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It's half off unlimited access to 25 language courses for the rest of your life. redeem your 50% off at rosetta stone.com/rs10 today, Nick Fitzy Stevens joins us talk a little Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots week one match up. Make sure you check out his podcast, six rings and football things alongside Andy Hart. Nick, how you doing? I am doing fabulously. Thank you guys. Lindsey Mike, it is great to be here on the podcast as well. My football team, not so much, but you know what? That's okay because we are currently paying the price from one of the most unheralded, unimaginable double dynastic runs in sports history. And you know, every now and again, you know, like one of my buddies, mom said, like, there are no free lunches in this life. Well, we had a pretty damn good lunch that extended into a dinner and a nightcap and then an overnight and then in a hell of a brunch. And now, you know, the rebuild is underway. So my motto, Lindsey, steer into it. Just own it. We're not very good now. It's going to take a while to rebuild the empire. And that's okay. But you guys, hey, you guys are back this year. Hey, the Bengals and you know what, you talk about week one and I will just say this over the last few years of the Cincinnati Bengals, they've started out slow. Obviously, first we'll train you camp for Joe Burrell. He's had just crazy ones that he's had to deal with. Just coming back from injuries, COVID year, all that fun stuff. And he finally got a full one in. But I think of week one and you look at this opponent with the New England Patriots. One, you can't overlook on both sides of the ball. And when you look at this team and obviously first time head coach Bill Belichick is gone, they decide not to go with Drake May and week one. What do you think offensively with this Patriots offense, what are you looking forward to and really for me, if I were to do anything against the Cincinnati Bengals defense and things that they've struggled with is probably focus on rounding the ball. Okay. What am I looking forward to on Sunday, waking up because that's always a great way to start the day. The end of the game, the ice cold beer I'll have when I finish the post game show, the six rings post game show live on W E I F M. And most of all, what am I looking forward to? What am I hoping for? Overall from the Patriots, I'm hoping that we see a team because we've seen every website that covers sports and football, 33rd team, pro football, talk NFL.com ESPN.com, et cetera, et cetera. Their playout predictions, their division winners, their wild guard teams, not a single publication across the country has given the Patriots a snowball's chance in hell of making the post season or being anything more than one of the three to five worst teams in the league. Now there's a very good chance that come next April, Roger Goodell will be saying, well, the first pick on the 2025 NFL draft, the Norwegian Patriots do blank, there's probably a good chance that's going to happen. And that's fine. But so long as the Patriots this season figure out three things, one, who wants to be a fighter on this team, who wants to be a part of the solution, not the problem going forward, be do they have their quarterback, just like you guys figured out years ago with Joe Burrow and see or three, depending on which way you guys want to go, just like the same way you guys, you know, picked up some weapons and developed talent around Joe Burrow. If the Patriots can find a couple receivers, tough it out and shows the pride and poise of New England football and we can figure out if Drake made the quarterback, that'll make for a good season. And as far as Sunday goes, you know, there's a very good chance the Bengals, maybe Joe Burrow and I know the wrist is a big concern. I hate thinking that one of my favorite players that doesn't wear a Pats uniform is dinged up and, you know, Jamar Chase, it will he or won't he is he going to sign won't they will mic around finally off from the money he deserves. T Higgins does he play pissed off because he wants to get that contract or is he going to mail it in this season. I would love everyone wants to see the Bengals succeed, but I think Sunday a best case scenario for Pats fans is the Patriots punch through the earth, drag the Bengals down to hell with them, turn it into a rock fight and you're looking at like 2016, 23, 17 type of like near the under kind of like, oh, that was a that was a very physical game. Wow, glad you know, Bengals fans would say like glad we escaped that one with a win. Yeah, speaking of things that are similar between the Patriots and those early Joe Burrow bangles, this offensive line on paper kind of looks a little bit like a disaster. Oh, yeah, right. Oh, I've built sand castles at the beach on Cape Cod that have greater integrity than this Patriots offensive line. Come on now. Yeah, I know you all don't have to try to introduce that Queen City charm to me. We can be completely we have the Enron debacle of pay of offensive lines like it's bad. Well, when I saw the dairy and low