Alright, it's time to make your call....

[Ickey44]

We normally have this topic after the third preseason game, so I figured I'd go ahead and start it. I'm gonna go with 8-8. It looks like that Bengals are going to get off to a slow start. Their play has been a little sloppy thus far, and Palmer hasn't been practicing. Plus, the first few weeks of the season are going to be tough. The schedule gets easier later on in the season, plus the Bengals traditionally get better the older the season gets. I think, they suck early, but turn it on later in the year to finish at an even .500.

What do you guys think?

[membengal]

How's Carson's ankle?

[TJJackson]

Please understand that all of the following is IMHO

I'm going to go with 8-8 but with the caveat that for every three games Carson misses (and by misses I do not mean pulled late if ever we are ahead by lots) in part or full that'll drop by a game

So he misses three games, call it 7-9, he misses 6, call it 6-10, and etc

For a winning record, I think Carson has to play to his potential for all 16 games and on top of that we'll really need some several lucky breaks. Absolute best case scenario is 10-6.

[jjvolt]

it's looking like 6-10 to me. the O line isn't good enough and zimmer's D got exposed to it's weakness against the short passing game by the likes of kyle boller. brat is not smart enough to install a quick hitting passing game to help out the line and he telegraphs every running play.

I hope I'm wrong.

[kingwilly]

Please understand that all of the following is IMHO

I'm going to go with 8-8 but with the caveat that for every three games Carson misses (and by misses I do not mean pulled late if ever we are ahead by lots) in part or full that'll drop by a game

So he misses three games, call it 7-9, he misses 6, call it 6-10, and etc

For a winning record, I think Carson has to play to his potential for all 16 games and on top of that we'll really need some several lucky breaks. Absolute best case scenario is 10-6.

Agree that 10-6 is the regular season ceiling, though this could be a year similar to the Steelers 05 run.

[Bearcat1975]

6-10

[redsbengalsbucks]

9-7, if they get some good breaks.

[cincy9275]

6-10 i have no faith that this coaching staff can can lead this team to a winning season.

[ArmyBengal]

Broncos- Win

at Packers- Loss

Steelers- Loss

at Browns- Win

at Ravens- Loss

Texans- Win

Bears- Win

Ravens- Win

at Steelers- Loss

at Raiders- Win

Browns- Win

Lions- Win

at Vikings- Loss

at Chargers- Loss

Chiefs- Win

at Jets- Loss

Ok, so we are looking at 9-7 by that account, but I could see the bounce going in either direction with the whole "Any Given Sunday" approach. Meaning, I could see a win at the Jets, maybe a split with the Steelers, and maybe a win against either the Vikings or Packers. Then again, you can have some crap happen where they havea game like they did against the Rams and drop one to a team they shouldn't like the Browns, Chiefs, Raiders, or (God forbid) the Lions.

So, I'll bump my original thought of 8-8 by one to 9-7 officially. However with injuries and other possibilities I'll say the range is between 6-10 and 10-6.

[Bearcat1975]

I'll say the range is between 6-10 and 10-6.

Wow, way to go out on a limb.

In other news, it may rain tomorrow. But it also might not rain.

[cincyhokie]

I'll say 6-10.

Reasons:

Average to sub-par line play does not allow Carson to have enough time to be as effective as he can be. We've seen what he can do with a great O-line and we've seen what happens when he doesn't...2006, 2007, and 2008. I hope Palmer can stay healthy all year but I seriously doubt it.

Lack of depth on the O-line.

Bratowski will cost us at least 3-4 games this year with his poor play calling and especially his lack of in-game adjustments.

[Dimster28]

i say 19-0

[jjvolt]

Broncos- Win

at Packers- Loss

Steelers- Loss

at Browns- Win

at Ravens- Loss

Texans- Win

Bears- Win

Ravens- Win

at Steelers- Loss

at Raiders- Win

Browns- Win

Lions- Win

at Vikings- Loss

at Chargers- Loss

Chiefs- Win

at Jets- Loss

Ok, so we are looking at 9-7 by that account, but I could see the bounce going in either direction with the whole "Any Given Sunday" approach. Meaning, I could see a win at the Jets, maybe a split with the Steelers, and maybe a win against either the Vikings or Packers. Then again, you can have some crap happen where they havea game like they did against the Rams and drop one to a team they shouldn't like the Browns, Chiefs, Raiders, or (God forbid) the Lions.

