Off The Bench by Chatterbox Sports

Bengals Star Trey Hendrickson Needs Surgery, Xavier vs. UC Fallout, Jermaine Burton Waived, Curt Cignetti Best Hire Ever?

In a crushing blow to the Cincinnati Bengals' already sputtering defense, star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is set to undergo core muscle surgery this week, effectively ending his 2025 campaign. The procedure, confirmed by multiple sources including ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, addresses a nagging hip/pelvis injury that has plagued the 31-year-old edge rusher since Week 6. With a recovery timeline of approximately six weeks, Hendrickson will miss the Bengals' final four regular-season games—and any slim playoff hopes they might cling to.
Hendrickson's season began with promise but unraveled amid contract drama and physical setbacks. Entering 2025 as the reigning sack leader from 2024 (with a league-high 17.5 takedowns) and a first-team All-Pro, he inked a one-year, $30 million deal just before training camp after a contentious holdout. The Bengals, desperate to retain their defensive anchor, avoided a franchise tag but failed to secure a long-term extension. Hendrickson appeared in seven games, notching four sacks and 22 tackles, but his production dipped as the injury flared during a loss to the Green Bay Packers on October 13. He gutted it out for partial games against the New York Jets and others, but aggravated symptoms forced him to the sideline indefinitely after Week 8.
Head coach Zac Taylor, speaking Monday, revealed Hendrickson consulted specialists at Philadelphia's Vincera Institute, opting for surgery after rest and rehab failed. "It's kind of all that," Taylor vaguely noted of the hip/core issues. For a 4-9 Bengals team three games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North, the timing is devastating. Cincinnati's pass rush, once elite, now ranks near the bottom, exacerbating a defense that has surrendered 30-plus points in five of their last seven outings.
This surgery isn't just a season-ender; it casts uncertainty over Hendrickson's Bengals future. As an unrestricted free agent in 2026, he'll command top dollar—potentially $25 million annually—from suitors like the Eagles or 49ers. The Bengals, cap-strapped with Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, may let him walk, ending a five-year tenure that yielded 61 sacks, four Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl window that slammed shut. Hendrickson's resilience—pushing through pain for a team that drafted him as a mid-round flier in 2020—earned him respect, but this injury symbolizes Cincinnati's broader woes: talent undermined by misfortune and mismanagement.
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Bengals CRUSH Playoff Hopes After Another HEARTBREAKING Defeat, Joe Burrow, Bengals News, Rumors

In the swirling snow of Highmark Stadium, the Cincinnati Bengals authored yet another chapter in their tragic playbook of late-game agony, succumbing 39-34 to the Buffalo Bills on December 7, 2025. What began as a masterclass in offensive dominance devolved into a defensive meltdown that left Who Dey Nation numb, dropping the Bengals to 4-9 and burying their faint playoff dreams under an avalanche of what-ifs.
Joe Burrow, ever the unflappable gunslinger, orchestrated a clinic early on, torching Buffalo's secondary for 284 yards and four touchdowns. Ja'Marr Chase, his favorite weapon, hauled in 44 yards . The Bengals struck first with a Chase Brown 5-yard rumble, then added scores on their next two drives, converting seven of eight third-downs to build a 28-18 cushion midway through the third quarter. It felt like vintage Cincinnati: explosive, resilient, ready to flip the script on a middling season plagued by injuries and inconsistency.
But as the flakes thickened, so did the cracks. Josh Allen, Buffalo's dual-threat dynamo, awakened with 251 passing yards, three aerial strikes, and a scrambling touchdown of his own. The turning point? A fumble at the goal line that the Bengals miraculously recovered—only for the defense to unravel thereafter. With 5:25 left, trailing 34-31, Bills cornerback Christian Benford snagged a telegraphed Burrow lob intended for Ja'Marr Chase, racing 63 yards untouched for the go-ahead score. 
Coach Zac Taylor's postgame lament—"Just sick for the guys"—echoed the ghosts of Super Bowl LVI and countless other collapses. Three games back in the AFC North, with Pittsburgh looming, Cincinnati's 6% division odds now teeter on a miracle 4-0 finish. Burrow's stoic presser masked the frustration: "We had it. We let it slip." Fans, shivering in the stands and scrolling highlights at home, know the drill—talent squandered, heartbreak harvested. In a league of margins, the Bengals' Achilles' heel remains their inability to close. Will this be the loss that ignites a reckoning, or just another scar in the saga? For now, it's devastation, pure and piercing.
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Joe Burrow's Costly Mistakes End The Cincinnati Bengals Playoff Hopes