at left tackle, I was like, I feel like that might be a Lord of the Rings character. Right. We could play we could play an entire game called like Middle Earth character or Patriots offensive. But it feels like the way the Patriots make this competitive is what you said, bring it to a rock fight. Go on the ball, remind me, even since a good back, you won't list like the good players on the Patriots. That's one of their better players. And Michael and Wayne is a good office of lineman despite the sand, you know, the rest of them up. He's a big, he's a big boy for sure. Yeah. Do you think there's a chance that are these guys, you know, they show up and can they move bangles defensive line around a little bit? Maybe create some running lanes or do you not have a lot of hope for that in the run game I do because I think they have enough size and strength. David Andrews, he's getting up there, but he still knows that he's a crafty veteran, good center. One of the better centers in the league, the rookie right guard who they took on the fourth round, laden Robinson out of Texas A&M, they've taught some of the guys on the offensive line and training camp said like they think he's the strongest player on the team. They've talked about like, you know, there's, there's strong and there's laden Robinson strong. He's going to make mistakes. He's going to get whistled for penalties because he's a rookie and they're all learning together on the fly. The tackle situation is bad. It's like it's we're just going to be completely honest. Like we're a DEF CON one with the tackles right now on when it was good, but he might be playing out of position. And the left tackles a disaster like last year, the Patriots picked up an old bangles cast off Riley reef and threw him into the volume play that we actually nicknamed on the six rings podcast, the hobo rumble, like 10 stiff center. One of them is going to leave with the right tackle job turns out nobody was good enough and it was a problem all year. Now they're doing the same thing on the left tackle position, which is a surprise that the Patriots acknowledge they needed playmakers. They acknowledge that they probably weren't going to be very good this year. They acknowledge they needed a quarterback and they know they needed a tone change, fresh coat of paint and a head coat, a new head coach and a voice, but they haven't addressed the left tackle issue. Whereas Cincinnati, you know, you got burrow burrows leg all tore up, you know, as rookie year comes back stronger than ever have tried to figure out the line. And I feel like this is the year Cincinnati gets the line figure you got our old pal Trent Brown at right tackle where he likes playing and you may get the better Trent Brown this year because he's probably looking at this one year, $10 million deal with you all as a chance to secure or dupe someone into giving him one final big contract somewhere else. I love Orlando Brown, I saw left tackle and this kid that you guys drafted from I think Georgia, a Marius Mims, I know he's dinged up right now. But like that dude can do two things, block the sun and people and like eventually this is all going to come together and the line is going to be a strength for you guys. And I'm I'm envy, I'm envious of it right now. I mean, hell, I spent way too much time this offseason pining for your old pal Jonah Williams to come to Fox bro, they didn't even give him a sniffer with you look, we've been talking about offensive line in Cincinnati for about a decade right now. So we know how how it really feels and you know, just kind of flipping to the Bengals offensive line. I know you mentioned Trent Brown and you're obviously familiar with his play and I know how a lot of people feel about Trent Brown and you know, work ethic him out there. Can you stay healthy? What are you going to get from him? Will they have to play a Marius at one point? What can Trent Brown offer on this offensive line compared to what they had in Jonah Williams last year? When motivated, when focused and when not being a moody, mercurial gen Z type, Trent Brown is a force of nature. On the 2018 Patriots offensive line, the last time that they started five guys, sorry to make everybody hungry, I'm starving. But when they started the same five guys all season long, they were able to pivot from the gameplay past-centric offense to a power run game led by Trent Brown, Joe Tunney who ultimately signed a big deal with Kansas City and they bullied their way to a Super Bowl championship. When Trent Brown is motivated and focused and healthy, he's a dominant force. A couple of years ago, I remember in the game where Brian Hoyer had to start for Matt Jones because Matt Jones rolled his ankle against the Ravens and then Brian Hoyer got crushed by, I was his name, Isaiah Nguyen, God, what a waste of a draft pick. That guy was back in 2018. He got pancaked and Bailey Zappi came in the game, it was the first game. Trent Brown just decided like, "Hey, I know what I'm going to do. We're going to win this F and football game." And he just kept shoving two, three guys out of the way at a time. He was