(09-21-2021, 11:53 PM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote:  The Bengals are horrible on third down on either side of the ball.

On defense the Bengals allow far too many third down conversions, even from third and ten — or more — situations.

(09-21-2021, 11:53 PM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote:  Right now nobody on the roster has the confidence of a winner and that’s sad.  I watched the Ravens the other night as they came back and beat the Chiefs and on both sides of the ball I saw purpose, energy, and most of all a cohesiveness which is lacking in Cincinnati. 

(09-22-2021, 12:35 AM)fredtoast Wrote: This is just total bullshit that you have made up in your head.

Bengals have shown tremendous heart winning in overtime and then rally for a 14 point comeback against the Bears.

The Chiefs totally choked in their game against the Ravens.

(09-22-2021, 09:48 AM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: Hi Fred.  I repped both of your posts even though you disagree with me which is perfectly fine.  You’re a great poster and I admire your penchant for statistics.  However, I only truly care about one statistic: Wins.

It’s difficult to see the Bengals losing especially with such a talented roster; Marvin Lewis* would have led the Bengals to the playoffs again with this bunch.  This team isn’t nearly as loaded as the 2005, 2009, or 2011-2015 rosters but still.  The effort against the Bears was horrible on the offensive side of the ball until late in the fourth quarter.

You’re right about the much-improved defense as well.  Lou Anarumo added some key players and he’s the only coordinator who has improved his side of the ball.  Even so, the defense was sliced and diced by Andy Dalton** before he was injured.  If Andy had not had to leave the game the score wouldn’t have been so close.

Keep the statistics coming, Fred, and let’s hope statistical improvements translate into wins.

*No, this doesn’t mean I want Marvin back.  He got stale.
** No, this doesn’t mean I want Andy back.  The team needed to move on.

(09-21-2021, 11:53 PM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: “We lost but we were close.”

Were we really?  No.  The eventual margin of victory may have been only a few points but losing close games has been the hallmark of the Bengals’ play since 2016 and it’s even worse under Zac Taylor.

Close games are lost by not converting on third down when on offense and not getting off the field after third down when on defense.  The Bengals are horrible on third down on either side of the ball.

The Bengals go for it on fourth down a lot because they’re faced with fourth down a lot.  This is due to shoddy play calling which disregards down and distance; just move those chains!  Sure, there are times where taking a shot downfield makes sense but not at the expense of giving up possession.

On defense the Bengals allow far too many third down conversions, even from third and ten — or more — situations. Lou Anarumo has the defense tackling better and playing better in general but the third down scheme remains weak.  Even on third and long somehow the opponent seems to convert.

Somehow Zac has to find a way to score early and often and put the game out of reach by halftime.  Right now nobody on the roster has the confidence of a winner and that’s sad.  I watched the Ravens the other night as they came back and beat the Chiefs and on both sides of the ball I saw purpose, energy, and most of all a cohesiveness which is lacking in Cincinnati.  Everything Baltimore did looked effortless.  The Bengals look like they are working hard but going nowhere.

(09-21-2021, 11:53 PM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: “We lost but we were close.”

Were we really?  No.  

(09-22-2021, 12:35 AM)fredtoast Wrote: The Ravens totally choked in their game against the Ravens.

(09-22-2021, 09:57 AM)TJ528 Wrote: I remember those games from 92-03 like they were yesterday.  It's in sane how many of those games occurred during that time span. 

(09-22-2021, 10:10 AM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: Same here!  In fact, the last two seasons remind me very much of how the 1992-2002 Bengals looked.  This season reminds me of 2008 which was the first year Mike Zimmer was here.  That’s the year the defense improved while the offense sputtered.

(09-22-2021, 10:10 AM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: Same here!  In fact, the last two seasons remind me very much of how the 1992-2002 Bengals looked.  This season reminds me of 2008 which was the first year Mike Zimmer was here.  That’s the year the defense improved while the offense sputtered.

(09-22-2021, 09:58 AM)PhilHos Wrote: Yes, we were. Had the defense stopped Fields short of a 1st down on that last drive, we have a chance to go down and tie or take the lead. Doesn't matter if we were trailing by 21 points or more for 3 quarters. If by the end you have a chance to tie or win the game, then the game was close.


Man, when the Ravens choked against the Ravens, the Ravens must've been mad at the Ravens for nearly upsetting the Ravens. I heard the Ravens are looking forward to their rematch with the Ravens because the Ravens are not only planning on not losing to the Ravens but totally destroying the Ravens.

(09-22-2021, 10:26 AM)ochocincos Wrote: The final score ended up being only a differential of 3, but the Bears were leading by 17 points until just about 6 minutes left in the game.
Aside from the bomb to Chase and then Wilson's interception that led to Higgins' TD, the offense (and game in general) was a snooze fest.

So it felt less close watching the game than the final score indicated.

(09-22-2021, 10:26 AM)ochocincos Wrote: The final score ended up being only a differential of 3, but the Bears were leading by 17 points until just about 6 minutes left in the game.
Aside from the bomb to Chase and then Wilson's interception that led to Higgins' TD, the offense (and game in general) was a snooze fest.

So it felt less close watching the game than the final score indicated.

(09-22-2021, 11:14 AM)PhilHos Wrote: It was 7-3 Bears going into the 4th QTR. Yes, near the midway point of the 4th, the Bears pulled ahead and it looked like they were going to win, but that's why games don't end 6 minutes before the end of the 4th QTR.

I get that it may not have felt like a close game, but anyone saying it was NOT a close game is either an idiot or has an agenda.

(09-21-2021, 11:53 PM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: “We lost but we were close.”

Were we really?  No.  The eventual margin of victory may have been only a few points but losing close games has been the hallmark of the Bengals’ play since 2016 and it’s even worse under Zac Taylor.

Close games are lost by not converting on third down when on offense and not getting off the field after third down when on defense.  The Bengals are horrible on third down on either side of the ball.

The Bengals go for it on fourth down a lot because they’re faced with fourth down a lot.  This is due to shoddy play calling which disregards down and distance; just move those chains!  Sure, there are times where taking a shot downfield makes sense but not at the expense of giving up possession.

On defense the Bengals allow far too many third down conversions, even from third and ten — or more — situations. Lou Anarumo has the defense tackling better and playing better in general but the third down scheme remains weak.  Even on third and long somehow the opponent seems to convert.

Somehow Zac has to find a way to score early and often and put the game out of reach by halftime.  Right now nobody on the roster has the confidence of a winner and that’s sad.  I watched the Ravens the other night as they came back and beat the Chiefs and on both sides of the ball I saw purpose, energy, and most of all a cohesiveness which is lacking in Cincinnati.  Everything Baltimore did looked effortless.  The Bengals look like they are working hard but going nowhere.