2024 Cincinnati Bengals Part 3: Stay the Course?

[Redsfaithful]

Still think there's hope. I truly see this team finishing 6-1.

With health I do too, this is a good team. Very dangerous playoff team if they can get there. 9-8 may be enough, but need to finish 6-1 to be sure. They'll be favored in 4 out of 7, maybe more depending on how you feel about the Chargers and Steelers (2x) lines.

[Wonderful Monds]

People are confused by incompetence though when they see the ref looking right at something and they don't call it which I've noticed happening more this year than I can ever remember before, not just with the Bengals. They swallow their whistles at times in a completely aware way - like they clearly are looking at what happened sometimes - and we don't know why. I assume there's a reason, and sure it's probably not "screw the Bengals", I just don't know what it is.

I think they’re feeling scrutinized (rightly) and might be having the reaction to go “ah damn will this seem fair, have we been calling this one consistently this game??”

There’s a reason why refs/officials pretty much across all sports statistically favor the home team in terms of calling penalties, violations etc., there’s the subconscious bias and pressure. I imagine it’s just something like that.

[WVRed]

Seen a lot of people (not on here) questioning why go for it and not kick the extra point.

Watch the Chiefs Bucs game on Monday. Bucs came back and tied the game. Instead of going for two to win they kicked the extra point. They did manage to stop Mahomes in regulation but going to overtime the Chiefs got the ball and Tampa never touched it again.

Had the Bengals tied the game, Lamar had 35 seconds, two timeouts and a HOF kicker who has hit game winners against the Bengals in prime time. Completely understand the decision.

That said it looks like they got hosed out of it.

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[Hillsdale87]

I think Taylor has lost his confidence. I’d replace him. He’s lost his mojo and makes weird calls. Throwing long to Burton on 4th and 2 is absurd.

His offense scored 5 TDs without Higgins or Orlando Brown, the 3rd and 4th most important players. Those deep balls are reads by Burrow, and as incredible as he's been this season, he's done that too often. Threw a deep ball to Iosivas on 4th in a game recently too.


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[RiverRat13]

Still think there's hope. I truly see this team finishing 6-1.

They've yet to beat a decent team. They have four games against decent or better teams left (LAC, Denver, Pitt twice). I have a hard time believing they go 3-1 in those games. The defense is obviously bad, but they also can't run the ball against any defense with a pulse. Which means they'll be one dimensional in all four of those games. That's a tough hill to climb.

[Tony Cloninger]

You can’t run with 1-2 yards are needed when a lot of teams are now running the ball better these days. Interior OL is bad at this. Mike Brown values G as much as Safeties. History of that going back to Max Montoya. You should be able to pick up 1-3 yards running. Burrow could probably run for that.

[Old school 1983]

The defense that gave up four straight touchdowns?

Yes. Whether you’re up by one or tied, it doesn’t matter. Your defense has to stop the field goal. 2 points makes sense if it puts you up 4 and forces a TD to be scored. 1 or 2 doesn’t change the task of the bengals defense or the ravens offense. Take the sure thing and play on.

[Oxilon]

Entering this season, I thought CTB was on par with Jonathan Joseph/Leon Hall in terms of being a reliable starting cornerback worthy of an extension. I'm not sure what happened this offseason but he's fallen off a cliff and I hope he's sent packing this offseason. And I wonder if you add up all of the guaranteed money between Nick Scott, Geno Stone and whoever they sign next offseason, it will surpass the guaranteed money that was given to Jesse Bates? The FO really botched assembling the secondary the past couple of seasons and you can't help to think it will get even worse once they let Mike Hilton walk.

[Old school 1983]

People are confused by incompetence though when they see the ref looking right at something and they don't call it which I've noticed happening more this year than I can ever remember before, not just with the Bengals. They swallow their whistles at times in a completely aware way - like they clearly are looking at what happened sometimes - and we don't know why. I assume there's a reason, and sure it's probably not "screw the Bengals", I just don't know what it is.

