Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Mixon is feeling confident ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals showdown with the AFC-leading Buffalo Bills on Monday night.

"At the end of the day, what people got to realize and understand, we the big dog of the AFC, and that's just what it is," he told reporters Saturday. "For anything to happen, it goes through us."

The Bengals (11-4) are the defending AFC champions, though they are currently chasing the Bills (12-3) in the standings. And while Mixon is confident, he isn't taking the Bills lightly.

"The Bills, what better team would you be able to go up and put your best against?" he said. "It's a great opportunity for us, but at the same time, I know our guys, we [are] ready."

So are NFL fans for a clash between two of the league's best teams.

Helping keep Joe Burrow upright in the pocket has its perks.

The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback gifted the team's offensive linemen with a cruise trip as a Christmas present even though he won't be joining them, per Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network.

"I don't like boats," he said. "What if you get stuck out there?"

Burrow has reason to be thankful for his offensive line.

While his season got off to a rough start when he was sacked a combined 13 times in the first two games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, he hasn't been sacked more than twice since an Oct. 31 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Cincinnati's offensive line unit has shown notable improvement as the season progresses. That's one reason why the Bengals are riding a seven-game winning streak and challenging for the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the AFC.

The three games this year that Burrow was sacked more than three times came against defenses featuring star pass-rushers Micah Parsons, T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett, so some struggles up front are understandable.

Cincinnati's offensive linemen will now get to go on a trip as a result of their hard work.

Mac Jones may be developing a reputation as a dirty player.

Bengals cornerback Eli Apple criticized Jones after the Patriots quarterback was called for a low block in Cincinnati's 22-18 win over New England on Saturday.

"Of course I did [notice it]. He tripped me," Apple said, per Sean T. McGuire of NESN. "I thought it was a dirty play. He's done that before, I've seen it."

It's hard to not agree with Apple's assessment of the play in question. The two were not particularly close to the play when Jones drove into Apple's knees during a Bengals fumble return that was later ruled an incomplete pass.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the NFL will review the play to determine if Jones should face any discipline. The league has increasingly cracked down on plays below the knees, hoping to avoid serious leg injuries.

Jones dove at Apple's knees and risked injuring him in what appeared to be an outburst of frustration. Patriots fans loudly booed their second-year quarterback and chanted for fourth-round rookie Bailey Zappe as Jones struggled early in the loss.

This is not Jones' first time being accused of dirty play, either. Carolina Panthers linebacker Brian Burns called Jones out for twisting his ankle in a pile last season. Jones said he believed Burns had the ball and was ultimately not punished by the league.

The Cincinnati Bengals' trip home after Saturday's win over the New England Patriots included an unplanned stop in New York.

Per Mark Slaughter of WLWT NBC in Cincinnati and confirmed by The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr., the Bengals' team plane had to make an emergency landing at JFK Airport in New York City due to engine trouble and change aircrafts.

One person on the plane told Slaughter the ride was a "little rough but it was okay! Landed safely."

Per WLWT, the plane landed at JFK International Airport around 8:45 p.m. local time. They are expected to takeoff in a new aircraft around 9:30 p.m. and make it back to Cincinnati tonight.

The Bengals-Patriots game at Gillette Stadium on Saturday kicked off at 1 p.m. ET. Cincinnati looked like it was going to win in a route after taking a 22-0 lead into halftime.

New England was able to fight back in the second half, scoring 18 unanswered points to make it a one-score game with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

A fumble by Ja'Marr Chase recovered by Marcus Jones gave the Patriots' offense the ball back with a chance to take the lead. They got down to Cincinnati's five-yard line with less than one minute to play, but a Rhamondre Stevenson fumble on 1st-and-goal was picked by B.J. Hill.

The Patriots did get the ball back one more time at their own 24-yard line with 30 seconds left. They only gained 10 yards before turning the ball over on downs. Joe Burrow took a knee to run out the clock.

Even though the final score shows a close game, the Bengals continued their streak of playing at a high level. They finished with 442 yards on offense, with Burrow racking up 375 yards through the air.

Cincinnati (11-4) has won seven consecutive games since a 32-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football in Week 8.

Russell Wilson will not be on the field for the Denver Broncos in Week 15.

Wilson was officially listed as out on Friday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Broncos ruled out Russell Wilson for Sunday’s game.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 16, 2022

The Broncos quarterback passed the concussion protocol, but will not play, per Broncos team reporter Aric DiLalla.

