5-12

[*SHRacerX*]

(08-29-2021, 08:03 PM)bengalguy71 Wrote: Now that this franchise preseason is over, and as much as it pains me in to agree with talking heads, 5-12 is the best case scenario barring key season ending injuries! 

I'm sure you will get hammered for this take, but it is your take and therefore isn't wrong (yet).  It is just your belief and that is fine.

Chase's drops issues are real.  That doesn't mean he is the 2nd coming of John Ross, but it is an issue.  Losing Ossai sucks ass after such an amazing start as well.  However: 

I will try to provide you some more optimism, but I understand your take given history with ZT and some early concerns.

1.) It's preseason.  ZT comes from the McVay coaching tree and McVay has shown absolutely no interest in showing anything in the preseason.  Last night's game had ZERO starters on defense.  We have also not really seen Burrow with Chase, Boyd, Uzo, Higgins, and Mixon at all.  The GOOD thing from the preseason is that the first team defense has looked really good and the first team (ish) offensive line has protected extremely well.  

2.) 5 wins is LESS that what we would have had last season (IMHO) if Burrow played all 16 games and there are 17 games on the schedule this year.  Last year's team was pathetic in the middle of the defensive line, and CB play was very poor as well.  The offense was just starting to hit its stride when Burrow went down.   Speaking of which:

3.) Joe Burrow.  He is healthy.  He is hungry.  He is in his second year in the system.  That bodes VERY well for the Bengals and not so well for the rest of the league. 

4.) Joe Mixon.  He is healthy.  He is hungry.  He LOVES the system under Frank Pollack and is ready to show the league that he should be thought of as a top tier RB.

5.)  The new pieces:  The return of Reader, Williams, Hopkins, and Waynes.  The addition of Owuzie, Hilton, Hendrickson, Ogunjobi, Reiff, and McPherson.  That is 10 new starters that we didn't have some or all of the season last year.  ALL of those players have shown very well in camp or preseason this year.  

My guess is 10 wins.  I know the schedule is a bytch and the division had three other teams that all won 11 games last year, but I see this team barring some massive injury, winning 10 games.  They need to start fast, though.  The most beatable part of the schedule is in the beginning.