Cincinnati Bengals

As the Cincinnati Bengals head into the 2026 season looking to return to the playoffs after three seasons of mediocrity, the sense of urgency is palpable.

After revamping the defense with additions like Dexter Lawrence II, Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Jonathan Allen—not to mention draft picks like Cashius Howell—the Bengals' front office has made it clear: they are all-in on giving Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow everything they need to compete for Lombardi trophies.

The front office could have orchestrated this overhaul on their own. However, it is not a stretch to say that QB1 heavily influenced the strategy. The seventh-year signal-caller repeatedly made it clear to both the public and management what an aggressive front office should look like.

"I think you have to identify where you’re weak and figure out a way to be strong in that area. That’s the NFL year in and year out. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. But you have to attack that period with intent to get better," Burrow said before the offseason began.

Shortly after those comments, the Bengals executed arguably the most aggressive offseason in franchise history. They traded their 10th overall pick for Dexter Lawrence II and signed the aforementioned Mafe, Cook, and Allen. Now, the pressure shifts heavily from the front office to Zac Taylor, his staff, and the players to perform up to their potential. In every sense of the phrase, the time is now for the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Myth of the Hot Seat

That pressure does not mean Zac Taylor is going anywhere if things go sideways.

For the past several years, a persistent narrative has floated around, particularly in the media, that Taylor is on the hot seat. This narrative has gained steam with each successive year the Bengals have missed the postseason. With the pressure to win at an all-time high, the noise has only grown louder. Many fans and analysts believe that if the Bengals fail to reach the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year, Taylor will not survive the winter.

With all due respect to those who subscribe to such a notion, but that is flatly not happening.

That narrative is great for clicks if you’re a media outlet, or talking head, or otherwise more vested in duping people in the name of profit rather than providing the truth, but it’s not great for much else.  And it’s not tethered to reality.

The Bengals front office has eyes wide open to what Joe Burrow means to this franchise.  Burrows, while they do grow in Ohio, do not grow on trees.  He is, also in every sense of the phrase, a franchise-defining quarterback who has completely changed the prospects of this team, and its trajectory in the future.  As Burrow pointed out, the window for Lombardi trophies is his entire career.

Katie Blackburn isn’t an idiot.  She and the rest of the front office, from her father Mike Brown all the way to Duke Tobin, know exactly what Joe Burrow brings to the organization. The team wants to keep him happy, a reality wholly supported by their historic offseason spending spree.

The Joe Burrow Factor

With that context established, it is vital to remember one foundational truth: Joe Burrow loves playing for Zac Taylor.

Joe Sheisty’s respect for, and great working relationship with, Zac Taylor is Exhibit A for why Taylor isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.  It would require a total, and catastrophic fallout of their relationship for the Bengals to move on from their head coach.  So, repeat after me:  As long as Joe Burrow wants Zac Taylor, Zac Taylor is the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.  Full stop.

Any algorithm testing the temperature of Taylor’s seat must measure the temperature of his quarterback first. Anything short of that, and someone is selling you a lie.

CINCINNATI — The difficult part of training camp is over.

After weeks of competition, preseason games and difficult conversations, the Bengals have finalized their initial 53-man roster ahead of the 2026 regular season. As expected, a handful of surprises accompanied the final cuts, but perhaps the biggest takeaway is just how aggressively Cincinnati has embraced a win-now mentality.

The roster itself contains few surprises at the top.

Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco remain the team's two quarterbacks, while Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas headline one of the NFL's most talented receiving corps. Chase Brown, Samaje Perine were always locks out of the running back room, while the Bengals elected to keep five tight ends, underscoring how important that position has become within Zac Taylor and Dan Pitcher's offense.

The more interesting decisions came further down the depth chart.

Wide receivers Dohnte Meyers, Colbie Young and Ke'Shawn Williams each earned roster spots after strong preseason performances, while rookie defensive tackle Landon Robinson completed one of training camp's, and the NFL's best stories by securing a spot. The Bengals also moved on from several recent draft picks, including wide receiver Charlie Jones and defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson, signaling that recent production carried far more weight than draft pedigree.

Defensively, Cincinnati now looks dramatically different than it did a year ago.