Bengals' Heartbreaking Collapse: A 39-34 Snowy Thriller Loss to the BillsIn the swirling snow of Orchard Park on December 7, 2025, the Cincinnati Bengals experienced yet another gut-wrenching defeat, falling 39-34 to the Buffalo Bills in a Week 14 AFC showdown that felt like a playoff preview gone awry. For a Bengals team clinging to fading postseason hopes at 4-8, this loss wasn't just a tally in the standings—it was a microcosm of their season's frustrations: explosive offense undercut by untimely errors, a defense that bent but couldn't break, and the cruel poetry of two bizarre interceptions sealing their fate.The game kicked off under a blanket of white, with Mother Nature turning Highmark Stadium into a winter wonderland. Cincinnati won the coin toss and, defying convention, elected to receive. It paid immediate dividends. Joe Burrow, the Bengals' unflappable gunslinger, orchestrated a meticulous 14-play, 67-yard march that devoured 8:16 off the clock. He went 5-for-6, threading needles through the flurries to set up Chase Brown's gritty five-yard touchdown plunge—assisted by a shove from tackle Amarius Mims. Just like that, it was 7-0, and Bengals fans dared to dream of extending their streak of scoring first-drive touchdowns against Buffalo in four straight meetings.Buffalo, however, is no ordinary foe. Josh Allen, the dual-threat dynamo, answered with surgical precision. The Bills' offense, leaning on tight-end heavy sets to exploit Cincinnati's linebacker coverage, clawed back with a field goal, making it 7-3. Burrow wasn't done. In the second quarter, he carved up the secondary again, finding Tee Higgins for a one-handed, highlight-reel touchdown grab that pushed the lead to 14-3. By halftime, the Bengals held a precarious 21-11 edge, having converted 4-of-4 third downs on their opening possession. Ja'Marr Chase, battling through the weather, eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for the season—his fifth such campaign—reminding everyone why Cincinnati's passing attack remains elite.The third quarter hinted at Bengals dominance. Burrow's hot streak continued, with Chase Brown adding another score to balloon the lead to 28-11. Burrow finished 22-of-31 for 218 yards and three touchdowns, his pocket presence a beacon in the blizzard. The Bengals' ground game chipped in 70 yards from Brown, who also hauled in a receiving score, showcasing the balanced attack that once made Cincy a Super Bowl contender.But football's cruel theater unfolded in the fourth. Trailing by 17, Buffalo's defense—led by cornerback Christian Benford—finally cracked the code. Midway through the frame, Benford snared Burrow's short right pass intended for Chase at the Buffalo 37, returning it 63 yards for a pick-six that ignited the comeback. The stadium erupted; the Bills trailed 28-18. Allen, electric as ever, responded with four total touchdowns—two passing, two rushing—capitalizing on the momentum. A late Bengals touchdown pulled them within 36-34, but their two-point conversion fizzled when Burrow fumbled the snap.Then, the dagger: Burrow's second inexplicable interception in as many attempts, this one a wobbling duck in the snow that gifted Buffalo prime field position. The Bills tacked on a field goal, then methodically ran out the clock after Cincinnati's onside kick failed. Allen's 21 fourth-quarter points underscored Buffalo's resilience, improving them to 9-4 and bolstering their AFC East grip.For Cincinnati, the what-ifs sting. Two "weirdest interceptions you'll ever see," as one analyst quipped, turned a potential statement win into another collapse. The defense, featuring Jordan Battle's three picks on the year, forced a turnover on downs but couldn't stop Allen's heroics. Injuries, like edge rusher Joseph Ossai's brief exit, added to the toll. This 39-34 heartbreaker drops the Bengals to 4-9, their playoff dreams buried deeper in the snow. Yet, with Burrow's wizardry (18-5 in December games lifetime), hope flickers. Next week, redemption calls against the Browns—but for now, Buffalo's blizzard of brilliance leaves Cincinnati chilled.(Word count: 412)

