Let’s get real.

Cincinnati got butt-pounded yesterday by the best team in the AFC. Oh, sure, 3-2-1 isn’t the best record in the AFC but if we’re honest with ourselves we know it’s true because Pittsburgh’s unusual sluggish start to the season was a fluke. They’ll go on a midseason win streak and the Bengals might have an outside chance at a wild card berth.

Other than on special teams, Cincinnati got manhandled on both sides of the ball and to me it means the Bengals aren’t there yet; better than 2016 or 2017 but not ready to return to winning the division. Cincinnati is on the right track though. The score was much tighter than what the performance indicated.

Mike Tomlin has killer instinct. Marvin Lewis is still an awestruck Steelers fan.

When Pittsburgh needs a score, they get one. When the Steelers need a first down, they get one. If they need a turnover, they get one. If the Steelers need to sack Andy Dalton, they do. If you give Ben Roethlisberger over a minute to play and present weak cover zero defense with a huge seam over the middle, he’ll score on you every time.

Until Cincinnati possesses this ability to take over and dictate the outcome of a game, the Bengals will forever be trapped in this inferiority complex.

Agree

Oh we can win some 1pm games against middle competition and sprinkle in a win against the better teams once in awhile.

But when it REALLY gets down to it and we have to run with the big dawgs. We need to stay on the porch !

(10-15-2018, 04:37 PM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: Let’s get real.

Cincinnati got butt-pounded yesterday by the best team in the AFC.  Oh, sure, 3-2-1 isn’t the best record in the AFC but if we’re honest with ourselves we know it’s true because Pittsburgh’s unusual sluggish start to the season was a fluke.  They’ll go on a midseason win streak and the Bengals might have an outside chance at a wild card berth.

Other than on special teams, Cincinnati got manhandled on both sides of the ball and to me it means the Bengals aren’t there yet; better than 2016 or 2017 but not ready to return to winning the division.  Cincinnati is on the right track though.  The score was much tighter than what the performance indicated.

Mike Tomlin has killer instinct.  Marvin Lewis is still an awestruck Steelers fan.

When Pittsburgh needs a score, they get one.  When the Steelers need a first down, they get one.  If they need a turnover, they get one.  If the Steelers need to sack Andy Dalton, they do.  If you give Ben Roethlisberger over a minute to play and present weak cover zero defense with a huge seam over the middle, he’ll score on you every time.

Until Cincinnati possesses this ability to take over and dictate the outcome of a game, the Bengals will forever be trapped in this inferiority complex.

Cincy took the lead with about a minute left to go in the game. Calm down, Francis.

(10-15-2018, 05:07 PM)PhilHos Wrote: Cincy took the lead with about a minute left to go in the game. Calm down, Francis.

....and still ended up finding a way to lose the game. BTW, he is calm and his name ain't Francis, well maybe his name is Francis, IDK, but his assessment of the current situation is spot on.

Honest assessment of the Steelers? In all the time Marvin has been here, how often has he had the better team?

The Steelers are almost always better. It suxx being handled like we are by them but why is it such a shock that it would happen? New England has owned their division for all of Brady's career.

If anything, beating the Steelers is usually going to be an upset.

Our defense is under manned and having guys in the secondary dropping nearly ever play didn't help.

We were a bad team last year. We've come a long way in a year. But there is still farther to go. It's pretty hard to turn it all around in a year.

But we went toe to toe with the big bad wolf yesterday and didn't blink and came within one really bad defensive call from pulling out a W.

A little perspective is not such a bad thing.

(10-15-2018, 05:07 PM)PhilHos Wrote: Cincy took the lead with about a minute left to go in the game. Calm down, Francis.

Yes, and I hardly call that "butt pounded".....

It's more like shifumi.

The Steelers beat the Bengals who beat the Ravens who beat the Steelers.

And the Browns lose the rest.

(10-15-2018, 05:29 PM)McC Wrote: Honest assessment of the Steelers?  In all the time Marvin has been here, how often has he had the better team?

The Steelers are almost always better.  It suxx being handled like we are by them but why is it such a shock that it would happen?   New England has owned their division for all of Brady's career.

