Déjà Vu With Bengals After Week 3

[THE Bigzoman]

I think the team is already way ahead of that.


One year ago, people were saying that the Bengals were gonna go to Foxboro and finish the Patriots season. We got killed.

The same narrative can be applied to Baltimore, but everyone doubted us, and we pulled it off this time.

[kevin]

I like that D'eja' mustard stuff to.. On a brat or a sausage or a plain old hot dog. Spices up plain old salami. ...Like the Jerry Sienfeld guy that played George Steinbrenner said, " I like that fancy mustard, you can put it on anything. Put in on a shoe and it would taste OK by me ". ....So I like Deja to. Even better with Bengals 3-0. Bring on the brats and dogs and the Deja Vu. Bring on the brats and dogs and the Deja Vu. Did I just repeat that, OK, as long as the brats and dogs don't repeat.

[Daddy-O]

There is nothing remotely close about years 2014 and 2015 to this point, other than the 3-0 records.

Last year we were already without our #2 wide receiver and our #1 TE (yes Eifert would have been #1 in Hue's offense even with Gresham). So comparisons at this point are like apples and oranges. 2015 is a new year and different team.

[*rfaulk34*]

(09-28-2015, 11:00 AM)GodFather Wrote: 2014

Week One- Bengals 23 Ravens 16
Week Two- Bengals 24 Falcons 10
Week Three- Bengals 33 Titans 7

2015

Week One- Bengals 33 Raiders 13
Week Two- Bengals 24 Chargers 19
Week Three- Bengals 28 Ravens 24

Dalton starts both 2014 and 2015 playing excellent. Listening to morning sports talk after week 3 for both 2014 and 2015, "The Bengals are a Super Bowl team and one if not the most talented rosters in the NFL."


My question is this, with both years mirroring one another in every way, are you of the position "Ive been here before and your going to have to show me this really is going to be different than the past years" or are you feeling "This is a different team than the previous years and Im finally going to see this team succeed in the post season"

How are you feeling after three weeks of football about our Bengals?

The mirror is cracked a bit. No Jones or Eifert after 3 last year and AJ was dinged. Also, Dalton is playing at a higher level. 

So far, so good...

Feeling better than last year.

[kevin]

Now I will say Bengals have had 4 play-off seasons in a row and only Packers, Patriots and Broncos can say that also. 3-0 is how you want to start if you want to have 5 play-off seasons in a row, and you have to get there before you can win there. Those wanting a play-off win should be embracing the 3-0 start because you have to have a ticket to the dance first.

Also, Chiefs have a Monday night game on the road and have to fly home early Tuesday and then fly to Cincinnati what, Friday or Saturday. That is a lot of flight time on a short week. The Bengals have been very dominate in THE JUNGLE the last few years. ...So I see a good chance of this going to 4-0 record to start the season. ...Roar, Jungle, Roar.....Hey, a win Sunday makes Bengals 3-0 against AFC West also, and other AFC North teams aren't doing as hot against AFC West so far. That also becomes a game changer in the standings.

[PApinhead]

I'm usually of the mind frame that we've been here before and I won't believe it until we actually win a playoff game, but even though it is early yet, I am leaning more towards this team can finally do it. I'm still not sold on the coaching staff being able to get it done, but I'm starting to have more faith in them.

A little more work in a couple areas and we could be one of the toughest teams to beat. I am really pumped!!!

[*wildcats forever*]

(09-28-2015, 01:11 PM)McC Wrote: You can't make a really strong judgement after three weeks but I gotta say, to me, this year has a different vibe.

Yep! A different vibe indeed! To me, it's as if this group has had enough of the previous 4 years worth of "almost" and are determined to be the best version of themselves, both individually and collectively. I include both the coaching staff and the players in this. We've only seen 3 weeks like you say, but it's been as good of a 3 week stretch as any I've seen in several years. On to KC!

[Ricky Spanish]

Dalton is playing better than he ever has before.

I have total confidence in this tean

[Bengal80]

Three games isn't enough for a decisive yes or no. Last year they lost Jones and Eifert and were experiencing part time play from two leaders in Green and Burfect. At a minimum that had to put a strain on play calling as well as helping the opponent. A positive this year is Kirkpatrick playing through a shoulder injury against Baltimore. In the past, he would have been on the bench.

This is my first post. I have been a Bengals fan since they selected Bob Johnson with the first pick. I think Paul Brown is one of the premier NFL minds. While watching the Forest Gregg Bengals beat Pittsburgh in 1980 prompted me to become a season ticket holder until 2009 when I could no longer take cold December games. I did go to and enjoy the freezer bowl.