Bengals vs. Bills Preview, Injury News, Crosstown Shootout, Bengals Rumors

This Sunday, December 7, at Highmark Stadium in chilly Orchard Park, NY, the Buffalo Bills (8-4) host the Cincinnati Bengals (4-8) in a Week 14 NFL showdown with massive playoff stakes. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET on FOX, flexed from a later slot amid Cincinnati's sudden spark. The Bills, clinging to AFC East control amid a wild-card scrum, must win to stay ahead of surging rivals like the Jets and Dolphins. For the Bengals, buried in the AFC North but two games back of Baltimore, this is elimination Sunday—Joe Burrow's return has ignited faint hopes of a late miracle run.
Buffalo enters as a 6-point favorite (moneyline -275; over/under 52.5), per BetMGM, with a 70% win probability from models like Dimers. Their offense hums, led by MVP frontrunner Josh Allen (30 total TDs, second in NFL). Allen's dual-threat prowess—19 passing, 11 rushing scores—pairs with the league's top ground game (155.7 yards/game). James Cook, fresh off back-to-back 100-yard outbursts, feasts against Cincy's porous run D (153.3 yards allowed, second-worst). Buffalo's defense, No. 1 in pass yards conceded (163.2/game), has rebounded lately, forcing turnovers and stifling Pittsburgh 26-7 last week. Linebacker Shaq Thompson anchors the front seven, eyeing Bengals RB Chase Brown and TEs (65 catches, 527 yards, 6 TDs).
Cincinnati counters with Burrow's precision (261 yards, 2 TDs in his Week 13 return from a foot injury) and Ja'Marr Chase's wizardry (chasing 1,000 yards for a fifth straight season). Chase torched Baltimore for 110 yards, but Buffalo's secondary—featuring Rasul Douglas—ranks eighth in yards per attempt allowed (6.5). The Bengals' D, 32nd in points (31.2/game) and total yards (410/game), leans on DE Joseph Ossai (5 sacks) amid Trey Hendrickson's absence. Tee Higgins remains in concussion protocol, thinning the arsenal.
Experts lean Bills in a shootout: USA TODAY predicts 28-24 Buffalo, NBC sees a 27-23 squeaker. Yet Burrow's perfect December road record (5-0) tempts upset whispers. Expect Allen to exploit gaps early, Cook to grind clock, and Burrow to rally late—but home-field and Buffalo's December dominance (23-4 since 2020) tilt the scales. Fireworks await in this AFC thriller.
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Bengals Rumors On Defensive Improvement, Reds Bring Back Emilio Pagan, Crosstown Shootout Preview

The Cincinnati Bengals' defense, once dubbed the worst in NFL history for surrendering over 400 yards per game and 32.7 points on average through 11 weeks, has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last three outings. Post-bye week, this young unit—plagued by rookie errors, poor tackling, and a lack of takeaways—has flipped the script, providing a lifeline to a 4-8 team clinging to faint playoff hopes.
The turnaround ignited in Week 12 against the New England Patriots, where Cincinnati limited a surging offense to 26 points, their second-lowest yield of the season. Defensive coordinator Al Golden highlighted improved tackling and run defense, crediting middle linebacker Barrett Carter's "line of scrimmage command." Though the Bengals fell 26-20, it marked a stark contrast to prior debacles, like the 80 combined points leaked to the Bears and Jets pre-bye.
Thanksgiving's 32-14 rout of the Baltimore Ravens on November 27 epitomized the surge. Facing the AFC's hottest team, the defense forced five turnovers—including three from Lamar Jackson—while sacking him thrice and holding Derrick Henry to 60 rushing yards. They allowed just 346 total yards, converted only 3-of-10 third downs, and notched their first sub-26-point game since Week 1. Rookies Demetrius Knight Jr. and Carter shone: Knight's red-zone interception and Carter's leadership in calls anchored the front seven. As Golden noted, the group is "populating the ball" more aggressively, blending sophisticated blitzes with veteran poise.
Head coach Zac Taylor praised the "complete-game" effort, the first of 2025, while quarterback Joe Burrow, returning from injury, credited the "building" momentum. Even safety Geno Stone admitted fewer missed tackles, signaling growing confidence.
With edge rusher Trey Hendrickson nearing return, this three-week sample—yielding 14 points per game against Baltimore and better third-down stops—hints at sustainability. For a squad eyeing a Buffalo rematch, it's not just improvement; it's redemption. The Bengals' kids have grown up, turning a liability into a weapon just in time.
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Bengals Rumors Before Bills Game, Joe Burrow vs. Josh Allen, Crosstown Shootout Preview