Free-agent additions Dexter Lawrence II, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe and Bryan Cook headline a rebuilt unit that the organization hopes can complement one of the league's premier offenses. Combined with returning veterans and an influx of young talent, the Bengals believe they've assembled a defense capable of taking pressure off Burrow rather than asking him to win shootouts every Sunday.

Of course, it's worth remembering that "initial" is the operative word when it comes to this roster.

NFL rosters are constantly evolving. Practice squads will be assembled, waiver claims will be made and injuries will inevitably force additional moves before long. The 53 players announced this week almost certainly won't be the exact 53 players who finish the season.

Still, the overall message from the front office couldn't be much clearer.  This team isn't interested in developing for the future.  It's trying to win right now.

After three consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance, that's exactly the type of off-season Bengals fans were hoping to see.  Now comes the season itself, and we all know what we want to see there.

CINCINNATI — In just under two weeks, the Cincinnati Bengals will kick off the 2026 regular season when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paycor Stadium.

Few seasons in recent memory have carried as much importance for the franchise.

After missing the playoffs three consecutive years during Burrow Prime, the Bengals enter 2026 with lofty expectations. The front office spent the offseason aggressively reshaping the defense, while Burrow appears to have adopted an entirely different leadership style. Jamar Chase nicknamed him "Angry Joe." Burrow calls it urgency.

Whatever you choose to call it, this feels like a team that understands the time is now.

With that in mind, here are my three predictions for the 2026 Cincinnati Bengals.

1. Joe Burrow Wins NFL MVP

Let us take a collective breath and say this before we go on:  All of this hinges on Joe Burrow staying healthy.  If he does, I believe he'll win his first NFL Most Valuable Player Award.

At this stage of his career, there is nothing Joe Burrow hasn’t seen.  He has all the answers to the test.  Experience has become one of his greatest strengths, and now he's surrounded by arguably the deepest collection of pass catchers of his career. Ja'Marr Chase remains one of the league's elite receivers, Tee Higgins continues to be one of football's best No. 2 options, and Cincinnati has quietly built a deep room through free agency, the draft, and player development.

Just as important, Burrow appears to be approaching this season differently.

He's become more demanding of teammates, more vocal in the huddle, and more willing to challenge those around him. Great quarterbacks don't simply elevate their own play—they elevate everyone else's.

If Burrow remains healthy for 17 games, don't just expect another outstanding season.

Expect an MVP season.

2. The Bengals' Defense Will Struggle Early, Then Become One of the NFL's Best

This prediction probably won't be popular in September.

The Bengals invested heavily in rebuilding a defense that simply wasn't good enough last season. New faces, new responsibilities, and a new defensive identity rarely come together overnight, regardless of talent.

Expect growing pains.

There will be blown assignments. There will be frustrating Sundays. Fans will lose their minds.  Prognosticators will talk ish. And we will all wonder if the investments made in the offseason were worth it. 

Don't overreact.

Building a championship defense takes time, particularly when so many new pieces are learning to play together.

The turning point will come after the bye week. By then, the defense will have several regular-season games together, plenty of film to study, and a week to catch their breath.

From that point forward, I expect the unit to improve steadily, much as it did late last season—but with one significant difference.

This year's defense possesses considerably more talent.

Because of additions like Dexter Lawrence II, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Cashius Howell, the defense will struggle for fewer games than it did last year, and I believe that once they figure it out, the ceiling is higher than it has ever been.

Bonus Prediction: The Bengals finish the season as a Top 10 run defense and produce multiple goal-line stands that become defining moments of their year.

3. The Bengals Win Super Bowl LXI

Yes, I'm predicting it.

The Cincinnati Bengals will win the first Super Bowl in franchise history.

There is simply a different feeling surrounding this football team.

Joe Cool has evolved into Angry Joe—a quarterback who appears unwilling to accept anything less than a championship. The front office responded by surrounding him with one of the most complete rosters of the Burrow era.

The offense has the firepower to score on anyone, at any time.

The defense has been infused with proven veterans and young talent.

Special teams appear positioned to become one of the league's strengths once again, with Evan McPherson looking like the Money Mac Bengals fans fell in love with during the team's Super Bowl run and Ryan Rehkow continuing to demonstrate one of the biggest legs in football.

Most importantly, this team believes.  This, of course, guarantees nothing.

The NFL has a way of humbling even the most talented teams. Injuries happen. Close games bounce the wrong direction. One bad afternoon can end an otherwise remarkable season.

