Biggest heartbreaking season at mid point?

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(10-31-2020, 05:41 PM)jason Wrote: I feel it's a bit early to be worrying about draft position... That win would have done way more than drop us a pick or two... It would have been this coaching staff's first win against a team with a winning record. It also would've taught some of these guys what it takes to win a close game. Hanging our hats on close losses is stupid... Most losses are close. Even if the game is more of a blowout than it appears on the surface (Titans/ Steelers this past week comes to mind). Bad/ poorly prepared teams lose close games every week, while the good teams routinely find a way to win those games... Just like we did not too too long ago.

Last year if you took every one score loss and counted it as a win for every single team in the NFL, there would only be 2 teams with a losing record. (DC and Miami, and even they would both be 7-9.)

[*bengalfan74*]

(10-31-2020, 07:11 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Last year if you took every one score loss and counted it as a win for every single team in the NFL, there would only be 2 teams with a losing record. (DC and Miami, and even they would both be 7-9.)

I've never bought into the "losing close games" so we must be good narrative. 

[reuben.ahmed]

(10-31-2020, 09:12 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I've never bought into the "losing close games" so we must be good narrative. 

I don't buy into the "we won that game so we must be good" narrative either, lol. We can definitely fluke win some games, even though that's all that matters. Some coach should have been fired after that last game's last drive, instead we got rid of Carlos. That distraction probably saved a coach's (read: a friend's) job.

[Nicomo Cosca]

(10-31-2020, 12:31 PM)SHRacerX Wrote: If you don't see it, that is on you.  And that is ridiculous...

Yep. Personally I think playing the contrarian just because is ridiculous. People from outside of this fan base have made that exact same “ridiculous” comment.

[reuben.ahmed]

and yes, it looks like Burrow can win more than 1 superbowl, on this team who knows, probably none - but on another team? Yes.

Just like AJ could have won a superbowl if he was elsewhere. Just like Andy most likely wouldn't. The problem is it's not a one man job lol. We can't win a damn playoff game.

[*bengalfan74*]

(10-31-2020, 09:20 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Yep. Personally I think playing the contrarian just because is ridiculous. People from outside of this fan base have made that exact same “ridiculous” comment.

It just baffles me how the best thing to happen to the Bengals is looked at with such a jaundiced eye. I just don't get it ?

[*jason*]

(10-31-2020, 09:20 PM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: I don't buy into the "we won that game so we must be good" narrative either, lol. We can definitely fluke win some games, even though that's all that matters. Some coach should have been fired after that last game's last drive, instead we got rid of Carlos. That distraction probably saved a coach's (read: a friend's) job.

When's the last fluke win the Bengals had? Week 1 of 2018 maybe? The good teams have pummeled us. We maybe hang with the mediocre, and eventually lose... And games vs bad teams are touch and go.

[samhain]

I think that the team will end up winning 4 or 5 more games. The league is filled with bad teams, some even worse than us. We just so happen to play a bunch of those teams. Tanking for draft position is a losing proposition unless you're gunning for a qb like we were last year.

I think that the offense will look promising to very good by December. They already have their moments, and chemistry is still in process. If the defense can mange to make two or three stops in a few games, we're out of the top 10.

[*jason*]

(10-31-2020, 10:40 PM)samhain Wrote: I think that the team will end up winning 4 or 5 more games. The league is filled with bad teams, some even worse than us. We just so happen to play a bunch of those teams. Tanking for draft position is a losing proposition unless you're gunning for a qb like we were last year.

I think that the offense will look promising to very good by December. They already have their moments, and chemistry is still in process. If the defense can mange to make two or three stops in a few games, we're out of the top 10.

Yeah... Playing the NFC east is our saving grace this year. We still couldn't manage to put Philly away though, so you still can't chalk any of those games up as wins either... Though I think whatever wins we get will come from those games. I think we go 0 fer the division with both Pittsburgh and Baltimore stomping us. I fear tomorrow's game will get ugly too, but I'd love to be wrong.

[Nicomo Cosca]

(10-31-2020, 10:47 PM)jason Wrote: Yeah... Playing the NFC east is our saving grace this year. We still couldn't manage to put Philly away though, so you still can't chalk any of those games up as wins either... Though I think whatever wins we get will come from those games. I think we go 0 fer the division with both Pittsburgh and Baltimore stomping us. I fear tomorrow's game will get ugly too, but I'd love to be wrong.

The Dolphins and Texans are both winnable games, too. Not saying I’d bet on it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we beat either or even both of them.

[*jason*]

(10-31-2020, 10:54 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: The Dolphins and Texans are both winnable games, too. Not saying I’d bet on it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we beat either or even both of them.

Yeah... Those teams are kinda like Indy. You saw how we have the ability to jump on them, but we just couldn't finish.

[*bengalfan74*]

(10-31-2020, 10:54 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: The Dolphins and Texans are both winnable games, too. Not saying I’d bet on it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we beat either or even both of them.

We have 5 games down the stretch and I wouldn't be surprised at all if we win 3-4 of em. 

Washington
Giants
Dolphins
Cowboys
Texans

I also wouldn't be surprised if we only win 1

[samhain]

(10-31-2020, 11:05 PM)jason Wrote: Yeah... Those teams are kinda like Indy. You saw how we have the ability to jump on them, but we just couldn't finish.