In the frosty confines of Highmark Stadium, the Cincinnati Bengals square off against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, December 7, 2025, in a pivotal AFC clash that pits two of the league's premier quarterbacks against each other: Joe Burrow and Josh Allen. As Week 14 unfolds, both teams jockey for playoff positioning, with the Bills clinging to a wild-card spot and the Bengals desperate to climb the standings after a rollercoaster start to the season.
Joe Burrow, the Bengals' unflappable gunslinger, enters this matchup on a high note. Fresh off a triumphant return from a nagging wrist tweak earlier this year, Burrow has been surgical, posting 19.24 fantasy points in his last outing and ranking as the QB4 overall. His 2025 stats scream efficiency: over 4,000 passing yards, 30-plus touchdowns, and a completion percentage north of 68%. Armed with Ja'Marr Chase's explosive routes and Tee Higgins' red-zone prowess, Burrow thrives in shootouts. But Buffalo's secondary, led by Christian Benford and a resurgent Taron Johnson, will test him—expect Burrow to lean on quick slants and play-action to counter the Bills' blitz-heavy scheme under Sean McDermott.
On the flip side, Josh Allen embodies chaos in the best way possible. The MVP frontrunner boasts a league-leading five double-digit rushing touchdowns, blending arm talent with bulldozer mobility. Averaging 25.8 points per game in fantasy terms, Allen's dual-threat nightmare—coupled with James Cook's shifty runs and Khalil Shakir's emergence—makes Buffalo's offense a juggernaut. Yet, Cincinnati's front seven, anchored by Trey Hendrickson and a healthy Sam Hubbard, poses a real threat to Allen's pocket presence. If the Bills' O-line holds, Allen could exploit the Bengals' middling pass defense for chunk plays.
Head-to-head history favors Burrow slightly, with a 2-1 edge in regular-season tilts, but Allen's home-field advantage and Buffalo's 6-1 December record tilt the scales. This isn't just a quarterback duel; it's a symphony of stars—Burrow's precision versus Allen's power—where the winner could vault their squad toward January glory. Prediction: Bills edge it 31-27, but don't bet against Burrow's magic. Football at its finest.
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Myles Murphy Improvement, Ja'Marr Chase Suspension Upheld, Xavier Beats Old Dominion, Mailbag

In the Bengals' 34-12 loss to the Steelers on November 16, 2025, defensive end Myles Murphy delivered his most commanding performance yet, a beacon of progress amid a deflating defeat. The 2023 first-round pick entered the game under scrutiny, with just 4.5 sacks through 10 outings and the Bengals' pass rush depleted by injuries to Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart. Facing a revamped Pittsburgh line featuring ex-first-rounders Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu, Murphy stepped up as the de facto leader of Cincy's edge rotation.
Murphy's stat line screamed dominance: a career-high seven tackles, five in the first half alone, anchoring the run defense with five stops that limited Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell's explosiveness. He led the team with six quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Focus, constantly disrupting Aaron Rodgers (and later Mason Rudolph) in the pocket. His crowning moment came midway through the second quarter: teaming with B.J. Hill for an 11-yard sack on Rodgers, a thunderous strip-sack that forced a punt and ignited Who Dey cheers in Acrisure Stadium. Murphy's bull rushes overwhelmed Fautanu, ending the rookie's recent hype, while his pursuit angles—chasing down Warren for a 3-yard stuff—showcased improved instincts and effort.
This wasn't mere volume; it was refined technique. Murphy switched sides seamlessly, exploiting mismatches with violent hand usage and a low pad level honed during the bye week. Despite a roughing-the-passer flag that gifted Pittsburgh a first down and a neutral zone infraction, his motor never waned, even as the defense surrendered a pick-six and fumble return for scores in the second half. Teammates like Joseph Ossai and Cedric Johnson fed off his energy, hinting at a budding rotation.
For a Bengals D ranked 28th in sacks, Murphy's breakout signals hope. At 22, he's evolving from raw athlete to disruptive force, pressuring coaches to eye his fifth-year option. In a season of 3-7 despair, this was Murphy's "put it all together" game—raw power meets football IQ. If sustained, it could salvage Cincinnati's pass rush and playoff dreams.
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Bengals Season Spiraling, Ja'Marr Chase Suspended One Game For Jalen Ramsey Incident, Bengals News

