(10-21-2024, 11:46 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Until the calendar flips to January.

(10-22-2024, 10:37 AM)Nepa Wrote: Ravens did win 34-10 last year in their first playoff game in January last year and likely would had been in the Super Bowl had Zac Flowers not single-handedly discombobulated against the Chiefs in the AFC championship game: a taunting penalty after a 54-yard catch, followed by a fumble right at the goal line. I know Lamar Jackson has his detractors on this board, but he's a two-time MVP, who is right now Vegas' odds-on favorite for a 3rd MVP. 

(10-21-2024, 11:25 PM)jj22 Wrote: Ravens and Steelers are the class of this division.

(10-22-2024, 11:05 AM)HarleyDog Wrote: Nah. They're just the shit that broke loose out of the bottom of the division barrel and floated to the top.

(10-22-2024, 10:37 AM)Nepa Wrote: Ravens did win 34-10 last year in their first playoff game in January last year and likely would had been in the Super Bowl had Zac Flowers not single-handedly discombobulated against the Chiefs in the AFC championship game: a taunting penalty after a 54-yard catch, followed by a fumble right at the goal line. I know Lamar Jackson has his detractors on this board, but he's a two-time MVP, who is right now Vegas' odds-on favorite for a 3rd MVP. 

(10-22-2024, 11:29 AM)TheCincinnatiKid Wrote: He's a better QB than your average Bengals fan will admit to, but like is being said it can't be ignored that his success rapidly decreases in the postseason. They lost a close one at home to the team who would go on to defend their crown, so there's no shame in that, though I doubt anybody here would be ecstatic with our QB if he managed 10 points in a home AFCCG. He's a 2-time MVP who has been in the league for 6 seasons and has 2 playoff wins... that's not a good record in the part of the season which actually matters. Maybe that changes in the future, but it hasn't yet.

(10-22-2024, 11:29 AM)TheCincinnatiKid Wrote: He's a better QB than your average Bengals fan will admit to, but like is being said it can't be ignored that his success rapidly decreases in the postseason. They lost a close one at home to the team who would go on to defend their crown, so there's no shame in that, though I doubt anybody here would be ecstatic with our QB if he managed 10 points in a home AFCCG. He's a 2-time MVP who has been in the league for 6 seasons and has 2 playoff wins... that's not a good record in the part of the season which actually matters. Maybe that changes in the future, but it hasn't yet.

(10-22-2024, 11:05 AM)HarleyDog Wrote: Nah. They're just the shit that broke loose out of the bottom of the division barrel and floated to the top.

(10-22-2024, 01:47 PM)Destro Wrote: Bengals likely path to the playoffs is the welfare wildcard position. That would likely mean that the AFC east still consists of mostly trash and the AFC being suspect at all times.

(10-22-2024, 11:29 AM)TheCincinnatiKid Wrote: He's a better QB than your average Bengals fan will admit to, but like is being said it can't be ignored that his success rapidly decreases in the postseason. They lost a close one at home to the team who would go on to defend their crown, so there's no shame in that, though I doubt anybody here would be ecstatic with our QB if he managed 10 points in a home AFCCG. He's a 2-time MVP who has been in the league for 6 seasons and has 2 playoff wins... that's not a good record in the part of the season which actually matters. Maybe that changes in the future, but it hasn't yet.

(10-22-2024, 02:10 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Well said. The Ravens were the best team in the regular season last year and were a major disappointment against the Chiefs in the Playoffs.

I picked the Ravens to beat them and they were just really bad offensively in that game and honestly on D too where the Chiefs Offense was 
just not very good and still isn't. At least not near what it used to be when we played them in the AFC Championship games. The Chiefs Defense
has been the reason for their recent success.

The Bengals with Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow are 5-2 in the Playoffs and Super Bowl, much better record than Harbaugh and Lamar in this stretch.