So, I'll bump my original thought of 8-8 by one to 9-7 officially. However with injuries and other possibilities I'll say the range is between 6-10 and 10-6.

between 6-10 and 10-6?

c'mon, man!

[jjvolt]

I'll say 6-10.

Reasons:

Average to sub-par line play does not allow Carson to have enough time to be as effective as he can be. We've seen what he can do with a great O-line and we've seen what happens when he doesn't...2006, 2007, and 2008. I hope Palmer can stay healthy all year but I seriously doubt it.

Lack of depth on the O-line.

Bratowski will cost us at least 3-4 games this year with his poor play calling and especially his lack of in-game adjustments.

agreed, brat is a turd. our passing game is low percentage, 7 step crap. our RB's march in place until the qb runs back to meet him with the ball jutting out from his two fully extended arms. our only play action stuff comes off of 3rd and 25 and we are terrible at running the few screen plays that we do.

[Thurmanation]

Broncos- Win - too easy

at Packers- Loss - there air attack may be too much

Steelers- Win - close game

at Browns- Win - easy

at Ravens- Loss - Strong starting lineup

Texans- Loss - Texans i believe will be the winner of the AFC south

Bears- Win - Hopefully Cutler has a rougher year then he has shown in his second game

Ravens- Win - the ravens D will start to die down because of injures and lack of depth

at Steelers- Loss - gotta give them atleast 1

at Raiders- Win - too easy

Browns- Win - easy

Lions- Win - easy

at Vikings- Win - Favre throws 2 picks

at Chargers- Win - This could go either way barring injuries

Chiefs- Win - easy

at Jets- Win - Jets offence looks shaky, and i believe it will be a shoot out.

I can easily see us going 12-4 or 11-5

[Pidge]

I went for my optimistic prediction of 8-8. Probably anywhere from 6-10 if injuries occur and bedding in a new O-line to the outside chance of 9-7 even if the planets align. I'd be content with an 8-8 after last season's abortive efforts. As long as clear progression can be seen throughout the yr then no major complaints.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Predicting win/losses this year is going to be extremely difficult with Carson being out in the preseason due to his ankle, and Smith absent due to haggling with the front office over a contract. We really haven't seen enough. OTOH the current betting line in Las Vegas for the Bengals is 6.5 wins in 2009.

In light of an improved defense, the likely return of a healthy Carson Palmer, a rejuvenation of the running game, and a return of Chad who again seems to be a highly motivated WR, I'm going to be optimistic. Put me down for 9-7.

[membengal]

As always, I make these predictions with a +/- of one game on either side.

Give me 7-9 (for a range of 6-10 - 8-8).

I don't see it being worse than 6-10, and they could come up healthy and surprise me to the better I suppose, but I just don't trust Carson's health anymore, or him being sharp early enough in the season to carry them to the early wins they would need to make a 10 win season a reality.

[volcom69]

I said 7-9, but man i hope im wrong and its alot higher then this. Its preseason football so there is time for the defense to shore up on the short passing game, and there still is time for the o-line to gel, right now what worries me more is that fact Carson still isnt playing/practicing much these days.

[ArmyBengal]

I'll say the range is between 6-10 and 10-6.

Wow, way to go out on a limb.

between 6-10 and 10-6?

c'mon, man!

So let me ask you two something ok ??

What part of writing each games result, coupled with the fact I backed it up by even counting it up for you retards not willing to do it yourself, and wrote 9-7 don't you understand ??

The rest of the post was taking into consideration all the other things that may or may not happen with the team or during the games that are just part of the game itself. Injuries, bad calls, etc, could all be the reasons for the range I further gave.

