is true, this is a NO BRAINER, I don’t care if Taylor Ward is making $7.5M through arb, you pony the damn money up and land a 2.3 bWAR/2.7 fWAR player that is only going to perform better at GABP.

    Get Ready For The Season With Nati Merch

    So What Do We Believe To Be The Ask?

    “Quit trying to sell me sh*t and tell me who the hell was rumored to be asked for by the Angels, for f*ck sake.” – you, right now probably. But come on man, I’m wearing that crew neck right now and it’s comfortable as hell. Chase Petty. Chase Petty is who is rumored to be desired for the Los Angeles Angels side. This comes from a leak that genuinely makes me depressed to be a Reds fan. It involves a white board. Let’s say that. We’re conducting our business on white boards in 2025. Yep. But it’s real. And it’s serious. And if I’m Nick Krall or Brad Meador, that trade is made TODAY.

    If you can’t pony up an additional $7.8M to get Ward’s stick in your lineup reguarly, you need to sell the team, but genuinely this time. I’d be trading Chase Petty + a low level prospect for Ward anyday of the week. He doesn’t expire until 2027. You have 2 more years of him, plus, all the chance in the world to extend him. Another fun fact, he was born in Dayton, OH. So potentially he has family here. Make the trade.

    But Didn’t We Give Up A Lot For Chase Petty?

    That answer is yes, they sold Sonny Gray super cheap in my opinion, to the Twins in ’21, but ’25 is a great chance to improve that deal. Petty is a good ass arm, don’t get me wrong, former 1st round pick at that, projects well, has been pretty healthy, but your club doesn’t have starting pitching issues and it’s arguably the best place to trade from right now…

    Also, Chase Petty has a weird tattoo. I’m just saying. Dude got another grown man tatted on him. I’m still cheering for him, but look, dude, that’s just weird. Yep, bro got Marcus Stroman tattooed on him because “HDMH” bro. Trade him!

    The Bengals Have Hired a New Defensive Coordinator

    By
    Bryson
    -
    0

    The Cincinnati Bengals have made their hire at defensive coordinator. Sources confirm that Al Golden will fill the position. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network has also confirmed. Golden, the former Bengals linebacker coach, has led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to becoming the 2nd best defense in college football this season. They fell short of winning a national championship to the Ohio State Buckeyes but remained defensively stout all season.

    Al Golden with the Fighting Irish

    Al Golden was with the Bengals from 2020-2021, helping shape the careers of linebackers Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt. He was a huge part of the Super Bowl run in 2021. Zac Taylor stated at the season-ending press conference exactly what he was looking for. A coordinator who understands AFC North football’s physicality and importance. Al Golden being a former Bengals assistant fits that mold.

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    Who is Al Golden and how does he help?

    Al Golden plays a 4-2-5 scheme and runs a man-heavy defense. He loves to play tight coverage and trusts his guys to win each rep. He wants his defensive line to take the pressure off the secondary and win on the line of scrimmage.

    Expect the Bengals to get started right away at fixing this defense. Extending Trey Hendrickson needs to be the top priority on that side of the ball. They’ll likely let go of linebacker Germaine Pratt and edge rusher Sam Hubbard. Improvements in both spots are a must to get the defense back on track. The pass rush needs to get better also, as the Bengals only registered 210 pressures, 18th in the league. Trey Hendrickson recorded 92 of those pressures and finding him a partner would do wonders.

    Golden has been my top candidate since November, and I’m excited to see what he brings to the team. It was no secret that the Bengals needed to hire a game-changer at defensive coordinator, and Al Golden is just that. The 2025 offseason is off to a great start, hopefully, they keep it rolling.