But if this roster stays reasonably healthy, I believe we’ll see the Bengals face the Los Angeles Rams in a rematch of Super Bowl LVI.

This time, however, the script will be flipped, and we'll have images of Joe Burrow smoking a cigar as confetti rains down dancing in our heads for the rest of our lives.

PHILADELPHIA — Ask Joe Burrow's teammates about the quarterback's approach this preseason and they'll all tell you the same thing: something is different.

He's barking in the huddle. He's demanding more from those around him. Ja'Marr Chase has dubbed him "Angry Joe," while Burrow simply calls it a "sense of urgency."

Whatever the label, it's hard to argue with the results.

Whether it's Burrow's renewed intensity, an aggressive offseason by the front office, or simply a more talented football team, the Bengals appear to be playing with a purpose that has been missing in recent years. After finishing the preseason with a convincing 30-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati enters the regular season undefeated in exhibition play and carrying plenty of momentum.

No player has done more to improve his stock this summer than wide receiver Dohnte Meyers.

The training camp sensation wasted little time making his presence felt Friday night, hauling in three receptions for 51 yards on Cincinnati's opening drive. His performance helped set up Evan McPherson's first field goal of the evening, a 29-yarder. McPherson would go on to connect on all three of his attempts, including a booming 58-yard kick before halftime. 

Meyers' emergence, combined with the additions of Colbie Young, Noah Thomas, and several other undrafted free agents—not to mention last year's training camp darling Mitchell Tinsley—has turned wide receiver into one of the deepest position groups on the roster. Final cuts won't be easy, but it's a good problem for Zac Taylor and his staff to have.

Speaking of depth, the quarterback room continues to impress.

Everyone knows what Joe Burrow brings to the offense, and veteran Joe Flacco has already proven he can win games in this league. Behind them, however, Josh Johnson quietly put together one of the better preseasons of any backup quarterback in the NFL.

Johnson was once again poised and efficient Friday night, completing 12 of 19 passes for 156 yards while spreading the football to eight different receivers. He consistently took what the defense gave him, moved the offense with confidence, and showed exactly why teams continue to value his experience after nearly two decades in the league.

Behind Johnson, St. Xavier product Sean Clifford continued his impressive camp. His best moment came in the fourth quarter when he made multiple adjustments at the line of scrimmage, snapped the ball just before the play clock expired, and delivered a strike to Ke'Shawn Williams, who turned the 11-yard reception into Cincinnati's lone passing touchdown of the night.

The defense was equally impressive.

Several second- and third-team defenders continued to make strong cases for roster spots, including Isaiah Foskey and Landon Robinson. The biggest standout, however, was third-round cornerback Tacario Davis, who seemed to be everywhere on the field. His second-quarter interception set up another Bengals scoring drive, and his combination of size, length, and athleticism continues to hint at a tremendous ceiling once he becomes fully acclimated to the NFL game.

The Bengals' running game put the finishing touches on the victory after halftime.

Jamal Haynes and Kentrell Bullock repeatedly gashed Philadelphia's defense, with Haynes producing one of the most impressive runs of the preseason. His 39-yard touchdown showcased remarkable balance and determination as he broke multiple tackles on his way to the end zone. Bullock also found the end zone after an earlier fumble that fortunately stayed in Cincinnati's possession. Outside of that miscue, both backs ran with the kind of physicality coaches love to see.

If either Haynes or Bullock survives final cuts, they may initially find themselves on the practice squad. Still, neither Tahj Brooks, Gary Brightwell, nor Kendall Milton did much throughout the preseason to separate themselves from the competition, leaving the Bengals with another difficult decision as roster deadlines approach.

Preseason records rarely predict regular-season success, but what they do reveal is organizational depth.

Throughout August, Cincinnati's backups consistently outplayed opposing reserve units, while young players across the roster continued to develop under defensive coordinator Al Golden and Taylor's coaching staff. Those are encouraging signs for a team determined to erase the disappointment of last several seasons.

Roster cutdown day promises to bring difficult decisions.

One thing, however, appears increasingly clear.

This is a deep, talented football team that believes its championship window remains wide open.

CINCINNATI — For the second straight week, the Bengals looked every bit like a team ready for the regular season.

