I was thinking about the last two match-ups the Bengals and Patriots have had one the Bengals won and one the Pats won. Each game was played around the same time of year and the core players are still mainly intact for both teams. Even though they aren't on our regular schedule  I see them as a team we are more then likely going to have to face if the Bengals want to hoist the Lombardi trophy.

The first match-up was on October 6th, 2013 and with a healthy team and home field advantage the Bengals won the game 13 to 6. The defense smothered the Patriots offense leading to probably the worst performance of Brady's career with 18 of 38 of his passes completed, 197 yard, 0 TDs and 1 INT leaving him with a measly 47.9 rating. A hungry Burfict led the team with 8 tackles (7 solo.) and Gilberry and Atkins got their hands on Brady with a sack each. Chris Crocker actually had a good game with 2 passes deflected,  8 tackles  (4 solo.) and he shared a sack with Gilberry.  I remember the d-line rotation was chewing up the Pat's o-line leaving Brady flustered. Blount rushed for 51 yards and had a 4.2 avg per carry.

The Bengals offense wasn't turning heads either though. Gio Bernard was our standout player on offense imo even though he lost a fumble he rushed for 62 yard and a 4.8 avg per carry. We were still feeding the rock to Green-Ellis ( ) primarily at that point so he only had 13 carries. Green Ellis did get the games only TD but averaged a poor 3.5 avg per carry and had 19 carries. Dalton had a rating of 56.2 with 20/27 passes completed for 212 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT and 4 sacks against him. It was good enough to win the game but not a pretty performance in the passing game. AJ Green was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 61 yards. Eifert wasn't far behind with 5 catches for 53 yards. Brandon Spikes, Devin McCourty and Jerod Mayo were the standouts on the Patriot's defense. Spikes had 12 tackles and and INT, McCourty had 12 tackles and Mayo had 11 tackles.  They also had Aqib Talib and Wilfork on their team at the time.

The second game was also on October, 6th but a year later in 2014 the Bengals got destroyed in New England in a 17 to 43 blowout. I can remember it being one of the most embarrassing games in recent memory. Brady and the Patriots had enough of hearing the critics after they got thrashed by the Chiefs the week before. Brady put up a 110.7 rating with 23/35 passes completed for 292 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs. Without a 100% Atkins plus a rookie defensive coordinator the pass rush was weak only puttting Brady down once for a sack. They killed us in the running game Stephen Ridley had 27 carries for 113 yards and a TD. Shane Vareen had 9 carries for 90 yards as well. We also got the full Gronk treatment he was their leading receiver with 6 catches for 100 yards and a TD. Our defense was a mess. They were so bad we even let a no name TE Timothy Wright look like an all-pro with 5 catches for 85 yards and a TD. Rey M and Iloka led the team with 9 tackles a piece. Burfict was out.

The Bengals offense was solid but unprepared for what was coming their way none the less. Dalton had 15/24 passes completed for 204 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs for a respectable 117.4 rating. The o-line was solid with only 1 sack given up. AJ Green led the Bengals in receiving with 5 receptions 81 yards and a TD but had a costly fumble. Sanu was efficient with 5 catches for 70 yards and a TD. He was playing his best game at the beginning of that season. Interesting that Jeremy Hill had 3 catches for 68 yards and only 1 rushing yard on 2 carries. Gio led the rushing attack and gained 62 yards on 13 carries for a 4.8 avg. AJ Green, Brandon Tate and Sanzenbacher all had a fumble lost each.  

Overall I feel good about the Bengals matched up against the Patriots even on their home field (Unless they tamper with the headsets. ) we'd have Burfict back if we'd have to play them at some point and the defense is back to terrorizing QBs. The Bengals offense is finally living up to it's potential with the return of Eifert and M.Jones and the o-line playing lights out if they can manage the level of consistency throughout the season and into the playoffs it's hard for me imagine them losing to the Patriots but that's just me.

Our first Sanu pass? I feel like its gonna be coming up soon. I think most people have forgotten about him passing and it may be time to break it out.

Since 2011 Cam Newton leads all NFL QBs in rushing tds with 35. Andy Dalton and Andrew Luck are tied for second with 12 each.

Dalton is also 6th in rushing attempts by a QB, and 11th in rushing yards.


I realize that Kaepernick, Wilson, and Luck have played a lot fewer games than Dalton, but I don't care. This is my thread and I will spin it anyway I want.

I guess Wallace Gilberry has some contract with fan duel, but for whatever reason, he made this video of him interviewing players and staff. I found it to have some humorous parts.