Then again maybe I just should have made a post about how Mike Brown sucks and we will be lucky to finish 2-14 for you to be able to understand ??

[semiotter]

Well we win first game vrs Denver than finish out losing them all. Finish out 1-15

[Pidge]

Well we win first game vrs Denver than finish out losing them all. Finish out 1-15

A shameless attempt to appease the mocker Gods. I like it!

[jjvolt]

I'll say the range is between 6-10 and 10-6.

Wow, way to go out on a limb.

between 6-10 and 10-6?

c'mon, man!

So let me ask you two something ok ??

What part of writing each games result, coupled with the fact I backed it up by even counting it up for you retards not willing to do it yourself, and wrote 9-7 don't you understand ??

The rest of the post was taking into consideration all the other things that may or may not happen with the team or during the games that are just part of the game itself. Injuries, bad calls, etc, could all be the reasons for the range I further gave.

Then again maybe I just should have made a post about how Mike Brown sucks and we will be lucky to finish 2-14 for you to be able to understand ??

wow. first of all I was just giving you a "c'mon, man" like they do on espn. appearently you've not seen that. no major insult was intended. secondly, you can call me whatever names you want, I don't care, but some people are sensitive to the "retard" word and I certainly don't blame them. you may want to watch that.

as for your "prediction" it was a bit vague, no matter what disclaimers you attached to it, but who cares. I was just razzin' you a bit and you have totally shown your ass.

you seem pretty immature, guy.

with all due respect, If your screen name reflects that you were/are really in the army, I can't believe you'd throw such a hissy fit over a couple of lines typed into an internet message board.

[Ickey44]

i say 19-0

Seriously?

[ArmyBengal]

I'll say the range is between 6-10 and 10-6.

Wow, way to go out on a limb.

between 6-10 and 10-6?

c'mon, man!

So let me ask you two something ok ??

What part of writing each games result, coupled with the fact I backed it up by even counting it up for you retards not willing to do it yourself, and wrote 9-7 don't you understand ??

The rest of the post was taking into consideration all the other things that may or may not happen with the team or during the games that are just part of the game itself. Injuries, bad calls, etc, could all be the reasons for the range I further gave.

Then again maybe I just should have made a post about how Mike Brown sucks and we will be lucky to finish 2-14 for you to be able to understand ??

wow. first of all I was just giving you a "c'mon, man" like they do on espn. appearently you've not seen that. no major insult was intended. secondly, you can call me whatever names you want, I don't care, but some people are sensitive to the "retard" word and I certainly don't blame them. you may want to watch that.

as for your "prediction" it was a bit vague, no matter what disclaimers you attached to it, but who cares. I was just razzin' you a bit and you have totally shown your ass.

you seem pretty immature, guy.

with all due respect, If your screen name reflects that you were/are really in the army, I can't believe you'd throw such a hissy fit over a couple of lines typed into an internet message board.

Ok, I was just going to shoot a PM, but some things are best said on the boards.

First, I think there are many things that are said on forums that can easily be taken out of context. For example, no, I've never heard the "C'mon Man" thing you are referring to as I don't watch much ESPN, so no issues there. Next, calling someone a "retard" is a generalized thing used more than it probably should be and while I meant no harm in it's use, will be more than willing to apologize if someone is truly offended by it's use. Those apologies will probably continue as the use of that term probably won't end. But my use of the word here was not meant to piss you off, just give you a hard time, but you had no idea about that either...

Next, and getting on topic. I'm still not getting what part of 9-7 isn't understood. I mean seriously, each game has either "win" or "loss" next to it and a total of 9-7. What's vague ?? The rest of the post simply went to further explain there are things that happen during games and through the season that could in fact change the outcome of the Bengals record. WITH THOSE THINGS IN MIND, it leaves you with a pretty wide range of where this team may in fact finish. Hence my statement and range given.

As for the rest of your post after your comment on disclaimers, I will simply chalk it up to the fact I was simply giving you sh*t in return and you simply didn't get it either, so there's no reason for me to continue misunderstandings. If you still want to be pissed off, no issues, but it's not that serious...