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July 16, 2025 45 mins

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In this episode, we talk about:

* Baltimore Ravens: An analysis of Lamar Jackson and their receiving corps, plus how their revamped defense plans to counter the Bengals' high-flying offense.

* Cincinnati Bengals: A close look at Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, addressing their offensive line concerns and the critical importance of developing a consistent run game.

* AFC North Rivalry: Why the Ravens-Bengals matchup is becoming one of the best rivalries in football.

* NFL Trends: The broader discussion on the value of running the ball in today's pass-happy league.

* Plus coverage on the Steelers and Browns situations heading into the 2025 season.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction & The Allure of the AFC North

0:48 - Baltimore Ravens: Question Marks at Wide Receiver?

2:15 - Lamar Jackson's Development & Supporting Cast

4:49 - Ravens' Secondary Reinforcements & Defensive Strategy

6:30 - Containing Burrow, Chase & Higgins: Ravens' Defensive Plan

9:25 - Cincinnati Bengals: Offensive Line & Run Game Concerns

11:00 - Bengals' Coaching Philosophy on the Run Game

13:32 - Bengals' Historical Physicality & Scheme Adaptation

14:50 - Joe Burrow's Preferences & The Shotgun Dilemma

16:07 - Why the Run Game Still Matters in a Passing League

16:56 - The Intense Ravens-Bengals Rivalry

17:38 - Bengals' Defensive Challenges & Al Golden's Role

19:03 - Evolution of Bengals' Defense After Lou Anarumo

22:55 - Outlook for Bengals' Secondary & Defensive Line

25:17 - Lessons from the Kansas City Chiefs' Roster Building

26:05 - Cleveland Browns Defense: Concerns & Adjustments

31:08 - The Cleveland Browns' Quarterback Conundrum

33:18 - Evaluating Kevin Stefanski's Coaching Legacy

36:26 - Pittsburgh Steelers Offense: QB & Coordinator Outlook

39:10 - Justin Fields' Fit with Steelers

41:20 - AFC North Power Rankings & Playoff Projections

44:13 - Concluding Remarks & Where to Find Joe Goodberry

Follow Joe Goodberry on X.

Visit Bengals on the Brain

» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!

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