In this review, the Cincinnati Bengals win big in Pittsburgh. The Cincinnati Reds snap their series losing streak. Plus, David Bell gets an extension while Jaap Stam gets sacked.

The Football Review

After snapping an overall losing streak against the Pittsburgh Steelers late last season. The Cincinnati Bengals got their first road win in Pittsburgh since 2015 last Sunday. With a 24-10 victory in Cincinnati’s first AFC North clash of the season. In a game where Bengals fans were able to feel calm and happy during the final two minutes. A rare feeling in recent years when facing the Steelers.

One major takeaway from Sunday’s game is Joe Burrow not getting sacked. The Bengals quarterback was sacked a whopping ten times going into Sunday. He threw three touchdown passes and was intercepted once. In contrast, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sacked four times. He threw just one touchdown pass and was intercepted twice.

Both interceptions were snagged by Bengals linebacker sensation Logan Wilson. Two of Burrow’s three touchdown passes were caught by rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. He surpassed Randy Moss as the youngest NFL player to catch four touchdowns in his first four games. The other was caught by Pittsburgh area native Tyler Boyd. In the first road win against the Steelers in his career.

Penalty stats from this game was something I was curious about going into Sunday. Given the Bengals past penalty problems against the Steelers. Plus, the early emphasis among NFL referees to enforce targeting penalties. Instead of getting burned by penalties, the Bengals were basically even with the Steelers. Both teams had ten penalties, Cincinnati lost 89 yards compared to Pittsburgh’s 73.

There were a few firsts for the Bengals on Sunday. Cincinnati area native Jackson Carman had his first NFL career start. The guard stepped up in the absence of Xavier Su’a-Filo; in the best game for the offensive line this season. Joe Burrow had the first road win of his NFL career. Sunday’s game was also his first win against the Steelers.

The win against Pittsburgh gives the Bengals momentum to carry into a short week. The Bengals will host the Jacksonville Jaguars this Thursday. In a prime time clash featuring a quarterback rematch of the 2020 College Football Playoff”s National Championship Game. As Joe Burrow takes on Clemson alum Trevor Lawrence. The game will also feature the induction ceremony for the Bengals’ inaugural Ring of Honor class. With Anthony Munoz, Ken Anderson, the late Paul Brown and the late Ken Riley being the first four inductees. Thursday’s game is set to kickoff at 8:20 PM Eastern on NFL Network and WLWT-TV 5 in Cincinnati.

In college football, Cincinnati Football moved up in the rankings. Despite having last week off, Cincinnati moved from eighth to seventh in this week’s AP Top 25. They moved up to eighth in the USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. This Saturday, Cincinnati will play in perhaps their biggest non-conference game in program history. Taking on Notre Dame Football in South Bend, IN at 2:30 PM Eastern on NBC.

Notre Dame is emerging from a big top 25 clash last Saturday. Beating then No.18 (AP) Wisconsin Football 41-13 at Soldier Field in Chicago. In Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly’s program record-setting 106^th win. The game was a neck and neck battle until Notre Dame broke away with it in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame heads into this week ranked ninth in the AP and seventh in the coaches poll.

Cincinnati Reds week in review

The Cincinnati Reds snapped their eight series losing streak last Sunday. Through winning three out of four against the Washington Nationals. Earlier last week, the Reds won one and lost one against the Pittsburgh Pirates. What was supposed to be the series finale last Wednesday was rained out. Last Wednesday’s washout will be made up today; as the Reds’ 2021 regular season home finale. Today’s game is set to start at 1:10 PM Eastern.

As the rain fell last Wednesday, the Reds announced a two-year extension for manager David Bell. One wonders whether the extension announcement gave Bell and the Reds a confidence boost. The Reds are 3-1 since the announcement and are one win away from ensuring a winning season. The timing of the announcement might be considered poorly timed by some. Since it’s coming with the Reds’ MLB Postseason hopes nearly dashed.

The Reds postseason elimination number is one going into Monday. Cincinnati needs to win their remaining games and the St. Louis Cardinals need to lose every game. Which is a tall task even without factoring in the Cardinals’ ongoing 16-game winning streak. The Reds have six games left in the regular season. Four of the six are against the Pirates, including today’s make up game in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati will also face the American League Central champion Chicago White Sox. Playing Tuesday and Wednesday at 8:10 PM Eastern in Chicago. Reds fans are hoping the Bengals success in Pittsburgh rubs off on the Reds. The Reds will wrap up the regular season in Pittsburgh with a three-game series. First pitches on Friday and Saturday are set for at 6:35 PM; Sunday’s is set for 3:05 PM Eastern.

USWNT wins rout in Cincinnati

In Soccer news, the U.S. Women’s National Team shut out Paraguay 8-0 last Tuesday. In the first international friendly at FC Cincinnati’s new TQL Stadium. Playing in her hometown, Rose Lavelle got the scoring started for the USWNT. With a goal in the fourth minute; starting a stretch of five goals in the first 15 minutes of the match. Sophia Smith scored in the sixth minute and Alex Morgan scored two of her three goals in the first 15 minutes. Catarina Macario scored in the 15^th and 82^nd minutes. While Carli Lloyd scored a goal in the 78^th minute.

Elsewhere in local soccer news, FC Cincinnati lost 4-2 on the road to DC United last Saturday. In what turned out to be the last match in Jaap Stam’s tenure as FCC’s head coach. The club fired Stam Monday morning along with assistants Yoann Damet and Said Bakkati. Damet previously had two stints as FCC’s interim head coach and was the longest serving coach for the club. FC Cincinnati has an 8-28-12 record since hiring Stam in May 2020. Tyrone Marshall will serve as FCC’s interim head coach. Marshall is also the head coach of FC Cincinnati’s Under-19 team.

FC Cincinnati will play two matches this week. Taking on Toronto FC in Toronto this Wednesday at 7 PM Eastern. Then the New York Red Bulls Saturday at TQL Stadium. Kickoff for that match is set for 7:30 PM Eastern. Both matches can be seen in Cincinnati on WSTR-TV 64.