After the KC game...

[*SHRacerX*]

Even if the Bengals come out on the short end of the KC game, there will still be a lot of reason for optimism:

Their record would be 4-3 and the rest of their schedule would look as follows. I bolded my predictions for each game next to the opponent.


Tampa Bay Bucs(W- At home, before the bye, the Bengals will romp on this dysfunctional team)

BYE WEEK- Get Price back healthy, and hopefully Gio. The rest of the banged-up group will appreciate the break mid-season.

New Orleans Saints(W- They have a great offense, but they are a vastly different team away from their dome)

@ Baltimore Ratbirds (L- The Bengals could easily win this game, but I think Baltimore is due and they realized the second half they are much better off not blitzing Dalton)

Cleveland Browns(W-Though they will be vastly more competitive, they don't match up well against the Bengals and their lack of talented depth pieces is starting to show)

Denver Broncos(W-Case Keenum doesn't scare me at all, and although they have a very capable rushing attack and defense, they don't fare well traveling East for 1PM starts)

@ LA Chargers (L- I only gave us a loss because of the travel and the fact that Bosa may be back by then....could just as easily be a win)

Oakland Raiders (W-This team is a disaster on defense and can't score with the Bengals)

@ Cleveland Browns (W- They will give a good fight, but will be very thin by the end of the year)

@ pitt (L- Only because the game won't matter for division or seeding. I think the Bengals will win the AFC North with a record of 10-6 and be the #3 seed)

The #3 seed despite calculating a loss this weekend at KC, a loss on the road at the Chargers, and a meaningless loss against pitt at the end of the season.

Any of those games could be wins (and, yes, I know, so could the wins turn in to losses) yet the Bengals would be in the postseason and have a home playoff game.

So, even if they lose to KC, this team is still poised for a post season appearance and run. I am hoping the defense starts to click as they have shown flashes and the offense continues to roll.