09-28-2016, 12:38 PM
(09-27-2016, 09:13 PM)GreenCornBengal Wrote: There is something about this team that really bothers me. While I know generally this is true, our team is very focused on the "Games in the NFL are typically a one score affair, and one play here or a mistake there can decide the game."
Now, why does this bother me?....
Because around the league there are teams winning 27-0, 28-0. Teams winning by large margins, far more than one score, on a weekly basis. IMO, we have brainwashed ourselves into thinking every game is going to be a close one. When we play teams that we should handle, we keep it close. When we play against playoff caliber teams, we, to our credit, keep it close.
I'm a big proponent of the mental side of the game, and the confidence of the players. If you continually tell them that games will be close, what is to stop them from ever gaining enough confidence to comfortably hand other teams their A****, knowing that we would, before, during, and after the game. Sure, we beat the Bears down however long ago that was, and we (Marvin Jones) ripped the Jets a new a few years back... occasionally we beat down the Browns (who doesn't) but overall, this team simply never shows its dominance. It either squeaks it out against lesser opponents, really squeaks it out against equal opponents, or has some sort of sloppy showing against the better teams. The playoff blunders can only be a product of this mentality IMO.
While I agree with the notion that NFL games are "any given Sunday" I just can't help but think it its a leech on the confidence of this team. I think a big part of the Patriots success is feeling completely prepared and expecting to win. There was a quote from Whit after the Pitt game that made me feel like this team feels it can win any game... or consequently lose ANY game...... "It's really about uh... Going in each week, trying to put yourself in a situation, to have the ball and HAVE A CHANCE to win."
This team focuses too much on "having a chance to win" instead of just dominating the opponent. Getting humbled is one thing, going in to a game expecting the chance of getting humbled is just a bad tentative trait to have (IMO). I don't think Bruce Arians strives for "a chance to win", he wants to win games like they did against TB (40-7).. He wants his teams to show a fire and desire that this team (once again IMO) has lacked.
It's a 2000 Ravens mentality, and I just don't like it. It's the Marvin Lewis way, and I'm frankly tired of it. (This is a rant that has been accumulating for years now... being 1-2 is a bummer, but this is something that goes far far back. This team never seems to win big, but instead win barely when it needs it most..... unless its the playoffs.)
(Now go ahead and argue that most NFL games are closer than not... I'll agree with you, but just pointing out that the teams that more consistently dominate opponents expect to do it, and I just don't think the Cincinnati Bengals ever have that expectation.)
I am going to go out on a limb here and say our best years are behind us if we do not turn it around in the next 3-4 games. If we do not win then I think we must realize the best of this core group is over (some are already out the door). It happens so fast that we don't want to come to terms with it, but I think last year has left us with a bitter taste with this group of Bengals. I am also going to say, Andy Dalton can NOT and will NOT lead us to the promise land. (I hope I eat these words).
