Sunday night game, Bengals v Lions

[Ickey44]

You probably will. It was embarrassing to watch an inept Lions defense get to Palmer at will.

[derekshank]

Jesus you guys. I don't feel good about the Bengals this year... but overreacting about pre-season happens every year. Calm down. The Colts went 0-5 and looked terrible the year they won the Super Bowl. The Bengals looked lights out in '06 and were a mediocre 8-8. It is completely meaningless. The only thing they are good for is injuring players.

[TJJackson]

My point of view: two brief shining moments amidst an otherwise horrid showing, especially by the O-Line

1) The hit and tackle in the open field by White - rolled the guy up, bigtime. Keep hitting them, Marvin

2) The special teams block (more like a freight train comin thru) by Craig that sprung the big punt return

I have rarely seen Bengals opponents get lit up like this - I LIKE it

Unless this team gets healthy real quick, we're looking at another lost season - like last season, only worse. Too damned many folks who are hurt. I expect to see as many as 6 players plucked from late preseason waivers and an equal number of talented but "can't get healthy" players waived (waived injured, will revert to season-ending injured reserve unless claimed by another team, which is unlikely). My fave player - Kilmer - looks almost certain to meet this fate.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Jesus you guys. I don't feel good about the Bengals this year... but overreacting about pre-season happens every year. Calm down.

I hear this BS every season. "Calm down Billy!", or "It's Only Pre-Season Billy!"

What happens every year is I rather accurately predict how the Bengals will do from their pre-season play. Last year at this same time I called 7-9. I missed the eventual 8-8 record by one.

At this point 7-9 looks optimistic for me, but I'm not afraid to put my guess up against any member here. You want to give me a go?

[cincyhokie]

Jesus you guys. I don't feel good about the Bengals this year... but overreacting about pre-season happens every year. Calm down.

I hear this BS every season. "Calm down Billy!", or "It's Only Pre-Season Billy!"

What happens every year is I rather accurately predict how the Bengals will do from their pre-season play. Last year at this same time I called 7-9. I missed the eventual 8-8 record by one.

At this point 7-9 looks optimistic for me, but I'm not afraid to put my guess up against any member here. You want to give me a go?

Billy,

If you were predicting last season's record at 7-9, you nailed it. 7-9 is where they finished at.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Jesus you guys. I don't feel good about the Bengals this year... but overreacting about pre-season happens every year. Calm down.

I hear this BS every season. "Calm down Billy!", or "It's Only Pre-Season Billy!"

What happens every year is I rather accurately predict how the Bengals will do from their pre-season play. Last year at this same time I called 7-9. I missed the eventual 8-8 record by one.

At this point 7-9 looks optimistic for me, but I'm not afraid to put my guess up against any member here. You want to give me a go?

Billy,

If you were predicting last season's record at 7-9, you nailed it. 7-9 is where they finished at.

Oops. I definitely remember NOT nailing it. I was off by one. My prediction must have been 8-8. Whatever it was, I was damn close.

[kingwilly]

since NFL network is replaying this right now and I am seeing it, not just listening to it, here are smoe additional observations.

1. The starting Oline was miserably inconsistent.

2. CPerry can run betwen the tackles. DeDe cannot. Watson can run anywhere.

3. Maxwell has good hands. Simpson as well. Caldwell needed to make a move down at the goalline. Holt can catch, too.

4. Apart from some basic mental errors, the D played better than it sounded. I can accpet a few mental errors in preseason if the fundmentals are getting better, which it seems like it is, as I viewed it.

5. Shirley is a load. Made a nice fast tackle on Pinner, who was moving. Shirley is a Haynesworth, Stroud, Henderson type guy. Man, if he can develop.

6. Utecht made a nice grab on a dead run. His earlier drop was on a very poor pass.

7. Daid Jones looks raw. talented but raw. Him as nickel might be begging for trouble.

8. Rivers seemed anonymous tonight.

It did not "watch" as bad as it sounded.

[TJJackson]

At this point 7-9 looks optimistic for me

Yep. 5-11 would not be a surprise

[agreen_112]

At this point 7-9 looks optimistic for me

Yep. 5-11 would not be a surprise

There's major problems here Houston. If we don't get these problems worked out, 4-12 is very doable.

How about Stacey Andrews playing like a Franchise Gaurd tho? I can't beleive he let that guy waltz right past him and slam Carson. I think it was the hit that Palmer got the double whamey on. Stacey looks like s**t!

[Stripes]

Was it '05 when Philly beat us 27-3 in the preseason?

Meaningless game in every way.

[damiancasey]

Was it '05 when Philly beat us 27-3 in the preseason?

Meaningless game in every way.

Finally a voice of reason - you hit the nail on the head...

[Wraith]

New England just got beat 27-10 to Tampa Bay and that game wasn't close. Anybody think that New England would lose to Tampa Bay in the Regular Season?

