***Pre-Season GameDay Thread - Colts @ Bengals***

[BoomerFan]

(08-23-2024, 10:25 AM)Memphis_Bengal Wrote: How can you come to that conclusion when the starters only played 2-3 series in one game and looked really good?

Some of it is a reflection on coaching. Strong coaching should lead to better results than we've had with backups. No it isn't an ideal situation but that is what the coach is supposed to do.

Right now we have won exactly 0 games in 2024. We haven't won any games yet this year. Taking for granted that we will win a lot of games is the wrong way to look at it IMO. 

Also, even if we do go 12-5, at some point in the season some of those losses (or unconvincing wins) will lead to the following narrative in the press and with the fans: "What is wrong with the Bengals?" It may happen in the first 5 games. That's my prediction. I hope I'm wrong and, given that we could still end with a strong record maybe it doesn't mean a whole lot but I also won't say that too loudly because some part of football is an expectations game. And that isn't just the players, that is the press and the fans or people in the personal lives of those affiliated with organization as well. All of it effects the collective mood which I believe does impact what happens on the field.  

So I don't want to be negative. I don't want to say "I could see us going 2-15 this year". But I don't want to be too positive either. We haven't played any games yet and there are parts of this team that are suspect. We have some incredibly tough opponents on our schedule. No expectation might be the healthiest and most sane thing you can have.