Go Saints!

[SandyD]

;)

[macro]

Well, scoring points shouldn't be a problem for the Saints.

[Matt700wlw]

:p:

[MWM]

Same old story for the Bengals. They've given up 300 yards of offense in the first half. They're lucky the Saints haven't scored 28 points.

[Playadlc]

Did anyone see that completed pass (that was clearly incomplete) by Henderson that was reviewed and ruled a catch and a fumble?

Gotta be the 2nd worst call I have seen all year. With the Smith sack penalty ranking 1st.

[Playadlc]

Chad Johnson and Carson Palmer are unstopable right now.

[Playadlc]

Bengals have just blown it open.

31-10.

[dougdirt]

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/5b/full.getty-71465404cg001_cincinnati_be_2_51_56_pm.jpg

[harangatang]

5-5, they'll be sittin at home during the playoffs.

[max venable]

Won...while giving up 510 yards passing to Drew Brees. Unreal.

[redsfan30]

Carson and Chad are in a zone like no other right now. Hopefully they can keep it up long enough to get this team back into playoff contention.

[macro]

Maybe I should have instead said that "moving the ball on offense" shouldn't be a problem for the Saints. They didn't score many points, but Drew Brees' 510 passing yards set a franchise record, and the Saints had almost 600 yards of total offense. There's not a worse defense in the National Football League right now than the Cincinnati Bengals'.

On a positive note, the offense is looking like its old self again.

[traderumor]

Same old story for the Bengals. They've given up 300 yards of offense in the first half. They're lucky the Saints haven't scored 28 points.Freaky stats for this game. Brees throws for over 500 yards, but like last year, this team lives and dies with picks, the only way it can stop someone besides the other team scoring. But 16 points on those numbers is just amazing.

[traderumor]

5-5, they'll be sittin at home during the playoffs.If you look at the standings, the 2nd WC spot is so wide open that the Steelers are back in it at 4-6. The Bengals are very much in the WC race.

[SeeinRed]

In other football news, McNabb is out for the season with a torn ACL.

[Reds Fanatic]

If you look at the standings, the 2nd WC spot is so wide open that the Steelers are back in it at 4-6. The Bengals are very much in the WC race.
Currently the Bengals are only 1 game behind KC for the last playoff spot. Bengals have the win over KC if they would finish tied with the Chiefs.

[traderumor]

Currently the Bengals are only 1 game behind KC for the last playoff spot. Bengals have the win over KC if they would finish tied with the Chiefs.It's looking like the 2nd WC might come down to 9-7, so I'm not quite ready to drive the nail just yet.

[max venable]

I appreciate the optimism about making the playoffs...but realistically...it's ain't gonna happen with that defense. It's horrendous.

Here's my obligatory weekly post after each Bengals game: What ever happened to Marvin Lewis being a defensive genius?

[Playadlc]

While the Bengals defense is very soft, Brees racked up about 65 yards passing on the final drive when the game was already decided. If you take that last drive away, the Bengals actually outgained the Saints on a yards per play basis (7.7 ypp for the Bengals and 7.6 ypp for the Saints).

The Bengals offense is staggering right now. The defense only has to slightly improve over the next couple of weeks for this Bengals team to take off because their offense is absolutely lethal.

[Ben]

McNabb tore his ACL? When will that guy ever catch a break? A sports hernia, now ACL? jeez!

Moving on to the Bengals! All I can say is WHO-DEY! They won despite playing without all three starting LB's and a backup, no Deltha, no D-Jax, and 3 O-lineman! I can't complain about the offense but boy oh boy I agree with Macro about the defense! They are beyond awful, and this draft alone won't fix it! A pass-rusher, more LB's, and more secondary and we only have 6 picks! Well, a win is a win and I'm not going to start complaining until they lose again :evil: :laugh:

[WMR]

http://neworleans.saints.justgotowned.com

[Ltlabner]

http://neworleans.saints.justgotowned.com

I'm not a football fan but I checked out this link. Besides scaring the crap out of me because I had the volume turned up, this is some funny, funny stuff. :laugh:

[max venable]

I'm not a football fan but I checked out this link. Besides scaring the crap out of me because I had the volume turned up, this is some funny, funny stuff. :laugh:

It's disturbing, actually.

