In this review, the Cincinnati Bengals get a pivotal win in Denver. FC Cincinnati hires a new manager and reveals their 2022 season schedule. While COVID-19 leaves an impact on Cincinnati Basketball’s schedule.

Cincinnati Bengals snap losing streak and reclaim division lead

The Cincinnati Bengals are back in first place in the AFC North. After beating the Denver Broncos 15-10 in Denver on Sunday. Snapping a two-game losing streak and improving to an 8-6 record. Evan McPherson did all of the Bengals scoring in the first half. In a first half kicking competition with Broncos kicker Brandon McManus.

McPherson made a 53-yard field goal in the first quarter. McManus made a 54-yard field goal in the second. Then McPherson made a franchise-record 58-yard field goal later to close out the first half. As the Bengals took a 6-3 lead into halftime. A score that could compare to a Cincinnati Reds vs. Colorado Rockies game in Denver.

McPherson made a 26-yard field goal in the third quarter. Giving the Bengals a 9-3 lead that the Broncos surpassed with the game’s first touchdown. A 25-yard reception from Tim Patrick; thrown by Broncos backup quarterback Drew Lock. He came into the game earlier in the third quarter. After starting QB Teddy Bridgewater left on a stretcher with an apparent head injury.

Patrick’s touchdown and the extra point gave Denver their only lead of the game. Leading 10-7 with 1:15 left in the third. The Bengals got the lead back 45 seconds later. With Tyler Boyd wrapping up a two-play drive with a 56-yard touchdown reception. The Bengals missed the two-point conversion attempt.

Cincinnati’s defense did well despite going into the game with a lengthy injury report. Narrowly shutting out the Broncos in the fourth. With a pivotal fumble recovery by Cincinnati defensive end Khalid Kareem. He suffered an injury during that play. Cincinnati also forced Denver to turn it over on downs deep in their own territory. In Denver’s last offensive drive of the game with nine seconds left.

FC Cincinnati hires Noonan to be new manager

FC Cincinnati hired Pat Noonan to be their new manager last Tuesday. Noonan was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Union. Where Chris Albright worked before becoming FC Cincinnati’s General Manager earlier this year. FC Cincinnati’s hopeful Albright and Noonan can repeat the success they had in Philadelphia. The Union won Major League Soccer’s Supporter’s Shield in 2020. Awarded to the MLS club with the best regular season record. They’ve been runners-up in the U.S. Open Cup three times in the last eight years.

Noonan also won MLS Cup, U.S. Open Cup and Supporters Shield titles as a player. Albright and Noonan’s hirings signal a shift for FC Cincinnati. After years of tapping into connections in the Netherlands. The orange and blue are striving to hire staff with more Major League Soccer experience. FCC will also hopefully have management continuity and winning campaigns with Noonan. He is the club’s seventh full time or interim manager since their 2015 establishment. FC Cincinnati hasn’t finished better than 24th in their first three MLS seasons.

Major League Soccer also revealed their 2022 schedule last week. FCC’s season opener will be February 26th at Austin FC. FC Cincinnati’s home opener is set for March 5th against D.C. United. FC Cincinnati’s full 2022 regular season schedule can be found here.

Cincinnati Football’s historic Early National Signing Day

Cincinnati Football is seeing one of the benefits of qualifying for the College Football Playoff. Through signing one of the nation’s best recruiting classes. Particularly, it’s considered the best Group of Five Conference recruiting class on Early National Signing Day. Along with one of the highest ranked classes in school history. Ranking No.25 going into last Wednesday in ESPN’s rankings.

The Cincinnati Bearcats collected 20 signatures to letters of intent from recruits. Two signees are considered four-star recruits by 24/7 Sports. Defensive End Mario Eugenio from Tampa, FL and safety JQ Hardaway from Phenix City, AL. The rest are all considered three-star recruits by 24/7 Sports. The most prominent local signees are Derrick Shepard and Ken Willis.

Shepard is a defensive tackle at Kettering, OH’s Archbishop Alter High School. Willis is a cornerback at Colerain High School. Willis and Shepard are among Cincinnati’s eight Ohio signees. Cincinnati also added Delaware Football transfer kicker Ryan Coe. A move that could repair the Cincinnati Bearcats’ inconsistent kicking unit next season.

The local College Basketball Weekly Roundup

No.22 Xavier Men’s Basketball didn’t skip a beat. In their first game after winning the Crosstown Shootout. Beating Morehead State Basketball last Wednesday 86-63 at home. Then opening up Big East Conference play with a home win against Marquette. Winning 80-71 in a game that was consistently close. Led by a career-high 19 points from sophomore guard Dwon Odom. Xavier led through the entire second half; a late one-point deficit was a close as Marquette got.

Cincinnati Men’s Basketball beat Florida A&M Basketball 77-50 at home last Tuesday. Getting back to their winning ways after their crosstown blowout loss. Saturday’s 71-57 Cincinnati win against Ashland Basketball summed up the weekend in sports. Cincinnati was originally scheduled to host Texas Southern Basketball last Saturday. Texas Southern had to back out last Friday due to COVID-19 protocols. In a scramble that mirrored other college basketball teams going into last weekend. Cincinnati was able to add Ashland University- an NCAA Division II school in Northern Ohio- to their schedule Friday afternoon.

Northern Kentucky Men’s Basketball had one game last week. Losing in overtime 81-68 on the road to Eastern Kentucky Basketball last Saturday. EKU outpaced Northern Kentucky 17-4 in overtime. After Northern scored 32 points in each half of regulation play.

In local Women’s Basketball news, Cincinnati Basketball beat Chattanooga 63-52 last Wednesday on the road. Then beat North Carolina A&T 87-77 in double overtime last Sunday at home. Also last Sunday, Xavier Basketball beat Southeast Missouri 65-58 at home. Xavier will now head into a Christmas break. Their next game is December 29th against Butler Basketball. Tip-off at the Cintas Center is set for 2 PM Eastern on FloSports. Speaking of breaks, Northern Kentucky Basketball had a post-exam break last week.

What to watch this week (barring COVID postponements)

Men’s College Basketball

No.22 Xavier Basketball at Villanova Tuesday at 7 PM Eastern on FS1.

Cincinnati Basketball hosts Tennessee Tech Tuesday at 7 PM Eastern on ESPN+ and WLW-AM (700).

Northern Kentucky Basketball at Indiana Wednesday at 7 PM Eastern on the Big Ten Network.

Women’s College Basketball

Northern Kentucky Basketball at Wofford Monday at 6 PM Eastern on ESPN+.

Cincinnati Basketball at Marquette Wednesday at 2 PM Eastern on FloHoops.

Football

Miami Ohio Football will play North Texas in the Frisco Classic Thursday at 3:30 PM Eastern on ESPN.

The Cincinnati Bengals will host the Baltimore Ravens Sunday at 1 PM Eastern on CBS. Pitting the top two teams in the AFC North against each other. Every team in the division enters Monday above .500. Baltimore and Cincinnati are even record-wise; Cincinnati holds a head-to-head advantage. After winning in Baltimore earlier in the season.

Wishing you and your loved ones a merry and safe Christmas weekend.

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