The Key for the week of November 24
A Thanksgiving Day miracle?
The Bengals season may be all but over, but not for Joe Burrow. All signs point to him starting on the road on prime time Thanksgiving night in Baltimore after being gone since the second half of the second game of the season. With Joe Flacco still nursing a bum shoulder and now a dislocated finger, and Jake Browning on his way to the taxi squad, Burrow is indicating he’s ready to return from his turf toe.
Question is, are fans ready for him to come back? It would take the Bengals to win out, plus lots of losses by the Ravens and Steelers, to make the Orange and Black relevant this season. Yes, stranger things have happened, but whether it’s Joe Burrow, Joe Flacco or Joe Montana, this is one more year in Burrow’s prime that is wasted by injury.
Could the weekend have been any sadder?
Unless you’re a St. X fan, this past weekend was a microcosm of Cincinnati sports recently—an Elder loss, two losses by UC (basketball and football), a loss by the Bengals and FC Cincinnati falling spectacularly to Lionel Messi and Miami. Ben couldn’t blame anyone for staying home Monday and pulling the covers over their head.
THE Game against That School Up North
Remember a year ago after this game that the Ohio State faithful were ready to run Ryan Day out of town after losing to Michigan? All the Buckeyes did after the loss was run the table in the College Football Playoff and claim the national title. This weekend is the rematch, this time in Ann Arbor, and the Buckeyes may have a score to settle. Michigan has won this matchup four straight times, but to make it five, it’ll take an upset, at least according to oddsmakers. The Wolverines are 11 point dogs this year, but that’s nothing compared to Ohio State being 23.5 point favorites last year, only to lose at home, 13-10. Ohio State wants to stay undefeated to prepare for their probable matchup in the Big Ten championship with probably-undefeated Indiana. But Michigan won’t go down without a fight.
Ben’s Best Bet
Ben did call the turkey “a much more respectable bird” than the eagle, but we’re thankful we’re not cooking eagles for dinner on Thursday. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and your eagle-less feast.