(10-22-2024, 11:42 AM)TecmoBengals Wrote: I'm guessing the Ravens will heavily rely on King Henry this postseason to offset whatever postseason woes Lamar experiences.

(10-22-2024, 02:10 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Well said. The Ravens were the best team in the regular season last year and were a major disappointment against the Chiefs in the Playoffs.

I picked the Ravens to beat them and they were just really bad offensively in that game and honestly on D too where the Chiefs Offense was 
just not very good and still isn't. At least not near what it used to be when we played them in the AFC Championship games. The Chiefs Defense
has been the reason for their recent success.

The Bengals with Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow are 5-2 in the Playoffs and Super Bowl, much better record than Harbaugh and Lamar in this stretch.

(10-22-2024, 03:56 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: I mentioned this in another thread. I watched a short film study on what KC was able to do defensively last season to Brock Purdy in the SB. The same thing was done to him again this past weekend with 3 ints.

Steve Spagnuolo gives even good QBs fits! It's pretty amazing how well JB plays when going against them/him because the other top tier QBs usually struggle. 

(10-22-2024, 05:14 PM)TheCincinnatiKid Wrote: Yeah, it would make a lot of sense and may be what brings them better success this year. Nothing like a strong RB to help out a QB.


Harbaugh summarises the Ravens for me. Always competitive and nearly always in the playoffs... but when you look at the playoff record, there's a lot to be desired. They've a had a LOT of cracks at the postseason under him, and only once have they won the AFC. 

Of course winning in the postseason isn't easy, the AFC has had the Patriots dynasty and almost immediately afterwards, the Chiefs dynasty. Harbaugh and the Ravens know how to be consistently competitive, but haven't had what it's taken to go over the top. Which currently is something you'd say about their QB too.

(10-22-2024, 08:35 AM)Bengal Billy Wrote: Still not sold on the Steelers. Yes they are looking pretty good currently,, but they have a rough remaining schedule as it looks now (especially the last 4 weeks, if we are to consider Cincy a tough game for them?).

5-2  to get to 10-7 they only need to finish 5-5 the rest of the way. Most times if you think they should do that it would be "yeah, they've got that for sure".  But, looking at their remaining schedule:

Ravens x2
Bengals x2
vs Chiefs
@Commanders
@Eagles

Do you see 5-6 potential losses in those 7 games ? I do.

Their last 4 games are
@Eagles
@Ravens
vs Chiefs
vs Bengals

They also get Browns x2 and NYG. Hopefully one of those scrubs can pull off an upset win against Pitt too but not counting on it.

Still early and anything can happen in the NFL. But I'm seeing 9-8 or 10-7 for Pitt at this point.

(10-22-2024, 02:07 PM)Bengal Billy Wrote: Yup. Agree.

Bengals need to keep stacking wins (duh), but likely will be chasing a WC spot.

Luckily, the middle teams in the AFC chasing the WC are hovering right around the Bengals' record.

- Steelers 2 games up (Bengals get them x2)
- Colts 1 game up (Bengals don't get them but Colts upcoming schedule is brutal)
- Broncos 1 game up (Bengals get them,, gotta win this one)
- Chargers .5 game up (Bengals get them,, gotta win this one)

Wildcard is still most definitely in play, but the Bengals margin for error getting very slim.

(10-23-2024, 03:48 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: The more I look at this schedule the more I just really do not see it. 

The Bengals need to win 7 of their last 10 games to get to 10 wins. The division is pretty much out of the question, the WC is barely alive. 

7 of 10 games is tough. The Eagles game this week is MASSIVE. If you stack them and the Raiders then I'd feel A LOT better about it. That would mean we could go 5-3 down the stretch which is doable. 

(10-23-2024, 03:52 PM)Whacked Wrote: Craziness but CrapsBurgh is legit and finds ways to win. Must be nice to have a real coach. 

(10-24-2024, 09:26 PM)Tomkat Wrote: They're not legit.  They're about to get steamrolled through the tough part of their upcoming schedule.