30,000 foot view of the Bengals and the league in ‘23

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(02-01-2023, 03:11 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Call me crazy, but Hurts is not as good of a passer as the top guys in the AFC - Burrow, Mahomes, Allen.
I'd take any of them over Hurts.

Just like I thought with Denver getting Wilson, I don't think the Jets magically improve a ton after a season with double-digit losses by getting a new QB.
They might get 2-3 more wins, but that's not really contender-level.

I'd take Hurts over Allen. I don't trust either of them on a 10 year deal because running QBs will always start to physically break down, but Allen just isn't accurate enough and makes way too many turnovers while Hurts is very good and seems to be getting even better.

I wouldn't overlook the Jets. They were 5-2 with a combination of Zach Wilson and Joe Flacco but really didn't have an answer offensively once they lost both Breece Hall and Alijah Vera-Tucker. I wouldn't go as far as saying SB contender, but with them back they have a run game again, and they had a top-5 scoring defense. You add a good/great QB and they're a playoff team at least.

(02-01-2023, 04:05 PM)Joelist Wrote: I'd actually contend the opposite - Lamar KEEPS THEM from being a real threat. His lack of real touch and general issues operating a passing offense from the pocket have held their offense back for years, as has the need to have an eccentric custom offense modeled around him. 

If the Rats do the right thing, they dump Lamar and reconfigure the offense back into something more rational. Either draft a QB high or use the "Lamar money" to bring in a legit starter as a Free Agent. Then get more receivers. 

Yeah, I am with you. I have been hoping that they'd sign him for a couple years now because I think it would be the only way to be sure that we don't really have to worry about Baltimore for awhile.

(02-01-2023, 04:30 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Well threat I’d disagree elite I would agree. Having a great QB is pretty important. SF seems the outlier. Philly may not have an elite passer in Hurts but his running makes up for it so he’s pretty elite. If they dump Lamar it’s not a given by any means they fare better. JMO but I’m a lot less concerned about Baltimore than I was last year at this time. It all depends what happens at QB.

Hurts had two WRs both 4 yards away from being a 1,500 yard receiver and a 1,200 yard receiver. His rushing actually got a little worse this year than '21. It was his evolution as a passer that allowed the Eagles to be a wagon. All of his passing stats are improving immensely each year.

Jackson has only gotten 1 WR to ever reach 800 yards in his career, and the guy requested a trade the next season. He has also never thrown for even 3,200 yards in a season before.