If anything, beating the Steelers is usually going to be an upset.

Our defense is under manned and having guys in the secondary dropping nearly ever play didn't help.

We were a bad team last year.  We've come a long way in a year.  But there is still farther to go.  It's pretty hard to turn it all around in a year.

But we went toe to toe with the big bad wolf yesterday and didn't blink and came within one really bad defensive call from pulling out a W.

A little perspective is not such a bad thing.

In 2005 the Bengals were better than the Steelers. Other than that...im not sure. 

Our defense sucks, pittburgh is not that good. I expected Burfict to have a bigger impact.

Marvin punting on 4th and 1 at the 40 yard line in 3rd quarter proved that Steelers are in his head. Gotta show confidence in your offense to pick up the yard, especially the way Mixon was running.

(10-15-2018, 05:37 PM)Lionel Hutz Wrote: Marvin punting on 4th and 1 at the 40 yard line in 3rd quarter proved that Steelers are in his head.  Gotta show confidence in your offense to pick up the yard, especially the way Mixon was running.

He did just get stone walled on 3rd and 1.

(10-15-2018, 05:37 PM)Lionel Hutz Wrote: Marvin punting on 4th and 1 at the 40 yard line in 3rd quarter proved that Steelers are in his head.  Gotta show confidence in your offense to pick up the yard, especially the way Mixon was running.

The way Mixon was running?  He had just got stuffed in the backfield on 3rd down.

Every coach in the league would have punted there.  it was 14-14 and that was the first drive of the second half.

(10-15-2018, 05:29 PM)Sled21 Wrote: Yes, and I hardly call that "butt pounded".....

(10-15-2018, 05:29 PM)McC Wrote: Honest assessment of the Steelers?  In all the time Marvin has been here, how often has he had the better team?

Since 2011

Bengals record against teams other than Pitt.....66-35-2
Pitt record against teams other than Bengals.....64-38-1

Since 2011 the Steelers have only ONE season where they won a playoff game against a team other than the Bengals.

It has been a while since they could claim to be the class of the AFC.

(10-15-2018, 05:29 PM)Sled21 Wrote: Yes, and I hardly call that "butt pounded".....

Oh, It wasn't a butt pounding for sure, but the Bengals had to work harder for what they got, Andy was sacked at least 2 times, Ben can wear his uniform next week without needing to launder it, it was that clean. We have a good team, the Steelers were better yesterday. I think they play with that 'Top Dog" mentality when they play Us and it shows. Until we start kicking their asses on a regular basis, it's going to remain that way. They expect to beat Us and we seem to oblige them most of the time.

The defense was banged up. Blatant holds on Bengal's defensive line. A clear illegal pick toward the end of the game; which may have put the Steeler's out of FG range for their kicker plus a run off of 10 second penalty.

Bengals are in first place. I know there are problems on defense, and the WR choked not holding on seemingly easily passes by Dalton. Nevertheless, the Bengals are just as good if not better than the Steelers.

Bengals have major issues at backer and safety. They also cannot solve the conundrum of covering TE to save their life. Still work to do for sure. I can see the Bengals going into their house and beating them. They need Ross and Price back though.

(10-15-2018, 04:58 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Agree

Oh we can win some 1pm games against middle competition and sprinkle in a win against the better teams once in awhile.

But when it REALLY gets down to it and we have to run with the big dawgs. We need to stay on the porch !

(10-15-2018, 05:34 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: In 2005 the Bengals were better than the Steelers. Other than that...im not sure. 

In 1993, the Bengals went 3-13. 2 of those 3 wins were against the Steelers.

(10-15-2018, 05:51 PM)PhilHos Wrote: In 1993, the Bengals went 3-13. 2 of those 3 wins were against the Steelers.

In 93 it didn't matter

Under ML anytime it matters we fold up like a pup tent. 

(10-15-2018, 05:54 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: In 93 it didn't matter

Under ML anytime it matters we fold up like a pup tent. 

We eliminated them from the playoffs in '12.

And we had big wins in both '05 and '15.

We swept them in '09 but they were not a playoff team that year.