(12-25-2022, 01:37 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I just wanted to say, I'm proud of this team.

We started off 0-2 as you well know and looked pretty damn bad. Since then we're 11-2 including reeling off 7 in a row including 4 road wins. We're in a great position to challenge for the #1 or 2 seed and of course already a lock for the playoffs. It hasn't always been pretty, it hasn't always been flawless. But we've found ways to win. And if you look around it's pretty much that way with everybody.

If you would have told me after the Cleveland game we'd be here I would have said uh huh, with a large dose of sarcasm. But they've ironed out most of their problems (looking at you Oline) won through injured top players missing games, overcame bad plays, turnovers, mishaps, and gotten it done. The mark of winners.

No matter how this season ends I take my hat off to you guys and apologize for doubting early on. Big thanks to everybody from F.O. to the waterboy for a job well done. There's no doubt we're one of the top teams in the NFL.

   

(12-25-2022, 02:46 PM)masonbengals fan Wrote: We have a team that can play with anybody.
&
it
feels
good.

(12-25-2022, 03:29 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: There are so many ingredients to turn around such a lousy franchise. Duke Tobin has been around a long time. He’s very experienced. He’s been here awhile. So what happened? The roster sucked when Zac took over.  But Taylor had a vision and a plan. Duke has really bought in. Zac and Duke together are knocking it out of the park in the draft and FA. Taylor changed the culture with guys that work and team leaders. Tyler Boyd this week raved about it. D J Reader raved about how hard this team works. That just doesn’t happen by osmosis.

But I always here that Joe is carrying Zac. Okay well I saw a stat last night that Belicheck’s all time record is like 75-85 w/o Tom Brady. The team has not reached its peak. The first half yesterday showed its capability and last weeks second half. The Bills and the Chiefs have weak areas ( Philly I’m not so sure). Health will be a factor. If we can get healthy this team can run the table.

(12-25-2022, 02:47 PM)Whacked Wrote: @ TheCincyKid
^ That was a very clear miscommunication between Chase and JB and not a “bad throw”.

(12-26-2022, 09:08 AM)TheCincinnatiKid Wrote: Yes, the play was obviously a mix up, nobody thinks Burrow is going to miss Chase by about 10 yards!

The blitz gave Burrow absolutely no time on that play. Had no time to consider the play and just threw it to where he believed Chase was going to be/had audible-d him to.

In any case, the point of posting that wasn't the lay blame for the play. It was to reference it as the play which changed the game, until we changed it back.

(12-25-2022, 02:46 PM)masonbengals fan Wrote: We have a team that can play with anybody.
&
it
feels
good.

(12-26-2022, 10:11 AM)M.W. Wrote: I will add another element that really should not happen.
The play before that was 2nd and 2,  you are up by 22 in the mid 3rd quarter.  Why the heck not run the ball (and the clock)?  Had they done that, even if they didn't get it a QB sneak on 3rd would, assuming they simply run between the tackles. would pick it up.. Had they simply played smart football it would have saved many of us a couple grey hairs and those mistakes will costs us the game against playoff caliber teams. 

Getting too pass happy led to the meltdown, logically it made no sense.

That being said, I am still very proud of the franchise.

(12-26-2022, 10:14 AM)TheCincinnatiKid Wrote: Absolutely, the playcalling balance was a mess. I get trusting your MVP-calibre QB and all, but Burrow had 52 attempts in a game we were 22-0 up in at the half... just no logic for that.

(12-25-2022, 03:18 PM)bengals67 Wrote: Same miscommunication with Boyd.