On today's edition of The Stone Shields Show we discuss the top 10 players to watch in Bengals vs. Jaguars, react to Green Bay's dominant win over the Commanders on Thursday Night Football, preview Georgia vs. Tennessee and Stone gives his best bets of the weekend!

Off The Bench is back weekdays from 10a to 11a followed by The Stone Shields Show from 11a to noon!

The Cincinnati Bengals host the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 14, 2025, in a pivotal AFC matchup. Cincinnati's Joe Burrow, the 2021 No. 1 pick, seeks to exploit Jacksonville's secondary with precise deep balls to receivers like Noah Fant, the tight end who scored in his debut. Facing him is Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, the 2021 No. 2 pick, who's leaned on rookie sensation Travis Hunter—a two-way star drafted No. 2 overall in 2025—who dazzled with 42 offensive snaps in Week 1. Key trenches battle: Jaguars DT Arik Armstead (71 QB hits career) pressures Bengals RG Dalton Risner, a recent addition who allowed just one pressure in his debut. On the ground, Jacksonville's Travis Etienne (143 yards last game) tests Cincinnati LB Logan Wilson (495 career tackles), while Jaguars nickel CB Jourdan Lewis shadows Fant in seam routes. This veteran-laden clash could hinge on interior line dominance.

On September 11, 2025, the Green Bay Packers edged the Washington Commanders 27-18 in a Thursday Night Football thriller. Packers QB Jordan Love orchestrated two TD passes—to Romeo Doubs (5 yards) and Tucker Kraft (8 yards)—while RB Josh Jacobs added a 2-yard score, building a 17-3 halftime lead. K Brandon McManus sealed it with field goals of 22 and 56 yards. Washington mounted a late rally behind QB Jayden Daniels' two TD strikes—to Zach Ertz (20 yards) and Deebo Samuel (10 yards), plus a two-point conversion to Luke McCaffrey—but inconsistencies doomed them to 1-1. Green Bay's balanced attack (242 pass, 98 rush yards) outshone Washington's 289 total yards, dropping the Commanders amid missed opportunities.

No. 6 Georgia (2-0) visits No. 15 Tennessee (2-0) on September 13, 2025, in Knoxville for an SEC showdown with CFP stakes. It's a QB duel: Georgia's Gunner Stockton debuts on the road after check-down reliance, backed by speedy WR Zac Branch (112 yards) and returning RT Earnest Greene. Tennessee's Joey Aguilar, filling for Nico Iamaleava, boasts precision (wins over Syracuse, ETSU) but faces Georgia's stifling D, which won the last four meetings 34-14 on average. Vols WR Chris Brazzell (187 yards, 2 TDs) threatens big plays, but injuries sideline key corners. Bulldogs are 3.5-point favorites; predictions split—Georgia 20-13 via defensive mastery or Tennessee 23-20 on home tempo. Kirby Smart's Bulldogs eye a statement before Alabama looms.

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On today's edition of The Stone Shields Show we discuss keys to a Cincinnati Bengals Week 2 victory vs. the Jaguars, a Commanders vs. Packers Thursday Night football preview, Kalen DeBoer on the hot seat at Alabama and more!

Off The Bench is back weekdays from 10a to 11a followed by The Stone Shields Show from 11a to noon!

The Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) host the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) in a Week 2 AFC showdown at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, September 14, at 1 p.m. ET (CBS). Both teams escaped Week 1 with gritty wins: Cincinnati edged the Cleveland Browns 17-16 on the road, while Jacksonville dominated the Carolina Panthers 26-10 at home, showcasing a revamped defense under new head coach Liam Coen that forced three turnovers and allowed just 255 yards.

Joe Burrow, fresh off a Comeback Player of the Year campaign, threw for efficiency against Cleveland but will look to unleash Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (questionable, hamstring) more freely at home. The Bengals' defense, anchored by Trey Hendrickson, held the Browns to two touchdowns but must contain Jacksonville's explosive receiving duo: 2024 first-rounder Brian Thomas Jr. (87 catches, 1,282 yards as a rookie) and No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter, who dazzled in Week 1 with six receptions for 33 yards while playing both offense and defense. Trevor Lawrence managed 178 yards and a TD against Carolina without a sack, but he'll face a Bengals secondary eager to exploit Jacksonville's 26th-ranked scoring offense from 2024.

The series is tight—Jaguars lead 13-12 all-time—but Cincinnati has won the last two meetings, including a 34-31 OT thriller in 2023. Odds favor the Bengals by 3.5 points, with an over/under of 49.5, predicting a high-scoring affair (projected 27-22 Bengals win). Expect Burrow's precision to shine in the "Open in Orange" home opener, but Jacksonville's ground game (200 rushing yards in Week 1) could keep it close if Etienne exploits gaps.

Thursday Night Football lights up Lambeau Field as the Washington Commanders (1-0) visit the Green Bay Packers (1-0) on September 11 at 8:15 p.m. ET (Prime Video). Washington stifled the New York Giants 21-6 in Week 1, with rookie sensation Jayden Daniels (reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year) flashing mobility despite accuracy woes. Green Bay, meanwhile, dismantled the Detroit Lions 27-13, with Jordan Love carving up the secondary for 188 yards and two TDs, bolstered by new acquisition Micah Parsons' sack in his debut (limited to 30 snaps).

Daniels' dual-threat ability (891 rushing yards as a rookie) will test Green Bay's stout run defense (seventh in 2024), but the Packers' trenches—fifth in rushing offense last year—could dominate with Josh Jacobs pounding the rock. Washington's defense, which held the Giants scoreless in the red zone, faces a Packers offense averaging 370.8 yards per game in 2024. Key matchup: Parsons vs. Washington's rebuilt O-line, including rookie RT Josh Conerly Jr., as the ex-Cowboy has 4.5 sacks in two prior games against Washington.

Green Bay leads the all-time series 22-17-1 and has won the last three at home, but Dan Quinn's Commanders (12-5 in 2024) reached the NFC Championship last season. Odds list the Packers as 3.5-point favorites, with a total of 48.5 (projected 26-23 Packers). Short week favors the rested hosts, but Daniels' scrambling could spark an upset if Love's O-line (questionable injuries to Aaron Banks, Zach Tom) falters.

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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.

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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.

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