Head Coach Zac Taylor gives out game balls to local bars

It happened after the Bengals 24-17 victory over the Ravens. It happened after the Divisional win over the Bills. There’s a good chance it will happen after the AFC Championship game with the Chiefs this Sunday. 

Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor has brought back a tradition he started last year, giving out game balls to local Cincinnati bars. Now, multiple Bengals players are joining in on the fun, delivering game balls to other bars across the City and region. 

The AFC Championship game marks the second time in two years the Bengals have had to visit Kansas City to win the Lamar Hunt Trophy and a berth in the big game. However, this year, the Bengals are favored by 1.5 points. In a game that oddsmakers see as even, the Chiefs would normally give 3 points to the Bengals. This year, the Chiefs are also +$105 on the money line. 

Here’s a brief list of the playoff game balls delivered so far this year: For the Wild Card win against Baltimore, Zac Taylor delivered a game ball to the Blind Pig downtown; Safety Vonn Bell gave one to Crowley’s in Mount Adams, while Clutch OTR received one from Receiver Tyler Boyd. 

Divisional game balls for the win against Buffalo were awarded to: Rhinehaus Bar in Over-The-Rhine by Coach Taylor; Oak Tavern in Oakley with Bengals linemen Ted Karras and Cordell Volson, along with Quarterback Jake Browning dropping off a ball, and Safety Jessie Bates III and Linebacker Germaine Pratt dropping off a ball at Gypsy’s Bar across the river in Covington. 

So who will get the game balls this week? That remains to be seen. But it’s a pretty good chance it will happen. 

Not a football fan? 

The Receptions Bridal Show runs from noon to 2 pm and 2:30 to 4:30, at Receptions Fairfield at 5975 Boymel Drive in Fairfield. Here you’ll meet all the folks you need to plan your nuptials, including: cake designers, DJs, photographers, florists and more. The event costs $10. Best of all, it’s over in plenty of time for you to head home, or out to a bar, for the game—which starts at 6:30 pm.