11-14-2016, 04:09 PM
(11-14-2016, 03:26 PM)fredtoast Wrote: FIRST HALF SUMMARY
Bengal are what their record says they are. Below average. 3-4-1 record came against a strength of schedule ranked 16th in the league. Bengals have been outscored by 22 points which places them 23rd in the league in point differential. All 3 wins have come against terrible teams. Dolphins look good now, but they were playing like crap when we beat them. Tied a decent team in Redskins, played a decent Steelers team close on the road, but got beat badly by Denver, New England, and Dallas.
Offense....Offensive line has been biggest disappointment. Ogbuehi still has not had a healthy training camp, so I am not ready to write him off as a bust, but he has looked completely lost at times. But at times it seems there have been breakdowns all ovet the line. Dalton has looked fine. New receivers look solid. Hill and Bernard are each overrated by many people around here, but they are both capable runners if they can get some blocking. If Eifert can stay healthy I think we can have a good offense, but not near as good as it has been in recent years when we were not giving up as many sacks. Sacks kill drives.
Defense....Overall disappointment. We can't stop the run or the pass. I believe we have some decent talent on the line but not enough to have a deep rotation. We also have some talent in the backfield, but they look confused too often. Our LBs have looked slow and out of position a lot this year. I don't have much hope for the defense turning it around this year. Talent is not there and coaching looks suspect.
FINAL HALF PREDICTIONS
@ Giants....Bengals always flat coming off bye and in prime time. Combine those two and Giants beat Bengals 35-21
Bills...Buffalo has top ten scoring offense and 13th ranked scoring defense. They can't throw the ball but they have the #2 rushing offense which will feast on our 24th ranked rush defense. Bills #11 pass defense slows down Dalton enough to get a 21-20 victory
@ Ravens....Baltimore's #1 ranked defense chews up Bengals playing on the road. Ravens win 17-13
Eagles...Philly has a top 10 scoring offense and the #3 scoring defense. They have the third highest point differential in the league (+66). They beat the Bengals 31-24.
@ Browns....No. I will not go there. Bengals win 28-17
Steelers....Pittsburgh has won six of last seven in Cincinnati and 11 of last 14 overall. It is also a prime time game. Steelers 31-24.
@ Texans....Houston struggles on offense but they are 6-3 with wins over Detroit (5-4) and Kansas City (7-2). They have the #4 defense in the league, plus they seem to own the Bengals, plus it is a prime time game. Biggest difference will probably be that Texans are still in the hunt for a playoff spots while 4-9-1 Bengals are making vacation plans. Texans win 21-20
Ravens ...Baltimore still in playoff hunt. Bengals skip last day of practice to clean out lockers early. Ravens 31-14.
Bengals finish 4-11-1. Score 331 points (24th). Defense allows 393 (20th).
Marvin Lewis resigns. Vance Joseph hired as replacement.
IF this is the second half finish, and I DO see it as very possible, then it would be the best likely circumstance for Lewis to resign, and yes, he would have to resign. However, Marvin Lewis DOES have quality skills he could still contribute as GM, but that's been a forever 'pipe dream'.
