NFL Roundtable: Burrow-led Bengals are on a roll

Each week we sit down with TwinSpires columnists Ashley Anderson, James Scully, and Scott Shapiro to discuss the latest news from around the NFL. Today they weigh in on the surging Bengals, the league's best tight end, and the Patriots' playoff hopes.

The Bengals scored 41 points against the Ravens’ vaunted defense on Sunday. What impressed you most about Cincinnati in Week 7?

Ashley: Joe Burrow and Cincinnati’s offense are playing with a ton of confidence right now, but what has impressed me most is the team’s improvement on defense. After ranking dead last in sacks and 26th in total defense last season, this group has transformed overnight into a fearsome stop unit. Not only did the Bengals sack Lamar Jackson five times (Jackson’s season high), but they held Baltimore to its lowest point total of the year. I’ve been reluctant to believe in this Bengals team, but at this point, I think they can put up a fight against anyone in the league.

James: Options included the defense and Joe Burrow’s poise, but Ja’Marr Chase is my choice. Top cornerback Marlon Humphrey could not stop Chase, who caught eight passes for 201 yards and a touchdown, and Cincinnati clearly made the right choice by selecting the wide receiver with the fifth pick in this year’s draft. The frontrunner for offensive rookie of the year, Chase has been integral to the Bengals’ 5-2 start.

Scott: There were many things impressive about the Bengals' victory in Baltimore on Sunday, but the play of rookie Ja’Marr Chase topped the list. The former LSU star dominated All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey all day long, once again illustrating why Cincinnati chose to take him with the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Chase is on an historic pace to start his rookie campaign, and gets a favorable matchup next Sunday against the lowly Jets.

Sunday was National Tight End Day in America. Which current TE would you select first if you were starting a team?

Ashley: Travis Kelce. The Chiefs tight end ranks fourth among all receivers in yards after catch (272) and fifth in receptions (45), while he’s first among his position in receiving yards (533). The six-time Pro Bowler has proven a reliable big-play target for Patrick Mahomes and is on pace for his sixth straight 1,000-yard season of his eight-year career. 

James: Mark Andrews, whose statistics would be spectacular in a prolific passing offense. The 26-year-old is enjoying a career-best season due to the improved passing skills of Lamar Jackson, and he’s meant everything to Baltimore’s receiving corps the last three years. Andrews is also an outstanding blocker, and his age makes him a more attractive option than Travis Kelce (32).

 Scott: There are plenty of high quality tight ends around theNFL, including Darren Waller, George Kittle, Mark Andrews, and perennial Pro Bowler Travis Kelce, but if I was starting a team there is no doubt I would select rookie Kyle Pitts. The 2020 John Mackey Award winner is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses since he has the skill set of a wide receiver, yet the size of a TE. Plus, he is just 21 years old. When all is said and done, he has an excellent shot to be a Hall of Famer.

The Patriots looked like world beaters in a 54-13 thrashing of the Jets. Is New England a playoff team, or did the Pats just take care of business against an inferior foe?

Ashley: The Jets are terrible, and New England has a history of absolutely crushing its AFC East rival, so I don’t put much weight into this win. While I think the Patriots possess the talent to become a playoff-caliber team in the near future, I’m concerned about their turnover issues and Mac Jones’ ability to step up with the game on the line. The rookie has enjoyed the best season among quarterbacks in his draft class, but I don’t think he’s ready to lead this team on a playoff run. The upcoming schedule will offer a daunting test for New England and will likely see them finish with a losing record.

James: No longer a Super Bowl contender, New England remains a playoff team. The Patriots went toe-to-toe with Dallas and Tampa Bay in recent close losses, and their conservative offensive schemes can be effective behind improving rookie quarterback Mac Jones. However, New England will need to take care of business against teams like Cleveland and Tennessee, who will both visit Foxboro in November.

Scott: New England owned the Jets from start-to-finish in Week 7, but they are more of an average squad in the AFC than a playoff team. Sure, the Patriots played the Buccaneers and the Cowboys close this year, but they also struggled with the Texans and lost in Week 1 to the Dolphins. The Patriots appear to have found their QB of the future in Mac Jones and should win eight or nine games, but the postseason seems unlikely in 2021.