Tag: Bengals

5 biggest games on the Chargers’ 2024 schedule

This season, the Chargers have several highly anticipated matchups.

The Chargers schedule was released for the 2024 season. Based on the strength of the schedule, the Bolts have a good chance of bouncing back this year with head coach Jim Harbaugh at the helm. All the changes made this offseason have renewed eagerness, especially now that the schedule has been released. 

Los Angeles will face five playoff teams from last season, including the Chiefs twice. This season, the Bolts have several highly anticipated matchups.

Here are the top five: 

Chargers vs. Ravens: Jim and John Harbaugh will coach against each other on Monday Night Football in Week 12. This will be the first time the brothers face off since the Super Bowl 11 years ago, back when Jim was the head coach of the 49ers. The game will be a reunion not only for the Harbaugh brothers but also for players, coaches, and front-office staff with ties to the Ravens. Get your popcorn ready for the Harbaugh Bowl. 

Chargers vs. Raiders: It’s safe to say that Chargers fans have a sour taste in their mouths from the last time the Bolts faced Las Vegas. The Chargers are set to face their longtime rivals as their first matchup of the season and tensions are sure to be high. The last time these teams faced each other, Los Angeles suffered a historic 63-21 loss, which led to the firing of former head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco the next day.  

Chargers vs. Chiefs: The Chargers will face the reigning Super Bowl champs twice, and it is bound to be an exciting matchup since this is an opportunity for Harbaugh’s first year in Los Angeles to potentially win an AFC West title. The Chiefs have taken the title for the last several seasons, but there may be a new winner in town. Win or lose, it’s always good to see how the Chargers match up against a championship-caliber team.

Chargers vs. Bengals: The AFC North is an intimidating division. Every team in the AFC North finished with a winning record last season, including Cincinnati. The Bengals are bound to be contenders again with quarterback Joe Burrow’s return. This matchup will be a battle of the quarterbacks, Burrow and Herbert. 

Chargers vs. Broncos: The Chargers will need to do their best against teams in their own division, like the Broncos. Winning an AFC West title is a hefty challenge and even if the Bolts fall short in that endeavor, they still need to win against teams in their own division to get a desirable position for the playoffs. This matchup will be fun since it will feature two quarterbacks who are both Oregon products. Bo Nix was drafted this year by Denver.

Official 2024 schedule release set to air tonight on NFL Network

#Chiefs official 2024 schedule release set to air tonight on NFL Network | @EdEastonJr

The day Kansas City Chiefs fans have been patiently waiting for is here as the NFL is set to reveal the 2024 NFL season schedule officially.

According to an NFL press release, all 32 NFL teams’ schedules will be revealed on NFL Network, NFL.com, the NFL app, and NFL+ tonight at 7:00 p.m. CT. NFL Network’s Rich Eisen and Colleen Wolfe will host the three-hour show, which will be joined by Maurice Jones-Drew, Michael Robinson, and Cynthia Frelund.

Ahead of the release of the full schedule reveal, two Chiefs games were officially announced earlier in the week. The first two games of the year, both at Arrowhead Stadium, are official, while a Week 7 Super Bowl LVIII rematch with the San Francisco 49ers is reported to be in October. Check it out:

  • Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Week 1 on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7:20 p.m. CT, on NBC and Peacock, and available on mobile devices with NFL+
  • Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Week 2 on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 3:25 p.m. CT, on CBS and Paramount+
  • Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Franciso 49ers – (Per Jordan Schultz) Week 7 on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 3:25 p.m. CT, on Fox

A special two-hour edition of “Good Morning Football” will begin at 6 a.m. CT on NFL Network with hosts Jason McCourty, Peter Schrager, Kyle Brandt, and Sherree Burruss. The matchups for the international games will be revealed during the show.

Chargers schedule: Predicting the 2024 prime-time matchups

This year, we are predicting four games.

