2011 Bengals Discussion

[Hoosier Red]

Originally Posted by Redhook

I'm pretty optimistic about the Bengals even after yesterday's loss. I thought they got beaten down pretty bad in the 1st half and were lucky to only be down 7, but they came out and played another solid 2nd half. I'm not used to halftime adjustments.

There were a few key plays that went the Steelers way that dictated the outcome. That stuff happens. I could see the Bengals winning their next game against them.

A couple of concerns are obviously Hall and Green. I think and hope Green will be ok soon. But, losing Hall, even though he stunk something fierce yesterday, will be a big blow. Hopefully, Adam "Don't call me Pacman" Jones can fill in without getting injured again.

Next week, I look forward to the Bengals bouncing back and beating the Ravens. That'd be great.

If it makes sense, I'm more optimistic about the team's ability but less optimistic about the team's short term playoff chances.

If we accept the top 4 of the AFC are in some order; Pittsburgh, Baltimore, New England, and Houston. The Bengals are essentially in a race with the Steelers, Ravens, Jets and Bills for three spots.

Of those teams, the Jets are done with their games against the top four, the Ravens and Steelers play the Bengals and no one else. The Steelers have 2 "tough" games left, Bengals and Niners. The Ravens have three tough games left, Bengals *2 and Niners, the Jets have 0 games against the top of the conference as the toughest opponents left are Philly?, the Giants, and hosting Buffalo, and the Bengals still have 4 games against the top teams in the conference.

This isn't saying the Bengals can't beat these teams, but even if they're as good as the opponents, they'll still probably be 2-2 in that stretch. If I were a betting man, I'd say the AFC playoffs are likely to be New England, Houston, Pittsburgh/Baltimore, Oakland, Baltimore/Pittsburgh, and the Jets once again coming in as the 6th seed.

I hope they prove me wrong.

[Sea Ray]

I think the Bengals are in the thick of it although they do need to beat the Ravens/Steelers once or twice. The Jets are the main competition and they didn't look too good last night

[bucksfan2]

Originally Posted by Redhook

I'm pretty optimistic about the Bengals even after yesterday's loss. I thought they got beaten down pretty bad in the 1st half and were lucky to only be down 7, but they came out and played another solid 2nd half. I'm not used to halftime adjustments.

There were a few key plays that went the Steelers way that dictated the outcome. That stuff happens. I could see the Bengals winning their next game against them.

A couple of concerns are obviously Hall and Green. I think and hope Green will be ok soon. But, losing Hall, even though he stunk something fierce yesterday, will be a big blow. Hopefully, Adam "Don't call me Pacman" Jones can fill in without getting injured again.

Next week, I look forward to the Bengals bouncing back and beating the Ravens. That'd be great.

Green would be a huge loss, gigantic. He has already shown to be a difference maker and without Shippley in the slot the Bengals would be forced to go with Caldwell and Simpson and a bunch of question marks.

Hall's loss will hurt but he has been pretty poor over the past few weeks. Hopefully Jones can step in and I wonder if that means Ghee gets a chance (if he still is on the practice squad).

[wolfboy]

Originally Posted by bucksfan2

I wonder if that means Ghee gets a chance (if he still is on the practice squad).

I believe he is still on the practice squad.

[Stray]

I like the quote from Marvin on Lance's blog.

"We can play with the elite, now we have to beat the elite"

Kinda sums up my thoughts as well. Our secondary hasn't been that good all season, but it's masked by our D-Line not giving the QB a lot of time. Ben avoids the rush as well as anyone and still gets the ball downfield, so our weakness kinda got exposed. For his first time going up against a HOF'er's zone blitz scheme Dalton didn't look confused, and all of that experience is so valuable for facing this team down the road.

I really think if AJ doesn't hurt his knee it's a different outcome. We played well enough to hang around but just couldn't get over the top. I feel better about this team now than I did prior to the game which is really strange considering they lost.

Also, Baltimore lost to Seattle yesterday so we didn't lose any ground on them.

[wolfboy]

Originally Posted by Stray

I like the quote from Marvin on Lance's blog.

"We can play with the elite, now we have to beat the elite"

Kinda sums up my thoughts as well. Our secondary hasn't been that good all season, but it's masked by our D-Line not giving the QB a lot of time. Ben avoids the rush as well as anyone and still gets the ball downfield, so our weakness kinda got exposed. For his first time going up against a HOF'er's zone blitz scheme Dalton didn't look confused, and all of that experience is so valuable for facing this team down the road.

I really think if AJ doesn't hurt his knee it's a different outcome. We played well enough to hang around but just couldn't get over the top. I feel better about this team now than I did prior to the game which is really strange considering they lost.

Also, Baltimore lost to Seattle yesterday so we didn't lose any ground on them.

Baltimore has been Jekyll an Hyde this season. It will be interesting to see which team shows up on Sunday.

