Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals

A day after Dan Pitcher's return to Cincinnati looked full steam ahead, Zac Taylor has granted him permission to interview for a play calling OC job in Tampa Bay. Jake Liscow and James Rapien break down why Taylor and the Bengals aren't blocking the interview, and what it could mean for the future of Taylor's coaching staff (especially if Brian Callahan also gets a play calling job elsewhere). Plu...

Bengals OC Dan Pitcher does not appear to be on the Cleveland Browns' shortlist for their head coaching job, so the guys break down the latest as the rest of the AFC North continues their head coaching searches and Buffalo fired Sean McDermott on Monday. The McDermott move opens the door to Joe Brady as a candidate in Cincinnati if Pitcher does depart. Jake Liscow and James Rapien discuss the Beng...

The Cincinnati Bengals face a pivotal offseason as contract strategy and roster building are once again at the forefront. The Bengals must modernize front office practices, and return to 2021 and 2022's free agency aggression to fill out the roster.  Jake Liscow and James Rapien spotlight how conservative salary cap management, inactive free agencies, and delayed extensions have cost the Bengals o...

For years, the Cincinnati Bengals' offensive line was one of the biggest liabilities in the NFL. After a slow start this season, the offensive line seemingly got a lot better. Is it now a strength of this Bengals team going into 2026? Alex Frank, Mike Santagana, and Art Valero discuss how the Bengals' offensive line has shedded their liabilities and what makes them now a reliable unit going into 2...

The Cincinnati Bengals have a chance this offseason to lock up foundational pieces to long-term deals—something we've asked them to do for years. James Rapien and Jake Liscow break down why DJ Turner II and Dax Hill should top the extension priority list after breakout campaigns and strong leadership on defense.  The guys also dig into past mistakes the Bengals hope to avoid, the potential approac...

The Cincinnati Bengals have a big decision at backup quarterback as Joe Flacco’s value is clear based on his performance in 2025 and their need for a proven commodity behind Joe Burrow. Should Flacco be an offseason priority, and can the Bengals afford to let him walk with a weak backup QB market? James Rapien and Jake Liscow examine salary expectations and slim pickings for alternatives headlined...

The Cincinnati Bengals have decisions to make on their internal free agents as Dalton Risner takes top priority. Can the Bengals keep their offensive line chemistry intact by retaining the guy Ted Karras, Amarius Mims, and Orlando Brown Jr. all want back? Who else do the Bengals need to prioritize bringing back and how does Joe Flacco fit? James Rapien and Jake Liscow break down the Risner situati...

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, no question, has his flaws. However, he has gotten the Bengals to two AFC Championships and a Super Bowl. That proves he can coach when he has a full deck of cards. That begs the question: Is Zac Taylor being scapegoated by the Bengals' front office?  Alex Frank, Jake Liscow and Art Valero discuss that topic.  This past weekend in the Wild Card round of the Playoffs,...

Duke Tobin made clear on Friday that closing games was one of his biggest issues with the Cincinnati Bengals 2025 season, and Wildcard Weekend games made him look prescient.  Tobin has plenty of work to do if they're going to get to the playoffs next season. Jake Liscow and James Rapien reflect on the need to finish games, how it applies to the playoffs and why adding talent is just half of the eq...

Duke Tobin’s press conference on Friday left many fans frustrated and wanting more clarity than they got. Can the front office fix glaring holes on defense and finally address pass rush and linebacker issues, or will familiar free agency limitations derail the team’s shot at resurgence with Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins anchoring the offense? Jake Liscow and James Rapien break down th...

Bengals "de facto general manager"and Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin spoke with the media today at Paycor Stadium, a rarity considering it is not even a week after the season ended.  Alex Frank and Art Valero discuss the biggest takeaways from Tobin's press conference and how fans should feel about his answers to the toughest questions he fielded today.  Earlier this week, the Baltimore R...

Dan Pitcher is interviewing for a promotion in Cleveland, and Zac Taylor once again faces the possibility of losing one of his top assistants. James Rapien and Jake Liscow break down the possibility than Pitcher takes a head coaching job as the NFL coaching carousel gets busier, and what the Bengals would do to backfill the offensive coordinator position. A Brian Callahan reunion could make sense,...

