Tonight was the funeral for the season

[SunsetBengal]

(11-17-2023, 08:01 AM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: This makes sense — and I think the Bengals can absorb two more losses and still make the playoffs as a number seven seed.  10-7 usually makes it and the key is going 3-0 in the division from here on out.

Injuries to key players aside, I just don't have a lot of faith in either of those things happening. The Bengals weren't exactly kicking the Ravens' tails before Burrow went down.  The Bengals offense is just plain too predictable and easy for teams to diagnose and defend.  Teams that cannot switch over to a physical style and control the line of scrimmage will not win a championship in today's NFL.  Zac Taylor needs to take a moment of introspection and come to a realization of what's working and not working.

The Bengals went against their grain a few weeks ago in San Francisco, they lined up under center and went toe to toe with a strong defensive front.  For the most part it worked and they came away with the win.  Since then, it's been back to the same old same old.  Running the ball should not always look like a surprise play when people were expecting a pass.  Showing a determination to line up, move the men in front of you and moving the ball on the ground does so many good things for a team's OL.  It keeps the defense honest and not allowing them to simply come on an all out pass rush every play, it improves morale for the entire offense, as well as takes pressure off of the QB and receivers to constantly make clutch connections against increasingly tight coverages.