The Bengals may be getting more out of their trip to Madrid than just a change of scenery. According to Schultz, the time in Spain gave the team a chance to tighten up in ways that don’t show up in a box score.
“I spoke to several people who were on that trip to Madrid, and one thing that really stood out was just how important this past week was for the team above just the football,” Schultz said. “What I mean by that is they arrived; the Bengals did, early in the week in Spain, and something I think fans don’t always see with these international trips is the team bonding that happens when everybody’s together in a different environment. And I was told this was just a major week for the Bengals, not just on the field, but for the entire organization.
“The connection from Player 1-to-53 is very strong, and I was told by someone there it’s basically the same as it was during the Super Bowl run several years ago. That’s the type of connection.”
That kind of chemistry matters for a team that’s already riding a four-game winning streak but still has questions hanging over its postseason ceiling. The Bengals will get another measuring stick Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Joe Burrow, meanwhile, keeps stacking up numbers that are hard to ignore. He has long been known for his accuracy, and he remains the most accurate quarterback in NFL history by percentage. Completing three out of every four passes is a wild standard to sustain, and Burrow is still doing it.
The Bengals also had to clean up a mess involving the Arnold Ebiketie trade with the Eagles after nearly botching the compensatory pick situation. Zac Taylor was the one sent out to explain the front office mistake, while Duke Tobin stayed in the background.
There’s plenty riding on Bengals-Steelers beyond just a regular-season win. Both teams are 6-2, both are fighting for first place in the division, and both are trying to stay in the mix for the No. 1 seed in the conference. Pittsburgh won the first meeting, and Cincinnati now gets a shot to show how much it has grown since then.
Around the league, the AFC picture is crowded. The Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs are all in the same group with the Bengals, and the race could end up being decided by matchups and which team catches fire once the playoffs begin.
Burrow’s recent play has pushed him to the top of the conversation, too. He started the year in the second tier of the list, but his last few games have moved him to the front of the MVP discussion.
In Other News...
Bengals Have A Huge Chance Sunday Night But One Test Looms
Sunday night gives Cincinnati a chance to change the feel of its season in one swing, and the setup is about as good as it gets for a November spotlight game. The Bengals have looked more dangerous on offense since their Week 3 meeting with Pittsburgh, with the quarterback-wide receiver trio giving them a much steadier ceiling, while the defensive line has been better equipped to affect the game at the point of attack.
Still, the matchup is not without a real stress point. The Steelers can make life uncomfortable if Cincinnatis secondary is exposed, and that is the one area that could decide whether this becomes a statement win or just another missed opportunity in a crowded playoff race. With national TV attention and postseason positioning on the line, the Bengals know this is the kind of test that can sharpen the picture of where they really stand. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Are Staring At A Steelers Mismatch They Know Too Well
The Bengals are heading into another divisional meeting with a familiar problem to sort out, and it starts with how Pittsburgh plans to use Darnell Washington. Steelers offensive coordinator Brian Angelicho recently talked up the tight ends role, pointing to the matchup edges Washington brings with his size, strength and value in both the passing game and the run game.
For Cincinnati, the concern is less about one isolated player and more about a season-long issue that has shown up against tight ends. Washington has already emerged as a key part of the Steelers passing attack, and Pittsburgh media expect him to keep having an impact in this one, which leaves the Bengals facing a test they have not handled especially well so far. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Now Face A Roster Problem The Deadline Didnt Fix
The trade deadline came and went without the Bengals making a move, leaving Cincinnati to sort through the same roster questions it had going in. With needs still lingering at certain spots, the front office now has to look for help the slower way, which means scanning the free-agent market instead of plugging a hole with a deadline deal.
A few familiar names could fit that search, including Bobby Wagner, Quandre Diggs and Jaydon Blue, all of whom would bring a different kind of help if Cincinnati chose to explore the market. None of that guarantees a move, of course, but it does underline the reality the Bengals are facing now: the deadline passed, and the roster issues did not. [Read more 🡒]