The Good

It's only 3 games into a long season and we've been here before. Actually the Good may be coming by default per 10 of the 16 AFC teams have losing records. The Wildcard teams to beat presently are the Jets 2-1, Chargers 2-1, and probably the 1-2 Ravens.

The Bengals can get back in this if they can just get off the schneid and get rolling. The good news is that the Bengals remaining schedule are against teams that currently  own a combined losing record of 19-23.
If you removed the undefeated steelers (which I'm not scared of) then the teams combined records are 13-23. The AFC is waiting for the Bengals to catch up if they would only do their part.

The Bad

These lethargic starts Zac's Bengals keep coming out of the gate in are just bad. You can not keep spotting the entire NFL a head start and expect to make it up by playoff time yearly. Zac is 5-13 in his first 3 games of the season since becoming the Bengals HC losing to rookies and 2nd string QB's all along the way. He has only had a winning record once in first 3 games, and that was the year the Bengals went to the SB.
Still support Zac as HC but have never supported him as OC. Understand wanting to stay healthy but can not just throw away games early every year to do so. Figure something else out please.


The Fugly

The Defense is a porous sieve that can not slow the run at all and do not see any waving of a wand that can rectify this problem. Nor pass per Daniels completed all but 2 of his passes last night. The Bengals just lost two home games against the 2nd and 3rd worse teams in the entire NFL last season, and both were featuring rookie QB's, both at HOME. Washington never even had to punt. WASHINGTON, palm meet forehead.
I once trusted in Lou but that has been proven to be a mistake on my part. Although he has been hit the hardest with FA departures, yet still this is unacceptable not getting hardly any production out a slew of high draft picks.

...........................................................................................................
In closing I am merely venting to stay sane. The defense was not the problem against the Patriots, plus played well enough against KC before this Commodore debacle last night. Commodore was the wrong insult to hurl per the defense was anything but a Brick House on prime-time Monday Night Football for the whole world to see.
The team just needs to somehow find it's chemistry together and get the ball rolling. The Bengals play a manageable schedule and the AFC as a whole is stuck in the mud coming out of the gate cushioning the Bengals current ineptitude somewhat by giving them a better chance to catch up than an 0-3 start deserves. Got to find some traction and get back into the mix before the playoff picture tumbles out of control the opposite direction. Think the Bengals climb the ladder once again and are in the playoff picture by seasons end. Just hope the 0-3 ball & chain does not cause them to fall just short when they arrive.

Not throwing in the towel yet, but feel like my confidence has taken a sucker punch immediately following the handshake.

(10 hours ago)Go Cards Wrote: The Good

It's only 3 games into a long season and we've been here before. Actually the Good may be coming by default per 10 of the 16 AFC teams have losing records. The Wildcard teams to beat presently are the Jets 2-1, Chargers 2-1, and probably the 1-2 Ravens.

The Bengals can get back in this if they can just get off the schneid and get rolling. The good news is that the Bengals remaining schedule are against teams that currently  own a combined losing record of 19-23.
If you removed the undefeated steelers (which I'm not scared of) then the teams combined records are 13-23. The AFC is waiting for the Bengals to catch up if they would only do their part.

The Bad

These lethargic starts Zac's Bengals keep coming out of the gate in are just bad. You can not keep spotting the entire NFL a head start and expect to make it up by playoff time yearly. Zac is 5-13 in his first 3 games of the season since becoming the Bengals HC losing to rookies and 2nd string QB's all along the way. He has only had a winning record once in first 3 games, and that was the year the Bengals went to the SB.
Still support Zac as HC but have never supported him as OC. Understand wanting to stay healthy but can not just throw away games early every year to do so. Figure something else out please.


The Fugly

The Defense is a porous sieve that can not slow the run at all and do not see any waving of a wand that can rectify this problem. Nor pass per Daniels completed all but 2 of his passes last night. The Bengals just lost two home games against the 2nd and 3rd worse teams in the entire NFL last season, and both were featuring rookie QB's, both at HOME. Washington never even had to punt. WASHINGTON, palm meet forehead.
I once trusted in Lou but that has been proven to be a mistake on my part. Although he has been hit the hardest with FA departures, yet still this is unacceptable not getting hardly any production out a slew of high draft picks.


In closing I am merely venting to stay sane. The defense was not the problem against the Patriots, plus played well enough against KC before this Commodore debacle last night. Commodore was the wrong insult to hurl per the defense was anything but a Brick House on prime-time Monday Night Football for the whole world to see.
The team just needs to somehow find it's chemistry together and get the ball rolling. The Bengals play a manageable schedule and the AFC as a whole is stuck in the mud coming out of the gate cushioning the Bengals current ineptitude somewhat by giving them a better chance to catch up than an 0-3 start deserves. Got to find some traction and get back into the mix before the playoff picture tumbles out of control the opposite direction. Think the Bengals climb the ladder once again and are in the playoff picture by seasons end. Just hope the 0-3 ball & chain does not cause them to fall just short when they arrive.

Not throwing in the towel yet, but feel like my confidence has taken a sucker punch immediately following the handshake.