The Chargers’ 2024 schedule will be announced on Wednesday as part of the NFL’s coordinated league-wide release event. Several matchups could wind up as potential primetime games for the team. While the Bolts are coming off of a disastrous 5-12 season, I could still see them being slated for a healthy amount of primetime games, with Jim Harbaugh now in LA and Justin Herbert still at quarterback.

At the time of schedule release last year, the Chargers were scheduled to have six primetime games. A bumpy 2023 will knock that number down, but I’d expect LA to still be in the mix for some high-priority games. For now, I’m going to predict four games that get the primetime treatment.

vs. Chiefs (Sunday Night Football)

2023 marked the first time since 2020 that a Chargers-Chiefs matchup didn’t wind up in primetime. Granted, one of the games was a Week 18 contest that didn’t matter much for either team. But I’d expect one of the matchups this year to get on national television.

Herbert and Patrick Mahomes’ last three primetime matchups have all been decided by one score each. Outside of one other potential game on this list, there’s no other matchup where I feel more confident in getting the late-night treatment.

vs. Ravens (Thanksgiving night game)

Maybe this one’s a little bold! The last time the Chargers played on Thanksgiving was seven years ago against Dallas at AT&T stadium. What better way to celebrate family and brotherhood than a Thanksgiving Harbowl?

Jim and John Harbaugh did coach against each other once on Thanksgiving in 2011 before their famous Super Bowl matchup in the following season. Also, a nightcap with Herbert vs. Lamar Jackson is one way to keep me awake after the turkey tryptophan makes me sleepy.

@ Raiders (Monday Night Football)

Despite both teams perhaps not being considered strong playoff contenders this year, it feels like, somehow, the Chargers/Raiders always ends up being a primetime affair. From the play-in playoff game a few years ago to last year’s evisceration of Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco on Thursday Night Football, there’s always something eventful between LA and Las Vegas.

Herbert and Harbaugh look to restore the Chargers’ glory and avenge last year’s 63-21 loss in Vegas.

vs. Bengals (Monday Night Football)

In the vein of the Ravens and Chiefs QB matchup picks on this list, Justin Herbert vs. 2020 draft classmate Joe Burrow feels like another potential primetime showdown. Herbert and Burrow have only played once against each other back in the 2021 season.

Dolphins vs. Bengals, Eagles vs. Dolphins, and Dolphins vs. Chargers. The NFL loves building out their 2020 draft class rivalries. Herbert vs. Burrow is an opportunity to continue doing just that as both teams try to make the playoffs.

Chiefs to host Bengals in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season

#Chiefs to host Bengals in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ opponent for week two of the 2024 NFL season has been released. The defending Super Bowl champions will stay home to start the new campaign.

According to the team, the Chiefs will host the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium on CBS on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 3:25 CT. Considering the teams ‘ recent history, the annual battle with Joe Burrow and company will be one of the early-season must-watch matchups. The Patrick Mahomes and Burrow duel was postponed last season due to the latter’s injury, which sidelined him for the rest of the year.

The Bengals fell short of the postseason last year due to injuries and inconsistent play, but following offseason changes, they are still a threat in the AFC. The rivalry may be cooling down since their consecutive AFC Championship game battles in 2021 and 2022, but the quarterback matchup remains the main attraction.

The first two weeks of the season, when the Chiefs host conference rivals from the AFC North, will be the ultimate measuring stick for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. The rest of the Chiefs’ regular season schedule and the other 29 NFL teams will be revealed Wednesday night as the anticipation for a new football season begins.

Steelers stuck in the middle of the pack in latest ESPN NFL power rankings

Despite a productive offseason, the Steelers dropped in the latest ESPN NFL power rankings.

Few teams have put in more work this offseason than the Pittsburgh Steelers. The front office completely rebuilt the quarterback depth chart and added serious talent on the offensive line. Nevertheless, the rest of the league has worked on getting better as well.