Broncos QB Russell Wilson has passed the concussion protocol, but he will not play against the Cardinals.

Nathaniel Hackett: “As an organization, we’ve decided to give him another week.”

— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) December 16, 2022

Wilson has been in concussion protocol all week after he suffered the head injury in Week 14.

While Wilson will not be on the field, Tee Higgins is trending in the right direction to play on Sunday.

Higgins was at the center of a controversial circumstance last week, as he played a single snap before leaving the field.

The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver practiced on Friday in what could be viewed as a positive development ahead of Sunday.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) and WR Tyler Boyd (finger) both practiced in full today and are listed as questionable to play Sunday against the Bucs.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 16, 2022

Below is a look at updates on the other significant fantasy football stars dealing with injuries ahead of Week 15.

• Russell Wilson, QB, DEN: out (concussion)
• Tee Higgins, WR, CIN: questionable (hamstring)
  
• Tyler Boyd, WR, CIN: questionable (finger)
  
• Jakobi Meyers, WR, NE: returned to practice Friday (concussion), per NESN's Zack Cox
  
• Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, NE: returned to practice Friday, per Cox
  
• Damien Harris, RB, NE: limited in practice (thigh), per NFL.com.
  
• Marquise Brown, WR, ARI: questionable (illness)
  
• Pat Freiermuth, TE, PIT: not listed on injury report (foot)
  
• Diontae Johnson, WR, PIT: not listed on injury report (hip)
  
• David Montgomery, RB, CHI: not listed on injury report (Illness)
  
• Dameon Pierce, RB, HOU: out (ankle)
  
• Jeff Wilson, RB, MIA: questionable (hip)
  
• Kenny Pickett, QB, PIT: doubtful (concussion)
  
• DJ Moore, WR, CAR: questionable (ankle)
  
• Chase Claypool, WR, CHI: out (knee)

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Russell Wilson Practices Friday

Russell Wilson will not play on Sunday.

He will be replaced by Brett Rypien for the clash with the Arizona Cardinals.

Rypien threw a touchdown pass in relief of Wilson, but he only had 16 yards and completed four of his eight pass attempts in Week 14.

Rypien had 225 passing yards and no touchdown passes in his lone start this season in Week 7 against the New York Jets.

Jeudy and Greg Dulcich are most affected by Wilson's absence. Courtland Sutton is out for Sunday. Running back Latavius Murray carries a bit more fantasy value.

Taylor Heinicke, Desmond Ridder and Andy Dalton are among the potential waiver-wire candidates to add at quarterback.

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Tee Higgins Listed as Questionable

Tee Higgins is officially listed as questionable for the Cincinnati Bengals' matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Higgins is dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out for most of last week's game against the Cleveland Browns.

He did practice on Friday, as well as teammate and fellow wide receiver Tyler Boyd, which is a positive sign for his hopes to play on Sunday.

Higgins played one snap last week and then did not feature in the AFC North to the ire of fantasy football players.

There may be some lost trust between fantasy players and the Bengals regarding Higgins' status for Week 15.

Higgins produced back-to-back 100-yard games in Weeks 11 and 12 and scored three times in five weeks leading up to Week 14.

Higgins could play a large role in the Cincinnati offense, as usual, if he does see the field against Tampa Bay.

If he can't play, Michael Gallup, Elijah Moore and Mack Hollins are among the players to pick up off the waiver wire.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd had an understandable reaction to the dislocated finger he suffered during Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns.

"I kind of went in shock," Boyd said Thursday, per Ben Baby of ESPN. "I never really had any major injuries, thank god, let alone being able to see a bone. So, it kind of threw me off."

The bone broke through his skin and forced him to miss most of the contest, but Baby noted he has practiced in a limited capacity this week with a game against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the schedule.

Fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins, who missed all but one snap during the win over Cleveland, has been limited with a hamstring injury, so having Boyd available will be critical.

Otherwise, more of the responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Ja'Marr Chase, who is as well suited to thrive in such a situation as almost any wide receiver in the league. He posted 10 catches for 119 yards and one touchdown against the Browns and appears to be fully healthy after missing time earlier in the season.

Trenton Irwin also caught a touchdown against the Browns and could see more time if Boyd or Higgins is out.