Good points, alot season left and AFC has many mediocre teams right now, this team has yet to play a balanced game on both sides of the ball . Two big issues hurting this team this season is inability on defense to get off field on 3rd down and the offense lack of TDs in red zone. Maybe in Carolina we will correct these issues and get a needed win

Well we cant keep starting super slow and expect magical runs to save us.... Likely missing the playoffs 2 years in a row with a 240mil qb

The Good: The offense was zinging. I think All has potential to be a really good TE. Chase looked good. Burrow looked sharp. We didn't put once. Probably Iovisas best game, but I don't know that he'll be good enough to replace Tee next year.

The Bad: Brown injured. He looked like a pretzel on the ground. Not expecting it to be good. He has an injury history.

The Ugly: The defense looks terrible. The defensive line is terrible. I think Hendrickson is the only lineman that would start on another team.

The run defense sucked before Reader. It sucks without him. (Although he's been hurt still and I don't think he plays yet for the Lions.)

I don't know that we have a #1 or #2 caliber CB on the Roster. Our safeties are mediocre. Bell needs a ballhawk like Bates by him. Stone is not that. Stone is essentially Nick Scott...which I think a lot of us knew.

Our recent high draft picks do not look like they were good picks.

Wilson and Pratt look slow out there, but I think some of the issue is that the defensive line is letting blockers get to them.

(9 hours ago)XenoMorph Wrote: Well we cant keep starting super slow and expect magical runs to save us....  Likely missing the playoffs 2 years in a row with a 240mil qb

that 240 million investment was a bad investment perhaps.. we lost so much talent because of that targeted investment.  I fear we may end up with the Carson syndrome in the end. 

(9 hours ago)XenoMorph Wrote: Well we cant keep starting super slow and expect magical runs to save us....  Likely missing the playoffs 2 years in a row with a 240mil qb

This year feels different. Many of our slow starts were the offense. This year, it was the offense...but now it's the defense too.

When I look at our defense, I see a low talent unit where guys like Reader and Bates are missed. I see guys like Hubbard that appear to be on the decline. I see a guy like Ossai that just isn't that good.

(9 hours ago)THE PISTONS Wrote: The Good: The offense was zinging. I think All has potential to be a really good TE. Chase looked good. Burrow looked sharp. We didn't put once. Probably Iovisas best game, but I don't know that he'll be good enough to replace Tee next year.

The Bad: Brown injured. He looked like a pretzel on the ground. Not expecting it to be good. He has an injury history.

The Ugly: The defense looks terrible. The defensive line is terrible. I think Hendrickson is the only lineman that would start on another team.

The run defense sucked before Reader. It sucks without him. (Although he's been hurt still and I don't think he plays yet for the Lions.)

I don't know that we have a #1 or #2 caliber CB on the Roster. Our safeties are mediocre. Bell needs a ballhawk like Bates by him. Stone is not that. Stone is essentially Nick Scott...which I think a lot of us knew.

Our recent high draft picks do not look like they were good picks.

Wilson and Pratt look slow out there, but I think some of the issue is that the defensive line is letting blockers get to them.

I miss Eli Apple, and I thought that guy was bad.... he would have been gold in this match.

(9 hours ago)Bengalitis Wrote: that 240 million investment was a bad investment perhaps.. we lost so much talent because of that targeted investment.  I fear we may end up with the Carson syndrome in the end. 

I don't even think the Burrow investment is hurting our cap yet.

IF Sportrac is right, Burrow is around a $30 million hit this year. Next year that hit goes to $46 million. Then $48 million. Then $52 million. He was a $19 million hit last year.


Joe Burrow | NFL Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com

(9 hours ago)THE PISTONS Wrote: ****

The Ugly: The defense looks terrible. The defensive line is terrible. I think Hendrickson is the only lineman that would start on another team.

****

Lou had Hendrickson sitting out for quite a few early downs.  Is he a liability against the run or against a QB who can run? 

(9 hours ago)Bengalitis Wrote: I miss Eli Apple, and I thought that guy was bad.... he would have been gold in this match.

Yeah. So it's about roles right. Chide was a capable #1 until he got hurt.

Hilton was a good #3.

Then you had Apple and CTB.

Now 2 of those guys are gone and CTB is playing as the #1 CB and Dax Hill as the #2. While they aren't rookies, this is a massive role switch. With time they might be good.

Then, you have 2 different safeties from last year.

(9 hours ago)Nepa Wrote: Lou had Hendrickson sitting out for quite a few early downs.  Is he a liability against the run or against a QB who can run? 

Hendrickson definately isn't good against the run.

(9 hours ago)THE PISTONS Wrote: The Good: The offense was zinging. I think All has potential to be a really good TE. Chase looked good. Burrow looked sharp. We didn't put once. Probably Iovisas best game, but I don't know that he'll be good enough to replace Tee next year.

The Bad: Brown injured. He looked like a pretzel on the ground. Not expecting it to be good. He has an injury history.

The Ugly: The defense looks terrible. The defensive line is terrible. I think Hendrickson is the only lineman that would start on another team.

The run defense sucked before Reader. It sucks without him. (Although he's been hurt still and I don't think he plays yet for the Lions.)

