(12-07-2023, 02:12 AM)puddycat Wrote: I will consider it a success if the Bengals finish the season with a balanced offensive attack and a good idea of what we have in young and second string players.  If we get to the playoffs and then throw the ball 40 times and completely abandon the running game, or our defense reverts into missed assignments, failing to account for opposing TEs, and hitting the QB out of bounds I'm not going to be happy.

(12-06-2023, 10:41 PM)Nepa Wrote: Absolutely a success to make the playoffs after 1 and 3, and 3 and 5, and 5 and 6 start to the season. And with the 2nd hardest schedule in the league upcoming at the time the Bengals were 5 and 6. 

It would be very impressive. And say a lot about the character of the team. It would be really easy to love a team that went out against the obstacles and brought success. Not exactly Mission Impossible odds, but this team was considered out of it right after Burrow went out. 

I personally would be extremely elated for the team to overcome such obstacles and make the playoffs. And I think they would win a lot of fans by the grit of this team and being truly underdogs.

Also, its's my belief that getting into the playoffs, even if not winning a playoff game, would be a great foundation for next year. The team, the fans -- would be tremendously inspired for next year, rather than the mentality of "we folded like a cheap suit when Burrow went out," and "we have no hope without him." Other teams have found success, even Super Bowls, when they lost star players, including star QBs.

I wasn't a NY Giants fan when they decided to go all out to beat the Patriots in a meaningless last game of the season. And they lost. But that propelled them to a Super Bowl and they won a lot of fans in the process of deciding not to just rest their players, but try to beat the unbeaten Patriots. And when they faced them in the Super Bowl, they did just that. I'm still inspired by the character of that team.  

And maybe with the Bengals success  of getting to the playoffs, the front office will go out and sign more free agents for positions the Bengals need, rather than say let's depend on the draft, when so many draft picks end up being disappointments.

But, it's still great odds against the Bengals. ESPN doesn't even list them among contenders for a playoff position. 

(12-07-2023, 01:56 AM)bfine32 Wrote: It depends:

If you don't like Zac then no

If you like the Bengals then yes

(12-07-2023, 10:12 AM)Daddy-O Wrote: This.  I consider it a success if Zac Taylor actually learns something from not having Joe Burrow and then adapts to that full time when JB is back next year.

(12-06-2023, 08:56 PM)Tomkat Wrote: Would you still consider this season a "success," based on Burrow's injury, etc?

(12-07-2023, 03:51 PM)Nately120 Wrote: And I like Burrow, but I'm up for Browning going all the way which is really going to crank up the narrative that we shouldn't have paid him, but that'll be a bridge to cross when we get there.

(12-07-2023, 04:40 PM)Awful Llama Wrote: That would be what they call 'a nice problem to have.'  What do we do about the backup QB that just won us a SB?  If only....

(12-07-2023, 10:12 AM)Daddy-O Wrote: This.  I consider it a success if Zac Taylor actually learns something from not having Joe Burrow and then adapts to that full time when JB is back next year.

(12-07-2023, 10:11 AM)Bengalbug Wrote: If the bengals make the playoffs without burrow, it means a few things.

1) Zac evolved as a play caller with a more balanced approach.
2) the team(coaches, players, etc) never gave up post burrow injury.
3) it should shut up the Zac Taylor haters. “Zac will be exposed without burrow”.  Taylor isn’t perfect as a play caller,  but he is a damn good head coach.  

This sounds like a cop out, but I don’t feel comfortable with postseason talks until after the next two weeks.  In addition to the bengals winning, many of the teams in the playoffs/hunt play one another… lots of shakeup coming.  I’m in the school of thought that if they win their next two, they are more likely than not to control their own destiny… but it requires them finishing 2-1, and their loss must not be against Steelers or browns.  If they go 2-1 and beat the chiefs, lose to aFCn rival… they can still get in more often than not, but it gets trickier.  Essentially, colts, Steelers and browns are must wins due to them Being current AFC WC owners, and bengals can’t lose more than 1 to have more than a 15% chance of making playoffs.

(12-07-2023, 04:43 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: Nick Giles doesn’t have a job in the NFL.  That said, someone would pay a premium for browning.

(12-07-2023, 11:33 PM)Tomkat Wrote: Who's Nick Giles?   

(12-07-2023, 04:43 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: Nick Foles doesn’t have a job in the NFL.  That said, someone would pay a premium for browning.