The intern is so nervous (cant blame him), Hardison is a moron, and Geno is Geno. Hope you enjoy if you watch.

http://www.bengals.com/media-lounge/videos/Gilberry_takes_the_mic/cb4d93c6-7685-46b8-92fc-5f42ac93fe2a

A friend of mine and I were talking about football podcasts and radio shows and we started tossing around an idea and I wanted to get some opinions from Bengals fans to see if this would be a solid concept that could draw in fans.

I'm from the Dayton Ohio area a Bengals fan most of my life and since I've started watching football pretty typical. His backstory is a little bit different. He's the husband of one of my friends and he's originally from France he started getting into the NFL over the last 5 years after being exposed to it over in the states by his father in law who is a Browns fan. So naturally he chose to be a Browns fan and has been really following football from France and knows quite a bit. He may be the only Browns fan in that country as well.

If it was a quality show were the topic was the NFL in general with a little more attention on the Bengals and Browns games would it interest you?

I thought about putting the topic in the Klotsch but figured it was fine here too.

Can't wait to watch to see how the Bengal offense attacks the Seahawk defense, the dreaded "Legion of Boom".

Based on what I saw last night on MNF in base formations the Seahawks like their corners to press, really get in the face of the wide outs. They employ a safety high and essentially let the remainder of the defense hover within a few yards of the LOS. It will be very difficult to run against this formation and they put their 2 LB's in the A gaps to create confusion; sometimes they blitz while other times dropping back. It will be interesting to see what Hue comes up with. I'm not a coach but I'd stretch them out with 5 wides to pull those dudes away from the line and pound the rock. And when not doing this Andy's smarts will really come into play with his pre-snap reads.

On defense it's "appears" to be pretty simple, get pressure with 4 and spy Russell Wilson. He has a knack for evading the rush, throwing outside the pocket or running to pick up first downs. Stop this and we should be golden. Of course that's easier said than done. Can't wait to see how it all goes.

That's my two cents based on my untrained scouting report. What's yours?

Always on my tuesday morning rutine, the highlight of my morning, accept the coffee, was to get online and read the shit out of this PFF ratings.

I liked the reviews, comments and just reading about the game :)

Shame PFF did some changes. But just for Truck, i appreciated your great work!

Wilson was rushed and hurried a lot tonight our defensive line should have a field day Sunday, Who Dey !

Watching the Seattle/Detroit game. If we could only be that crazy loud in Cincinnati. I know the accustics in thier stadium are above and beyond that of PBS but it would be awesome if the 12th man had even 1/2 the impact here vs there.
Just sayin!

There's a lot of talk about this team "flying under the radar". I don't entirely agree, but it's certainly nothing like last year when they were only one of two undefeated teams remaining and were ordained as the best team in football before helping kick-start the Patriots' revival. With six undefeated teams through 4 weeks in 2015, it's easier to get lost in the shuffle.

That ends Sunday.

Win or lose, the spotlight will shine squarely on the Bengals this weekend. With a home loss to the two-time defending NFC champions, many (including some of those not talking about the Bengals or simply not giving them their due at the moment) will use the game as a means of showing the world how this team is not ready to hang with the best in the league. However, it will be damn near impossible for anyone to ignore a win over a team many still consider a favorite to return to yet another Super Bowl.

Even after Week 5, the spotlight will remain. A tough road game against a rejuvenated Bills team and a head coach that (deserving or not) commands attention. After the bye week that follows, a huge road game within the division at Pittsburgh. This will garner a wealth of attention, especially if Roethlisberger returns. This is a marquee matchup regardless.

After that, the spotlight intensifies even more, not so much due to the quality of opponents, but because of the Paul Browns Stadium lights themselves. Back-to-back prime time games - both at home and both against opponents they will be comfortably favored against. This is a great opportunity to build upon this team's growing confidence.

This is a tough stretch. I could see this team ending up at 6-3 and I wouldn't be terribly disappointed considering  quality of opponents and the flaws they've been able to overcome thus far. However, I can see a path to 9-0, too. The Seahawks haven't been as dominant as most expected to this point and will be travelling east on a short week. The Bills are up & down and commit even more penalties than the Bengals do. The Steelers secondary is vulnerable and there is the chance we draw Vick instead of Ben. After that, vengence against Cleveland and their 32nd ranked defense and Houston's QB merry-go-round.

With each win, we hear how this team (and, more specifically, the quarterback) has changed, but the truth is they will have to continue to prove it week after week. It is making for a very entertaining season. It's kind of nice to be overlooked, but I would rather that change. No teams sneak into the Super Bowl. The best teams in the league earn the spotlight and, once they feel its heat, show time and time again why they deserved it. It's long past time for the Bengals to thrive in the spotlight and this may very well be the team to do it. Who Dey!