[combatbengal]

No the games doen't count, but you'd think that the players would have the basic fudamentals down, like blocking, tackling, covering WR's, etc. I hope I'm wrong, but it looks like we're in for a long disappointing season. Our back ups look better then our starters. Are the starters being instructed to hold back? Are they being told not to block, tackle, cover, etc?

[Orange and black fanatic]

Just discouraging. This team was not prepared to play professional football against the Lions of all teams at home.

Saturday had better be a different story, otherwise I am in full get-rid-of-Lewis (and Bratkowski) mode.

[TJJackson]

New England just got beat 27-10 to Tampa Bay and that game wasn't close. Anybody think that New England would lose to Tampa Bay in the Regular Season?

So you're OK with our offensive line allowing Carson to get beat up?

Since it is a preseason game, the beating Carson took "doesn't count"?

Someone please send Carson an email and remind him that the bumps and bruises he has today are all imaginary. I'm sure he'll appreciate that

[Ickey44]

Was it '05 when Philly beat us 27-3 in the preseason?

Meaningless game in every way.

You're missing the point. Nobody is upset about losing the game. We're all upset that our "vaunted" offensive line was manhandled by one of the worst defenses in the league. Our number 1's were getting the crap kicked out of them by their number 1's. That's what we're all upset about. And all we're basically saying is this: If they don't learn to protect Palmer we're screwed.

[damiancasey]

Was it '05 when Philly beat us 27-3 in the preseason?

Meaningless game in every way.

You're missing the point. Nobody is upset about losing the game. We're all upset that our "vaunted" offensive line was manhandled by one of the worst defenses in the league. Our number 1's were getting the crap kicked out of them by their number 1's. That's what we're all upset about. And all we're basically saying is this: If they don't learn to protect Palmer we're screwed.

What is important/not important for the coaching staff to accomplish with a pre-season game?

Important:

Don't get anyone hurt

Give veterans the chance to shake off the rust

Give rookies as much experience as possible

Get a look at new guys and see how they react under pressure

Get a couple more looks at guys you are on the fence about keeping

Try schemes/plays you aren't quite sure about

Keep as much from your competitors in terms of intelligence into your offensive and defensive schemes

Not that Important:

Winning

What is important/not important for the coaching staff to accomplish during a regular season game:

Important:

Winning (at least when you're still in the race)

[kingwilly]

Was it '05 when Philly beat us 27-3 in the preseason?

Meaningless game in every way.

Finally a voice of reason - you hit the nail on the head...

Not so quick....

That game, since you bring it up, was very meaningful.

It exposed Tory James as the double-pump sucker he is.

It also illustrated that the team could not stop the run.

Two facts revealed in that game which carried over to the egular season. Very meaningful.

The score may have been meaningless but the content had serious meaning.

The game v Detroit had a meaningless score but has shed light on progress, or lack thereof.

[TJJackson]

It also illustrated that the team could not stop the run.

there was a time when we could stop the run?

wow

I've only been watching them since the 88 superbowl year, so it must have been more than 20 years ago :-)

[derekshank]

I'm not saying the Bengals are going to the playoffs. I've been saying they wouldn't make the playoffs since day one. I just think it is funny that all the optimistic fans piss their pants because of a preseason game. A week ago you couldn't find anyone who didn't think this team was a legitimate AFCN champion. Now, there aren't any.

I still think the Bengals are 8-8 or 7-9 at seasons end. If they had played lights out I would feel the same way. What most fans don't seem to get is that preseason doesn't show much, if anything at all. You want to worry about the O-Line, or the WR's, or the run defense? Ok... those were trouble spots long before yesterday. But because they got outplayed for a quarter in August doesn't make it any more problematic - and I certainly don't think they are as bad as they played.

What the league needs to do is go to 2 pre-season games, lengthen the regular season to 18 games, with 2 bye weeks. It would just be a better league that way, with a lot less time for hand wringing over meaningless games.

[HoosierCat]

A week ago you couldn't find anyone who didn't think this team was a legitimate AFCN champion. Now, there aren't any.

I'm still here.

I think it's hard to take much away about the O from yesterday. Our No. 1 RB and Nos. 1 and 2 WRs were out for all (or in Chad's case almost all) the game. The o-line tried a new formation for the first time ever, featuring a G playing C for the first time ever, and predictably struggled. As far as the D is concerned, I'm with Kirk.

[kingwilly]

It also illustrated that the team could not stop the run.

there was a time when we could stop the run?

wow

I've only been watching them since the 88 superbowl year, so it must have been more than 20 years ago :-)

Lebeau had them going decent against the run there for a couple of years. It was the pass game that killed them and playing from way behind.

[BengalszoneBilly]

No the games doen't count, but you'd think that the players would have the basic fudamentals down, like blocking, tackling, covering WR's, etc. I hope I'm wrong, but it looks like we're in for a long disappointing season. Our back ups look better then our starters. Are the starters being instructed to hold back? Are they being told not to block, tackle, cover, etc?

Finally a voice of sober reasoning.