Playing without many of their established starters, Cincinnati received another impressive performance from its reserves Saturday night, defeating the Chicago Bears 27-9 at Paycor Stadium to improve to 2-0 in the preseason.

Chicago struck first after quarterback Caleb Williams led the Bears on an efficient opening drive that ended with a 45-yard field goal from Cairo Santos. Cincinnati answered immediately, marching 62 yards on a methodical 14-play drive before Evan McPherson tied the game with a 25-yard field goal.

From there, the Bengals began taking control.

Veteran quarterback Josh Johnson continued his strong preseason by completing 15 of 23 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. His first scoring strike came on a 17-yard pass to rookie receiver Colbie Young, who hauled in three receptions for 48 yards while recording his first touchdown in a Bengals uniform. Dohnte Meyers also strengthened his case for a roster spot with five catches for 42 yards as Cincinnati carried a 17-9 lead into halftime.

Sean Clifford took over after the break and kept the offense moving.

The second-year quarterback completed 12 of 18 passes for 126 yards, adding a 13-yard touchdown pass to Ke'Shawn Williams in the third quarter that effectively put the game out of reach. Although Clifford threw an interception later in the contest, he consistently pushed the ball downfield and continued an encouraging preseason of his own.

McPherson added the exclamation point midway through the fourth quarter.

The veteran kicker drilled a 58-yard field goal—his second successful kick from at least 58 yards this preseason—to extend Cincinnati's advantage to 27-9 and continue reminding everyone why he's regarded as one of the NFL's premier kickers.

Perhaps the most encouraging development, however, came on the other side of the ball.

Defensive coordinator Al Golden's unit held Chicago's starters without a touchdown, consistently pressured the quarterback and limited the Bears to three field goals despite Chicago playing many of its first-team offensive players early in the game. Through two preseason contests, Cincinnati's rebuilt defense continued to show the speed, discipline and physicality that had been emphasized throughout training camp.

While preseason results should always be taken with a grain of salt, the Bengals once again accomplished exactly what they needed to. Young players continued to develop, roster hopefuls made compelling cases to stick around, and Cincinnati left the field healthier than it entered.

That's about as productive a preseason night as a coaching staff can ask for.

What's Next: The Bengals wrap up the preseason Friday night when they travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles before opening the regular season Sept. 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paycor Stadium.

CINCINNATI — Football is back.

The Cincinnati Bengals kicked off their 59th season of football as they hosted the Detroit Lions Thursday night at Paycor Stadium, escaping the rain-soaked preseason opener with a 16-14 victory.

After a strong training camp, Cincinnati’s defense got the first opportunity to make a statement when Zac Taylor deferred the ball until the second half.

On the first play from scrimmage, Kyle Dugger stopped Tyler Conklin for no gain on a pass from Luke Altmyer. But the Lions began to move the ball after that, with the biggest play coming on a 23-yard Altmyer strike to Cedrick Wilson Jr. that set up Detroit at the Bengals’ 33-yard line.

On the very next play, however, the Bengals’ defense bowed its back when Jordan Battle picked off a tipped pass to give the men in stripes the football at their own 25.

Burrow and company began the night with a 5-yard run by Chase Brown and followed that with a 16-yard gain when Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase on an in-route. But the drive stalled after Ahmed Hassanein sacked Burrow for a 9-yard loss, and it eventually ended with a great punt by Ryan Rehkow that pinned Detroit at its own 4-yard line.

After holding the Lions to a three-and-out, the Bengals got the ball back at their own 30 and immediately went back to working the run game with back-to-back handoffs to Brown, setting up third-and-2. Cincinnati barely picked up the first down on the next play when Burrow found Drew Sample as he was flushed from the pocket.

After finding Andrei Iosivas for 9 yards, Samaje Perine had back-to-back 7-yard plays, the first of which moved the chains. But that was about as far as the Bengals would get after Burrow overthrew Mike Gesicki as he was hit from the backside.

Evan McPherson cashed in the offense’s early work by drilling a 56-yard field goal through the falling rain to give Cincinnati a 3-0 lead.

Burrow’s night was over after two possessions, handing the offense to Joe Flacco as the rain began to make its presence felt. Burrow finished 5-of-6 for 39 yards, completing passes to five different receivers while taking one sack.