[traderumor]

I appreciate the optimism about making the playoffs...but realistically...it's ain't gonna happen with that defense. It's horrendous.

Here's my obligatory weekly post after each Bengals game: What ever happened to Marvin Lewis being a defensive genius?

Injuries, Injuries and Crack Cocaine. You have to realize that he is now the head coach, so his primary involvement with the D now is in personnel choices. That is a much different evaluation criteria than scheming and teaching in a specialized area of the team.

I compare this situation with Brian Billick. It has puzzled many since Billick took over the Ravens, who came in as an offensive guru, has had teams strong in D and weak to pathetic in O. So, Billick inherits a strong D, which is also where most of the team's resources are tied up in keeping it that way. The last couple of years, they have had some money free up and have went after some free agents on offense. Then Billick takes over the reins after firing his O coordinator and the O takes off. But I am sure that is only a short term solution and the goal will be to hire a new O coordinator in the offseason.

Now, you come to Marvin, who inherits a team with most of its talent on the O side of the ball and keeping that together has taken a lot of the team's resources. Throw in that his 1st draft is Carson Palmer, and that direction is pretty much determined. They have spent a lot of money to lock up the offense, which many wondered if that was the best course of action. Now, they are still spinning their wheels on D and folks wonder if Marvin really knows what he's doing on that side of the ball. To me, it comes down to guns and butter, and Marvin chose O out of the gate because that is where his strength lied. If he can build a defense is still a story in progress.

[TeamSelig]

Bengals offense, while pretty good, it could be ALOT better.... you can bet your house on the Bengals running it on the first play of the drive (usually the 2nd too)... I really love getting Rudi carries, but we can't do ANYTHING when we don't mix it up.

We need to let Carson do the playcalling and keep the no huddle... nothing better than a QB draw with Carson in the first half on like the 3 yd line

[guttle11]

Let's hope that they don't cross paths with any cops on the way home, cause their on the run. They stole one today.

5-5 and still hope for the postseason. They weathered the storm, and now it's time to man up.

[Fil3232]

Bengals offense, while pretty good, it could be ALOT better.... you can bet your house on the Bengals running it on the first play of the drive (usually the 2nd too)... I really love getting Rudi carries, but we can't do ANYTHING when we don't mix it up.

We need to let Carson do the playcalling and keep the no huddle... nothing better than a QB draw with Carson in the first half on like the 3 yd line

I think Carson's playcalling in the No Huddle was leading to a lot of the problems with the stagnant offense. Before last week's game it was reported Bratkowski would have more play calling responsibility. I think that's the reason you're seeing more attacks vertically.

Also, 111 yds for Rudi and 275 yds for Carson is just about optimal balance. 3rd down QB draw aside, I thought today's game was very well called.

[SandyD]

Well, scoring points shouldn't be a problem for the Saints.:confused: :laugh:

Wish I could say good game, but it was not. :cry: Congrats on the victory.:D

[Yachtzee]

Yep, when you have a QB throwing for over 500 yards, you can't always count on him bailing you out with costly turnovers. I'm happy they won, but that D is still so bad its scary.

[max venable]

Injuries, Injuries and Crack Cocaine. You have to realize that he is now the head coach, so his primary involvement with the D now is in personnel choices. That is a much different evaluation criteria than scheming and teaching in a specialized area of the team.


Don't get me wrong...I love Marvin but, I mean, for a guy that's supposed to be a defensive guru...dude, you'd think he could come up with some kind of a scheme that limits the other team to, I don't know, 400 yards passing...maybe?