getting up and flexing over people. When you get that kind of Trent Brown, watch out. Like no one's getting, many people aren't getting past him and when you run the ball his way, there's going to be a clear path for you, like a police escort or something like that. But when he's tuned out or doesn't care, he's a liability. Yeah, that's definitely going to be something to watch. I want to stay with the Bengals offense and then focus on the Patriots secondary right now. Jamar Chase, it really is leaning towards, he is going to play for the Cincinnati Bengals after two practices, they'll have one more walk through on Friday, contract extension to be determined. T Higgins, he was on the injury report, limited with a hamstring injury, not supposed to be an issue. But when you think about these Bengals wide receivers, Jamar's out there, T's out there, Yoshi may be as wide receiver number three against the Patriots secondary. What do you think about that matchup? You know, this is going to be, this will be a very telling season for the Patriots secondary. And I think it's a great first matchup. You know, they know all the tricks in the book and it's a very small book from Old pal Mike Kaseki at tight end. Obviously, Jamar Chase, top five receiver and borderline uncoverable. And T Higgins has come to Foxborough and eaten Patriots, cornerbacks, lunches before like in the first half of that December, Christmas Eve game in 2022 as well, where he just devoured John Jones and was unstoppable. And then it feels like the Bengals decided at halftime like, times is plain leave. I want to get home in time for, I got presents to wrap, I got nog to chug and then let the pats come all the way back and almost win that game. But it's, I think actually it could be your secondary receivers that could pose a problem because you've got the, was it, I see this kid? Yo Sivash. Yo Sivash. Okay, Yoshi. Yeah. He's the one that's been turning heads and he's looked terrific in the preseason as well. We have our, we have J bond Baker. You guys have Trey Burton like, wow, you're super talented. If you could quit being such a jackass, maybe you could focus your efforts on not, you know, getting into trouble off the field and producing points and forward progress and first downs on the field. That would be great. And you got the, with the Erwin, right? Yeah. Try an Erwin. Yeah. Try an Erwin. Like there's a lot of like sure-handed, sneaky guys on there who thrive in a role where if all the coverage and the double teams and the safeties are rolling over to take care of T Higgins and Jamar Chase, then these guys can feed and hand-peck you to death. And I've, you know, and Joe Burton, excuse me, Joe Burrow loves, loves that because he's just so accurate and he's so calculating. He's jot, to me, he's like John Wick the quarterback. It's like someone killed his dog years ago and he just has a bloodlust for whoever he plays in an emotionally like docile state, which is why he's my favorite player that doesn't wear a Pat's uniform. We have a bunch of really nimble, shorter corners and Marcus Jones, John Jones. And then there's a Christian Gonzalez kid. And this is going to be a huge year for him because he played so well in the three and a quarter games he played last year coming out of the first round of University of Oregon. People have already anointed him the next step on Gilmore like, but I have to keep trying to remind people on the air and on our podcast like folks, this is an extended rookie season for him. Devin McCordy, the three time Super Bowl champion safety joined us on the pod recently and said you have to look at this season as his rookie year, like that was just a taste. That was a snippet. He still needs to get his feet wet. He's got to go get burned by some of these guys. He's going to have some bad game. So everyone needs to not ready him for a bronze bust and a yellow jacket. And I think actually having to start the season out with a Jamar chase who's playing himself into shape or a focused motivated tee Higgins would be great for Christian Gonzalez in the Pat secondary love Christian Gonzalez in that draft. I had a good, I had the reaction that was Vikings had when Jalen Rager went over Justin Jefferson when I saw manual Forbes go over Christian Gonzalez. I couldn't believe they did that. I couldn't be like a manual Forbes. The guy's 160 pounds soaking wet with two phone books in his pocket like he is so slight he can disappear in the freezer between two thoughts and like like they gifted that's going to be a pick I think that the commanders will regret for a while. But now we get to watch, you know, Pat's win that extra game on Christmas Eve last year takes them out of the running for the second pick. The Jayden Daniels Drake may one is going to be a fascinating one for us to watch over the next couple of years. I wanted to ask you guys, you know, in liking the Bengals and like them being one of the teams that I really enjoy and kind of cheer for since my roommate at college was from Cincinnati and I've been to the Queen City a number of times and I love it dearly. I know last year the safety position