    Reds Newest TV Deal Provides More Financial Ability

    By
    Nati
    -
    0
    Nick Krall and Bob Castellini

    Yesterday, January 13th, the Cincinnati Reds made a very surprising announcement that they had reached terms with FanDuel Sports Network to take control of the Reds’ broadcast rights for 2025. If you remember correctly, FanDuel took over for Bally Sports, who the Reds used last season, and we had learned that the Reds were supposed to be broadcasted by MLB this season. What a development, what a change. So are we going to be able to expect more payroll additions?

    Get Prepared For The Reds Season:

    Krall Media’s Session

    Last night Nick Krall told reporters that he felt he could now begin looking into acquiring additional talent that he would have the financial flexibility from the new TV deal. He mentioned the savings from arbitration, which Cincinnati Enquirer’s Gordon Wittenmeyer estimated an additional $5,000,000, and now we know that they have this new TV deal.

    Nick Krall specifically mentioned being able to target free agents, but interestingly even mentioned trades. Does this put us back in the running for players like Luis Robert Jr? What about Taylor Ward? We’re still unsure, but what we do have, is Nick Krall (and Doug Healy’s) word, and those read as we’re going to have more flexibility on the payroll than we had with MLB’s arrangements.

    Those exact comments, might you ask? They read as this, pulled from an MLBTR article: “Just getting a little bit more money is great,” Krall stated (link via Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer). “We can work a little bit more in both the free agency and the trade market.”

    What do we still need to be competitive?

    If Nati Sports had the say here, and in this article we do, then we need a whole lot of things. One and the BIG one we need, is a right handed power bat that can play the outfield every day. Randal Grichuk? He’d fit. He’d fit real good. He’s also a free agent, still available, and at latest rumor, the Pittsburgh Pirates were the ones in on him. Come on, Reds ownership group, don’t let your basement dwelling foe you share blood with get him over you.

    Another piece I feel we need is another good setup man. Losing Ian Gibaut and Buck Farmer isn’t really delightful to me. We’re going to need another PROVEN arm that can handle some innings and potentially even toss some setup innings for the baseball club.

    Cincinnati Reds Trade For Gavin Lux

    By
    Jonathan
    -
    0
    LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 11: Gavin Lux #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate his three-run home run hit against pitcher Mike Foltynewicz #20 of the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on June 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

    Tonight it has been reported that the Reds, have in fact, made another move to help the team going into the 2025 season that is just around the corner. The Reds are acquiring IF Gavin Lux from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick and OF prospect Mike Sirota.

    Is Gavin Lux a Good Add for The Reds?

    Gavin Lux is a 27 year old infielder that can play SS, 2B, 3B, and OF. Lux brings a nice left handed bat that can be plugged in almost anywhere in the field. Lux has played for the Dodgers his entire career dating back to 2019. While playing for the Dodgers, Lux has been a consistent player for them each year. In 2024, Lux tallied a slash line of .251/.320/.383. These numbers are not bad, especially when you take a look at the Reds team from this past season, where most of the players were struggling to hit .250 or better. Lux also had an amazing second half of the 2024 season, tallying an incredible slash line of .304/.390/.508.

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    I believe he could provide a nice spark for the Reds offense in the upcoming season. Not to mention, Lux is someone you can put at many different positions, and that will be beneficial for any team.

    What Did The Reds lose?

    The Reds gave up 21 year old OF prospect Mike Sirota and a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick in exchange for Lux. The draft pick is not something the Reds should miss that much, aside from being able to draft a player right before the second round.

    Mike Sirota, who the Reds drafted in the third round of the most recent draft, looks to be a promising OF prospect. While Sirota has not played in any Minor league games yet in his young career, he was a very solid bat in college, tallying in his 2024 season a line of .298/.473/.513. in just 51 games at Northeastern college. While the loss of Sirota will likely go unnoticed for a few years until he potentially gets into the big leagues, the Reds will be potentially missing out on an OF who appears to have a bright future, part of trading assets.

    How does this affect the Reds?

