Injuries can kill us.

[agreen_112]

With so many players down I think this week will show how important it is to have everyone healthy. If we come out of this week 3-0 then I'll be very surprised. We've got Levi, Housh, Braham, and Perry and chatman all with injuries on the offense. Hopefully we get Levi and Housh back, but really don't know at this point. On defense we've got Dexter, and Pollack both injured and Deltha and Big Sam fighting knee injuries.

It seems like the whole team is banged up, going against a very strong Pittsburgh on the road... Is Big Ben going to get the start against us? It would be awesome if we do go into Pittsburgh and steal the win, but I won't be too upset if we don't, because this is probably a game that we should lose.

[walzav29]

I have a hard time believing that Jones and Housh won't play Sunday. I think it all depends on the Bengals not getting "too" jacked up and lose their cool. They are the better team. They just have to play how they normally would. Those sacks ysterday came because of the reshuffled line.

[GapControl]

I have a hard time believing that Jones and Housh won't play Sunday. I think it all depends on the Bengals not getting "too" jacked up and lose their cool. They are the better team. They just have to play how they normally would. Those sacks ysterday came because of the reshuffled line.

2 or 3 of those sacks were Palmer's fault for rolling out of the pocket and holding the ball instead of throwing it out of bounds.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I have a hard time believing that Jones and Housh won't play Sunday. I think it all depends on the Bengals not getting "too" jacked up and lose their cool. They are the better team. They just have to play how they normally would. Those sacks ysterday came because of the reshuffled line.

2 or 3 of those sacks were Palmer's fault for rolling out of the pocket and holding the ball instead of throwing it out of bounds.

I only saw one where that happened. Palmer had guys draped on him all day long though regardless. The protection was very spotty.

A lot of it was guys up the middle missing blitz pick-ups - from Bobbie to Guy-check - not necessarily a talent issue.

Paul Alexander blows as a coach BTW.

[GapControl]

I have a hard time believing that Jones and Housh won't play Sunday. I think it all depends on the Bengals not getting "too" jacked up and lose their cool. They are the better team. They just have to play how they normally would. Those sacks ysterday came because of the reshuffled line.

2 or 3 of those sacks were Palmer's fault for rolling out of the pocket and holding the ball instead of throwing it out of bounds.

I only saw one where that happened. Palmer had guys draped on him all day long though regardless. The protection was very spotty.

A lot of it was guys up the middle missing blitz pick-ups - from Bobbie to Guy-check - not necessarily a talent issue.

Paul Alexander blows as a coach BTW.

I can only listen to it through Lapham's and Brad Johansen's commentary over here in Japan. Lap described Palmer rolling out on 2 occassions and being tracked down by D-Players.

What evidence can you give for Paul Alexander sucking?

[membengal]

I love a good vendetta as much as anyone Shula, but that line is pretty damn solid, and has been for several years now. Widely held to be in the top 5 of NFL lines. If that is in spite of Alexander, they must be preternaturally talented.

I thought the line held up fine, given what happened. 2/5 of the starters gone, and facing a D that has given them fits, they rolled up 480 or so yards of offense. I would have liked Carson to be cleaner, but he is able to stand up to the heat and makes teams pay, and they can get better at protecting him. If anything, that was a nice dry run for the Steelers' 3-4 next week.

As for the rest of the injuries...eh, injuries happen. Guys have to be ready to play, and play well.

[HoosierCat]

As for the rest of the injuries...eh, injuries happen.

All too true. And really, despite the fact we have the Steelers coming up, this isn't that bad a point in the year to get hit with a rash of injuries.

Pitt was going to be tough whether the Bengals were healthy or not. Even if the Bengals were at 100%, I don't think anyone would have been surprised if they lost. Dissappointed, yes, but surprised, no.

After Pitt, tho, we're at home vs. NE, the away in Tampa and back in PBS to face Carolina. Tampa and Carolina are a combined 0-4 right now, and while the Pats are 2-0, they've been ugly wins against the mediocre Bills and Jets.

Plus we have our bye between the NE home game and the trip to Tampa.

As long as we don't pile up a bunch more injuries, right now I still think we can go 3-0 vs. NE, Tampa and Carolina. And we got an off week coming soon to help some of the nagging knee and ankle problems clear up.

I thik we'll be OK.

[AMC]

As for the rest of the injuries...eh, injuries happen.

All too true. And really, despite the fact we have the Steelers coming up, this isn't that bad a point in the year to get hit with a rash of injuries.

Pitt was going to be tough whether the Bengals were healthy or not. Even if the Bengals were at 100%, I don't think anyone would have been surprised if they lost. Dissappointed, yes, but surprised, no.

After Pitt, tho, we're at home vs. NE, the away in Tampa and back in PBS to face Carolina. Tampa and Carolina are a combined 0-4 right now, and while the Pats are 2-0, they've been ugly wins against the mediocre Bills and Jets.

Plus we have our bye between the NE home game and the trip to Tampa.

As long as we don't pile up a bunch more injuries, right now I still think we can go 3-0 vs. NE, Tampa and Carolina. And we got an off week coming soon to help some of the nagging knee and ankle problems clear up.

I thik we'll be OK.

Love the optimism backed up by solid evidence!

[agreen_112]

As for the rest of the injuries...eh, injuries happen.

All too true. And really, despite the fact we have the Steelers coming up, this isn't that bad a point in the year to get hit with a rash of injuries.

Pitt was going to be tough whether the Bengals were healthy or not. Even if the Bengals were at 100%, I don't think anyone would have been surprised if they lost. Dissappointed, yes, but surprised, no.

After Pitt, tho, we're at home vs. NE, the away in Tampa and back in PBS to face Carolina. Tampa and Carolina are a combined 0-4 right now, and while the Pats are 2-0, they've been ugly wins against the mediocre Bills and Jets.

Plus we have our bye between the NE home game and the trip to Tampa.

As long as we don't pile up a bunch more injuries, right now I still think we can go 3-0 vs. NE, Tampa and Carolina. And we got an off week coming soon to help some of the nagging knee and ankle problems clear up.

I thik we'll be OK.

Thanks for the optimism, I really hope your right. If we do get past Pitt, we should be looking at like 5-1 (possible loss to NE.) I really think that we need to be at least 90%, with Housh, Braham, and Levi all together for the start against the steelers. KK better play the best game of his career too if D jack is out.

[derekshank]

As for the rest of the injuries...eh, injuries happen.

All too true. And really, despite the fact we have the Steelers coming up, this isn't that bad a point in the year to get hit with a rash of injuries.

Pitt was going to be tough whether the Bengals were healthy or not. Even if the Bengals were at 100%, I don't think anyone would have been surprised if they lost. Dissappointed, yes, but surprised, no.

After Pitt, tho, we're at home vs. NE, the away in Tampa and back in PBS to face Carolina. Tampa and Carolina are a combined 0-4 right now, and while the Pats are 2-0, they've been ugly wins against the mediocre Bills and Jets.

Plus we have our bye between the NE home game and the trip to Tampa.

As long as we don't pile up a bunch more injuries, right now I still think we can go 3-0 vs. NE, Tampa and Carolina. And we got an off week coming soon to help some of the nagging knee and ankle problems clear up.

I thik we'll be OK.

Yeah... the Panthers have been terrible. You can't blame it all on Steve Smith. If we pull out a win against Pittsburgh, the next really tough game we have will be the Falcons. This schedule looks less tough every day... (although the Ravens games look a bit tougher every day too).