Covering the Reds and Bengals. Charlie’s Chalkboard newsletter. Contributor to FOX19. The Power Stacks podcast and The Growler podcast
Cincinnati, OH
Joined September 2013
- Tweets41.6K
- Following427
- Followers34.9K
- Likes6.8K
Pinned Tweet
“I’ve lost a lot of football games,” Dexter Lawrence said. “It only helped me get better and prepared me for this moment."
He's on a new team with big expectations and the chance to be "that guy."
"It gives me more edge. It’s fun."
charlieschalkboard.substack.…
Charlie Goldsmith retweeted
The Walkout: #Bengals 35, Ravens 13
🎙️ Hear from Ja'Marr Chase, Bryan Cook and Zac Taylor
😠 Inside story on what turned the game at halftime
👀 Perspective on Burrow's day
📱 Amarius Mims is talking to you
🍻 @FiftyWestBrew cheers of the game
📺: youtu.be/awah1Pxpj5I
Even though most of the roster has never been a part of a Bengals’ team that’s played into January, everyone knows the lofty goals that this team is chasing. And if they ever forget it, Ja'Marr Chase will remind them.
The speech, the comeback and the second half highlight reel.
charlieschalkboard.substack.…
“We all were sitting down. Everyone was sitting as a team. (Ja'Marr) started talking. ‘Have trust in us. Ya’ll are good. Keep fighting.’”
What else did Chase tell the team?
“Be more physical. Play harder. Those things, simply put, are important.”
“We’ve got to get the ball back to the offense as much as possible because we know what we can do.”
“We are not leaving here without a win.”
fox19.com/2026/10/25/jamarr-…
The plays that stick out looking back at the second half for the offense are Higgins ripping the ball away from Smith, backyard Burrow to Higgins for a big gain, Ja’Marr escaping two tackles and Higgins’ go ball. Star plays from 9, 1 and 5.
The ceiling is best offense in the league.
Best halves of Burrow's career: 2023 San Francisco comes to mind. This is right up there.
Jordan Battle and Bryan Cook have barely blitzed this year. They both got free on that third down sack — the second great third down blitz call in this half.
Cook is helped off the field. With Dugger out and Yeast inactive, Jules is the other active safety and would be next up.
Burrow, Ja'Marr, Tee, an offensive line playing really well, a run game that's given them what the team has needed in all but one game. Offense has a really good thing going this year.
Charlie Goldsmith retweeted
TE Erick All Jr. has a right knee injury. He has been declared out.
S Kyle Dugger has a left quadricep injury. He has been declared out.
Terrible decision by Baltimore. Henry isn't in the game. They had a chance to take the lead. I'd call any play except a straight forward shotgun pass.
I believe that's the same play that Tee Higgins scored on at Baltimore at home in 2024.
Also, a touchdown on what was probably Jack Endries' first true passing snap of the year. Endries' route helped open up the middle of the field.
Really well designed blitz there. I look forward to watching that one tomorrow. Showed cover 0, dropped a bunch of guys (including Lawrence), got a free runner.
The strike over the middle to Tee Higgins and the way that he went and got that ball was a star level play between Burrow and Tee. Higgins' usage over the middle has been as high as its ever been, and that was another big one. He's having a great season.
Also, the low red zone plays with Gesicki have been a staple this season.
Dax Hill colliding with DJ Turner, making a 3rd and 16 conversion feel easy, an early down blitz getting shredded.
The Tyler Huntley led Ravens have been the more dominant team in this half against the Bengals defense.
We've seen games like this for the Bengals before (including 2021 and 2022). The ones they won are the ones where Burrow turned into a magician. That's the only path I see right now.
This might be hyperbolic, but that TFL from Bryan Cook was probably one of the most impressive run defense plays by a Bengals safety in the backfield since 2022.
The Ravens are doing such a good job of moving Flowers and creating leverage — they've done this all year, and I think that he has the most receiving yards versus linebackers in the league. Add in some one on one matchup losses for Ivey on first down catches, and those are the two areas Baltimore is highlighting.
Baltimore's showing that they're going to blitz, something you rarely see teams try to live with against Burrow.
Big moment right now for the coaching staff, needing to adjust to these looks they're getting.