We're going to hear from Duke Tobin in January for the first time, and fans are eager to hear what the Bengals' director of player personnel has to say. Jake Liscow and James Rapien break down what they're hoping to learn from Tobin's presser, and what it means that Zac Taylor and the Cincinnati Bengals will be facing off with new head coaches across the division after the Baltimore Ravens and Cle...

With Bengals President Mike Brown releasing a statement saying Zac Taylor and Duke Tobin will both be returning in 2026, it's time for Zac Taylor to do what he should have done a long time ago: defer play calling duties.  Alex Frank, Jake Liscow, and Art Valero discuss why this could make Zac Taylor a better head coach, and, as a result, the defense possibly better in 2026. Mike Brown said the Ben...

Cincinnati Bengals right tackle Amarius Mims showed off his development in the home stretch of the 2025 season, and looks like a star in the making for a team that has desperately been looking for young cornerstones on the offensive line. Jake Liscow and Mike Santagata break down Mims' progress this season in our final film review of the year, along with expectations for offensive line running mat...

Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown made it official on Monday: Zac Taylor and Duke Tobin aren't going anywhere. Is it the right decision? James Rapien and Jake Liscow read Brown's statement, react to the news and explain why the Bengals' decision to make Tobin available in a press conference setting is noteworthy. They also discuss Brown's decision and why this should be a make-or-break season fo...

Sunday's game at Paycor Stadium was emblematic of the entire 2025 Bengals Season. Even worse, this season ended with a loss to the Cleveland Browns.  Alex Frank and Art Valero discuss the atrocities that unfolded in Cincinnati and how this better result in major changes. No matter how bad a season is, this was a terrible way for it to end. The Bengals' defense did play well, but not when it counte...

The Cincinnati Bengals collapsed in their season finale as turnovers and missed opportunities led to a 20-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns. And with plans to run it back with Zac Taylor, off season decisions are as important as ever - and Joe Burrow made sure everyone knew that in his final press conference of the season.  Jake Liscow and James Rapien break down it all down after another brutal los...

Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase were both adamant that changes need to be made within the Bengals' organization after three straight seasons of missing the Playoffs.  Alex Frank, Mike Santagana, and Art Valero discuss how much weight these comments carry and if the Bengals front office will act upon their stars making their voices heard this week.  The Bengals close the 2025 season against the Clevel...

The Cincinnati Bengals can end a forgettable season on a high note against the Cleveland Browns this weekend. Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins will face off against Myles Garrett chasing the sack record and one of the best defenses in the NFL, and if they can put on a show, they'll have confidence in their offensive design for 2026.  Jake Liscow and James Rapien break down the game’s mos...

The Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow are preparing to face Myles Garrett as he pursues the NFL sack record—will he break the record in Week 18? The Battle of Ohio takes center stage with only pride and records on the line. James Rapien and Speaker German break down the top storylines: Garrett’s pursuit of greatness, the Bengals offense’s recent dominance with Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgin...

The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to bring back head coach Zac Taylor and Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin next season. Should they? Jake Liscow and James Rapien answer that question with in-depth analysis of Taylor's tenure and the overall performance of the team. They also talk about the front office, their process in free agency, the NFL Draft, how ownership is involved and so much mor...

The Cincinnati Bengals put together their strongest defensive performance of the year, and that includes rookie linebackers Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr., while cornerbacks Dax Hill, and DJ Turner continued to show they're building block players. How much of that performance gives real hope for the future?  Jake Liscow and Mike Santagata break down what's worth buying on defense, includi...

For the first time since Weeks 1 and 2, the Bengals have won consecutive games. Not only that, but their defense is starting to make an impact.  Alex Frank, Mike Santagana, and Art Valero break down the Bengals' blowout win over the Cardinals and how their defense continues its late-season ascension. How does their performance impact the plan for the offseason?  On the other side, Ja'Marr Chase fi...

The Bengals dominated the Arizona Cardinals as you'd expect them to, with starters once again taking the 4th quarter off. That's the standard for the Bengals if they're playing their starters and bringing this coaching staff back. But it was a fun-filled game nonetheless, and Jake and James break down the highlights including two touchdowns a piece for Ja'Marr Chase and Chase Brown, an explosive p...