[BuckWoody]

We need to let Carson do the playcalling and keep the no huddle... nothing better than a QB draw with Carson in the first half on like the 3 yd line

Also, 111 yds for Rudi and 275 yds for Carson is just about optimal balance. 3rd down QB draw aside, I thought today's game was very well called.
I heard a few folks talking about that draw this morning and I think it was a busted play. Watson was supposed to slip over and take that ball on the delayed handoff and he screwed it up. Carson made a quick motion like he was getting ready to hand it off then saw his back wasn't there and made the best of it. I don't think that play was ran as called from Bratkowski.



In other football news, McNabb is out for the season with a torn ACL.
swirl...swirl...swirl...swirl...gurgle...gurgle... gurgle...glub...glub...plop. That was the sound of my fantasy season going down the drain. :cry:

[traderumor]

Don't get me wrong...I love Marvin but, I mean, for a guy that's supposed to be a defensive guru...dude, you'd think he could come up with some kind of a scheme that limits the other team to, I don't know, 400 yards passing...maybe?Again, Marvin's responsibility for the D is personnel and hiring the D coordinator. He would have to fire his D coordinator and take over the duties himself to invoke the "thought he was a defensive guru" line. His responsibilities changed, now his job is to draft and sign the right personnel and hire a good D coordinator, or be the D coordinator himself, which is not desirable so that he can captain the ship. Do you want the captain of the ship to work just with the rowers? Meanwhile, the ship has veered off course and is going to fast and is about to run into some rocks.

[macro]

Maybe I should have instead said that "moving the ball on offense" shouldn't be a problem for the Saints. They didn't score many points, but Drew Brees' 510 passing yards set a franchise record, and the Saints had almost 600 yards of total offense. There's not a worse defense in the National Football League right now than the Cincinnati Bengals'.


The new rankings are out, and the statistics now bear out my opinion from yesterday. The Bengals are now ranked dead last in the NFL in overall defense and dead last in the NFL against the pass. FWIW, six teams have allowed more points than they have.

Will Bresnahan be back as defensive coordinator?

[TeamSelig]

We basically ran all the way down there to the goal line, and then ran on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd down. Each time we were shut down easily. All we had to do was run a PA in there somewhere and we've got 6 more points.

[Redsland]

I think Carson's playcalling in the No Huddle was leading to a lot of the problems with the stagnant offense. Before last week's game it was reported Bratkowski would have more play calling responsibility. I think that's the reason you're seeing more attacks vertically.

Also, 111 yds for Rudi and 275 yds for Carson is just about optimal balance. 3rd down QB draw aside, I thought today's game was very well called.
I thought they moved the ball well, but the Bengals have an incredibly simple offensive scheme, and I can't figure out why other teams are letting them get away with it. Only Bill Belichick seems to have noticed that:

- When the Bengals line up in the I formation, four times out of five, they hand off to the deep back and run up the gut.

- When the Bengals line up in any other formation, including the offset I, four times out of five, they pass.

- When the Bengals audible at the line of scrimmage, four times out of five, it's to a run.

- Every game will feature exactly two end-arounds (which Dick Enberg will refer to as "reverses").

- Despite the fact that the I formation is our base running formation, when passing out of it, play action is to be used only once per half.

- First down is a good time to run. If that play leads to second-and-long, that's an even better time to run.

Other observations:

- When Carson misses, he misses high. If you can pressure him within a Cover 3 scheme, you'll get some chances to intercept misses and tips.

- We have a 1,400-yard running back, but never run sweeps. It's always between the tackles. Yesterday we ran two sweeps total. One was a slow-developing play out of the I that was doomed from the start. (If you usually run up the gut out of the I, why would you show that look and then run something that takes longer to develop?) The other sweep turned into a 22-yard gainer for Rudi. Use this weapon more.

Given the Bengals' iron-clad tendencies above, I have no idea how Rudi is able to do what he does, or why the rest of the offense performs as well as it does. It should be easy to figure out when to put nine guys in the box, when to blitz, and when to play straight-up. But somehow they're able to get it done. :beerme:

[SandyD]

This was in the Times-Pic today. :D

http://www.nola.com/news/kelley/images/2006/11212006_toon.jpg