Things did not start particularly well for the veteran signal-caller as the weather began to take its toll. Colbie Young dropped Flacco’s first-down pass, and Flacco fumbled on second down. But Young quickly redeemed himself with a 20-yard connection from Flacco to keep the drive alive. Later in the possession, Flacco would find Young again for another 8 yards.

Then came the kind of play only a rain-soaked preseason game could produce.

On third-and-3 from the Detroit 25, Jacob Bayer’s snap never reached Flacco. The loose ball rolled straight to Kendall Milton, who scooped it up, surged past the sticks and then coughed it up himself, allowing Keith Abney II to recover for Detroit.

And if that wasn’t enough of an indication of how sloppy the conditions had become at Paycor Stadium, the Lions gave the football right back.

On Detroit’s second play after the turnover, running back Jacob Saylors fumbled possession back to Cincinnati, with second-round pick Cashius Howell recovering the loose ball.

Two plays later, Flacco found rookie tight end Jack Endries wide open on play-action from 4 yards out to stretch Cincinnati’s lead to 10-0 with 9:35 remaining in the second quarter.

Flacco finished his night 5-of-8 for 51 yards and the touchdown, good for a 120.3 passer rating.

The Lions closed out the first-half scoring with field goals on each of their final two possessions, shrinking Cincinnati’s lead to 10-6 at halftime.

In the second half, Josh Johnson engineered a long drive, mostly through the air. But on third-and-5 from the Detroit 7, Hassanein once again got pressure on a Bengals quarterback and forced Johnson to fumble. Jalen Rivers quickly fell on the ball, allowing Cincinnati to salvage the possession.

McPherson followed with his second field goal of the night, this time from 33 yards out, giving the Bengals a 13-6 lead with 6:55 remaining in the third quarter.

Johnson settled in on Cincinnati’s next possession and suddenly began carving up Detroit through the air.

After starting the night 0-for-7, Johnson connected on seven of his next eight passes. One of his best connections of the night came when he found Endries, who broke three tackles en route to a 17-yard pickup.

The drive led to McPherson’s third field goal of the night, a 41-yarder that pushed Cincinnati’s lead to 16-6. McPherson finished a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals, accounting for 10 of the Bengals’ 16 points.

Johnson finished 10-of-19 for 84 yards after overcoming his rough start.

The Lions made things interesting late when Altmyer connected with Tarik Black for a 24-yard touchdown. Altmyer then ran in the two-point conversion himself to draw Detroit within two at 16-14.

Dan Campbell had his team attempt an onside kick, but undrafted rookie wide receiver Noah Thomas leapt high into the air to bring down the ball.

Detroit would get one final opportunity with 25 seconds remaining, but Bengals safety Russ Yeast intercepted Altmyer and returned it 14 yards, recording Cincinnati’s third takeaway of the night and finally securing the 16-14 victory.

NOTES:

• All camp long we’ve heard players talk about Colbie Young and Dohnte Meyers, and they were pretty much as advertised. Each flashed varying skill sets, with Young looking like a tall, Higgins-type receiver and Meyers looking like a dynamic, fast playmaker. Each also made mistakes, though Meyers’ ended up not costing his team when a catch that looked like a fumble was ruled incomplete. Young finished with two catches for 28 yards, while Meyers led Cincinnati with three catches for 29 yards. Noah Thomas looked pretty good, too, and his leaping recovery of Detroit’s late onside kick was one of the biggest plays of the night.
• Cashius Howell had a nice debut, recovering Detroit’s first-half fumble and showing some of the traits that have generated excitement throughout camp. He looks every bit the part, too. Fast, big, solid motor. There seems to be a lot to like about the Bengals’ second-round pick.
• Rookie tight end Jack Endries looks like a steal as a seventh-round pick. He looks fast, and he plays tough. Endries caught all three passes thrown his way for 25 yards and Cincinnati’s only touchdown of the night. He has made it clear that he has a chip on his shoulder, and the Bengals may have stolen yet another weapon for Joe Burrow.

The Columbus Crew defeated FC Cincinnati on Saturday night, and if you're a Crew supporter, it was about as satisfying a result as you could ask for. The atmosphere was electric, as always, the soccer was outstanding, and Columbus earned three points against one of its biggest rivals.

As I watched the match, though, I kept catching myself having the same thought I've had for years whenever two Ohio teams play each other: I wish they didn't.

