Bengals’ 2009 foes: (Almost) set in stone

[Ox]

By Chick Ludwig | Sunday, December 28, 2008, 12:01 AM

TRIPS TO SAN DIEGO, OAKLAND,

GREEN BAY & MINNESOTA FOR

CINCINNATI BENGALS IN 2009

AND THE KNUCKLEHEAD CHIEFS

ARE BACK AT PBS AGAIN, TOO,

ALONG WITH BEARS & LIONS

What’s at stake today — Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008 — when the Cincinnati Bengals host the Kansas City Chiefs?

The Bengals’ 2009 schedule, of course.

Fourteen of the 16 regular-season games are signed & sealed as the Bengals face the AFC West and NFC North divisions.

But the other two games against AFC South and AFC East foes are in question and won’t be resolved until today’s games are finished, done, kaput.

2009 HOME OPPONENTS — Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Denver, Kansas City, Chicago, Detroit and an AFC South team (third-place Houston or last-place Jacksonville).

2008 AWAY OPPONENTS — Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Oakland, San Diego, Green Bay, Minnesota and an AFC East team (Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, New England Patriots or Miami Dolphins).

Here’s the deal:

The Bengals (3-11-1) are in last place in the AFC North, a half-game behind Cleveland (4-11).

If the Bengals finish in last place, they’ll host Jacksonville and travel to Buffalo because both are in the cellar in the AFC South and AFC East.

If Cincinnati wins and the Cleveland Browns lose, the Bengas will finish third in the AFC North with a 4-11-1 record.

It means the Bengals will host Houston, which finishes third in the AFC South, and travel to the third-place finisher in the AFC East. With one game separating the Dolphins (10-5), Patriots (10-5) and Jets (9-6), third place is up for grabs heading into today’s action.

BENGALS’ 2009 OPPONENTS

IN NFL SCHEDULE ROTATION

AFC NORTH

Home: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh.

Away: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh.

AFC WEST

Home: Denver, Kansas City

Away: Oakland, San Diego

NFC NORTH

Home: Chicago, Detroit

Away: Green Bay, Minnesota

OTHER TWO GAMES

Home: AFC South (third or fourth-place finisher, corresponding to Bengals’ finish in AFC North)

Away: AFC East (third or fourth-place finisher, corresponding to Bengals’ finish in AFC North)

http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/s...most_set_i.html

[ArmyBengal]

HELL YEAH, I will be making the short trip to Minneapolis to watch our boys against the Vikings.

I was hoping we would be playing them on the road !!!

I'm also right now calling an 8-8 record...

[whizzo]

hmmm...

@ Baltimore: L

Baltimore: L

@ Cleveland: W

Cleveland: W

@ Pittsburgh: L

Pittsburgh: L

Denver: W

KC: W

@ Oakland: W

@SD: L

Chicago: L

Detroit: W

@GB: L

@Minnesota: L

Texas: L

@Jets: W

i'm hoping for a 7-9 finish.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Predicting next season's records already, lol.

Looks like another 2005 schedule that Mike Brown can manipulate...sign/trade for some people this off-season that are affordable and may actually help achieve a winning record, then let a bunch of expensive players go the next year, sign no one, and milk it for 3-4 seasons again.

[Kirkendall]

The 2008 winning percentage of teams we're playing next year is: .442

[palmmyjohnson]

The 2008 winning percentage of teams we're playing next year is: .442

What is it when you exclude the Lions? If my calculations are correct it is .476, which is a mite scarier.