Whatever got into the this afternoon, they need to bottle it up and take it with them from Cincinnati. For Lorenzo Cain Jersey the first time all season they managed to attack and mitigate the run on early downs, and for the first time in a long time they got aggre sively vertical with the play-calling and they may have saved their season in the proce s. And then, true to form, they tried like hell to Charger it all away. Their 24-point lead quickly evaporated and they fell prey to the onslaught of mistakes that so often dooms them, but this time they didn't give it up. For the second time in three weeks they found a way to put an opponent away that they let back in the game, and there was more than bad to build on from a 41-22 victory over the that probably saved their season (and made them 3-1 against the tough AFC North, ama sing 129 total points in wins over the , and Bengals). Let's hope the le sons are learned by a young coaching staff that had fallen into a rut in the middle of the season. They allowed to show off his big arm at the start and finish of the game, they dialed up the big blitzes and shunned their zone-heavy nature at critical moments and they showed fortitude and gumption during a stretch from late in the second quarter through the early fourth quarter when the Bengals simply dominated.Sure, there was some Chargering going on here. Thing is, they survived it, as they did against the Steelers two weeks ago. Yes, there was a span of 14 plays from the final minutes of the first half in which they allowed four sacks, threw a pick, fumbled (again), completed four balls for all of 22 yards, had three incompletions and one run for Matt Garza Jersey 4 yards. This after Herbert opened up that 24-0 lead by completing 11 of 15 pa ses for 172 yards and three touchdowns. They remain a work in progre s, prone to wild ebbs and flows. Yeah, I still have questions about the defense, though it won some early downs against a stout Bengals rushing attack and held in check. It's true it required a bizarre tipped-pa s interception when the Bengals rookie had a clear touchdown in front of him to win this. And Mixon's weird fumble, when he wasn't even realty hit, was the biggest play in the game going for a score the other way. But there is something to be said for just figuring out how to win games. Something to be said for creating sacks and turnovers in the fourth quarter (an end-zone pick of cemented the win). And there is everything to be said for them getting to 7-5, with a win over the already in their pocket, and staying alive for a division title, too.The odds of Mike Zimmer remaining coach of the in 2022 never seemed great, but the events of the last two weeks probably cement it. He was under a mandate to make noise in the postseason, but things have fallen apart since a spirited win over Green Bay and injuries and ineffectivene s will likely doom this Minnesota campaign. Falling behind to the Lions, trailing them by 14 at the half, allowing them to score 20 points in the first half (something that has eluded them in an entire game since Week 1), and then wasting a final minute go-ahead drive to allow an improbable game-winning TD drive to will doom you. His defense is a shell of what it once was, his staff has always begged questions and having things look like a bit of a me s on both sides of the ball -- injuries or not -- this late in the season with so much at stake tends to stick with ownership. Losing to a division rival that had not won a game all season under rookie coach Dan Campbell, try as they might, is not how you want to start December. It might be the lo s that cements a change the Wilf's have been pondering Christian Yelich Jersey for quite some time.Bengals better hope they get their full offensive line in tact, soon. Joe Burrow was battered around Sunday in a scene far too familiar to his rookie campaign, and while he played through what looked like a fairly nasty pinky injury that's something I am sure they will have to monitor through the week. I admit I am a Bengals believe and think that franchise is turning the corner, but the turnovers and mistakes and protection i sues down the stretch in this game have to give you some pause.The ' offense is wretched and Freddie Kitchens ain't changing much. Joe Judge continues to make bizarre timeout decisions and punting decisions. If you thought 264 total yards of offense last week against the was bad, how about 250 against Miami! Milwaukee Brewers Custom Jersey And you can also check the box of the first-round QB injured again, and the first-round RB being a nonfactor yet again. Nothing trending the way you would want approaching the final stretch of his second season at the helm, and not much empirical evidence that he has the makings of a quality NFL head coach. Yeah, there is a lot of chatter about him being safe, but there is still plenty of football to be played and few signs of life from this bunch. I'd say stay tuned.Ridiculous how much still makes an offense go. Keeping him healthy is e sential for and the Bucs. He was one of the primary differences in the game Sunday and without his touchdown heroics (plural), the champs probably blow that game to the rebuilding . Brady throwing a pick in a fifth straight game is worth noting, if nothing else, however. offensive coordinator Joe Brady never took hold at the NFL level, and never sold ownership that he was ready for the job head coach Matt Rhule bestowed upon him. It's long been a simmering i sue there, with the offense yet to take hold and no quarterback emerging as the answer through two seasons, and I'm far from shocked he is out at the bye Jhoulys Chacin Jersey week. The bigger question is where do they go from here at QB and OC, long term, and just how good a match Rhule is with owner David Tepper. As I have been reporting, college programs swoon over Rhule, and a slow start in 2022 will only lead to more rumblings about the overall viability of this regime. Not sure how much patience there will be without major gains in 2022.Have long believed is better than a bunch of starters in this league. Can't knock the way he came out attacking the in a spot start in place of Sunday.The are among the hottest teams in the NFL heading into their Week 13 bye. The defense is ferocious and has allowed a total of just 55 points during this five-game winning streak. The unit faces the Jets and -- offensively bereft clubs -- the next two weeks after its break, so getting back above .500 is well within reach, before taking on the and for what could be one of the most improbably playoff pushes in recent history, given the seven-game losing steak that preceded this. Brian Flores took a lot of heat for opting not to take his bye in October after their London trip, but that looks pretty sage now.