was a huge problem for because you guys lost your two starting safeties now what you bring in Gino Stone from Baltimore and von Bell is is that being addressed? Is it better than what you had last year? Where's the Bengals secondary yet? One hundred percent better than last year. I mean, von Bell was one of the two guys that left so he's been able to slide right back in and yeah, Gino Stone, I don't think he's a Jesse Bates level player, but I do think that he looks like he always knows where he's supposed to be. I don't get 11 interceptions by being out of position. So some of his luck tips overthrows, et cetera, but you know, he's got to be in position to make those plays. So I think he's a smart player that puts himself in the right position. And the main thing that defensive corner is talked a lot about is that these guys communicate they're veterans. And I was a big issue that they had with the young guys was they weren't communicating in the same way. There weren't linebackers and corners didn't know when things are getting passed off to them or if they're getting picked up. So that should be a benefit, but hey, all that is when it hits the field. I think that's when we'll really see if it's going to be an improvement, but I think it's a pretty good bet to say it'll at least be better. Yeah. And as far as like other elements or points of emphasis and interest with the Bengals that I think we that Pat's fans want to know about one, I know you guys lose DJ reader in the off season, huge, huge, huge like pillar building block. That's our bar more, if you will now, he leaves, gets paid bar more force on medical leave now on the non football injury list with the blood clot issue. Has anyone short that up for him? And then also, Lindsey, I don't know if you can speak to like the run game, Zach Moss for mixing feels like going from, you know, like premium brand to store brand of like an item, but I keep hearing good things about this chase brown guy. Yeah, when you look at the run game right now, I think a lot of Bengals fan just overall, I know they put the depth chart out even Zach Taylor's like, don't look into that. We'll see what's out there when it comes to the running back room, but I think it's still going to be maybe a 60 40 split. We'll see how it works. Maybe Zach Moss gets the first start, then you have chase Brown out there, different opportunities, what they're really looking for in their run game was to get explosive. That is something that they struggled with with Joe mixed in. He was wonderful. And since now he did a lot of great things, but it was something that you really didn't see with this offense last year. Joe Burrell said it in his first press conference going into the off season. We need to get faster and explosive in the run game and that's just something to balance out this offense. They're obviously always going to be a pass first team, but they need to run the ball. You have to run the ball in the NFL and they're really hoping to get that out of chase Brown and Zach Moss, but we really didn't get to see that in preseason with the both of them on the field at the same time. So that's really to be determined on what that's going to look like in week one or even early parts of the season when it comes to the run game. And Mike, if you want to add any more with the run game, no, but I can add to the other part. I don't think they replaced DJ reader, to be honest, like I don't think they found a body type that's similar other than their third round pick that most people are saying was a reach on and he's on short term I or anyway. So that's why I'm saying it's not impossible that the Patriots turn this into a rock fight. If they can run the ball and you're confident that this offensive line at least can run block, I think that's the entire path because if I'm looking at the bangles, I'm getting heavy and trying to run the ball because you don't you were the third worst run defense in the league last year and you lost your best run defender. Let's, let's see if they can do it. So they added some guys, but when you talk about Sheldon Rankin, you know, that's more of a pass rush specialist. You talk about Chris Jenkins, good run defender in college, but he's a rookie. So, and he's 300 pounds versus 330 pounds. So is he going to take double teams the same way he didn't in the preseason. So we will see on that front because that is my main concern with the with the team. Yeah, to me, if Jacobi Brissette, who's starting in front of May, because I think the Patriots don't want to, Drake may definitely represents the more interesting option, the more exotic option, the more hopeful option and the more dynamic option, because we saw our man goals. We saw accurate passes. We saw a quick ability to escape the pocket, both to the left to the right and then up the gut as well. Like there were flashes of why Pete, why the Patriots were so high on him and they passed up on the very generous offer that the Giants offered to try to trade up to three because day bowl thought he saw Brian day bowl thought he saw Josh Allen 2.0 and could get out from underneath the stink