Off The Bench is BACK!

The Cincinnati Bengals face a daunting 2025 NFL schedule, with seven games against 2024 playoff teams, including tough road matchups against the Vikings, Broncos, Packers, Ravens, and Bills. A particularly brutal stretch from Weeks 3-7 pits them against Minnesota, Denver, Detroit, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh, with three road games. Later, Weeks 13-16 include back-to-back Ravens games sandwiching a trip to Buffalo, testing their mettle in the AFC North gauntlet. With a 9-8 record in 2024 and no playoff appearance, navigating this schedule is critical for Joe Burrow and company to reclaim contender status. Their defense, which showed promise in a 17-16 Week 1 win over Cleveland, must hold up against elite offenses to avoid another postseason miss.

Beating the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2 at home is pivotal. After a shaky offensive showing (141 passing yards), the Bengals need Burrow to sync with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins against a Jaguars defense that struggled against the run in Week 1. A win improves their early record to 2-0, crucial for momentum before their brutal midseason stretch. It also sets a tone against a non-playoff opponent, avoiding the slow starts that have plagued Cincinnati (1-7 in Weeks 1-2 since 2019). Losing could amplify doubts about their offensive line and run game, risking a slide against tougher foes.

On September 9, 2025, the Cincinnati Reds secured a crucial 4-2 victory over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, keeping their NL wild card hopes alive. Zack Littell pitched effectively, while the Reds' offense erupted for three home runs, including a clutch two-run shot by Tyler Stephenson in the ninth to seal the win. TJ Friedl and Austin Hays also went deep, powering Cincinnati to a 73-72 record, two games behind the Padres for the final wild card spot. Despite a strong outing from Padres’ starter Michael King, Robert Suarez’s ninth-inning collapse cost San Diego, now 79-66.

Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Holy (Trap).

Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Exercise (Rock).

Off The Bench is BACK!

In a gritty 17-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns on September 7, 2025, the Cincinnati Bengals leaned heavily on their defense to secure their first Week 1 win since 2021, despite a sluggish offensive showing. Rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart, the Bengals' first-round pick, made an immediate impact in his NFL debut, showcasing the athleticism that justified his high draft stock. Stewart helped generate a crucial red-zone sack by converging on Browns quarterback Joe Flacco alongside Trey Hendrickson, collapsing the pocket on a third-down play late in the fourth quarter to seal the win. His poise under pressure earned high praise, with Pro Football Focus awarding him a strong rookie grade for his disruptive presence, including a batted pass (later nullified by a flag). After overcoming a contentious holdout and fan skepticism during training camp—where he even accidentally clipped Burrow in practice—Stewart's performance flipped the narrative, proving his value on the edge.

Quarterback Joe Burrow, returning from injury concerns, struggled mightily, completing just 14 of 23 passes for a career-low 113 yards and one touchdown. The offense managed only 141 total yards, with a dismal seven yards in the second half, marred by three-and-outs and early-season rust typical of Zac Taylor's teams. Yet Burrow remained optimistic postgame, noting, "We found a way to win. We didn’t win any of these games last year, and so usually when you can win a game like this, that's a recipe for success." His leadership as a team captain alongside Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins underscored the Bengals' resilience.

Head coach Zac Taylor, entering his seventh season with a historically poor 1-11 record in the first two weeks, celebrated the disciplined effort. "I’m proud of them. The best outcome of this game is 1-0. Forget about the stats," Taylor said, crediting new defensive coordinator Al Golden's unit for limiting Flacco to two interceptions and holding Cleveland to 16 points. Taylor highlighted the rookies' calmness, including Stewart, in a game that tested the team's depth amid injuries. This ugly win signals potential growth, blending Burrow's grit, Stewart's promise, and Taylor's steady hand for a playoff push.

In a heartbreaker at Petco Park, the Cincinnati Reds fell 4-3 to the San Diego Padres in 10 innings on September 8, 2025, dealing a blow to their fading wild-card hopes. The Reds jumped to a 3-0 lead against Yu Darvish, powered by TJ Friedl's leadoff homer, Elly De La Cruz's RBI single, and Austin Hays' solo shot. Starter Nick Lodolo delivered a strong outing, but Jackson Merrill's two-run triple in the sixth tied it.

The game stayed knotted until the 10th, where reliever Nick Martinez's throwing error on a bunt advanced automatic runner Jake Cronenworth to third. Fernando Tatis Jr. then lofted a sacrifice fly for the walk-off win, his seventh of the season. The loss drops Cincinnati to 72-72, while San Diego (79-65) clings to the NL's second wild-card spot, three games ahead of the Mets.

Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Holy (Trap).

Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Exercise (Rock).