5 straight wins.... 9-8 season

[Bengalion]

(01-05-2025, 01:40 PM)Frank Booth Wrote: Frank Pollack will return

Did the FO make it official?

[Frank Booth]

(01-05-2025, 03:11 PM)Bengalion Wrote: Did the FO make it official?

you just know theyre bringing everyone back

[sandwedge]

(01-05-2025, 03:11 PM)Bengalion Wrote: Did the FO make it official?

Why would they make that call now? 

[sandwedge]

(01-05-2025, 01:45 PM)Frank Booth Wrote: 9-8 and beating up on bad qb's at the end saved jobs lol

I hear ya, at the moment for me at least, I would like to see Lou gone after the season.

[Bengalion]

(01-05-2025, 03:15 PM)Frank Booth Wrote: you just know theyre bringing everyone back

I don't know. Lou probably saved his ass from getting fired, but Pollack... there’s no way that we have line issues this much with NOBODY standing out unless there’s a coaching/development issue. Karras, Cappa, etc. did pretty well before not because they were stars — they were just productive members of a functioning group. Let's hope Mike and Katie make the right decision here.

[NotBigzo]

(01-05-2025, 03:11 PM)Bengalion Wrote: Did the FO make it official?

The Bengals kept Marvin Lewis because the Bengals won their last two games against Detroit and Baltimore. 

They'll keep the entire staff because the Bengals won their last 5 games.

[*bfine32*]

The usual suspects in a "feel good" thread:

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(01-05-2025, 01:45 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: For sure

Two straight 9-8 seasons, two straight 1-3 starts. Too bad we have to come out every season so damn flat. 

Here's to hoping the stars align and the ball bounces our way today. 

Oh yeah, if we don't make it in we only have our flat start to blame.

[Essex Johnson]

(01-05-2025, 01:20 AM)Frank Booth Wrote: Buck gave Anorumo credit for the turnaround

he's staying most likely

Not sure he stays but it is more about lack of talent on dline than Lou, i read we are a top 5 defense last 5 games

[ERIC1]

(01-05-2025, 03:47 PM)NotBigzo Wrote: The Bengals kept Marvin Lewis because the Bengals won their last two games against Detroit and Baltimore. 

They'll keep the entire staff because the Bengals won their last 5 games.

Doubt it...they know they only beat some rather marginal teams the past 5 weeks and a pittsburgh team that was not playing well..I think we will see some significant changes..and I think so because of Burrow...impending lease negotiations..etc..our deficiencies are evident...addressable and fixable... not only players...but also coaching and the scouting department

[ERIC1]

(01-05-2025, 05:32 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: Not sure he stays but it is more about lack of talent on dline than Lou, i read we are a top 5 defense last 5 games

Against pretty bad teams..the real question...and we dont know...wa Lou involved in the defensive personnel decisions made last ofeason

[*Synric*]

Not a great start for either game.

[jj22]

Yea. The offseason has arrived.

[Joelist]

So what? They played hard and won 5 straight to finish out above .500 after the terrible start. Even if they miss postseason they left it all out on the field.

[NUGDUKWE]

(01-05-2025, 05:55 PM)ERIC1 Wrote: Doubt it...they know they only beat some rather marginal teams the past 5 weeks and a pittsburgh team that was not playing well..I think we will see some significant changes..and I think so because of Burrow...impending lease negotiations..etc..our deficiencies are evident...addressable and fixable... not only players...but  also coaching and the scouting department

I'll be surprised if there are changes to the staff after the finish to the season. Not that I don't think we should or shouldn't. I'm worried about if they will change they're ways and push the cap to the max to get sign our players as well as trying to get some key free agents. My coworker always goes on about the fact that outside of a few organizations in the right market the value for nfl teams is what is. Meaning the Chiefs are worth the same as the Bengals despite the Chiefs being in the middle of a dynasty. So what motivation does Brown have to spend more money to try and win when it makes no difference in his bottom line. That has me worried on one hand it's a disappointing season and on the other the fans were locked in until the very end. So what more could you want as an owner. We are all gonna be locked in even if they don't sign Higgins or bring any significant free agents.

[*ochocincos*]

One thing I personally think the Bengals need to do next season is actually play the starters a decent amount in the preseason.

I saw some mentioning the contract stuff with Chase and Higgins caused the team to start off slow, but that should have had zero impact on the slow start for the other players.
The starters need to get reps against other teams prior to Week 1 so they know what the heck they are doing and better gel.

Also, invest in the depth please.
This season has shown what can happen if you get to your 4th/5th option on the OL/DL/CBs.

[Destro]

(01-05-2025, 08:23 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I saw some mentioning the contract stuff with Chase and Higgins caused the team to start off slow, but that should have had zero impact on the slow start for the other players.

Or that it happens every year, no matter what. Every failure has an excuse. 

[puddycat]

I hereby officially apologize for calling this year a dead cat bounce. The team stayed in the playoff hunt right up to Sunday afternoon of week 18. Good on them. I hate the very idea of tanking; teams need to learn how to win, especially this team.

We've all seen that you can't win the division in September, but you can definitely lose it. It's time for the Bengals players to go home and get right physically, and Bengals management to make some easy decisions. If these coaches were players, would their play keep them on the team?

[Frank Booth]

(01-06-2025, 12:21 AM)puddycat Wrote: I hereby officially apologize for calling this year a dead cat bounce. The team stayed in the playoff hunt right up to Sunday afternoon of week 18. Good on them. I hate the very idea of tanking; teams need to learn how to win, especially this team.

We've all seen that you can't win the division in September, but you can definitely lose it. It's time for the Bengals players to go home and get right physically, and Bengals management to make some easy decisions. If these coaches were players, would their play keep them on the team?

It can still be interpreted as a dead cat bounce

Beat up on awful teams down the stretch, then beat denver and pitt when neither of them were in must win situations

[*bfine32*]

(01-06-2025, 12:31 AM)Frank Booth Wrote: It can still be interpreted as a dead cat bounce

Beat up on awful teams down the stretch, then beat denver and pitt when neither of them were in must win situations

So now we have to change the "beat up on back teams" narrative to "beat up on bad teams and good teams who didn't try too hard."

It was easier back when we didn't beat playoff/winning teams, wasn't it?