A preview of a movie titled Collapse starring a defensive line suddenly devoid of its only consistent, game-wrecking force. Seventeen seconds. That’s all it took for Brian Baldinger to dissect the nightmare unfolding in Cincinnati’s trenches. “@Commanders just bring back the HOGS…. this is Hogish,” the NFL analyst declared on X, his illustrator tracing yellow arrows across a burgundy wave crashing through orange and black. “Counter Trey to the house.”

On the screen, Commanders tight end John Bates (#87) erased two Bengals defenders with one block, right tackle Andrew Wylie (#71) planted his man into the turf, and rookie runner Jacory Croskey-Merritt (#32) burst untouched for a 27-yard touchdown. It was artistry. It was domination. And for the Bengals? It was a horrify

See Full Page