Might be the refs “wanting the players to play and decide” situations like that. I get not wanting to call ticky tack stuff. But they can’t just let players blatantly disregard the rules to the game and get away with it.

[Oxilon]

Might be the refs “wanting the players to play and decide” situations like that. I get not wanting to call ticky tack stuff. But they can’t just let players blatantly disregard the rules to the game and get away with it.

Would have been nice if the refs did that at the end of the game back in Week 2.

[Old school 1983]

Seen a lot of people (not on here) questioning why go for it and not kick the extra point.

Watch the Chiefs Bucs game on Monday. Bucs came back and tied the game. Instead of going for two to win they kicked the extra point. They did manage to stop Mahomes in regulation but going to overtime the Chiefs got the ball and Tampa never touched it again.

Had the Bengals tied the game, Lamar had 35 seconds, two timeouts and a HOF kicker who has hit game winners against the Bengals in prime time. Completely understand the decision.

That said it looks like they got hosed out of it.

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Whether up 1 or tied, the situation calls for a defensive stop to force OT. Take the definite thing. And hope you win the coin toss and keep Lamar off the field.

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Would have been nice if the refs did that at the end of the game back in Week 2.

True

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You can’t run with 1-2 yards are needed when a lot of teams are now running the ball better these days. Interior OL is bad at this. Mike Brown values G as much as Safeties. History of that going back to Max Montoya. You should be able to pick up 1-3 yards running. Burrow could probably run for that.

Especially if you know you’re going for it. Get the first down. Don’t throw the deep ball unless it’s wide open.

[KoryMac5]

I think the Bengals need to start asking why Burrow doesn't get the same whistle other QB's do...I mean this is back to back games where egregious roughing calls have been missed. Someone should be on the phone with the league office today or sending tape of how many times this gets missed...I also think Burrow needs to be a bit more vocal with the officials. Mahomes is one of the best when it comes to politicking the officials.

[RiverRat13]

Entering this season, I thought CTB was on par with Jonathan Joseph/Leon Hall in terms of being a reliable starting cornerback worthy of an extension. I'm not sure what happened this offseason but he's fallen off a cliff and I hope he's sent packing this offseason. And I wonder if you add up all of the guaranteed money between Nick Scott, Geno Stone and whoever they sign next offseason, it will surpass the guaranteed money that was given to Jesse Bates? The FO really botched assembling the secondary the past couple of seasons and you can't help to think it will get even worse once they let Mike Hilton walk.

Outside of Chase and possibly Hendrickson (age is a factor), I don't know who else I'd even consider giving an extension to. Maybe BJ Hill if it is reasonable. No way I'm paying CTB or Volson. I could see them picking up Dax Hill's 5th year option solely because there's nobody else who deserves to get paid. Because they won't give the guaranteed money that every other team will give, I bet they will end up extending the CTBs and Volsons just because they'll be willing to take the Bengals contract structure. It's depressing.

I think the Bengals need to start asking why Burrow doesn't get the same whistle other QB's do...I mean this is back to back games where egregious roughing calls have been missed. Someone should be on the phone with the league office today or sending tape of how many times this gets missed...I also think Burrow needs to be a bit more vocal with the officials. Mahomes is one of the best when it comes to politicking the officials.

The no call when Humphrey took three steps and drilled Burrow in the midsection was egregious.

[Ky Fried Redleg]

You can’t run with 1-2 yards are needed when a lot of teams are now running the ball better these days. Interior OL is bad at this. Mike Brown values G as much as Safeties. History of that going back to Max Montoya. You should be able to pick up 1-3 yards running. Burrow could probably run for that.

Yep, drives me crazy that they can't seem to run for a yard or two when they need it.

[CTA513]

Watching Burrow get hit late over and over kind of makes me miss having Burfict around to play enforcer.