Game 5: Bengals @ Packers - Sunday, Oct 12 3:25 PM

[HarryDoyle]

Bukowski said on his podcast that the Packers need to send a message and steamroll the Bengals. I agree, and frankly if they don't beat this team by at least 17 they should be embarrassed. 

[HarryDoyle]

Looks like the Browns traded Flacco to the Bengals. Will we be seeing him for the second time in three weeks?

[GAME05]

More surprised Flacco didn't just retire after that game.

[JosephC]

In 2023, Browning started 7 games and ended up with a better QB rating than Burrow (98.4 versus 91.0).  The Bengals were 4-3 in games that Browning started, and 5-5 in games that Burrow started.  It's surprising that Browning has been so bad.  He's just a turnover machine now.  But if I were a Bengals fan, I would still rather see him play than Flacco.  At least Browning would have a chance to turn it around and be pretty competent.  

[HarryDoyle]

1 hour ago, JosephC said:

In 2023, Browning started 7 games and ended up with a better QB rating than Burrow (98.4 versus 91.0).  The Bengals were 4-3 in games that Browning started, and 5-5 in games that Burrow started.  It's surprising that Browning has been so bad.  He's just a turnover machine now.  But if I were a Bengals fan, I would still rather see him play than Flacco.  At least Browning would have a chance to turn it around and be pretty competent.  

Flacco is going to get killed behind that offensive line. We may get five sacks on them.

[HarryDoyle]

•  Brandon McManus (quad) was limited in practice on Thursday, and head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters prior to practice that the issue is a "major concern," but special teams coach Rich Bisaccia later said that the plan is for McManus to play Sunday against the Bengals. McManus is 7 of 9 on field goals and 11 of 12 on PATs this season.

Honestly, if the McManus situation is that major of a concern, I would rather just go for two all the time instead of renting some Carlson/Narveson bum to fill in and let Whelan take over the kickoff duties.

[JosephC]

Sounds like Shemar Stewart is going to play.  He's missed the last few games with an ankle injury.  Their second round pick, LB-Demetrius Knight, has gotten some pretty good reviews.  

[BrewerFan]

On 10/8/2025 at 12:11 PM, HarryDoyle said:

Flacco is going to get killed behind that offensive line. We may get five sacks on them.

And Sean Rhyan still wouldn't start for them. 

It'd be nice if Belton would be back this week, but it sounds like he'll be out for a while yet. Tom is a tossup. Walker is banged up.

They still need to put this game away early. If not by half, shortly thereafter. They've got Hendrickson and pretty good DTs(at least vs the run). But they play so much Cover1 Man, they should be able to get some big plays. If it's Morgan and Kinnard at the Tackles... Fitpatrick should be in a lot to block or play more Brooks. 

He was  huge in the first few games in pass pro. There was one game vs Detroit, he chipped Hutchinson and then was still in position to get a blitzing LBer and stood him up. 

 

I like Wilson and Jacobs as backs, but until this OL either plays better as is or gets healthy, take a couple guys out of the routes and keep 6 or even 7 in to block. 

 

On 10/9/2025 at 4:48 PM, HarryDoyle said:

Honestly, if the McManus situation is that major of a concern, I would rather just go for two all the time instead of renting some Carlson/Narveson bum to fill in and let Whelan take over the kickoff duties.

I don't actually think Carson was as bad as he looked. We had terrible snaps and Whelan was just learning how to hold. That hold against SF was.. brutal. Plus, we couldn't block.

Great news Jenkins is going to be on FG block. Curious why he wasn't before. Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, they're on FG block on a much deeper OL...

 

But, at least they're making that change. But sure, go for it. Give them something to work on. 

[BrewerFan]

Also, good to hear Watson is back. What did MLF say? He looked like a freak?

 

He changes an offense more than any guy who gets ~600-700 a year possibly could. 

He's not Moss, but again, one of only 4 guys in NFL history to run in the 4.3s at his size. 3 since Pryor initially ran as a QB. But still... big+fast+strong... not this week, but he started practicing. 

I was thinking week 12 maybe. That'd be a fast recovery. I'll guess he'll get some snaps in 3 weeks, the long end. But, good news all the same. 

[Brian]

On 10/6/2025 at 2:42 PM, HarryDoyle said:

Bukowski said on his podcast that the Packers need to send a message and steamroll the Bengals. I agree, and frankly if they don't beat this team by at least 17 they should be embarrassed. 

Las Vegas has Packers by 14 this morning. 

[HarryDoyle]

 

[HarryDoyle]

This team just cannot get the run game going.

[HarryDoyle]

Just gotta throw that one out of bounds.

[adambr2]

Remember the first two weeks when we thought we were one of the top teams in the NFL? We were so young, so naive.

[Strike4]

Bad decision by Love - that was just not there

[HarryDoyle]

2 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

Remember the first two weeks when we thought we were one of the top teams in the NFL? We were so young, so naive.

I still believe we can and will be, but this game is going to go a long way into defining where we are as a team.

[Strike4]

Defense looks to be back to swarming to the ball which in nice to see

[adambr2]

Just now, HarryDoyle said:

I still believe we can and will be, but this game is going to go a long way into defining where we are as a team.

Definitely a wide open NFC. Detroit is the team to beat at the moment, IMO.

[Strike4]

I see our highly  paid Special Teams coach spiffed things up over the bye

[HarryDoyle]

 

[adambr2]

A fair catch with no punt return which is also still somehow accompanied by a holding penalty. The clown show never ends with this special teams unit. 

[HarryDoyle]

Looks like Morgan and Rhyan are alternating drives at guard.

[jason21nl]

Packers just aren’t serious about special teams.    I honestly don’t think they care one bit about them.   They have a random kicker that hasn’t kicked in a couple years and continue to put Golden back on punt returns where I’m not sure he’s made one good decision yet

[HarryDoyle]

Yes, let's finally get Golden going. We might be undefeated now if we had.

[adambr2]

1 minute ago, jason21nl said:

Packers just aren’t serious about special teams.    I honestly don’t think they care one bit about them.   They have a random kicker that hasn’t kicked in a couple years and continue to put Golden back on punt returns where I’m not sure he’s made one good decision yet

Literally putting your best blockers on your FG attempts might be the difference between 2-1-1 and 4-0. It’s comical how bad they are misevaluating the value of ST.