    This move will certainly be a head scratcher for people who believe we already have too many infielders, so why add another? This is something the Reds will have to think about for the upcoming season. One move could be potentially moving Matt McLain to the outfield, where we saw him play a few times in the Arizona Fall League with the Reds, and another is moving Lux to a corner outfield spot.

    Due to Gavin Lux having a weak arm, this may not be the best move. The Reds could potentially trade one of their many infielders for another player. One player they could trade is Noelvi Marte who has been struggling recently. Ultimately, this is a trade that I believe is good for both ballclubs, leaning slightly towards believing the Reds won this trade if Lux can keep playing good baseball. The Reds still have not made that big move yet, but all these smaller moves are starting to add up to a promising season.

    The Bengals have FIRED Crucial Coaches- A 2024 Season Review

    By
    Bryson
    -
    0

    The Bengals have fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, offensive line coach Frank Pollack, defensive line coach Marion Hobby, and linebackers coach James Bettcher. These moves come after the defense landed in the bottom half of every statistic. The offensive line gave up another 50+ sack season.

    I was told before the game on Saturday that Lou Anarumo was essentially let go after the Week 13 loss to the Steelers. The other coaches don’t come as a surprise, as their respective groups struggled heavily during the season.

    Nonetheless, let’s see how the Bengals obtained a 9-8 season.

    The Early Season Woes

    The Bengals once again started 1-4 with a week one loss to the New England Patriots. Tanner Hudson fumbled at the one yard line and the final score was 16-10. The Bengals turned to the Chiefs the following week. They lost on a last second field goal after a crucial defensive pass interference on 4th and 16. A few weeks later against Baltimore, they bobble the hold in overtime and missed the game winning field goal.

    The defense suffered through injuries and Lou Anarumo refused to play the young guys. In my opinion, that is what set the defense back early on. We then learned that Lou Anarumo’s scheme was arguably too complicated for the young guys to grasp. He simplified things before the Cowboys game and the Bengals finished with a 5-game win streak. Guys like Joseph Ossai, Jordan Battle, Geno Stone, Shaka Heyward, and McKinnley Jackson shined in the process.

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    League Leaders in 6 Categories

    The Bengals missed the postseason, but not due to their three stars. Joe Burrow lead the league in passing yards with 4,918 and passing touchdowns with 43. He is the third quarterback in NFL history to finish with at least 4,500 yards, 40 touchdowns, and less than 10 interceptions. According to the Bengals, He joins 2011 Aaron Rodgers and 2007 Tom Brady (both won an MVP in their respective seasons).

    Trey Hendrickson finished with the league in sacks with 17.5. His season included a 4 sack game with the Raiders and a 3.5 sack game in Pittsburgh in the season finale. It was his second consecutive season with 17.5 sacks and now has 77 career sacks.

    Ja’Marr Chase had a historical season in his own right. He is the first receiver in NFL history with at least 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns. Chase is also became the league’s 5th triple crown winner in the Super Bowl era. He lead the league in receiving yards (1,708), receiving touchdowns (17), and receptions (127).

    The Outlook for 2025

    The Bengals now look forward to the 2025 season with uncertainty regarding their coaching and star WR Tee Higgins. It is my belief that the Bengals will do whatever they can to keep Tee Higgins at least on the 2025 roster. I also think they’ll target a proven coordinator to replace Lou Anarumo. Ja’Marr Chase is in line for a massive payday, but I don’t believe it’ll be until training camp when that transpires.

    The Bengals will attack the draft and free agency in hopes to fix their trenches and let everything else fall into place. It’ll be interesting to see what they do and I will have a few mock off seasons posted right here. Thanks for tuning into the 2024 season, hopefully it’s nothing but up from here!

    Burrow Sends A Message: “You don’t want to make a living out of letting great players walk away.”

    By
    chrisball96
    -
    0

    The Bengals have faced plenty of adversity this season. Unfortunately that adversity will likely continue once the season ends. Though we all hope that end will come later rather than sooner, the fact remains that two big contracts loom large for this team. Those being the deals for wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. 

