Can they all get 1,000?

[*SHRacerX*]

(12-24-2021, 01:36 PM)Clark W Griswold Wrote: This just makes me wonder even more why the offense isn’t consistently good. (I know - blame Zac)

They have a really good QB and RB and the WRs group is as good as anyones.  If they improve the O line this off-season and Zacs play calling improves then this offense should easily be top 5 with all the skill position talent they have.

I agree that Boyd will come up a little short but Tee will get to 1000+ yards.

They started the season slow, which seemed entirely intentional, to help Burrow have more time to recover.  However, right after the Green Bay game, things really started to click.  They ran the ball very well starting about the Raider game and the 2nd pitt game.  

The points they put up after Green Bay:

34 vs Detroit
41 vs. Ratbirds
31 vs. Jets
16 vs. Browns
32 vs. Raiders
41 vs. steelers
22 vs. Chargers
23 vs. 49ers


So, for this 8 week stretch, the Bengals were putting up an average of exactly 30 points per game, yet despite their defense showing up in every game but two (Jets and Browns), they were only .500 in this stretch.  Why? 

What led to this inconsistency?  

One basic reason:  turnovers.  They killed them against the Browns, Chargers, and 49ers.  I got this stat second hand, but the Bengals have only lost one game this season where they had fewer than two turnovers.

So, look at the offense against Denver:  15 points?  Why so conservative?  Was ZT coaching scared?  No.  I believe it was smart.  They were running the ball fairly well and the Denver offense couldn't do much of anything against the Bengals.  You could argue that the Bengals offense struggled, and it did.  The WRs simply weren't able to uncover against that defense, but the Bengals didn't turn the ball over.  

I think if the Bengals win tomorrow, they are most likely the AFC North representatives.  The huge key will not be putting up 40 points and 400 yards passing, but not to turn the ball over.  

Now, maybe Joe does go off against this team that is decimated on the back end.  Maybe Martindale keeps 7 back to help and Mixon has a big day.  No matter how it works, I think we are seeing the team maturing and figuring out how to win a lot of different ways.

I was so livid at how the blew the Charger and 49er game with bad turnovers, but at least we saw they can come back.  What will likley happen if they don't dig themselves a hole with turnovers?  They will win.