I had the Bengals at like 10 or 11 wins going into the season.
I had two of those wins against NE and WAS.

As such, I think those will affect them making the playoffs.
They went 9-8 last year and missed out, so I think 10 wins is the minimum to hope to get in. If possible with 9, it will almost assuredly be because of tiebreakers.
That changes if they can turn around enough later in the year to some of my predicted L's into W's once these injured dudes come back and hopefully some of these young players come on more than they've shown thus far.

Bengals are also going to need to actually have a winning record against the division or beat all their non-divisional opponents, as going 2-4 or worse in the division with their current record puts them at 10 wins max.

A lot will hinge on the improvement of this DL and especially the young guys Murphy, Jenkins, and Jackson to turn this season around.
It could happen, albeit low probability.

If they can beat Carolina and then Baltimore you'll have a lot more people here agreeing with you.

(09-25-2024, 08:24 PM)Awful Llama Wrote: If they can beat Carolina and then Baltimore you'll have a lot more people here agreeing with you.

No way they  beat Baltimore, did you see how they ran against Dallas. They may get 300 yards rushing against us, and we only get 4 or 5 possessions in the whole game.

I don’t see how see slow down Baltimore’s running game.

(09-25-2024, 09:11 PM)Timanky12 Wrote: No way they  beat Baltimore, did you see how they ran against Dallas. They may get 300 yards rushing against us, and we only get 4 or 5 possessions in the whole game.

I don’t see how see slow down Baltimore’s running game.

Perhaps, but my point was there will be people jumping back on the bandwagon if they do, not the chances of it occurring.  That's a different discussion.

(09-25-2024, 09:54 PM)Awful Llama Wrote: Perhaps, but my point was there will be people jumping back on the bandwagon if they do, not the chances of it occurring.  That's a different discussion.

If they can stop the B'more rushing attack and force Jackson to throw, then it's a game. I don't have a lot of confidence in that happening right now, but if it does happen I'll be proud of the team's performance win or lose.

I’d love to point to our 10 game winning streak a couple years ago, or the 17 game season, as reasons for a glimmer of hope, but this defense is just nowhere near good enough to be a playoff team.

(09-25-2024, 10:32 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: I’d love to point to our 10 game winning streak a couple years ago, or the 17 game season, as reasons for a glimmer of hope, but this defense is just nowhere near good enough to be a playoff team.

I trust a lot of posters who are expressing such thoughts, but we've all seen how many NFL teams have looked horrible at times early in the season and turned things around. At this point, I believe the Bengals will be such a team. We will see over the next two weeks. With just a little luck they could have been 3-0 rather than 0-3.

Like literally just teach them to tackle, at least 1-2. The defense is showing a vote of no confidence.

Burrow was trash in game 1, bad penalty in game 2, no defense whatsoever in game 3.

We’re not going to win a playoff game.

Philhos, I sure hope you are right, but my negative Nancy feeling just says it isn't there this year. Something seems off about the whole team. Where is the fire from Burrow on the sideline? The "LET"S F#$@ING GO!" he would be hollering? It's like he goes to the sideline and mopes by himself. I don't like it, but for some reason, this reminds me of the Bengals of old....no energy, no passion, just a lackluster blah. I really, really, hope you are right and my post here doesn't age well. It better start this weekend for sure. Come on Bengals, get out of this funk!

(09-25-2024, 11:15 PM)Nepa Wrote: I trust a lot of posters who are expressing such thoughts, but we've all seen how many NFL teams have looked horrible at times early in the season and turned things around. At this point, I believe the Bengals will be such a team. We will see over the next two weeks. With just a little luck they could have been 3-0 rather than 0-3.

That luck that you speak of, it comes from having people in the right place at the right time in order to make momentum changing plays. Thus far this team, the defense in particular, is so discombobulated that nothing positive happens from their efforts.

(09-25-2024, 03:42 PM)PhilHos Wrote: Let me start by saying I get it. I get that the default option for Bengals fans is doom and gloom.  I get there have only been like 4 teams in the history of the NFL to start off 0-3 and make the playoffs.

But, even if the defense does NOT improve, we're making the playoffs this year and here's why I think that: our offense is good enough to win shootouts. In addition, a lot of teams on our schedule do not have good offenses; that even with our shitty defense, we should still not have trouble out-scoring them. In fact, I think a big issue for our defense is mobile QBs. Jayden Daniels picked up a lot of 1st downs with his legs as he did his best Lamar Jackson impression (except Jayden showed he's actually really good at throwing the ball accurately). So, even if our defense doesn't improve we only have to worry about facing teams with running QBs. That's currently the Ravens (twice) and the Eagles. Maybe the Steelers, but I think by the time we play them Russ will be starting and he's not as mobile as he used to be.