Cincinnati is one of the hottest teams in the NFL with five wins in a row and a 9-4 record. It is tied with the Baltimore Ravens with a head-to-head showdown in Week 18 looming, and the team is in championship-or-bust mode after reaching the Super Bowl last season.

One reason the Bengals are so dangerous is their wide receiver group of Chase, Higgins and Boyd, and having them all on the field is their best chance to win the Lombardi Trophy.

It seems as if Boyd is trending toward playing against the Buccaneers even if he is battling through a shocking injury.

Joe Burrow has drawn some comparisons to Tom Brady throughout his young career for his style of play and immediate NFL success, but the Cincinnati Bengals star doesn't make a big deal of it.

"I don't really pay attention to it. He's Tom and I'm Joe," Burrow said Wednesday, per Geoff Hobson of the team's official site.

"I really just think that I play the game my own way. I kind of have a little bit of everybody. I wouldn't say there's one thing I do the best. But I would say that I do everything with the best of them. I wouldn't say I really have a glaring weakness."

Burrow has emerged as one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL, leading the Bengals to the Super Bowl last season in just his second year in the league. He was ranked the No. 5 quarterback in the NFL in a poll of league personnel before the season, with one offensive coach saying he "might be the closest thing" to Brady.

Former Brady teammates Kevin Faulk, Ted Karras and Alex Cappa discussed the comparisons this week for Jay Morrison and Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. Burrow also admitted there were some similarities in their game.

"I have the quick release," the quarterback said. "I've become really efficient with my lower body, getting the ball out and seeing the defense."

The Bengals are set to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, giving Burrow the first chance to go head-to-head against Brady.

The NFL fined Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III $50,000 on Saturday for allegedly faking an injury during last week's win over the Kansas City Chiefs, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

During the second quarter with Cincinnati leading 14-3 and the Chiefs with a 1st-and-goal from the Bengals' 1-yard line, Bates fell to the ground, seemingly in order to avoid a penalty for 12 men on the field:

Smh 😂 pic.twitter.com/M2UkjrppFc

— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) December 4, 2022

Video showed Bates falling down with no one around him as he watched two Bengals defensive players run on the field from the sidelines.

No flag was thrown, and the Chiefs scored regardless as running back Jerick McKinnon hauled in a two-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes on third down.

Bates quickly returned to the game and played 96 percent of the defensive snaps.

Cincinnati beat Kansas City by the same score, 27-24, that it beat the Chiefs in last season's AFC Championship Game. The Bengals have defeated Kansas City three times in the past two seasons.

Bates was not the only player to receive a fine for allegedly faking an injury this week. New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan was fined $50,000 for a similar situation against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.

Per ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio, the league also fined Saints head coach Dennis Allen $100,000, defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen $50,000 and the Saints organization $350,000 for a total of $550,000 in fines.

The fines came after the NFL sent a memo to teams on Dec. 2 warning that there would be significant punishment for faking injuries, per Florio.

It has not been announced if anyone in the Bengals organization was fined other than Bates.

The 25-year-old Bates is one of the Bengals' top defensive players. He has registered 54 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defended for 8-4 Cincinnati.

Pelissero noted that Bates will appeal the $50,000 fine.

The NFL MVP race is tightening.

Patrick Mahomes' stranglehold on his second MVP award loosened in Week 13, and the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback dropped to +125 odds (bet $100 to win $125) following Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. DraftKings Sportsbook had Mahomes as an overwhelming -160 favorite heading into the weekend.

Joe Burrow saw his MVP odds slashed by more than half, going from +1400 to +600 after outdueling Mahomes for the second time in less than a year. Burrow threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns and added a score on the ground in the Bengals' 27-24 win.

Cincinnati held Mahomes to a season-low 223 passing yards and two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing). He has only thrown two passing touchdowns over the past two weeks.

Meanwhile, a monster performance from Jalen Hurts in Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans has the Eagles quarterback on Mahomes' heels. Hurts threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns while adding 12 yards and a score on the ground. He sits at +175 odds to hoist his first MVP.

No other player other than Mahomes, Hurts and Burrow holds better than 10-1 odds. Tua Tagovailoa was the biggest loser of the weekend after turning the ball over three times in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers. His odds dropped from +500 all the way to +1200.

Peter King of NBC Sports called the MVP a "tossup" between Mahomes and Hurts. However, he has Burrow third in his rankings and noted the Bengals quarterback will "have something to say" about the honor over the final five weeks of the season.

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