Cincinnati Bengals’ season could be on the line with Thursday’s game at Baltimore
Random notes:
▪ For the Cincinnati Bengals, it’s difficult to underestimate the importance of their Thursday night game at the Baltimore Ravens.
Fresh off a 30-27 loss to C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans, the Bengals are suddenly in last place in the AFC North. And at 5-4, they can’t really afford to be swept by a division rival. The 7-3 Ravens beat Cincinnati 27-24 on Sept. 17 when Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was playing on a gimpy calf muscle.
True, the Miami Dolphins made the playoffs last year with a 9-8 record. However, the AFC is more competitive this season. And the Bengals are not the same team that closed the regular season with eight straight wins in 2022.
The return of key players would help. Defensive end Sam Hubbard and wideout Tee Higgins missed the Texans game. Defensive end Tre Hendrickson hyperextended his knee late. And, as head coach Zac Taylor pointed out, it’ll be tough for Hendrickson to come back in a short week.
The Ravens are coming off a 33-31 loss to Cleveland in which Baltimore led 17-3 in the first quarter, 24-9 early in the third quarter and 31-17 with 11:34 remaining.
▪ In passing at his weekly Monday press conference, UK coach Mark Stoops mentioned that he got an Apple Watch to make sure his “ticker was OK.” It’s been that kind of season.
▪ Actually, for a coach coming off a 49-21 loss to Alabama, Stoops was in a good mood Monday. Maybe that’s because the Georgia and Alabama games are in the rearview mirror.
▪ Texas A&M whipped Mississippi State 51-10 on Saturday night in College Station. On Sunday, Texas A&M fired head coach Jimbo Fisher. On Monday, Mississippi State fired head coach Zach Arnett.
My question isn’t whether Fisher or Zach Arnett should have been fired. It’s why weren’t their respective athletic directors fired first?
Ross Bjork didn’t hire Fisher at Texas A&M. Scott Woodward, now at LSU, coaxed Fisher from Florida State to College Station. But Bjork gave Fisher a four-year contract extension in 2021, then turned around and fired him Sunday.
After Mike Leach’s death last December, Zac Selmon promoted Arnett from defensive coordinator to head coach. Monday, Selmon fired Arnett after just 10 games. That’s not much of a tryout.
Bjork and Selmon both apparently made bad decisions with Fisher’s extension and Arnett’s promotion, yet both still have their jobs. Or are both trying to save their own jobs?
▪ Loved this tweet/post from San Antonio Express-News sports columnist Mike Finger about Fisher’s $77 million buyout: “I realize people are outraged about the Fisher buyout, but honestly this is one of the least harmful ways Texas billionaires tend to blow their money.”
▪ As you might expect, Troy coach Jon Sumrall’s name has popped up as a possibility at Mississippi State. After all, the former UK linebacker and assistant coach is 20-4 as head coach of the Trojans.
▪ Hate to say it, but I’m not entirely sure Louisville coach Kenny Payne is going to make it to the Kentucky game on Dec. 21. The Cardinals’ 81-71 home loss to Chattanooga dropped Payne to 5-29 as U of L’s coach. Louisville plays host to 0-3 Coppin State on Wednesday before playing No. 19 Texas on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
▪ Former Sayre quarterback Cole Pennington, son of Chad, made his first start at his father’s alma mater last Saturday. It was a good one for the redshirt freshman. Pennington completed 15 of 20 passes for 201 yards with one interception as Marshall knocked off Georgia Southern 38-33.
▪ Winners of 12 straight matches, Kentucky volleyball plays host to Texas A&M on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Rupp Arena. UK is now ranked 12th in the latest AVCA Division 1 poll. At 13-1 in the SEC, Kentucky owns a one-game lead over Tennessee and Arkansas.
▪ Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that the Wolverines should be America’s team. Uh, no.