With that said, I see hope for improvement. Our defense did a really good job against the Chiefs (DPI notwithstanding). I don't know what the issue with tackling is, but it wasn't an issue against KC so I can see that improving immediately. Aside from that, we were missing our starting DTs. Don't know the timeframe for when they're coming back, but they'll be back. Then we got other DLmen that will be joining this defense in Murphy, Jenkins and Jackson. Soon. Granted, not only are they coming back from injury - 2 are also rookies. But promising rookies nonetheless.

Don't get me wrong, at best, I think our defense will be mediocre, but I don't think it'll be the worst defense ever either.

So, I think the Ravens will probably sweep us and the Eagles will beat us. And we'll most likely lose at least 1 against the Steelers just because they're the frickin' Steelers. But I think we'll beat most of the other teams we'll face even if it's by just outscoring them. I see us ending with 10-11 wins assuming only a little defensive improvement which should be enough to get a Wild Card game if not the division depending on how the season goes for our divisional rivals.

And if we make the playoffs off the back of our offense ... I know defense wins championships, but, well, 0-3 teams also don't make the playoffs, right? Do you pick up what I'm putting down? (Can't wait for rfaulk's response to that question)

WHO DEY!

Love the optimism! However, to win a shootout you have to possess the ball, a lot.  That means the defense has to get stops.  

The formula to beat the Bengals is very simple, run the football and then play action. The Bengal defense cannot stop the run consistently enough to put any kind of pressure on the other teams offense.  Additionally, outside of Trey Hendrickson they can't put any pressure on the QB.  Lou should tear up his playbook and start from scratch, possibly utilizing a similar concept to that of the Vikings under D coordinator Brian Flores.  It's the only chance they have.  Rushing four and dropping the rest back won't work with the DL we put on the field.

Another thing that needs to happen is to STFU about the other team.  CTB this means you specifically.  Paul Brown would have fined and benched his A$$ for spewing off like that.

I believe it is possible that we make the playoffs but this defense...it would be tough to go anywhere if we even got there. Real tough.

PLAYOFFS!? I just hope we win a game.

(09-25-2024, 03:56 PM)Synric Wrote: Alot of hope and prayer in that post.

Bengals next 5 games are Panthers, Ravens, Giants, Browns, and Eagles. Bad matchups against the Ravens, Browns, Eagles with their rushing attacks and DLs. Can easily see the Bengals as a 2-6 team headed into week 9 vs the Raiders/Trade deadline.


Edit: You forgot to mention the Bengals are a bad offensive redzone team too.

The bengals are currently in a tie for the NFL at 15 as far as red zone, 50% TD percentage.

(09-26-2024, 07:53 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: That luck that you speak of, it comes from having people in the right place at the right time in order to make momentum changing plays. Thus far this team, the defense in particular, is so discombobulated that nothing positive happens from their efforts.

I would counter that the defense played well enough week 2. If they played like that week 1 and 2… they would easily be 2-1.

(09-26-2024, 09:38 AM)Bengalbug Wrote: I would counter that the defense played well enough week 2.  If they played like that week 1 and 2… they would easily be 2-1.

Or even undefeated, but 'if' is a tricky one. If my Aunt had testicles, she'd be my uncle. Yes, the defense played their tails off in both weeks 1 and 2, so much to the fact that both of our starting DTs are now out with injury for an undefined period of time.

(09-26-2024, 07:53 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: That luck that you speak of, it comes from having people in the right place at the right time in order to make momentum changing plays. Thus far this team, the defense in particular, is so discombobulated that nothing positive happens from their efforts.

Even when they've been in position, like Hilton on that great run blitz at the goal line, another player (Pratt) screws it up by lining up way offsides.

(09-26-2024, 09:32 AM)740Bengal Wrote: PLAYOFFS!? I just hope we win a game.

Pretty much this ^.  Sad that we are just hoping for a win to avoid a season disaster. Can they go 9-5 the rest of the way and avoid a losing season?

(09-26-2024, 09:36 AM)Bengalbug Wrote: The bengals are currently in a tie for the NFL at 15 as far as red zone, 50% TD percentage.

They are at a 50% conversion rate which is bad. Looking at prior years close to 70% is great, 60% is good, and 50% and less is bottom of the league. They have to improve in the redzone and of course on defense if they want to beat good teams.