The Key for the week of September 8
A win is a win…
As our friend Dan Hoard says, it doesn’t indicate on the win/loss sheet if it was an ugly win or not—it’s just a “W.” And a “W” at the start of the season is something the Bengals haven’t seen since 2021. In this new world order, it was the defense that saved the one point win, with two sacks and two interceptions, the last one by DJ Turner II sealing the win on a Joe Flacco pick with under two minutes to go. Flashes of greatness from the offense, but short yardage situations still seem to confound the offensive line. As a former NFL coach might say, “We’re on to Jacksonville” and a rematch of the 2020 National Championship quarterbacks, Joe Burrow (then of LSU) and Trevor Lawrence (then of Clemson).
Stayin’ Alive
The Reds managed to do just that in the wild card race, taking two of three from the Mets, the team they’re chasing for the final playoff spot. Anything less than these two wins would have just about burst the team’s playoff bubble, but they’re still in it, even though the sharps give them about a 4% chance to reach the post season (So you say there’s a chance?). Up next is a killer road trip, though, with the dreaded “West Coast Swing” (San Diego and the A’s) before heading to division foe St. Louis. But they’re still alive.
Against all odds…
Despite losing their best player midseason and having four more players go out for the year with injuries, somehow the Indiana Fever have made it to the post season. After seven years of not being in the playoffs (after the retirement of Tamika Catchings), the Fever have qualified for the post season in both of Caitlin Clark’s years. And the club’s 23rd win on Sunday against Washington also is a franchise record for victories, albeit this is the longest season in WNBA history with 44 games. The playoffs’ new format is a 1-1-1 series, so even though the Fever won’t have home court advantage, they are guaranteed one playoff game in the first round. WNBA playoffs start September 14.
Ben’s Best Bet
It’s been since 2023 since the Bengals and Jaguars faced each other—in that game the Bengals won in overtime on Monday night, thanks to Jake Browning and his 354 yards in the air, for the Bengals first Monday Night Football win since 1990. The Bengals this time are 3 and a half point favorites. Ben says, despite the Bengals’ offense sputtering a bit against the Browns, expect the margin of victory this weekend to be more than that. Bengals over the Jags by at least a touchdown for a Bengals 2-0 start to the season.