Will be paying attention to CIN/LAC. CIN is wayyy better on offense in the model but LAC significantly better on defense. It aggregates to CIN being the better team so I’m fascinated to see how this plays out in relation to the model.

And from a fan standpoint, instead of expecting 15-20 great years from Joe, we may have to accept the slow moving tragedy — this franchise is looking more and more like Jim Irsay’s Colts and their mismanagement of Andrew Luck.

Next year, I fully expect more penny-wise pound-foolish crap in FA from Katie and Troy Blackburn. More desperation (and misses) from Duke in the draft. Mediocrity without accountability from the coaching staff.

Charitably, I thought the front office was investing in a modest youth movement and rebuild (CB, WR, DT). The goal was to win a SB in 2025, not 2024.

But they’re leaving too many holes. In hindsight it just looks like they’re comfortable with being a perpetually flawed team.

But that’s just Burrow, Chase, and Hendrickson being insanely good.

The IOL is worse than expected. Safeties are worse than expected. Moss is worse than expected.

Bottom line — they never looked like a team capable of making a run.

TBH the Bengals have overperformed vs my expectations. Not the W-L record, but their play overall.

Swap Sanders and Allar, and that’s about where I’m at. A handful of bad starters who will stick around in the league, but just one or two guys I would want to bet on.