cloud that is Daniel Jones down with the Giants. But I think they're taking the slow cautious approach, which is what Elliot Wolf and his dad did in Green Bay. So they're imbuing a little bit of that so he can watch and learn the game and also not get car wrecked or pancaked early on as they try to forge a line. If Jacobi Brissette throws 24 times or fewer in this game, that means the Patriots run game and their will to fight nasty is working and we'll have a close game, a rock fight. If he's slinging at 30 times or more, congratulations and I hope you guys went to fan Kings or draft duel and gut yourselves that Bengals in the over parlay because you're going to be feeding Sunday night. Yeah, I agree with Mike though. I mean, the Patriots cater victory when you look right now, it is just running the ball, keeping the Bengals offense on the sideline and that that could help them. They struggle with starting off fast and week one and week two, we've noticed it in the last four to five years. So we'll see what that looks like, even though Joe Burrell was able to get a full training camp in. When I look at this game, I know a lot of people are like, Oh, Cincinnati, they're going to take it. No problem. You can't overlook the New England Patriots. And that's just one way that I think that they can take advantage. You know, I got to tell you, honestly, this has been a ton of fun and it's great getting some insight and perspective on how you guys feel about our team and where the Bengals sit right now, both in terms of the matchup on Sunday and all season long because Bengals have one of the five easiest schedules or so I've seen from Warren Sharp football. And usually those teams are the ones that sneak their way back into the playoffs. I think the Bengals will be a wildcard team as well. And if they're not, don't hold me to it. Come on. It's just a podcast people. But it's also nice. Like there's just been so much negativity surrounding the Patriots with Belichick leaving and Mayo coming in and what are the crafts doing and why didn't they keep Jude on and why didn't they get the receiver or trade for I hope in a million different things that just to hear there's still a little bit of that mystique or the respect or that Patriots, that Super Bowl championship factor that in your mindset, like this has been like a refreshing trip to the spa for me you guys. So I just want to thank you all. Well, we need a prediction from you. Mike and I'll give one later in the podcast, but what do you think is going to happen? Okay. I was foolish enough on our preview portion on six rings to say just to be the guy that I can either be held to it or locked for it. I said Patriots 19, Bengal 17. That was if Jamal Chase doesn't play if he does. You know, Bengals win by six. I agree with the low score. It's going to be a low offensive scoring type of game. Just that's something right now. Mike wants to see it. Mike wants burnt shadows out of the Patriots left on the field at Paycore Stadium Sunday. You'll have your blood. Don't you worry. It could be they start slow on paper. I see the way it could happen, but man, in terms of my watchability, I'm hoping that pitchers per sets throw in that ball 40 times. Yeah. Well, it's great. It's great to have football back and I do hope you guys have a really good season because Joe Burrow is one of the best players and just like, you know, the league is always fun when the stars succeed and, you know, I enjoy watching the Bengals a whole lot more than the Ravens and the cheap. Nothing tickles my football fancy like watching Joe Burrow beat Patrick Mahomes. So I hope it's a close one Sunday. I would love for my team to pull up and maybe that motivates Burrow to then go on like a revenge tour and blazes way through the league. But we'll see hopefully, hopefully Sunday is a good one that we all have a chance to pod and talk about for a while. And it's an interesting entertaining start to what's a great season NFL wise. Nick Fitzy Stevens, where can football fans find you in your work? I thank you guys for having me again. You can find me on the socials, IG and Twitter at Fitzy GFY, the co-host of the Six Rings Postgame show on WEIFM 93.7 FM in Boston and on the Odyssey app. And of course here on the Six Rings and Football Things podcast, get it on the Odyssey app, Spotify, Apple pods or wherever awesome football talk is found. Thank you so much for joining us looking forward to week one football. Thank you guys. Enjoy your game day in Cincinnati with Skyline. Thanks Nick. I appreciate it. Hey guys. That was a lot of fun. You guys have a good one. Okay. You too. Rebecca's favorite place to watch football is stadium swim, located at Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. 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Nick "Fitzy" Stevens goes behind enemy lines to join the "It’s Always Gameday in Cincinnati" podcast with Lindsay Patterson and Mike Santagata. They dive into the Bengals' offensive firepower, weaknesses in New England, game predictions, and more in this can't-miss matchup preview.
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