In this preview, after a rough weekend for local teams in nationally televised games. Cincinnati and No.16 Xavier’s Men’s Basketball teams face intriguing matchups this week. While the Cincinnati Bengals look ahead to next season.

Cincinnati Bengals

The fourth time was the charm for the Kansas City Chiefs. In their fourth matchup in 13 months, Kansas City beat the Cincinnati Bengals in last night’s AFC Championship Game 23-20. Denying the Bengals an opportunity to compete in back-to-back Super Bowls. While snapping the Bengals three-game winning streak against the Chiefs and ten game overall winning streak. After surprising many with their Super Bowl run last year. The Bengals managed to show that last year’s run was no fluke. Through winning a second-consecutive AFC North division title and other phenomenal accomplishments.

Pro Bowl Games

Skills Competition: Thursday at 7 PM (all times Eastern) on ESPN.

AFC-NFC Pro Bowl Game: Sunday at 3 PM on ABC, ESPN, ESPN+ and Disney XD.

This season isn’t quite over yet for a few Bengals players. Three Bengals were named to the AFC’s roster for the 2023 Pro Bowl Games. When the rosters were announced last December. Quarterback Joe Burrow, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Several Bengals were named to the Pro Bowl as alternates.

Safety Jessie Bates III (second alternate), running back Joe Mixon and wide receiver Tyler Boyd are third alternates. Kicker Evan McPherson is a fourth alternate. While center Ted Karras, defensive tackle DJ Reader and safety Vonn Bell are considered fifth alternates. While some players likely won’t be available due to injuries. It will be interesting to see if any Bengals players. Along with other Conference Championship participating teams take part; in the recently retooled Pro Bowl festivities. Taking place days after those teams played in their respective conference title games.

Instead of the full contact game that had been in place for decades. This year’s Pro Bowl Game will be a flag football game and several skills competitions. Not only is this an effort to boost flag football’s profile. Frankly, it’s an effort to rejuvenate player’s interest in the Pro Bowl itself. The only big four major league all-star game that doesn’t take place midseason.

In the years since the Pro Bowl moved to the week before the Super Bowl. The Pro Bowl Game lacked the typical intensity of an NFL game. Since players didn’t want to risk getting injured early in their offseason. While Pro Bowl players from Super Bowl participating teams were exempt. Perhaps the Pro Bowl’s changes will result in the NFL’s desire; of making the game more compelling for participants and viewers.

Men’s College Basketball (Thomas More’s rankings are NAIA Coaches Poll, other rankings are AP Top 25)

No.22 Thomas More vs. Miami (Middletown), Tuesday at 7 PM on team1sports.com/thomasmore.

No.16 Xavier vs. No.17 Providence, Wednesday at 6:30 PM on FS1 and WKRC-AM (550).

Cincinnati vs. Tulsa, Wednesday at 7 PM on ESPN+ and WLW-AM (700).

Mount St. Joseph vs. Bluffton University, Wednesday at 7:30 PM on Mount St. Joseph athletics’ YouTube channel.

Northern Kentucky at Robert Morris, Thursday at 7 PM on ESPN+ and WCKY-AM (1530).

Cincinnati vs. UCF, Saturday at Noon on ESPNU and WLW-AM (700).

No.22 Thomas More vs. Wilberforce, Saturday at 3 PM on team1sports.com/thomasmore.

Mount St. Joseph at Manchester University, Saturday at 3 PM on boxcast.tv.

No.16 Xavier vs. St.John’s, Saturday at 5 PM on FOX and WLW-AM (700).

Northern Kentucky at Youngstown State, Saturday at 7 PM on ESPN+ and WSAI-AM (1360).

Women’s College Basketball

Mount St. Joseph at Bluffton University, Wednesday at 7:30 PM.

Xavier vs. Georgetown, Tuesday at 7 PM on FloSports.

Cincinnati at Tulsa, Wednesday at 7:30 PM on ESPN+.

Northern Kentucky at Wright State, Thursday at 6 PM on ESPN+.

No.1 Thomas More vs. Wilberforce, Saturday at 1 PM on team1sports/thomasmore.

Mount St. Joseph at Manchester University, Saturday at 1 PM on boxcast.tv.

Cincinnati at Tulane, Saturday at 3 PM on ESPN+

Xavier at DePaul, Saturday at 4 PM on FloSports.

College Sports

Xavier’s men’s tennis team will have an Indiana road trip this weekend. Taking on IUPUI in Indianapolis, starting Friday at Noon. Then taking on Indiana in Bloomington Sunday at 4 PM. Elsewhere in Xavier athletics news, XU’s swimming team will compete at Miami (Ohio). In a meet Saturday at 1 PM in Oxford.

Meanwhile, Mount St. Joseph will host Thomas More in Men’s Volleyball. Taking place Thursday at 6 PM at the Harrington Center in Cincinnati. Thursday’s match can be seen on Mount St. Joseph Athletics’ YouTube channel. Friday at 7 PM, Thomas More will host Kentucky State in Men’s Volleyball. Friday’s match at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, KY can be seen on team1sports.com/thomasmore.

Cincinnati’s track and field team will be competing in two events this weekend. Taking part in the Doc Hale Meet in Blacksburg, VA. Along with the Mayo Invitational in South Bend, IN. NKU’s track and field team will also compete in the Mayo Invitational. NKU’s team will also compete in the Bellarmine Classic in Louisville, KY. These events will take place Friday and Saturday. NKU’s tennis teams will host Eastern Kentucky at the Five Seasons Sports Club in Crestview Hills, KY starting Saturday at 4 PM.

Cincinnati Cyclones

Cyclones vs. Kansas City Mavericks, Wednesday at 7:30 PM.

Cyclones vs. Indianapolis Fuel, Friday at 7:30 PM.

Cyclones vs. Toledo Walleye, Saturday at 7:30 PM.

Cyclones at Kalamazoo Wings, Sunday at 3 PM.

All Cyclones games can be seen on FloHockey and heard on cycloneshockey.com.