(08-28-2021, 04:43 PM)Murdock2420 Wrote: It is very interesting to really see the two sides of this discussion.

Have some fans who look at this and see the history of the team and history of the coaching staff and see no issue with the report.

Then have the other side that are optimistic about the players brought in the past few seasons and find the report to be inaccurate or lazy.

When I posted it, I didn't give any opinion of my own on the article, really was just curious to see how it would play out. It was honestly very close to what I expected, a split between the so-called "homers" who want to believe and the so-called "downers" who want the team to prove it before they buy in.

Neither side is wrong, just nice to see the name calling targeted at a reporter and not other posters who are fellow fans.

(08-28-2021, 12:03 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: I mean, can you blame him?  

This is a team that has been awful as of the late. Their head coach has won 6 games in 2 seasons.  6.  They only won 2 games with Burrow last year.  They haven't had a winning season in 5 years.  Now on top of all of this we have our QB1 coming off a major injury and we won't know what level of play we can expect from him until we can actually see it.  As of right now it's unknown.  He could be exactly the same, he could be even better, or he could be rusty and tenative.

I'm not sure what "ugly" means to Mr. La Confora, but there's a reason Vegas has our win total set at 6.5 in a 17 game season (5th worst in the league).  It's not like this guy is on an island as far as his prediction.

I have no problem with this.  I certainly hope the teams wins more, and I think they have a chance.  It's the NFL afterall, anything can happen and turnarounds can happen overnight.  But this team is not at all deserving of the benefit of the doubt.  They've earned predictions like this.

(08-28-2021, 04:54 PM)Nately120 Wrote: The reporter is just doing his job.  When we are good again people will talk about us, not the 4 win teams. 

Yes the Bengals aren't media favorites now, but I don't see anyone here saying the Jets or Texans are going to give the doubters a big middle finger and make the playoffs.  We are fine with dismissing weak teams as long as they aren't the Bengals. 

(08-28-2021, 04:43 PM)Murdock2420 Wrote: It is very interesting to really see the two sides of this discussion.

Have some fans who look at this and see the history of the team and history of the coaching staff and see no issue with the report.

Then have the other side that are optimistic about the players brought in the past few seasons and find the report to be inaccurate or lazy.

When I posted it, I didn't give any opinion of my own on the article, really was just curious to see how it would play out. It was honestly very close to what I expected, a split between the so-called "homers" who want to believe and the so-called "downers" who want the team to prove it before they buy in.

Neither side is wrong, just nice to see the name calling targeted at a reporter and not other posters who are fellow fans.

(08-28-2021, 08:47 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: Shake n Blake also picks the Bengals for an ugly season. I really don't see why anyone would predict differently based both on recent history as well as what we've seen this off-season and camp. I think we made some baby steps towards improving, and we should (hopefully) be more healthy.

I think the over/under of 6.5 wins sounds about right. Hopefully we don't win any at the end, so Taylor and co get another year.

(08-28-2021, 10:24 PM)BengalsRocker Wrote: I honestly think we're stuck with Taylor.

Excuse train will keep on rollin' no matter what.

(08-28-2021, 08:47 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: Shake n Blake also picks the Bengals for an ugly season. I really don't see why anyone would predict differently based both on recent history as well as what we've seen this off-season and camp. I think we made some baby steps towards improving, and we should (hopefully) be more healthy.

I think the over/under of 6.5 wins sounds about right. Hopefully we don't win any at the end, so Taylor and co get another year.

(08-28-2021, 10:57 AM)Nately120 Wrote: The Jets will make it to the divisional round.  Bengals over Lions in the SB. 

(08-28-2021, 11:39 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: You could probably make about a million dollars on $100 betting that if that happened.

(08-28-2021, 11:34 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: I think the defense is a reason why someone would predict differently. We only have 2 starters that were on the team when this coaching staff took over and while you could argue that might not be a good thing all reports from camp/preseason is that the defense is looking good. While I'm optimistic about Burrow and the Oline I admit that we have alot of unknowns going into the season and we can't fault anyone for assuming the worse. 

Looking at the season and trying to be optimistic/realistic I think 9 wins is possible and should be the bar they set for the coaching staff although as someone else mentioned we might be stuck with Taylor and Co. because of Burrows injury its kind of a built in excuse this season. I think the wheels are really gonna have to fall off to fire them which could happen with a very bad first half of the season because wins are gonna be hard to come by at the end of the year because of the schedule atleast on paper.

(08-29-2021, 11:30 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: If Taylor manages to wins 10 games I’ll make his picture my avi for an entire year…