    Joe Burrow knows this better than anyone. In his comments to the media just before the end of the year, the Bengals quarterback was very clear about what it takes to win in this league:

    “You don’t want to make a living out of letting great players leave the building. I think that’s why you got to do everything you can to get those deals done early.”

    “Whenever a great player leaves, you wish you could have found a way to keep them.”

    Bengals fans have been understandably skeptical about ownerships’ ability to keep key players. Look no further than the cases of Andrew Whitworth and Jessie Bates. And the way that the front office has struggled to put together deals for Chase and Higgins is equally frustrating.

    The team has downplayed fans’ wishes for quite a while, but there’s one man that refuses to be ignored. And that is Joe Burrow. 

    He is the franchise defining quarterback with MVP numbers. The face of this team and the only one who can lead it to success. If he wants contracts to be done, the Brown family would be ill advised to defy him. He’s certainly earned the right to make demands, although at this point they aren’t as direct as other marquee quarterbacks have made in the past. But the message is coming through loud and clear nonetheless. 

    That’s not to say that there hasn’t been progress. Higgins seems to be giving the Bengals an opening. He switched agents and is now represented by the same group as Chase. There seems to be room for compromise. 

    As for Chase, his price tag can only be going up. 117 receptions for 1,612 yards and 16 touchdowns make that price worthwhile. That, and Burrow’s clear directive that both he and Tee are mandatory requirements for this team going forward. 

    The front office may be able to dismiss the fans, but they’d be damn foolish to turn a deaf ear to Joseph Lee Burrow. 

    Listen to the man. Get these deals done, and give him a defense that can stop a pop warner team. 

    Then we’ll really be in business. 

    Can Joe Burrow Win the MVP?

    By
    Drewlutts
    -
    0
    Joe Burrow Cincinnati Bengals NFL Playoffs NFL MVP
    Joe Burrow celebrates an overtime win against the Denver Broncos to keep Cincinnati's playoff jopes alive.

    It’s been quite the up and down season for Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. They started 0-3, including an egregious loss to the New England Patriots in week 1. Until week 14, the Bengals limped to a 4-6 record, including losses in five one-score games. Since then, Joe Burrow and company have compiled four consecutive wins, but we all know they shouldn’t even be in this situation. The defense has been historically bad, ranking 28th in the league. In years past, the Bengals defense has been a hallmark in their winning ways, but injuries have marred the 2024. There has been one constant though, and his name is Joe Burrow.

    Jor Burrow Has Played Like an MVP

    With the exception of the first game of the season, Burrow has been a monster. Since week 2, Joe Burrow has thrown for 4,477 yards, 42 TDs and 8 INTs. He has completed 70% of his passes and has a 110.7 QB rating. He really has been nothing short of absolutely remarkable. To put it in perspective, his other MVP competition, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, have put up respectable, but lesser numbers. Allen has enjoyed a nice season, putting up a collective 3,731 yards, 28 TDs and 6 INTs, less than Burrow with one more week added. Jackson has 3,955 yards, 39 TDs and 4 INTs. Seeing as Joe Burrow has had to throw the football more, I find Burrow to be more valuable.

    How Joe Burrow Can Win the MVP

    Lamar Jackson is the definite front-runner for the MVP award. The Ravens have an 11-5 record, and can clinch the division in week 18. Josh Allen is the next man up, and the Bills have already clinched their division at 13-3 and locked up the AFC’s #2 seed. The question for Joe Burrow would be how he can win the award. The Bengals need a bit of help still along with helping themselves. Of course, Cincinnati needs to defeat Pittsburgh in the final week, but they also need Miami to lose to the Jets, plus they need to root for Kansas City (gross, I know) to beat Denver. While getting help, Burrow is going to need to ball out against a very good Pittsburgh defense.

