8/27/25: The Afternoon Season Preview Report

A look ahead to the season opener....

Mo and Tony have Bengals season preview reports weekday mornings at 7:25 on 700WLW, and weekday afternoons at 3:45, 4:45, and 5:45 on ESPN1530.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
You know, Tony, these are season preview reports, so maybe
it makes sense to start previewing the season by looking
at some opponents. Let's begin with Week one Bengals in
Cleveland to take on the Browns. We're gonna watch Joe
Flacco play quarterback in twenty twenty five, which is not
something I would have had on my Bengo card, maybe
even last year. I think with the Bengals, given their

(00:23):
recent history, it feels like any Week one opponent is dangerous.
What sits in the back of our head is what
happened against the Patriots last year at home? Should we
fear something similar for the Bengals this go around against
the Browns?

Speaker 2 (00:34):
Well, I think there are two paths that could give
the Bengals fits this year, and the Browns, while not
an explosive offensive team, they have both of them. One
is the ability to run the ball. Doesn't feel like
regardless of who the running back is in Cleveland, they
have had success running the ball in recent years. Now
with Nick Chubb being gone and what that backfield now
looks like, they're not going to have quinch On Jutkins.

(00:56):
But still, if you're playing the Bengals, the idea is
can we run the ball and can we shrink the
game and limit the possessions of the Bengals offense. That's
what the Browns, I would assume, are going to try
to do. Set up some play action passes with Joe Flacco.
I've not seen any resistance from the Bengals front as
it relates to stopping the run yet this year, So
that's going to be a major question mark. And while

(01:18):
Trey Henderson's gonna help, he's not been great against the run.
The second part about this teams that can get home
by rushing four and dropping seven. Miles Garrett, if you
follow along with anything going on in Cleveland right now,
they love what they've seen out of Mason Graham this camp.
There are still questions on this Bengals offensive line. Miles
Garrett reeks havoc on everyone in the NFL game one

(01:39):
super charged up. It's not like it's late in the
season where the game's a throwaway. I'm worried about the
rush of Cleveland and being able to get home with four,
and I'm worried about the running game of Cleveland.

Speaker 1 (01:49):
Is there any scenario let's talk about the season as
a whole. Is there any scenario where the Browns don't
finish in last place in the AFC North.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
I don't see it. I mean borrowing a catastrophic injury
to someone in the AFC North. I don't see how
they can finish above the Bengals. I don't see how
they can finish above the Steelers or the Baltimore Ravens.
They they don't have enough on offense. And again the
rush defense of the Bengals is what concerns me. But
if you get I mean on the other side of it,

(02:19):
if you can start fast offensively and you go up
a couple scores, you make them one dimensional, then I
think you're gonna have a field day in Cleveland. But
it's not just the Browns. Every team that the Bengals
face this year is going to try to run the ball,
to work the clock and limit possessions. And every team
is going to try to drop seven or eight and
get home with three or four