In the heated world of NFL rivalries, few moments capture raw emotion like a spit take—literally. On November 16, 2025, during the Pittsburgh Steelers' 34-12 demolition of the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11, Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase found himself at the center of controversy. In the fourth quarter, amid a scrum of trash talk and tangled limbs, Chase allegedly spat on Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey, igniting a brawl that saw Ramsey ejected for throwing a punch. 
The incident unfolded after an earlier scuffle that drew personal foul flags on both players. Ramsey, no stranger to on-field theatrics, grabbed Chase by the facemask and unleashed a helmet-rattling swing. Post-game, Ramsey didn't mince words: "He spit on me. I don't give a f--- about football after that, respectfully. I'm all for trash talking, but that's crossing the line." Chase, the Bengals' explosive 2021 first-round pick and three-time Pro Bowler, vehemently denied it: "I never opened my mouth to that guy. I didn’t spit on nobody." But video evidence from FOX 19 cameras in Cincinnati told a different story, capturing what appeared to be a clear projectile from Chase's direction.
The NFL wasted no time. On November 17, the league slapped Chase with a one-game suspension without pay, citing Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1: "any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship." He'll miss the Bengals' Week 12 clash with the New England Patriots, costing him roughly $448,333 in salary. This marks the second spitting-related ban this season, echoing Eagles DT Jalen Carter's ejection and suspension for hawking a loogie at Cowboys QB Dak Prescott in Week 1.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor, while praising Chase's usual poise—"He's one of the best leaders we've got"—deemed the act "unacceptable." For a team already reeling from QB Joe Burrow's Week 2 injury and a 2-8 record, losing their 1,000-yard receiver stings. Chase, with 72 catches for 1,128 yards and 8 TDs this year, embodies Cincinnati's high-octane offense.
Critics decry the league's zero-tolerance stance on such "disgusting" behavior, arguing it deters the passion that fuels football. Yet, precedents like Carter's affirm the NFL's message: Spitting isn't spirited—it's sanction-worthy. As Chase appeals (or doesn't), this episode underscores the thin line between competitive fire and foul play. In a league of gladiators, one glob of saliva can sideline a superstar. Will it humble Chase or harden his edge? Only the tape—and the tape—will tell.
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Cincinnati Bengals Season Over After Loss To Steelers, Ja'Marr Chase Spits On Jalen Ramsey