ESPN put out its latest NFL power rankings after the NFL draft and despite all that work, they dropped the Steelers two spots from 13 to 15. Here’s what they had to say about the Steelers from writer Brooke Pryor:

It’s tempting to go with the offensive line here, but the veteran quarterback additions eke out the rookie offensive linemen. Russell Wilson threw for 26 touchdowns to eight interceptions a year ago, while a combination of Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph threw 13 touchdowns to nine interceptions. At the very least, Wilson and Justin Fields should offer a mixture of more stability and a higher ceiling at the position — especially in a run-first, play-action heavy offense that plays to their strengths.

Among the AFC North, ESPN has Pittsburgh as the lowest-ranked with even the Cleveland Browns coming in at No. 12, The Baltimore Ravens checking in at No. 3 and the Cincinnati Bengals are No. 9.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Report: Chargers met with free agent WR Tyler Boyd

The Chargers continue to pursue the wide receiver market despite adding three in the 2024 NFL draft.

The Chargers continue to pursue the wide receiver market despite adding three in the 2024 NFL draft.

Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the team met with former Bengals wideout Tyler Boyd in Los Angeles this week.

The team registered reported preliminary interest in Boyd, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and D.J. Chark. Los Angeles hosted Chark for a visit at the facility last week prior to the draft.

Joe Hortiz has been adamant that adding talent doesn’t stop at any point on the football calendar. The Chargers took Ladd McConkey, Brenden Rice, and Cornelius Johnson in the draft.

Boyd will enter his ninth NFL season in 2024. It appears as though it will be his first year outside of Cincinnati. He’s already put up 6000 yards and 31 touchdowns in his eight seasons.

Boyd’s production has dipped to some extent, with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins taking up significant roles for the Bengals. A season-ending wrist injury to quarterback Joe Burrow is also a variable in the related offensive production decline.

Generally, Boyd is still a relatively reliable slot presence. However, the eight-year vet has seen some target metrics, like yards per route run (1.15 in 2023) and yards per reception (10.0 in 2023), dip to career lows.

The Chargers seem likely to sign a receiver soon despite having 10 on the roster already. So far, their room contains:

Quentin Johnston

Josh Palmer

Ladd McConkey

Derius Davis

Simi Fehoko

Brenden Rice

Cornelius Johnson

Jaylen Johnson (UDFA)

Jaelen Gill (UDFA)

Leon Johnson (UDFA)

Chiefs GM Brett Veach on trading with AFC rivals: ‘Asking prices are a tick higher’

#Chiefs GM Brett Veach told reporters that trading with Kansas City’s AFC rivals is difficult because “asking prices are a tick higher”

The Kansas City Chiefs’ success over the past few seasons has been partly due to decisions the team has made in the offseason. Their front office, led by general manager Brett Veach, has found ways to reshape the roster around its stars to maintain its supremacy, and the rest of the league has taken notice.

During a press conference on Friday, Veach spoke openly about the Chiefs’ mindset heading into the draft next week and revealed that doing business with every team in the league isn’t easy due to Kansas City’s status as Super Bowl champions.

“I think that if it can benefit them (another team), I think they’re always going to pick up the phone and call and be willing to work,” Veach explained. “I don’t think a team will diminish their ability to do something they really want to do just because it’s the Chiefs.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5375″ ]

“I do think that the ability to deal with certain teams it’s always been understood that if you’re going to deal with the team in your division, there’s a little bit more of a premium. Still, I think just some of the AFC teams, in general, that are consistent playoff performers.”

The Chiefs have consistently had battles with rivals in the AFC on their way to three titles over the last five years. Veach understands that other teams take caution to avoid adding to Kansas City’s dominance in the offseason.

“The Buffalo (Bills) and the Cincinnati Bengals and [the] Baltimore (Ravens), it’s probably a little bit harder to deal with those teams,” Veach continued. “Even if they pick up the phone, I think some of their asking prices are a tick higher. So I think we get hit with a little more interest. I think that there’s always a way to make a deal, but I think certain teams will probably up the price a little bit.”

Kansas City’s dynasty will be remembered for the fantastic players that Veach and his staff have brought in over the years, and the classic games that have been won due to the Chiefs’ exceptional foresight in roster construction.

