In this week’s review, the Cincinnati Bengals are part of a rough Sunday for NFL quarterbacks. COVID-19 prompts several shake-ups to local college sports schedules. Plus, the Cincinnati Reds bid adieu to Robert Stephenson.

Cincinnati Bengals lose to the New York Giants

It’s official, the 2020 Cincinnati Bengals will have a losing season. Falling to a 2-8-1 record after losing 19-17 to the New York Giants. The win pushes the Giants into first place in the NFC East; leaving the Queen City with a 4-7 record. Cincinnati was a late drive away from potentially winning this game. Their comeback hopes were ultimately dashed by a Giants fumble recovery in the closing seconds.

Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen lost the ball after being strip sacked by the Giants. All part of a rough Sunday for several quarterbacks in the National Football League. Including both starting quarterbacks in the Giants vs. Bengals game. Along with the late fumble, Allen was sacked twice and threw one interception. In his first game as the Bengals starting quarterback; after Joe Burrow’s November 22nd season-ending ACL and MCL injuries.

It wasn’t all bad for Allen, he connected with Tee Higgins for a touchdown. One of two Bengals touchdowns on Sunday afternoon. The other came through a history-making Brandon Wilson kick return in the first quarter. Wilson’s 103 yard kick return currently stands as the longest touchdown in Bengals history. Beyond the Bengals, Giants starting QB Daniel Jones left the game with a hamstring injury. Plus, none of the Denver Broncos’ active roster quarterbacks were available Sunday. All three active roster quarterbacks were sidelined due to COVID-19 protocol violations.

The Broncos turned to practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton to play quarterback. Hinton had just one completion; as the New Orleans Saints pummeled Denver 31-3. There were a few noteworthy Bengals quarterback connections in this game. Brandon Allen joined the Bengals after going under center for Denver last year. While former Bengals QB Jeff Driskel was one of Denver’s QB’s sidelined on Sunday. Next up for the Bengals, the Miami Dolphins this coming Sunday in Miami. That game is set to kick off at 1 PM Eastern on CBS.

COVID-19 cancels two local College Football games

COVID-19 left an impact on three local college games originally set for this past weekend. Cincinnati Football’s road game against Temple Football was cancelled. Due to COVID-19 cases within both programs. The cancellation leaves Cincinnati with just one remaining regular season game. Their road finale against Tulsa Football on December 12th.

The cancellation also means Cincinnati will qualify for the American Athletic Conference title game. Cincinnati currently has an 8-0 overall and 6-0 conference record. At worst, the Cincinnati Bearcats would be the road team for the AAC title game. The Bearcats cancelled game did not impact their ranking in the AP Top 25. Cincinnati ranks seventh in the poll for the fourth week in a row.

How the cancellation will impact their spot in the College Football Playoff rankings is unclear. Cincinnati goes into today ranked seventh in the CFP rankings. The next rankings update will be this Tuesday evening. Saturday’s cancelled game throws another obstacle in Cincinnati’s already long-shot CFP hopes. The second cancelled game of local interest could shake up the CFP conversation too.

Ohio State Football’s game against Illinois Football was cancelled late Friday. Ohio State ranks third in the AP Top 25 but fourth in the CFP rankings. This is Ohio State’s second cancelled game since their season began. Another cancellation would disqualify Ohio State from the Big Ten Championship Game. Which would be a major blow to the Ohio State Buckeyes title hopes.

College Basketball’s opening week review

The third game of local interest impacted by COVID-19 was a college basketball game. Northern Kentucky Basketball’s previously scheduled road-opener was postponed. That game was supposed to be played on Saturday against Chattanooga Basketball. Along with this, their road game against Butler Basketball on December 6th was also postponed. Northern Kentucky’s season tipped-off last Wednesday at home. The NKU Norse beat Ball State Basketball 74-73. The game-winning play came through Bryson Langdon’s three-pointer with 22 seconds left.

NKU’s next scheduled game is at home this Thursday. The Norse will face Tennessee Tech Basketball at 6 PM Eastern time. Similar to NKU, Xavier Basketball’s season began last Wednesday with a win. Beating NKU’s Horizon League foe Oakland Basketball 101-49. In the opening game of the Xavier Invitational and Xavier Basketball’s 100th season.

Xavier’s two other games in their invitational were nail-biters. The Xavier Musketeers beat Bradley Basketball on Thanksgiving Day 51-50. Bradley’s missed last second free-throw and Xavier’s rebound made the difference. Last Friday, the Musketeers beat Toledo Basketball 76-73. Xavier Basketball will now embark on a busy week. Starting tonight with a home game against Eastern Kentucky Basketball. That game will tip-off at 7 PM Eastern time on FS1.

This Wednesday, Xavier will host Tennessee Tech as part of their greater Cincinnati tour. That game will also tip-off at 7 PM Eastern on FS1. Xavier’s busy week will conclude this Sunday with quite the road-opener. Facing Cincinnati Basketball in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. This year’s shootout tips-off at 3 PM Eastern on ESPN. Cincinnati’s season won’t tip off until this Wednesday. When the Bearcats host Lipscomb Basketball at 5 PM Eastern on ESPN+.

Elsewhere, this was a mixed opening week for Virginia basketball programs. San Francisco Basketball upset Virginia 61-60 on Friday. While Richmond Basketball upset then No.10 Kentucky at Rupp Arena on Sunday. The 76-64 win boosts previously un-ranked Richmond to 19th in the AP Top 25. While now No.20 Kentucky’s loss drops them down to a 1-1 record.

Cincinnati Reds trade Robert Stephenson and Jameson Hannah

The Cincinnati Reds traded pitcher Robert Stephenson to the Colorado Rockies last week. Along with minor league outfielder Jameson Hannah. The Reds are getting two right-handers in return; Jeff Hoffman and minor leaguer Case Willliams. Stephenson was Cincinnati’s 2011 first round draft pick. After a relatively strong 2019, the right-handed reliever struggled in 2020.

Stephenson’s earned run average ballooned from a career-best 3.76 in 2019; to a career-worst 9.90 in 2020. Hannah was acquired through the Tanner Roark trade with the Oakland Athletics in 2019. He didn’t appear in any games with the Reds in 2020. Hoffman went 2-1 and had a 9.28 ERA last season. Williams was drafted by the Rockies in fourth round of this year’s draft.