In a brutal AFC North showdown at Acrisure Stadium on November 16, 2025, the Cincinnati Bengals' flickering playoff aspirations were snuffed out in a 34-12 thrashing by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dropping to 3-7, Cincinnati's defense showed early grit but crumbled under second-half turnovers, while an offense led by Joe Flacco sputtered against a revamped Steelers unit. The loss halts any momentum from their Week 7 upset over Pittsburgh, exposing persistent issues in protection and execution.
The Bengals struck first, marching 75 yards on their opening drive capped by Flacco's 28-yard touchdown strike to Tee Higgins, who extended his scoring streak to four games and sits third league-wide with seven receiving TDs. Cincinnati's defense, anchored by Myles Murphy's career-high seven tackles (including a sack) and Oren Burks' nine stops, blanked Pittsburgh after their initial field goal, forcing four punts and limiting them to 188 yards through halftime. Chase Brown powered the ground game with 99 rushing yards on 18 carries—his fourth straight 100-yard scrimmage outing—adding hope amid a 9-6 deficit.
But the third quarter flipped the script. Flacco's errant pass was swiped by Steelers safety Kyle Dugger, who sprinted 74 yards for a pick-six, igniting a 20-9 Pittsburgh lead. The Bengals clawed to 13-20 late in the frame, but a fumbled snap led to cornerback James Pierre's 32-yard scoop-and-score, ballooning the margin to 27-12. Mason Rudolph, stepping in for the wrist-injured Aaron Rodgers, sealed it with a 5-yard toss to Kenneth Gainwell, who tallied two TD catches.
Flacco finished 23-of-40 for 199 yards, one score, and the costly interception—snapping his 100+ passer rating streak. Ja'Marr Chase, double-teamed relentlessly, managed just three catches for 30 yards after his 16-reception explosion versus Pittsburgh earlier. A sideline scuffle saw Steelers' Jalen Ramsey ejected for punching Chase amid unproven spitting allegations, adding fuel to the rivalry.
Head coach Zac Taylor lamented, "You feel all the losses. They all eat at you... Our option is to come back tomorrow and keep fighting." Flacco acknowledged Pittsburgh's adjustments: "They had a couple guys on him [Chase] more often... We've got to match that." With a red-hot New England squad next, Cincinnati must rally or face a lost season. The Bengals' defense forced Pittsburgh into inefficiency early, but self-inflicted wounds—turnovers, penalties, and injuries to Cam Taylor-Britt (foot) and Trey Hendrickson (hip, out second straight)—proved fatal. At 3-7, their wild-card path is a steep climb, demanding urgent fixes in a division where the Steelers (6-4) now lead comfortably.
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Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Preview, Injury News, Joe Flacco vs. Aaron Rodgers 2

In a league increasingly defined by youth and flash, Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers represent the grizzled veterans who refuse to fade. At 40 and 41, respectively, the duo's second showdown of the 2025 NFL season on Sunday—Bengals at Steelers—evokes a bygone era of pocket passers with ice in their veins. Their first clash, a Thursday night thriller on Oct. 16 in Cincinnati, was a 33-31 Bengals escape that felt like a nod to their Super Bowl legacies.
Flacco, thrust into the Bengals' starting role amid Joe Burrow's injury woes, orchestrated a fourth-quarter masterclass. He went 31-of-47 for 342 yards and three touchdowns, capping the win with a game-winning drive that silenced a raucous Paycor Stadium crowd. Rodgers, in his Steelers debut after a surprise June free-agency signing, nearly stole it, tossing four scores on 249 yards but undone by two picks—including a back-breaking interception in the red zone. It marked just the second starting QB matchup of 40-plus-year-olds in NFL history, behind only Vinny Testaverde and Warren Moon in 2002. 
Now, with Burrow practicing but Flacco downplaying any benching—"I'm honestly not really thinking about it"—the iron man from Audubon, N.J., gets the nod in Pittsburgh. The Bengals (3-6 post-bye) desperately need this to stay afloat in the AFC North, leaning on Ja'Marr Chase's explosiveness to exploit a Steelers secondary that's surrendered 1,200 receiving yards to wideouts this year. Flacco's steady 68% completion rate and seven TDs over his last four starts make him a sneaky fantasy gem, but the road test at Acrisure Stadium looms large.
For Rodgers, wearing black and gold has been a mixed bag: 2,100 yards and 15 TDs, but the Steelers' 4-5 mark reflects offensive line woes and a run game that's averaged a measly 3.8 yards per carry. Najee Harris must grind early to set up play-action magic, or Flacco's poise could haunt them again. This "Old Bowl" rematch isn't just divisional fireworks—it's a testament to longevity in a brutal sport. Will Rodgers reclaim his four-time MVP aura, or does Flacco, the eternal bridesmaid turned Bengal savior, prove age is merely a number? Kickoff at 1 p.m. ET promises answers, with playoff implications hanging in the balance.
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