[Trademark]

Completely different team this season Dalton is showing poise and fire and not being rattled easily when he makes mistakes as we seen against the Ravens

[GodFather]

(09-29-2015, 02:41 PM)Trademark Wrote: Completely different team this season Dalton is showing poise and fire and not being rattled easily when he makes mistakes as we seen against the Ravens

This team looked just as good this time last year, especially Dalton. He looked in command and extremely poised. 

[Fresno B]

Holler at me when we make it past the first round in the playoffs. I've read statements like these dating back to the Palmer days....never fizzled out. I know I sound negative, but until we go further in the playoffs, it's just a whole lot of blind faith. Injuries happen and there's no telling Whats in store. Happy we're 3-0 but we still have 13 more games.

[3wt]

Dalton's play and the return of Jones, Geno, MJ and Eifert have made a definite difference.

Defensive line is playing better than last year, but our linebackers and safeties need to step it up.

Bottom line is I like us better this year, but we have some issues to resolve.

[*bengalfan74*]

One sorta ironic thing from this season to last.

New England got embarrassed by the Chiefs last season in week 3 and we played the Pats in 4

The Chiefs just got embarrassed by the Pack in week 3 and we play the Chiefs in week 4.

To me it seems different this season. There's a fire burning inside that hasn't been there before. However it all means little if we can't get over the hump !

I'll wait and see how next 4 weeks go.

[EatonFan]

(09-28-2015, 01:12 PM)McC Wrote: Three ways this year does not mirror last year--Geno back to form, Eifert and MLJ.

Bingo.  I think Hill will have a good game here soon.

These next three games will be very revealing as to how good this team is.

[Psycholomonkey]

I believe it is a whole new story this year, for the better.

I see more fire and execution across the board, better control of the outcome and little the other teams can do to stop us when we are giving a full effort.

In the Raven's game we chose to come out of the half conservative and lazy (coaches fault), but AS SOON AS the Raven's forced the coaches to be aggressive and play for the score, we converted almost instantly once and convincingly again. Add in that they did not lose hope as they would in the past (incorrect calls by refs, scores by ravens), and the mindset appears to have changed.

I myself predicted we would cave after the seemingly hopeless effort to battle the ravens and zebras simultaneously, but they proved me wrong. Andy's leadership was a big part of that from what I could see.

I'm drinking the kool-aid, and have not done so in previous years. Black cherry obviously since it is the best, even if it isn't orange.

[tigershrimp]

Commitment to the run is evident in Hill's benching(s). That's good news. Bengals are 2nd in the AFC for YPG, and they are 2nd in total rushing yards. This should serve to protect the team's receiver interests quite well. Go Hue.

[Slappy from New Haven]

Interesting game coming up. Bengals need to gt up early and play to stop the run.

Next two weeks show us what we have.

At the end of the day the biggest issue we have is the in-game ineptitude of Intern Marv

[EatonFan]

(09-28-2015, 12:46 PM)masterpanthera_t Wrote: Without jinxing Dalton, I will say it seems to me he's playing better this year.  In yesterday's game, even though he didn't have a clean pocket many times, he scrambled or stepped up and seemed to make the right decision a lot of the times.  The 80 yard TD to Green occurred after he stepped up almost into Gio who got pushed back.  But Andy stepped up and made a great throw, leading Green perfectly.  

During a scramble, he juked out Mosley to score the first TD and a couple of other times he scrambled and slid at the right time to both get a first down and also not get hit hard.  Finally, on the game winning drive, IIRC, he scrambled out of pressure (a little Aaron Rodgers like) and made a perfect pass to Gio on the run, which led to Gio being able to catch it in stride and run another 15 - 20 yards and shut up the crowd for an instant.  

If Dalton can show this amount of poise and composure in the rest of the games, the Bengals will be in great shape.

Our O-line is holding their blocks and giving Dalton that extra 1/2 second.  That in combination with Eifert, MJ, Sanu, Green as targets and Dalton looks like a world beater.  I can't wait to get Hill going too.

[EatonFan]

(09-29-2015, 09:44 PM)Slappy from New Haven Wrote: Interesting game coming up.  Bengals need to gt up early and play to stop the run.

Next two weeks show us what we have.

At the end of the day the biggest issue we have is the in-game ineptitude of Intern Marv

I don't get how Marv can not see how his poor clock management is costing us points and likely games.  Why does he not practice this?