08-09-2015, 01:40 PM
(08-09-2015, 11:54 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Let's see you choose a 4 year period which begins with one team coming off a 4-12 season (Bengals) who have a veteran QB holding out so they draft a rookie QB, a rookie WR and have a rookie OC to compare against two teams that both have veteran QB's and feel the is an apples to apples comparison
But, once you look at it, yes the Bengal are 11-13 in the AFCN those 4 years. The Ravens are 16-10 (2nd best) and the Steelers best at 15-9. As you look further, the Bengals have the worst record over the 4 years against the last place Browns. Also, The Bengals had one negative division year at 2-4 and that was 2011 (rookie years of AD, AJ and Gruden) coming off of a 4-12 season.
If you look at those 4 years with the Bengals inexperienced QB versus experienced QB's Flacco and Ben, the Bengals have the best overall regular season record with 40-23-1 (made playoff all 4 years), 2nd and very close is the Ravens at 40-24 (they missed playoffs once) and the Steelers are 3rd at 39-25 (they missed playoffs twice)
The reality is we have 3 very good teams in the AFCN and the Browns are close to not being the doormat they have been to both the Ravens and the Steelers.
Yes, the Bengals need to do better against the Steelers and the Browns, but it could be argued the past 4 years, the Ravens struggle against the Bengals more so than against the Steelers or Browns.
We swept them last year, despite not having a solid run game because Hill hadn't yet begun to get the bulk of the carries (Gio had 48 and 45 yards and Hill had 19 and 25), so I look for a sweep of them and the Browns, along with most likely a split with the Steelers.
Ravens lost their entire d-line, their #2 and #3 receiving options (drafted a receiver with questionable hands), and their kick/punt returner, among other things.
I feel great about our chances within the division this year. The Steelers worry me with Ben, Brown, and Bell, but their defense was weak, and now they lost Worilds, which everyone is overlooking, so there's 7.5 sacks gone, along with the 5th most tackles, so who replaces that? Losing Dick LeBeau will also hurt, despite what their fans say.
Browns don't concern me because they let Cameron walk and how long before there's a turmoil over people calling for Johnny 8-Ball?