***Week 9 GameDay Thread - Browns @ Bengals***

[Bengalstripes9]

I had a bad feeling about this game. Browns have a lot to play for this week, and are more talented in a lot of key areas (the only area we have an edge is at wideout).

Lots to work on over the bye week. Short yardage situations on offense. We’re so good at the skill positions, but weak at the point of attack. Defense needs to firm up all over. Really what we need is another draft to firm up the blocking and defense.

Looking at the schedule going forward… all these teams are tough. No easy win like the Jets left on our schedule. At 5-4 it will be tough to make the playoffs. It’ll be tough to win 5 of the last 8 games. Bengals missed opportunities against the Jets and Bears this year. Those losses could keep them out of the playoffs.

Burrow needs to improve. The protection and run blocking needs to improve. The defense needs to firm up in the secondary and front 7. I do think next year we can be a lot better. Burrow should grow/improve and the team around him should get better.

This year we just have too many glaring weaknesses to be a deep playoff team. We may be able to make the playoffs, but I don’t think we’re their yet to really compete for a championship. You have to be able to get a td inside the five more than 75% of the time to be a playoff team in my opinion. We are just too weak at the point of attack. Need to firm up via the draft.