(04-29-2020, 12:39 PM)Fullrock Wrote: I know we're all excited about the season, and rightfully so. We have a new face of the franchise, spent the most money ever in free agency to bring in quality players, and have some talent on both sides of the ball.

The question: What are your realistic expectations this season in terms of wins and losses?

This is going to be far from a normal off-season. No rookie mini-camp, no OTA's, no team mini-camp, and possibly a delayed or abbreviated training camp. I'm not sure that bodes well for a team that will have several new starters on defense, 2 or 3 new starters on the offensive line, and a rookie QB under center. It's hard to replace the physical reps that come with being on the field.

With all that said, I think a realistic goal for this team is
8-8. It's going to be tough in the division. Every team improved themselves, and if Ben returns to form (that's a big if at his age) it'll be a dog fight to win 3 division games for this team. I'll be ecstatic if they can get to 8 wins and build toward a playoff appearance in 2021. Of course, I'll gladly hope to be wrong and wish for double digit wins.

(04-29-2020, 01:39 PM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: Realistic?  Honest?  I think doubling the amount of wins over the next two years is achievable; four wins in 2020 and eight wins in 2021.

(04-29-2020, 01:39 PM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: Realistic?  Honest?  I think doubling the amount of wins over the next two years is achievable; four wins in 2020 and eight wins in 2021.

(04-29-2020, 01:51 PM)Hoofhearted Wrote: Pretty much where I am at to. I'm thinking 4-6 wins next year, then hopefully 8-10 following. 

(04-29-2020, 02:23 PM)ZWP Wrote: I think if we can at least go 6-10 then we should all be very happy with that.

(04-29-2020, 02:51 PM)fredtoast Wrote: This is crazy talk.

Here is what we are adding that we did not have last year

#1 overall draft pick at QB
#9 overall draft pick at LT
$18 million a year WR
$14 million a year CB
$13 million a year DT
$6  million a year SS

If all that just gets us 4 more wins then we need to fire the coaching staff.


Have none of you all noticed how every year there are NFL teams that go from the bottom of their division to the playoffs?  Wre none of you Bengals fans in 2011?  With all of the moves the Bengals have made this offseason we need to see at least 9-10 wins.

(04-29-2020, 02:41 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: Burrow's thoughts on how to approach this season:

"I think going into the season and thinking our goal is to win a playoff game this year — I don’t think that’s the case. I don’t think that’s the right way to go about it. 

I think you go in to the season, we’re going to work really, really hard and focus on one play and one week at a time, and we’re going to win a lot of football games that way. I think if you go in thinking, ‘Oh this is the year we’re going to the playoffs, this is the year we’re going to win a playoff game,’ it gets too daunting. 

It sounds corny, but you’ve just got to focus on every single step of the process.”

(04-29-2020, 02:51 PM)fredtoast Wrote: This is crazy talk.

Here is what we are adding that we did not have last year

#1 overall draft pick at QB
#9 overall draft pick at LT
$18 million a year WR
$14 million a year CB
$13 million a year DT
$6  million a year SS

If all that just gets us 4 more wins then we need to fire the coaching staff.


Have none of you all noticed how every year there are NFL teams that go from the bottom of their division to the playoffs?  Wre none of you Bengals fans in 2011?  With all of the moves the Bengals have made this offseason we need to see at least 9-10 wins.

(04-29-2020, 01:45 PM)CKwi88 Wrote: I'd be surprised if we make it to .500. Happily surprised, don't get me wrong. But the problems with this team last year were far from just lack of talent. We got a few nice pieces in the draft and FA for sure. But the coaches are largely the same.

(04-29-2020, 03:26 PM)hollodero Wrote: Also, the numbers are a bit misleading, aren't they? Each team will spend around the cap, it's not like this is different this year, and any team could put up their salaries and claim this is proof of future success. It also is misleading for we also lost some folks and will lose some more. Would you count Dalton's salary against those you listed when he gets released?