(09-27-2024, 12:16 PM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: Lol I remember we were down 21 in the late 3rd or 4th and you and I were talking in gameday about how it was over, they weren't playing well anyway, but you were saying we're not out of it. Statistically, we were both right. You just side on the lower % chance lol

I remember, just didn't want to talk about it.

(09-27-2024, 12:16 PM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: Starting hot helps but it doesn't mean much, that other year Eagles went on a huge slide after winning X straight to start the season. The offense is clicking, especially if we keep using TEs, it's going to be tough for them to stop us - the defense just needs to be average at best. I wish we did in season trades, I think we get anyone on that DL that can run tackle up the middle, that will be barely good enough.

Yep, our offense is definitely got more pressure on it to stay hot and on fire, but I think the defense settles down and with the guys coming back from injury and better tackling, we might actually have a mediocre defense.

And seriously, we need to be more active in trades.

(09-27-2024, 12:24 PM)PhilHos Wrote: Actually, I think the Ravens sweep us and I still see us making the playoffs. And I fully admit it's primarily based on hope, but man, I think the Bengals are going to surprise many of us (in a good way)

Well if it's any consolation, I'd far rather you're correct than I am! I share the sentiment that I don't think it's done just yet, but it's a very tough road from here. But if we can answer the bell in the division, it can really swing our chances.

I look at it this way; we'd have expected to be 2-1 at this stage probably. So we're down 2 games. I think on balance most people say we probably get 1-2 wins out of the 4 Browns/Ravens games. If we can change that to 3-4 wins, then our slow start is erased. 

(09-26-2024, 05:57 PM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/2005.htm

A significantly-worse Defense that is philosphically the same as this one, had 2, 4 game win streaks.

It absolutely can happen, though I wouldn't count on 8 games either.

But 3, 3 game win streaks and you're sitting at 9-5 and in the thick of the playoff picture. Hell, even 3 2 game streaks has you at 6-5.

The numbers are not as insurmountable as they seem.



Have you watched a single game this year?

That is the thing Truck. These guys that are so down on the Bengals don't even seem to remember last season or the years we made the
Playoffs and went to the Super Bowl. I sure do. History shows this team will fight mid to late season and make it into the Playoffs with Joe 
Burrow at the helm. Shit, damn near did it last season with Jake Browning at the helm.

(09-27-2024, 12:21 PM)PhilHos Wrote: I can see that optimism trying to get out. Let it out, bro. The truth will set you free!

Oh it's not tryin to get out.

I'm firmly in the 8-to-9-win camp now because of two unexpected losses.
Because I think to get into WC will need to be 10 wins, that's why I said "season over" before.

Just because there's a possibility of still getting 10+ wins doesn't mean I have any optimism of it happening.

I like what I've seen from the offense with Pitcher now going into his 4th week as OC, but when are the defensive guys coming back, and will they be markedly better than what we saw from them before they went down?
Case in point - Hill and Rankins were not doing overly well before they got injured. Rankins hasn't been an above average DT since 2018. Hill's most efficient year was when he was in a rotation with Ogunjobi. Getting a bulk of the DT snaps after that, he's been just ok.
We haven't seen enough of Jenkins or Jackson to give comfort about one of them playing a bunch more snaps at one of the DT spots.
In a perfect world though once everyone is back healthy (whenever that will be), Hill and Rankins will rotate with each other and Jenkins and Jackson will rotate with each other.
Hubbard was not doing well at all to start this year and now we found out he has a Grade 3 hamstring injury, which is not minor. He needs time to rehab, but the backups for him haven't looked good either. Murphy might based on last year, but he's out for at least another week.

Saying all this to say I think 8-9 wins is what I predict even if the rest of the guys were healthy moving forward. I could see fewer than that if the defense continues to struggle like it has these first few weeks and injuries keep the better players from being on the field.

(09-27-2024, 12:25 PM)PhilHos Wrote:  

I'm afraid to ask: what does "NTTAWWT" mean?

I have never heard that acronym before, you learn something every day! Let's try to learn something new every hour, that is the way to live life. That and watch any Bengals game and have your heart survive.

All we have to do is get to the playoffs, and everything is reset. Get there either by winning the Division or by Wildcard. Taylor's teams seem to peak at the right time, which is playoff time. The Division is not out of reach, nobody is playing well. Pissburgh has won three, but they can't score points and have a brutal schedule coming up. Everyone else is struggling. Wild Card is wide open with Tua going down. Just make it to the playoffs, and it's a new season. We may have to play on the road, but so be it.

This team won’t reach tge play offs this year. Too many holes on defense.

The Bengals under Zac Taylor are 6-14-1 in the month of September. We are total garbage until mid October basically. The only thing that might be a saving grace for us is that our division is playing like garbage (other than the Steelers). The Steelers will probably fall off a little, but their schedule isn't looking as tough as it did since the rest of the division is booty as well. If there was a year that we have to have a good record in the division this is it. We match-up poorly against them is the scary thing.