I don't know that we have a #1 or #2 caliber CB on the Roster. Our safeties are mediocre. Bell needs a ballhawk like Bates by him. Stone is not that. Stone is essentially Nick Scott...which I think a lot of us knew.

Our recent high draft picks do not look like they were good picks.

Wilson and Pratt look slow out there, but I think some of the issue is that the defensive line is letting blockers get to them.

Truthfully, I don't think the secondary is a big issue.  The bigger issue is Lou's game plan and an anemic pass rush.

For example, everyone is killing Dax for the late TD.  Meanwhile, Lou plays coverage and rushes 4 all game long, then brings the blitz on the last drive after Daniels has already gotten locked in.  He's a young QB.  You come after him early, shake his confidence, then feed off that the rest of the game.  On top of it, despite the blitz, Daniels has all day for that out and up to develop and God knows where the single high S is.  Just not much Dax can do.  He has to play the sticks, because if they get a first down, they can run out most of the rest of the clock.  And WFT was emboldened to call that slow developing route by our sad pass rush.  

(8 hours ago)Whatever Wrote: Truthfully, I don't think the secondary is a big issue.  The bigger issue is Lou's game plan and an anemic pass rush.

For example, everyone is killing Dax for the late TD.  Meanwhile, Lou plays coverage and rushes 4 all game long, then brings the blitz on the last drive after Daniels has already gotten locked in.  He's a young QB.  You come after him early, shake his confidence, then feed off that the rest of the game.  On top of it, despite the blitz, Daniels has all day for that out and up to develop and God knows where the single high S is.  Just not much Dax can do.  He has to play the sticks, because if they get a first down, they can run out most of the rest of the clock.  And WFT was emboldened to call that slow developing route by our sad pass rush.  

No doubt. There was little pass rush and the QB could pick them apart.

The LB's look like an issue too, but it's the D-Line.

Ertz kept getting wide open though after a couple seconds.

I don't know. The whole thing looked really bad.

(9 hours ago)Bengalitis Wrote: that 240 million investment was a bad investment perhaps.. we lost so much talent because of that targeted investment.  I fear we may end up with the Carson syndrome in the end. 

No, we lost a lot of talent because the front office is cheap 

It was all ugly on the defensive side of the ball yesterday. Minus our 2024 first round pick, we have spent a pick on Defense in the first three rounds for the last three years!!! How do you invest that much premium draft capital on one side of the ball and are still not only terrible but likely the worst in the league. I know we don’t do accountability around here but if this organization is going to take the next step, someone has to hold Lou and Duke or whoever’s making these decisions on draft picks accountable.

Worst defense in NFL history at this pace. I get they are missing a lot of players (as in MASH unit at DT) but a good DC schemes around injuries to at least mitigate the problem somewhat. We should have been blitzing from the first series. Create pressure. Make Daniels actually react to pressure and read the defense. People right now are hanging off his sack when my dog could have gotten a similar game against Lou's defense with its total lack of pressure, nonexistent gap discipline and horrific tackling. Watch the Cardinals punk Daniels which should put the spotlight where it belongs - on Lou.

I was wondering if any other franchise QBs ever had teams this bad during their prime when they were healthy?
Doesn’t seem like Brady/Manning/Mahomes/Rodgers or even guys like Rothlisberger were ever on teams that were terrible. Is it the FO or something else? Shouldn’t having a franchise QB practically guarantee the Bengals a playoff spot every year?

(9 hours ago)Bengalitis Wrote: that 240 million investment was a bad investment perhaps.. we lost so much talent because of that targeted investment.  I fear we may end up with the Carson syndrome in the end. 

We didn't lose anything because of that investment.  We are losing talent because this front office still refuses to do things with contracts that every other team does.

This team should look a whole lot different on paper, but they don't because of the worn out way of doing things.

We aren't done yet, but with 3 losses already and the full quota of 6 AFCN games to play... we've got to be flawless from here really.

We'd probably have expected to be no worse than 2-1 right now with the schedule... so we're 2 games behind pace. If im honest, I wouldn't have expected we'd sweep the Browns or Ravens... and would've hoped for a split series with each. If we can manage to sweep both now, then we get those 2 games back (at least, according to my expectations).

It's doable, our schedule is really weak. But I do think the fact we've got 6 AFCN games to play yet, and we don't match up great against these teams, is probably what will make this unlikely. Going to have to find a way to win divisional games this year for sure.

(6 hours ago)TheCincinnatiKid Wrote: We aren't done yet, but with 3 losses already and the full quota of 6 AFCN games to play... we've got to be flawless from here really.

We'd probably have expected to be no worse than 2-1 right now with the schedule... so we're 2 games behind pace. If im honest, I wouldn't have expected we'd sweep the Browns or Ravens... and would've hoped for a split series with each. If we can manage to sweep both now, then we get those 2 games back (at least, according to my expectations).

It's doable, our schedule is really weak. But I do think the fact we've got 6 AFCN games to play yet, and we don't match up great against these teams, is probably what will make this unlikely. Going to have to find a way to win divisional games this year for sure.

And those AFCN teams are going to run it down our throat till this unit shows it can stop it.