Cincinnati Bengals Facing Crucial Game Against Houston Texans
Transcript
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00:03 Elsewhere Donnie, around the NFL, we talked about a huge game in the AFC North
00:07 between Cleveland and Baltimore in the Charm City.
00:10 There's an AFC North team in action on Sunday as well, and another big matchup.
00:15 The Bengals, a six and a half point favorite at home,
00:18 hosting the four and four Houston Texans.
00:22 Donnie, we have given CJ Stroud his flowers in this young Texans team
00:26 under rookie head coach D'Amico Ryan's all the credit.
00:30 But this is a step up in the level of competition and on this stage.
00:35 The Bengals entered winning four straight games.
00:37 They have covered in all four of those games, three as the favored side.
00:42 Houston hasn't been an underdog, Donnie, since week number six.
00:46 But from weeks three through six, the Texans won three of their four games.
00:51 They were booked as a dog in all four.
00:53 They won three outright then and covered in all four.
00:58 Donnie, how competitive is this game going to be in Cincinnati on Sunday,
01:02 knowing the spread is near a touchdown in favor of the Bengals?
01:06 >> It'll be as competitive as the Bengals' health actually goes here.
01:09 If you tell me we're going to Sunday, I'm getting 50% of the Jamar Chase and
01:12 50% of the Tee Hagan Chase.
01:14 It's gonna be real competitive at that point here.
01:15 But this is one of those games where we talk about measuring sticks and
01:18 step ups.
01:19 And yes, they're a good story this year.
01:20 The Houston Texans and CJ Stroud looks to be a fantastic young quarterback.
01:23 But also, the ebbs and the flows of a young rookie quarterback in the NFL.
01:28 Last week, you might say he might be the best quarterback in pro football,
01:31 throwing for well over 400 yards in that game,
01:34 leading a comeback against Tampa Bay.
01:35 But let's roll it back the past two weeks before that.
01:38 119 yards in the air and a loss to the Carolina Panthers.
01:41 You know how bad the Carolina Panthers are?
01:43 They weren't able to pull off that victory game previous before that.
01:45 They lose 20 to 13 to New Orleans, who is a quality football team, but
01:49 they're only throwing for 177 here.
01:51 This is a tough spot here.
01:52 And Luen Aramo, early in the week, goes, look, this guy's got my attention.
01:56 He's not sneaking up on us here.
01:57 We're not gonna get into the game with CJ Stroud and say, man,
02:00 he actually can make some of these really good throws here.
02:02 We have the attention of him.
02:03 Let's see if we can go out and press it.
02:05 I look for the Cincinnati Bengals as sort of hitting the gas pedal
02:08 at this point of their schedule.
02:09 Now, a lot of people look at that six and a half and go, why isn't it moving to seven?
02:13 A lot of people probably betting the Bengals, and rightfully so.
02:16 But this is one thing, again, the Friday practice reports come out.
02:19 The most important report of the week,
02:20 which is gonna give you a telltale on who's actually playing Sunday.
02:24 I would be surprised if Chase and/or Higgins don't both practice today in some
02:28 capacity, which puts them on a path to play on Sunday.
02:31 The Houston defense is okay, but Joe Burrow is absolutely on fire.
02:35 I would be surprised if the two big guns at wide receiver do play,
02:39 they don't cover the seven point line here at home.
02:42 >> The props now available for
02:43 our two quarterbacks in this matchup on Sunday afternoon in Cincy.
02:48 It's 255 and a half for Stroud, it's 278 and a hook for Joe Burrow.
02:53 Now, you will see the yards right there for Joey B.
02:57 It was not a good start to the year, of course.
03:00 He dug himself in a hole statistically.
03:03 His Bengals team lost three of their first four games.
03:07 Donnie, I will make this point.
03:08 We have made it a few times throughout this week.
03:11 Joey B has the fourth best price, or the fifth best price, excuse me,
03:14 to win the NFL MVP at nine to one.
03:17 If he has a big performance, if he goes over 278 and a half this week and
03:23 leads the Bengals to a win and maybe even a cover by margin against Houston,
03:28 that price is going to be much shorter for
03:30 Joe Burrow when we return on Monday in that NFL MVP market.
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