(09-28-2024, 03:08 PM)Sled21 Wrote: All we have to do is get to the playoffs, and everything is reset. Get there either by winning the Division or by Wildcard. Taylor's teams seem to peak at the right time, which is playoff time. The Division is not out of reach, nobody is playing well. Pissburgh has won three, but they can't score points and have a brutal schedule coming up. Everyone else is struggling. Wild Card is wide open with Tua going down. Just make it to the playoffs, and it's a new season. We may have to play on the road, but so be it.

Taylor’s teams have peaked so much there are still no Lombardi trophies.

(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!

Still think that we're making the playoffs?

(10-07-2024, 02:42 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Still think that we're making the playoffs?

I know you were talking to Phil Sunset but there is still a chance. We are only 2 games out of the lead in the Division and we shown we can
play with the Ravens yesterday and if not for a bad hold we would of won. Have a big hill to climb but with this Offense playing like this we 
should win a lot of games if they stay relatively healthy.

(10-07-2024, 02:47 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I know you were talking to Phil Sunset but there is still a chance. We are only 2 games out of the lead in the Division and we shown we can
play with the Ravens yesterday and if not for a bad hold we would of won. Have a big hill to climb but with this Offense playing like this we 
should win a lot of games if they stay relatively healthy.

We're currently 0-3 vs. the AFC, even if they do turn things around they'll likely lose out on conference record being the second tie breaker after head to head.

(10-07-2024, 02:42 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Still think that we're making the playoffs?

Yes. Even more so after yesterday. I expected Baltimore to beat us, but I thought the game wouldn't be as close as Baltimore would dominate the time of possession on the backs of their running game.

Given that we were a Joe Burrow INT and a botched hold on a FG from winning the game, I'm more certain than ever that we're making the playoffs. I do doubt if we'll actually win a playoff game, though.

The Bengals are capable of beating anyone on their remaining schedule. They're also capable of losing any of those games. One redeeming quality of this situation is that the rest of the conference isn't doing much better. The AFCN is there for the taking if the team will play some defense.

Ok, so without reading too many of the recent threads, I can only guess the doom-and-gloom is at or above GameDay thread levels with people calling for wholesale changes like replacing Zac or trading every good player we have, etc. Well, as much as I would like to see a few changes myself (namely, Lou has to go; I like the guy and he does a great job against the Chiefs, but we need someone to do a great job against the rest of the league), I still think we're making the playoffs.

(09-25-2024, 03:42 PM)PhilHos Wrote: 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.

I held out hope that we could beat the Eagles, but like I said in the rest of my OP, that we still struggle with running QBs and Hurts is a much better passer than Lamar is, IMO so I'm not surprised that Philly beat us.

Assuming we make no trades or major changes (shocking assumption to make, I know), I still think we will make the playoffs, though with the defense as it currently stands, we'll be one-and-done. But I think we're still going to sneak in. That being said, there's still plenty of time to at least fix the defense via scheming and playcalling (especially if someone else were doing the scheming and playcalling, hit hint).

(10-29-2024, 01:57 PM)PhilHos Wrote: Assuming we make no trades or major changes (shocking assumption to make, I know), I still think we will make the playoffs...

Dude, with all due respect... what the hell are you smoking?
Not only will this team NOT make the playoffs.  They won't even reach above .500 at any point of the season.

(10-29-2024, 02:00 PM)Tomkat Wrote: Dude, with all due respect... what the hell are you smoking?
Not only will this team NOT make the playoffs.  They won't even reach above .500 at any point of the season.

Bengals play the Raiders, Ravens, and then the Chargers in the next 3 games. While no game is a gimme - especially with our defense - Raiders and Chargers are beatable and we were a bad snap on a FG away from beating the Ravens (who just lost to the Browns) earlier this season. We could realistically win all 3 games and be over .500.

You don't need to smoke anything to think this could happen. 

(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!

Phil, you just typed a lot of words to say you've been hitting the bong hard. :)






The sad reality is, the rest of the AFC is mid. So as it stands, they're #9 with 3 teams right in front of them with 2 they still have to play. One with a crappy QB. One with a QB that takes himself out of games because he's "tired" and one with a coach that is stuck in the 80s with his offensive philosophy and has a shit-ton of injuries. 

Playoffs are still there for the taking for a "normal" Bengals team. The question becomes, can they pull their proverbial heads out of their asses or are they just a bunch trash talking delusional bitches?

EDIT: Sorry, didn't see this was a bumped thread.
EDIT PART DEUX: Just got a pair of free tickets to the Raiders game. Booyah.

(09-26-2024, 06:53 AM)No-huddle Joe Wrote: 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!

Officially Bungalized.