Jon Bunch compares this week’s Bengals game to “Aliens” (1986)
“He is an alien, man. He’s not from this world.”
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins was referring to his quarterback, Joe Burrow. Just a day earlier, Burrow was seen sporting an alien mask when arriving in San Francisco ahead of the Bengals game against the 49ers. Halloween being a highly celebrated occasion in his hometown of Athens, Ohio, Burrow was in the Halloween spirit. The following day upon the football field in Santa Clara, Burrow played like an otherworldly being having come down to Earth to vanquish the mortals who stood in his path.
In James Cameron’s 1986 science fiction action thriller, “Aliens,” a group of intrepid space-traveling colonial Marines are sent on a mission to investigate what happened to a remote human colony when communications are lost. The colony had been established on a moon where decades earlier an alien creature—AKA a xenomorph—had violently slaughtered almost the entirety of a space mining crew, leaving one survivor, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in the original “Alien.”
Much like the company funding the Marine expedition in “Aliens,” other teams in the NFL recognized a significant threat in their midst that had been hibernating. The league has now awoken the hibernating beast, meaning bad news for everyone else.
Most memorable scene: The film’s first encounter with the aliens is a slow and suspenseful build as the heavily armed Marine unit reconnoiters the dark and desolate hallways of the colony settlement, speaking in hushed tones. The only consistent sound is the pulse from a motion detecting device. The Marines finally make their way into the alien lair where they encounter human bodies cocooned along the wall when the motion detector begins to intensify. Shortly afterwards, all hell breaks loose as the Marines realize that they are not facing one alien but an entire hive of them. It’s an action-packed and horrifying sequence as aliens emerge from all directions, picking apart the Marines one by one. Cameron films it masterfully, keeping a significant portion of the action out of the frame and left to the viewers’ imagination as we hear the screams and yells of Marines over the radio.
Amongst a vast array of highlights from the 49ers game, the most memorable play was when Joe Burrow emerged from the chaos of his own dangerous situation. On the Bengals’ first offensive drive of the game, they found themselves in a 3rd down and 10-yard scenario facing perhaps the most feared pass rush in the entire league. As the pocket began to collapse around Burrow, he twice evaded what seemed like two certain quarterback sacks: First, he ducked under the waiting grasp of Arik Armstead, then he pulled away from the grip of Nick Bosa. Emerging from the traffic—amazingly still on his feet—Burrow scrambled to his right to deliver a first down throw to Tee Higgins along the sideline while being pressured by Fred Warner. The play was part of a 10-play, 85-yard drive, culminating in the game’s opening touchdown. It was an early tone-setter for Cincinnati and a wake-up call to the rest of the league that Burrow is healthy and mobile again.
Runner-Up: The nail-biting climax when Ellen Ripley faces down the Alien Queen (Aliens). Germaine Pratt’s tip to himself and interception of Brock Purdy in the red zone. “It was one of the best defensive plays I have ever seen.” – Burrow (Bengals).
Best Performance: The role of Ellen Ripley required a lot of the actress, Sigourney Weaver. The character begins the film as a vulnerable survivor, still traumatized by the alien encounters she had survived in “Alien.” Ripley then takes on the role of caring mother to Newt, a young girl the Marines encounter as the lone survivor of the colony. Ultimately, the situation requires Ripley to be a gun-toting action hero, bravely venturing into the alien hive on her own to rescue Newt and face down the queen alien. Weaver shifts through all facets of the multi-layered Ripley seemingly with ease. It’s an incredible performance that earned Weaver a Best Actress nomination. Ellen Ripley is regarded as one of the most significant female protagonists ever created and proved to Hollywood studios, even in the male-dominated action cinema of the 1980s, that women could kick butt and lead action movies too.
You know who else can kick butt? “Joe Shiesty.” Much like Ellen Ripley in “Aliens,” who emerges from a 57-year slumber to rediscover her strength and conquer her opponents, Joe Burrow seems to have found his way back. After a sluggish start to the season operating on a less-than-fully-healed calf, some critics had decided to bury Burrow and the Bengals as contenders. But coming off the bye week, Joe Burrow returned to form against the 49ers. What’s more, Burrow gave one of the great performances of his entire career. Burrow completed 28 of 32 passes for 283 yards and 3 TDs. Burrow had the 2nd most efficient day in Bengals history (88%) and, at one point, completed a career-best 19 consecutive passes. Burrow achieved all this against one of the best defenses in the league. In fact, he had the highest completion % against the 49ers of all time. Burrow’s ability to move the pocket and scramble has finally returned. Burrow finished with 43 rushing yards on six carries with four of carries resulting in first downs. On a couple of those carries, Burrow hopped up off the ground and pounded excitedly on his helmet with both open palms exhorting a barbaric yawp. That reaction seemingly an exaltation that Burrow knows he is physically capable again of doing what he knows is possible. The Bengals look to have a healthy Joe Burrow again…a healthy Burrow playing behind the most talented offensive line he’s ever had that can give him the time he needs to dissect the defense. Look out league!
Runner-Up: Bill Paxton’s entertaining turn as Private Hudson, a wise-cracking and blustering Marine who’s not so brave once the aliens emerge (Aliens). Lou Anaromu called another gem of a defensive game (Bengals). Zak Taylor said of Lou, “I mean, he’s the best, right? He puts these guys in position….He pushes the right buttons at the right times. He does a great job being emotional and then being composed like great defensive coordinators do. Love him to death.”
Worst Part: The special effects in “Aliens” could be improved. It can be noticeable, at times, that the spaceships, vehicles and sets are miniatures. But I would still take the tactile appearance of old-school practical effects over the often elusive reality of today’s CGI (computer generated imagery).
When Hayden Hurst signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers in free agency, tight end was a clear area of need on the Bengals roster. To the surprise of many, the Bengals didn’t address the position in the draft. Similar to last year with Hurst, the Bengals decided to go the free agent route signing Irv Smith Jr to a one-year, prove it deal. Thus far, Smith Jr’s production has been nearly non-existent. Even on a day in which the offense seemed to be firing on all cylinders, Smith Jr disappointed. He fumbled inside the 5-yard line right before halftime, preventing the Bengals from going up two scores and securing further momentum going into the half. Smith Jr is going to have to produce some real special effects of his own for the remainder of the season to have a future with the organization.
Best Quote: Tee Higgins’ previous quote about Burrow’s extra-terrestrial origins is a good quote. But it’s Joe Burrow’s post game quotes that should give Bengals fans optimism and the rest of the league concerns. When asked if the performance against the 49ers is the type of performance he expected his team to produce this season, Burrow’s response: “Yeah, this is the standard.”
Which brings me back to “Aliens.” Once the Marine expeditionary group knows of the alien threat, they call for a rescue effort to move them to safety off the planet. Unfortunately, there is a stowaway alien on the rescue ship who subverts the rescue attempt—causing the ship to crash on the planet surface in front of the remaining Marine survivors. The failed rescue attempt triggers Paxton’s Private Hudson to emotionally respond to the group’s diminishing survival chances.
If Joe Burrow and his Bengals consistently deliver on “the standard” he expects for the rest of this season, then—to quote Private Hudson—“That’s it, man. Game over, man. Game over!” (for the rest of the league).
Who-Dey?!
Jon Bunch is an avid life-long Bengals fanatic. Raised in the 740. West Pointer, Army and Iraq War veteran. Passionate evangelist of the Who-Dey spirit. @WhoDeyBunch
