05-24-2017, 06:16 PM
(05-24-2017, 05:09 PM)eoxyod Wrote: The defense wasn't good enough in 05 to bring us the whole way, but in 2015 it was a real possibility
Agreed. Assuming no Marvin Lewis choke specials, I think the 2005 team could've beaten the Steelers, but would've lost to the Colts.
At the time Dalton went down, the Bengals were averaging 376.3 yards per game, which would've ranked 5th that year. They averaged 27.8 ppg, which would've ranked 4th. The defense was 11th in yards and 2nd in points allowed. This was certainly the best Bengals team of the Marvin era.
That said, the 2013 team wasn't far behind and was better than the 2005 team. In 2013, we were 10th in yards and 6th in points scored. The defense was 3rd in yards allowed and 5th in points allowed. We all saw the result.
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
