Stupid Dead Cat Bounce

[CJD]

(12-16-2024, 12:38 AM)Tomkat Wrote: I don't know why I care, but these last couple of wins have kinda pissed me off.
They're only hurting the Bengals draft position!

Someone talk me off the ledge and give me some positive things about the last 2 weeks.

I have entered both of these games with the attitude that I don't really care if we win or lose, I just want to eat pizza and be entertained.

And I've been entertained in both games.

I think if our offense sputtered to a halt and we lost out, I would be more frustrated than if we won out due to having an elite offense (The defense is what it is, and that is "it's bad") even though winning out likely results in the #18 pick and missing the playoffs.

The best case scenario would be that our offense remains elite, but our defense is so hilariously bad that they keep blowing the game in the last minute, to secure a top 10 pick while maintaining our positive outlook on the offense. But that's probably not realistic with the teams we're playing to close out the season.

This team doesn't need a top 10 pick to compete in the NFL next season. It would be nice. But this is a championship caliber offense. We just need to make some smart acquisitions on defense in free agency (I.E. No more Sheldon Rankins signings. Keep your DJ Readers, Bengals) and focus our draft on the defense.

This is not 2019, where meaningless wins could have derailed our entire franchise (if we beat Miami and missed out on Joe Burrow, for example). We are just trying to field an average to slightly below average defense and we'll be 11-3 at this same time point in 2025. Don't fret the wins. Just enjoy the ride and watch Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase do their magic.