    Regardless of whether Cincinnati makes the playoffs, Joe Burrow should be in consideration for the MVP award. Burrow is only the 12th QB in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards and 40 TDs in a single season. He joined names on that list like Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson with his performance this year. There is still work to be done for the Bengals, but making the playoffs would be a great case for Burrow to win the MVP, as he will be seen as the QB who pulled his team from the land of the dead and directed them to the playoffs. Only one team since 2000 and six since 1979 have made the playoffs after starting 0-3. The only team to win a playoff game after starting 0-3 is the 1992 San Diego Chargers. If the Bengals were to make it and make a run in the playoffs, they would join very slim company.

    Final Word

    Should Joe Burrow be in the MVP conversation? Absolutely. Have the Bengals put themselves in a precarious position this season? Absolutely, but that shouldn’t disqualify Burrow from consideration. It is called the ‘Most Valuable‘ for a reason. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what Joe can do in week 18.

    Know Your Foe: Bo Nix

    By
    chrisball96
    -
    1

    The Bengals defense has shown that it can make plays against struggling quarterbacks. They amassed four interceptions against the Titans’ Will Levis and Mason Rudolph. They picked off Dorian Thompson-Robinson twice last week. Surprisingly, Cincinnati is eighth in the league in turnovers forced per game. 

    The defense has shown improvement these last two weeks in other areas as well. The line sacked DTR five times and got to Dallas’ Cooper Rush for three more a few weeks ago. Myles Murphy, Joseph Ossai and McKinley Jackson have all been playing more and the results have been positive. 

    As Charlie Goldsmith cataloged, Ossai, Jordan Battle and Cam Taylor Britt have all stepped up their games with the season on the line. Battle, especially, has been better. Over his last five games he’s allowed just three receptions of the thirteen total times other teams have thrown in his direction. 

    Battle’s past two games have also shown that the young safety can bounce back from an embarrassing play. After he fumbled away a touchdown against the Titans, he recovered to haul in a crucial red zone interception against the Browns. He’s been a key part of a defense that has nine takeaways in the past two games alone. 

    The Bengals have a young and talented group of defensive players even if they’ve not shown the full extent of it on the field. 

    But the question remains whether the improvement we’ve seen in the past few weeks will continue when the Broncos come into town.  Rookie quarterback Bo Nix is having a fantastic year. He’s amassed 27 touchdowns and over 3,200 yards. Those are both impressive numbers for a signal caller so young. Nix hasn’t looked much like a newcomer to the NFL this year. He’s led three game winning drives and brought Denver back another three times for come from behind victories. 

    Nix has already set the Denver Broncos franchise records for attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns for rookies. With the Bengals secondary looking better, it will be interesting to see how they look to contain the Broncos passing attack on Sunday. 

    That’s not to say he’s perfect. Against the Colts just a few short weeks ago he threw for just 130 yards and was picked off three times. The Broncos still won but it’s some evidence that it’s not all been smooth sailing for Bo this year. He’s had some tough games against the likes of the Seahawks, Steelers, and Jets. All of those teams have strong defenses and gave Nix plenty of fits. 

    The Bengals own aerial attack is one of the best in the league.  Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase put tremendous pressure on opposing teams to score points. That’s a lot to ask for a quarterback, even one as talented as Nix may be. He’ll likely be hoping Denver’s fourth-ranked scoring defense can shut down Cincinnati, not something many have been able to accomplish. 

    The long NFL season is all about making adjustments. What worked in the past could break down at any moment. And likewise, something that was a liability can improve and be just the thing a team needs to get to the next level. Yes, Lou Anarumo’s decisions on who to play and who to hold back deserve a great deal of scrutiny. But the improvement we’re seeing on the defensive side of the ball is a very promising sign. And it’s coming at just the right time as the Bengals’ playoff push intensifies. Denver will be a true test of whether this team has learned anything from their previous defensive setbacks and just how much of a chance they have of making the playoffs. 

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