As if he needed any more incentive to aim for that first round bye...achieving that is worth a cool extra million to his base salary.

CBS Sports

By Joel Corry

Winning in January has even more importance for Andy Dalton: The six-year, $96 million contract extension Dalton signed in 2014 had $18 million of base salary escalators tied to playoff performance that could have increased the overall value of the deal to $114 million. $15 million can still be earned.

Eighty percent or more regular season offensive playtime and reaching the divisional playoffs with at least 80 percent offensive playtime in any prior playoff games in that season increases the base salaries in the rest of his contract each by $1 million. Another $500,000 is added for reaching the conference championship game if those same playtime requirements are met. It becomes a $3 million per season escalation with a Super Bowl win and the requisite playtime.

The Bengals getting a bye for the wild card playoff round has added significance for Dalton. Postseason playtime or Dalton's first playoff win wouldn't be required for his 2016 through 2020 base salaries to increase by $1 million to push the average of his deal to $16,833,333 million per year. Any part of the escalator that isn't earned this season will be available in the remaining contract years.

We can only hope that its sold out due to Bengal's fans and not to the obnoxious holders of the terrible towels.

Congratulations to Leon...he had a great game and deserves the recognition. Not bad for a man who blew out 2 achilles

"If Austin Davis starts Sunday, he is 15th Browns QB to start vs. Marvin Lewis Bengals in 26 games" Geoff Hobson

That's a ridiculous stat. How can you consistently win with a revolving door at QB/Head coach?

I know at times the conservative nature of Mike Brown/M Lewis has frustrated me but there's a lot to be said for sticking with your vision and the people you hired or drafted. Just changing things up every 5 minutes never seems to work out and every change brings another rebuilding cycle of hiring /firing.

Apart from injury cover (Fitzmagic) Marvin will probably only have had 2 QB's in Palmer and Dalton by the time he is done as head coach...dread to think how many Browns QB's he'll have faced by the time he is done.

If so, to CBS or FOX? It can only be flexed to 4:05 on FOX or 4:25 on CBS>

Carlos Dunlap is up for Walter Payton's man of the year award.

Here's his video thanking everyone for this nomination and him explaining in his own words what he's doing:

2015 Man Of The Year Nominee Carlos Dunlap

Dropping the Patsies to #5 based on what might happen due to injuries? Come on man! This looks like a blatant attempt to generate controversy and drive traffic to their site. Sure drop them to #2, but wait and see what happens this week before dropping them like a rock. I mean they took Denver to OT, despite all sorts of setbacks and horrible weather.

I like how they have us over the Cards though, that has to chap some AZ fan ass. lol

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pat-kirwan/25396840/nfl-power-rankings-panthers-take-over-top-spot-but-can-they-hold-it

One thing I'd like to see when we blow out a team is to keep the pressure on them. I know Marvin has respect for Fisher and probably didn't want to embarrass him, and that may have been the reason we let up....

But, I'd like to see them have no mercy on an opponent in a blowout if the chance happens again. Come playoff time, they need that killer instinct. We can score quick, but we're going to have to keep the pressure on whoever it is we face to keep up.

I think it's key to the persona New England built. Cold, and mercifulness.... Just what you need to be come January.

we need to beat the Browns  95 percent chance. Steelers to beat colts 60 percent. Bills beat Texans 45 percent . and either Giants beat Jets 40 percent or Raiders beat Chiefs 45 percent
 

So, I had a little free time today and looked at some stats on NFL.com for the Top 4 Offenses and Defenses (in points per game). When you look at the teams that the top 4 have played, the results are rather interesting.

Top 4 Offenses:

   Arizona: Played 4 defenses in the top half of the league.
   New England: Played 5 defenses in the top half of the league.
   Carolina: Played 3 defenses in the top half of the league.
   Cincinnati: Played 7 defenses in the top half of the league

Top 4 Defenses:

   Cincinnati: Played 7 offenses in the top half of the league.
   Minnesota: Played 4 offenses in the top half of the league.
   Carolina: Played 3 offenses in the top half of the league.
   Denver: Played 6 offenses in the top half of the league.

Not only are the Bengals in the Top 4 offensively and defensively (in points per game), but they have done it against higher quality opponents than the other teams.