BENGALS SQUAD SHOW: Are JOE BURROW and the Bengals CONTENDERS? STATE of the BENGALS at the Bye Week

With the Bengals on a bye this week, it's a perfect time for a State of the Bengals show where we have some hard-hitting conversations about the most poignant aspects about the team and organization five games into a pivotal 2026 season. Alex Frank, Coach Art Valero, Joe Goodberry, and FOX19 Sports Director Joe Danneman discuss what makes the Bengals contenders and the biggest concerns they have about the team. Zac Taylor is in his eighth season as the Bengals head coach. Does he feel the pressure to get this Bengals team back to the Playoffs, and could he be on the hot seat now or later this season? One member of the organization who doesn't get talked about as much with the continuity aspect is special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons. But with special teams making some crucial mistakes so far this season, has the conversation around him started to change? The Bengals may have unlocked something with their running game last week in Miami. It's actually similar to what the 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes utilized in a run to the National Championship and what the 2025 Seattle Seahawks utilized in their run to the Super Bowl championship. Photo Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images Join the Locked On Bengals Insider Community! Where you'll get updates directly to your phone and be able to text the hosts, check it out at: https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonbengals Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everyday... Find and follow Locked On Bengals on your favorite podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AObc0l... Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-... Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Tempo For a limited time, Tempo is offering my listeners SIXTY PERCENT OFF your first box! Go to http://TempoMeals.com/LOCKEDON60. Quo Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/LOCKEDONNFL. Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. Butcher Box If you're looking for an easier way to get great meals on the table, give ButcherBox a try. Go to https://ButcherBox.com/LOCKEDONNFL to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ribeye, new york strip, or filet mignon in every box for a year — with free shipping always. Apple You can earn up to 3% unlimited Daily Cash back on every purchase you make with Apple Card using Apple Pay. Apply in the Wallet app on your iPhone today. Subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank, USA. Salt Lake City Branch. Terms and more at apple-card-dot-com. https://learn.applecard.apple/unlimit... PrizePicks Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LO... and use code LOCKEDONNFL and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! KALSHI Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Get three hundred fifty dollars in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.