Predict the Bengals' 2024 Season Record

[*Awful Llama*]

Now that we've all had a night's rest and the better part of a day to digest what took place at Paycor yesterday, I wanted to see what everyone was thinking about the team's prospects for this season. Now, there were some back in August who would have predicted a 4-13 season, and what happened yesterday did nothing to convince them otherwise. And, if last month you thought we were going 13-4, you probably just think we need to go 13-3 from this point forward. For those with a more realistic approach to things, what say you?

I'll also add that I wanted to do this before the start of the season, but like so many things these days I didn't do it right then or even write it down, so it slipped my mind. Besides, maybe some have a perspective today that they didn't have 24 hours ago.

[THE PISTONS]

I'd say 8 or 9 wins depending on Burrows health.

[HarleyDog]

We should have handled the Pats easily. They are one of the worst teams in the NFL. 6 wins at best.

[Brownshoe]

As much as I hate Zac Taylor I say we end up 11-6. We ALWAYS start the year like this. We'll get our shit together. It's not like we haven't lost to bad teams at the start of the year before. Hopefully this game is a wake up call, but realistically we're probably going to end up 3-2 by the end of game 5

[*Nately120*]

11-6 or 10-7 and we make the playoffs and complain about how we are the sneaky deadly team no one wants to play and no one believes in us and the media hates us because they want to have man on man sex with Mahommes and Taylor Swift's snugglebuddy.

[*bengalfan74*]

I believe in this team, 12 wins or better. But they have to change their preseason prep for sure. In no way were we ready yesterday.

[wildcatnku24]

(09-09-2024, 12:34 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I believe in this team, 12 wins or better. But they have to change their preseason prep for sure. In no way were we ready yesterday.

Every year there are teams where everyone says they're gonna be bad and they turn out to be really good.  It's entirely possible that's what we experienced yesterday vs. New England.  

To say we weren't ready honestly doesn't make sense to me.  The defense missed tackles, but they were in position pretty consistently.   They didn't do their job in terms of tackling, but they were ready, else we'd have seen them out of position.  There were a few plays where a wideout was left wide open, which I definitely could see an argument on that one, but plays do break down and sometimes switchoffs between corner and safety don't occur.  

No matter how ready an offense is, dropping touchdowns and fumbling the ball at the 2 yard line will halt progress.  If they weren't ready, they'd have not been in position to score.  

Hopefully you see the theme by which I'm speaking:  the players have to play the game correctly.  To blame the scheme doesn't really make sense when the players are not performing like they normally would.

Now I dunno if anyone has had food poisoning, but I don't know how Chase even suited up if that actually happened.  Granted, they get IV's and medical treatment that I don't get, but I do think that didn't help.  Add Tee's seemingly mysterious hamstring issue that is yearly, and Burrow was almost essentially without his top 2 weapons.  We're a YAC team that simply couldn't get any YAC yesterday.  These things happen.  

[*Awful Llama*]

I went with 8-9. Hope I'm wrong by about three games in the positive direction.

[Essex Johnson]

If Burrow does not improve his play especially if Higgins is out for a while and run defense does not get better, 8-9 could be the ending record

[RegularGuy22]

A month or so ago I said 10-7 and that is WITH a healthy sharp Burrow. if they continue like yesterday 7-10 or worse. My gut feel is Burrow doesn't make the full season whether it's the hand/wrist or another injury. Sorry to be Donna Downer but it's what I feel. I would gladly eat the crow plain if they can go 11-6.

[Millhouse]

Based on offseason with non-upgrades, preseason, and now the first game, I think at best a scrappy playoff contender around 10-7. It's difficult to see a Super Bowl run again until Bengals improve the roster in certain areas which they can do next offseason.

[cincyfan429]

(09-09-2024, 12:15 PM)HarleyDog Wrote: We should have handled the Pats easily. They are one of the worst teams in the NFL. 6 wins at best.

They will never understand. They will destroy Joe's career the O-Line is junk. Then they draft Mimms who has a history of injuries. Joe will get hurt again. The window is closing on this team, and I still think Zac is a horrible coach. They should have made Mike Zimmer the HC when they had the chance.

[Timanky12]

I see 8 to 9 wins. We will be lucky to go 3-3 in our division. Burrow has never beat cleveland, and Baltimore and Pittsburgh maybe we win one at home. I see loses to Dallas, Philadelphia, KC, and a loss to either Chargers or Broncos. With the loss yesterday, that makes 8 loses for 9-8 season. If Burrow can’t beat Cleveland, then We are at 8-9 for the season.

[*Awful Llama*]

A bit shocked that with 20 votes as of now 11/20 (55%) are predicting a losing record. I gotta believe that if it's asked 48 hours ago it's probably 80% predicting a winning record.

[Housh]

If we can’t bank on beating a team as shit as New England then 9 wins is my max

[*Awful Llama*]

Alright, I'm going to give this one last bump to see if we can get a few more to weigh in with their prediction. Currently we're evenly split with 14 votes for a winning record and 14 for a losing record. Who will break the tie?

[*ochocincos*]

I'll give the benefit of the doubt that they'll start rolling in Oct and beyond, but history has proven that September will result in some unexpected losses.

9-8 is my prediction given the struggles they've had against the division as well.

I got 2-4 in the division (1 win vs PIT, 1 win vs BAL or CLE).
Wins against WAS, CAR, NYG, LV, LAC, TEN, DEN

[kevin]

Bengals will go 0-2 at Kansas City

However they climb to 2-2 and get hot, and the schedule is set up for them to have 12 or 13 wins in regular season. Too bad they are never ready to start the season or most games, they are a second half team for some reason.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

I voted 11-6. We will play better as the season goes on and get into the Playoffs.

[Tiger Teeth]

If Zac Taylor gets this team in the playoffs, I'll be amazed. We aren't the same anymore.