The Bengals got the result they needed on Sunday, but the 43-36 overtime win over the Tennessee Titans also put their defense back under the microscope.
Cincinnati moved to its fifth victory of the season, and with the AFC North not exactly setting the world on fire, games like this matter. The Titans were the kind of opponent the Bengals had to handle, and they did just enough to survive the shootout.
That performance is why the trade deadline deserves a closer look. If Cincinnati is going to keep pushing toward the postseason, adding help to the secondary would make plenty of sense. One name already floating out there is New England Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis III.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer recently discussed possible Patriots moves with NBC Sports Boston ahead of the November 10th trade deadline, and Davis came up as a player to watch.
“Carlton Davis would be another one to watch," Breer said. " If you look at the roster big picture, they’ve gotten older in a lot of key spots. And they aren’t exactly flush with draft capital over the next couple of years.”
Breer’s read is that the Patriots may want to get younger, and dealing Davis would fit that idea. The question is whether New England would actually pull the trigger.
The Patriots are just one season removed from a Super Bowl appearance, and at 5-4 they’re still in position to return to the playoffs this year. That makes Davis a more complicated piece to move than a typical deadline chip.
Still, his background is exactly the kind of thing that should catch Cincinnati’s attention. Davis spent last season with New England after a year with the Detroit Lions, and before that he played six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was part of a Super Bowl-winning team in Tampa Bay.
That kind of veteran cornerback with postseason experience is the sort of player the Bengals should be ready to pursue if he becomes available.
And after what happened against Tennessee, it’s easy to see why. Titans quarterback Cam Ward threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns against Cincinnati. He had not topped 250 passing yards in any game this season before that outing, tied his best completion percentage at 65%, and threw two touchdown passes in a game for the first time in his career.
Those were the kinds of firsts the Bengals’ defense would rather not be part of. If Davis is there for the taking, Cincinnati should be all over it.
In Other News...
Bengals Fans Have Real Reason To Dread Sundays Referee Crew
Sundays matchup with Pittsburgh comes with a familiar name in the referee assignment, and for Bengals fans, that alone is enough to raise an eyebrow. Clete Blakeman will work the Week 10 game, bringing a long track record with Cincinnati into a divisional meeting that already figures to be tense, physical and heavily scrutinized.
The Bengals have gone 8-9 in games Blakeman has headed since 2010, and the recent history has not been kind. His crew has also been among the leagues most active when it comes to throwing flags this season, and with a postseason rsum that includes plenty of high-stakes work, this is the kind of officiating setup that tends to keep everyone on edge well before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Marvin Lewis Just Called Out What Bengals Must Fix Fast
With a critical AFC North game against the Steelers looming, Marvin Lewis took a familiar seat in the Bengals conversation and offered a blunt checklist for Zac Taylors team. The former Cincinnati coach laid out three areas he believes have to sharpen up if the Bengals want to make a real championship push, and the message was less about talent than about how well the pieces are being used.
Lewis pointed to the ground game, the defense and the need to fully lean into Joe Burrows leadership as the key areas that cant stay inconsistent. For a team trying to seize first place in the division, the timing of that advice matters, because the margin for error gets thinner fast when the opponent is Pittsburgh and the stakes are already this high. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Just Sent A Risky Message In The AFC North Race
With the NFL trade deadline passing on Nov. 10, Cincinnati stood pat while several AFC contenders tried to sharpen their rosters for the stretch run. The Bengals did not make a move, leaving both the offense and defense intact despite sitting at 6-2 and firmly in the AFC North hunt. In a market where rivals were willing to add help, Cincinnati chose continuity over change.
The decision also left a few obvious roster questions hanging in place, including a running back group that has struggled to generate consistent production. The Bengals had been linked to Philadelphia defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, but nothing materialized before the deadline closed, and the front office ultimately decided against any additions. For a team trying to hold its edge in a crowded division race, the message was clear enough, even if the long-term wisdom of it will take a few more weeks to sort out. [Read more 🡒]