Now, before anyone accuses me of wanting to get rid of the Hell Is Real Derby, Browns-Bengals games or the Ohio Cup, that's not what I'm saying at all. These games are important. They're good for the teams, they're good for the leagues, and they're incredibly fun for fans.

But I just feel... funky... the entire time I'm watching one of these games. Literally every play is simultaneously the best and the suck. One side scores and I'm happy. The other side gives up a goal and... well... I'm not. How can anybody party like that? Serious question.

Growing up outside Cincinnati, I was, of course, a Bengals fan. What I was always afraid to admit to anyone—certainly not my father or my brothers—was that, as long as the Browns weren't playing the Bengals, I quietly hoped they won too. As it turns out, my brothers secretly rooted for the Browns as well. These days, we've all come clean and freely admit we root for the Guardians.

But I think my wiring goes back even farther than that.

One of my earliest childhood memories is visiting family in Tennessee. We made that trip at least once every year, and usually more than once. During one visit, there was a football game on television, and one of the teams had a giant orange "T" on the side of its helmet. I remember asking what the "T" stood for—probably because I was at the age where everything was "A is for Apple" and "B is for Ball."

"Tennessee," someone told me.

Well... that made perfect sense. We were in Tennessee.  So I asked the next obvious question.

"Does Ohio have a team?"

My aunt smiled and said, "Yes. Ohio has the Ohio State Buckeyes."

Ohio.  State.

To my little-kid brain, that wasn't just a university. That was Ohio's team.  It encompassed the entirety of the state.  It was OUR team.  Where we were from.

On the drive home, I remember asking my dad, "Does Cincinnati have a team like the Buckeyes?"  He answered the question from the college perspective.  "Yes. The Cincinnati Bearcats."

And just like that, the Bearcats joined Ohio State in my little collection of teams. Looking back, I think that's where this whole thing started. Somewhere along the way, my brain permanently linked sports teams to the place where I lived instead of making me choose just one.  Which is actually to say, I had no choice.

I remember another moment years later that reinforced it.

I was watching a college basketball highlights show, and several Ohio teams had all won on the same day. For whatever reason, that absolutely fired me up. I grabbed a basketball, ran outside into the driveway and started yelling, "Ohio hoops! Ohio hoops!" while launching jumpers at the basket.

Sadly, that excitement was soon tempered as I obsessively recreated the baseline jumper Chris Jent missed against that team up north. Every miss sent me a little deeper into a malaise that lingered well past dinner.

So when UC plays Ohio State, it honestly feels like my brothers are fighting each other.  I want to run out onto the field and intervene.

That's why I don't like when Ohio teams play each other. It's just not cool.

Yet somehow..it totally is.  And now sports has become a Ren video.  See what I'm saying?

It's goofy.

But it's also awesome.

Most fans live for these games because they get bragging rights. They spend all week talking with friends, coworkers and family members who support the other side. Then, after the game, somebody gets to enjoy saying, "I told you so."

I've never cared much about that part. To be honest, I absolutely loathe the trash talk. (I'm looking at you, UC fans, every time the Bearcats play Ohio State. Look, I went to UC. I love that university. But some of the things I read online before those games are just embarrassing. Stop. Please.)

What I enjoy is watching Ohio teams compete against everybody else. If the Crew are playing Nashville, I hope Columbus wins. If FC Cincinnati is playing Atlanta, I hope Cincinnati wins. If the Browns are taking on Pittsburgh, or the Reds are hosting the Cubs, I'm all in. It feels like the entire state is pulling in the same direction, even if it's spread across different leagues and different cities.

Then the schedule gives us Crew versus Cincinnati or Browns versus Bengals, and suddenly one of my teams has to lose.

Of course, I know that's how sports work. Rivalries aren't going anywhere, nor should they. Hell Is Real has become one of the best rivalries in American sports because supporters on both sides have embraced it. Browns-Bengals games matter because they're divisional matchups. Guardians-Reds games are a reminder that Ohio is home to two proud—and historic—baseball franchises.

I'll continue watching every one of them.

I'll cheer when somebody scores a great goal, makes a spectacular catch or throws a game-winning touchdown. And when the final whistle or final out arrives, I'll congratulate the winner just like everyone else.

I just know that, for me, every celebration comes with one tiny, unavoidable thought in the back of my mind.

It's too bad the other Ohio team had to lose.