[WVRed]

Originally Posted by Sea Ray

I think the Bengals are in the thick of it although they do need to beat the Ravens/Steelers once or twice. The Jets are the main competition and they didn't look too good last night

If the Ravens are in the drivers seat for the division on the last week of the season, I wouldn't be shocked if Ray Rice and Joe Flacco are rested, giving the Bengals a chance to make it as a WC.

As for the Steelers, for whatever reason the Steelers almost ALWAYS play well in Cincinnati. However, the Bengals almost ALWAYS play the Steelers well in Pittsburgh. Of course, we have a rookie QB going into the Steel City with the uncertainty of our top receiver.

I think its entirely possible to get swept by the Ravens and Steelers but still make the playoffs at 10-6. Just have to win the rest of the games with Houston being the toughest and hope for some breaks.

[bucksfan2]

Originally Posted by wolfboy

Baltimore has been Jekyll an Hyde this season. It will be interesting to see which team shows up on Sunday.

Baltimore will be Jekyll and Hyde because of their QB. Flacco is a mediocre QB who I think will have his up games as well as down games. I also wonder with the age of the defense if Baltimore won't wear down as the season goes along. But then again I have been saying the same things about Reed and Lewis for half a decade now.

[wolfboy]

Originally Posted by bucksfan2

Baltimore will be Jekyll and Hyde because of their QB. Flacco is a mediocre QB who I think will have his up games as well as down games. I also wonder with the age of the defense if Baltimore won't wear down as the season goes along. But then again I have been saying the same things about Reed and Lewis for half a decade now.

Flacco suffers from the combo of a bad offensive line and an inability to get rid of the ball. The number of sacks and fumbles he's racked up the last few years is off the charts. I can't wait to see him up against the Bengals D-line.

[Hillsdale87]

Originally Posted by bucksfan2

Baltimore will be Jekyll and Hyde because of their QB. Flacco is a mediocre QB who I think will have his up games as well as down games. I also wonder with the age of the defense if Baltimore won't wear down as the season goes along. But then again I have been saying the same things about Reed and Lewis for half a decade now.

Their offensive play calling has been horrible all year too. When you have a great RB and average QB, your pass: run ratio should not be 54:5. They have been doing this all year, and it doesn't make sense. As a Bengals fan I love it because Flacco is not a playmaker and won't win many games if he has to make all the plays. As a Ray Rice fantasy owner it's driving me crazy!

[redsfandan]

Originally Posted by Hoosier Red

If it makes sense, I'm more optimistic about the team's ability but less optimistic about the team's short term playoff chances.

If we accept the top 4 of the AFC are in some order; Pittsburgh, Baltimore, New England, and Houston. The Bengals are essentially in a race with the Steelers, Ravens, Jets and Bills for three spots.

Of those teams, the Jets are done with their games against the top four, the Ravens and Steelers play the Bengals and no one else. The Steelers have 2 "tough" games left, Bengals and Niners. The Ravens have three tough games left, Bengals *2 and Niners, the Jets have 0 games against the top of the conference as the toughest opponents left are Philly?, the Giants, and hosting Buffalo, and the Bengals still have 4 games against the top teams in the conference.

This isn't saying the Bengals can't beat these teams, but even if they're as good as the opponents, they'll still probably be 2-2 in that stretch. If I were a betting man, I'd say the AFC playoffs are likely to be New England, Houston, Pittsburgh/Baltimore, Oakland, Baltimore/Pittsburgh, and the Jets once again coming in as the 6th seed.

I hope they prove me wrong.

So, even if the Bengals don't make it, Bengal fans will still have someone to root for. Whoever plays Oakland.

[Hoosier Red]

No way, if Oakland makes the playoffs(and the Bengals don't) I want Oakland to upset their way to a championship game.

[CTA513]

Matt Schaub is out for the year after hurting his foot yesterday, so the Texans game just became a lot more winnable.

[Redhook]

Looking at the standings, 10 wins will get the Bengals in the playoffs. The Jets and Bills each have 5 wins and play each other again. I don't see either of these teams going 5-1 the rest of the way. Tennessee would have to go 5-1 as well. That's not happening.

That being the case, the Bengals will get in if they win 4 more games. If they beat Cleveland, Arizona, and St. Louis like they should they would then only have to win one game against Pitt, Baltimore twice, and Houston. They can do that especially with 2 of those at home.

There are two huge keys to the Bengals success the rest of the way: AJ Green and Adam Jones. If Green's injury lingers, that will be a devastating blow to the offense. Their offense will turn to molasses without him. Second, Adam Jones is pretty good if he can get on and stay on the field. If healthy, they won't miss Leon Hall a ton. If not, this could also be devastating. It kind of stinks these two injuries are not only great players, but also at the Bengals thinnest positions.

[Redsfaithful]

It's at least possible that Brandon Ghee might not suck. Third round pick, you never know.