The defense needs to figure something out.  They've gotten straight up housed since the 2nd half of the Indy game started.  I know they're depleted, but you'd think they could trip and fall into a stop at some point by sheer odds.  They suck in a galactic way right now.  

The offense is ready to win right now, IMO.  They should be humming by the time we play those lesser teams late in the year.

[WiregrassBenGal]

This year's team has been fun to watch even with the close losses. The Bengals still have time to do something special whether it is a win against a top opponent (like today) or to win out over all the teams someone mentioned a few posts ago. The coaches, players, and everybody should make protecting Joe Burrow the number one priority. He is something special and plays like a warrior.

[fredtoast]

(10-31-2020, 09:30 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: It just baffles me how the best thing to happen to the Bengals is looked at with such a jaundiced eye. I just don't get it ?

I keep saying over and over again that I like Burrow and that I think he has what it takes to be a really good NFL QB.

But anyone who is being honest would admit that he has not shown that he is capable of winning a Super Bowl unless you say that every rookie QB that has a decent game in a loss is a Super Bowl winning QB.  

If that is your standard then that is fine.  I just need to see more before I anoint a guy as "capable of winning a Super Bowl."

[Nicomo Cosca]

(11-01-2020, 10:57 AM)fredtoast Wrote: I keep saying over and over again that I like Burrow and that I think he has what it takes to be a really good NFL QB.

But anyone who is being honest would admit that he has not shown that he is capable of winning a Super Bowl unless you say that every rookie QB that has a decent game in a loss is a Super Bowl winning QB.  

If that is your standard then that is fine.  I just need to see more before I anoint a guy as "capable of winning a Super Bowl."

Every rookie QB doesn’t set like 5 records in 7 games. That’s more than “decent.” What Burrow and Herbert are doing (especially in a messed up year like this one) is remarkable. Both have already shown they have what it takes to be elite QB’s (not just “very good”) in the near future.

Also, if you have to keep prefacing every post you make about Burrow with how much you like him then you clearly don’t.

[*Nately120*]

(10-31-2020, 07:11 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Last year if you took every one score loss and counted it as a win for every single team in the NFL, there would only be 2 teams with a losing record. (DC and Miami, and even they would both be 7-9.)

As I've said before, 2010 really blew up the "close game" narrative for me.  We lost a bunch of close games and the Packers won a bunch of close game, we were a total joke that had to blow up some of the biggest spots of the roster, the Packers made the playoffs as a 6th seed and won the SB over the Steelers.  


At any rate, this year isn't disappointing because we're a crappy team with a very promising QB.  The issue I see is that saying stuff like Joe Burrow can win a SB and going on about how good he is going to be while we are sitting here at 1-5-1 with a HC who is setting losing records and our locker room is fighting makes me think of those "Will Burrow be wasted in Cincy?" off-season narratives.

So hey, Burrow looks good so there is always hope.  I'll just leave it with that.

[*SHRacerX*]

(10-31-2020, 03:38 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: But has he? He's looked really really good at times, and not good at others. There hasn't really been a upward trend, but just a zigzag. (Which is to be expected by a Rookie.)

Week 1-3: 5 TD/1 INT, 89.0 QB Rating
Week 4-6: 1 TD/3 INT, 79.7 QB Rating

I think Burrow will be fine and turn out great, but the idea that he's improved every week just isn't based in reality.


Star is a bit generous for a part time role player who only made 16 total tackles in 482 defensive snaps (plus another 157 on ST). He was a good pass rushing specialist, but even PFF (if you put any stock into that, but I would understand if you didn't) graded him at 64.8 overall in 2017.

Even in 2018 before getting hurt he only had 1 sack and 6 total tackles in 7 games.

Using straight up stats misses the big picture.  A TD taken away week 1 by a BS penalty.  A TD taken away from his TE by an unbelievable INT by the Jax LB over Sample in the end zone.  Right now, if this team had a defense that was even middle of the road (which, healthy, I believe they could have been) and with Green playing more up to form from week 1, I think they could compete with any team.  

It's ok, it is a stupid argument anyways because it is totally subjective.  I made a statement that we have a QB that can win a Super Bowl because that is what I believe I have seen from the guy.  No point debating it.  

[*SHRacerX*]

(10-31-2020, 09:20 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Yep. Personally I think playing the contrarian just because is ridiculous. People from outside of this fan base have made that exact same “ridiculous” comment.

I mean, he is breaking all time rookie records with Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins as his top two WRs, a beat up offensive line that was already devoid of talent, and a defense that holds no one in check.  But, I digress.  Statements like that are impossible to defend because right now based on the team around him they are so hypothetical.

[*bengalfan74*]

(11-01-2020, 11:18 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Every rookie QB doesn’t set like 5 records in 7 games. That’s more than “decent.” What Burrow and Herbert are doing (especially in a messed up year like this one) is remarkable. Both have already shown they have what it takes to be elite QB’s (not just “very good”) in the near future.

Also, if you have to keep prefacing every post you make about Burrow with how much you like him then you clearly don’t.

That's the fence riding, that way either way it turns out you can claim you knew it all along.