B/R found the perfect destination for former Saints starter in free agency

Andrus Peat remains unsigned in free agency, but Bleacher Report believes he’d be a perfect fit for this AFC Super Bowl contender:

There are still plenty of New Orleans Saints free agents searching for their new team, and the most notable of them might be Andrus Peat. New Orleans declined to re-sign Peat and in turn suffered a $13 million dead cap hit. Saints head coach Dennis Allen has left the door open to Peat returning to New Orleans this offseason, but the team signed Oli Udoh to fill a similar role on the depth chart.

So where could Peat end up? Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay thinks the former Saint would be a perfect fit with the Cincinnati Bengals, writing:

The Cincinnati Bengals would be a great fit for Peat, especially after they let incumbent tackle Jonah Williams walk in free agency and brought in Trent Brown as his replacement on the right side of the line. Brown has a history of inconsistent play and could struggle to live up to the $4.8 million deal he inked this offseason.

The great part of Peat’s skill set is he has the versatility to play guard or tackle. Peat has been viewed as a tackle in the offseason by publications ignoring his more expansive history as a guard. Signing right tackle Trent Brown doesn’t take Peat off the table at all. He’ll be inexpensive and can compete at both tackle or guard on the left side.

The offseason has been quiet for Peat. The versatile offensive lineman has visited with the Titans, but nothing came from it. Pairing him with the Bengals makes a lot of sense. Their Super Bowl window remains open, and protecting Joe Burrow will be imperative to ensuring it doesn’t close. Peat will help fortify their protection. He’d also be joining some familiar faces in Cincinnati like former Saints draft picks Trey Hendrickson, Sheldon Rankins, and Vonn Bell.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Tyreek Hill teases Dolphins adding WR Odell Beckham Jr.

Tyreek Hill says “OBJ to Miami confirmed.”

In March, the Miami Dolphins hosted Odell Beckham Jr. on a visit and, according to head coach Mike McDaniel, made a contract offer to the free agent wide receiver.

Two weeks later, there’s no further indication that a deal could come together, but Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill appears to think it’s coming soon. On his Snapchat story, Hill said Friday that Beckham joining Miami is “confirmed.”

“Things went great with him,” McDaniel said of Beckham in late March. “We did make him an offer and business takes time, especially with players like Odell, who’s had a phenomenal career and still has really good football in front of him and has options. I think those conversations will be ongoing. We’ll see where they go.”

Beckham, 31, sat out the entire 2022 season after suffering an ACL tear in Super Bowl LVI, but returned in 2023 on a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens. In his sole season with the team, the receiver recorded 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns.

In his nine seasons in the NFL, Beckham has recorded 566 receptions for 7,932 yards and 59 touchdown receptions.

While the Dolphins have a star duo of receivers in Hill and former top 10 draft pick Jaylen Waddle, the team has seen little production out of the rest of its receiving corps. Hill and Waddle combined for more than 2,800 receiving yards in 2023, but no other wide receiver on the team topped 300 yards.

In addition to their interest in Beckham, the Dolphins have reportedly kept an eye on former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Saints announce a deal with former Bengals WR Stanley Morgan

The New Orleans Saints announced a deal with former Bengals WR Stanley Morgan, who should compete for a role covering punts and kickoffs:

Here’s another veteran added to the New Orleans Saints receiving corps. On Friday, the team announced a deal with former Cincinnati Bengals wideout Stanley Morgan — a New Orleans native who studied at St. Augustine High School. He played college football at Nebraska before turning pro with Cincinnati. And he’s listed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds.

Morgan, 27, spent the first five years of his career with the Bengals as a backup behind stars like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, totaling just 15 targets in 51 career games (catching 5 of them for 29 yards). But he’s been a very important player on special teams for Cincinnati with 909 snaps covering punts and kickoffs.

So look for Morgan to compete for a role on special teams. The Saints have added two veteran receivers in as many days after signing Cedrick Wilson Jr. from the Miami Dolphins, but that still puts them at less than half the total brought into training camp a season ago. There are seven, maybe eight vacancies still open, so expect more additions.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]