Monday Over, Now It's Patriots Week

[HoosierCat]

OK, time to move on. Eff the Steelers, eff the whole Odell thing, it's Patriots week.

Pats have looked underwhelming so far this year. Brady has no wideouts, Dillon left the Denver game and couldn't return, and Bill Belichick is still an insufferable ass of a coach .

Remember last season when we were hoping we'd end up going to Foxboro instead of having to play Pitt? Wel, nothing has changed except the Pats stink worse.

Anybody think this is a possible letdown game after the big Pitt victory? I do. And especially with all the extraneous stuff going on so far this week, keeping the Bengals focused will be a huge job for Marvin IMHO.

Still, I think he does it. Bengals 34-17. 4-0 at the bye. Whoda thunk it?

[Stripes]

I don't expect a letdown... Not against the Patriots. This is a team that has won three of the last five Superbowls, and has been in the playoffs three years in a row. The Bengals better be able to come out fully focused against an opponent like that.

Also, I'm waiting for the annoying Corey Dillon back in Cincinnati drama to begin (if he plays). That alone should direct enough attention to the game for the team to have a reason to play their best.

I don't see how their secondary can possibly stop our passing game, and they have nobody to cover Chad. He might finally have his breakout game of 2006.

34-21 Bengals.

[HairOnFire]

No letdown. Eyes front. Focused. In fact, unbelievably angry after a huge win.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Anybody think this is a possible letdown game after the big Pitt victory?

I think the opposite. I think the huge win in Pittsburgh just adds to the momentum Marvin Lewis has this team building on starting way back with the first pre-season game. He's actually accomplished something I once thought impossible here in Cincinnati. The team naturally EXPECTS to go out and find a way to win each Sunday. They're not "hoping to win," or "going out to play their best and see what happens." They seem truly confident they can defeat any team in the league. Ya' know what? I'm beginning to believe that too...

.

[Wisk]

I agree....I feel much better about this NE game than I did with the Steelers. At the beginning of the season, I was HOPING for 3-1 going into the bye week; but now, that would be a disappointment - don't you think? For this game, I want to see our DB's dominate Brady. Tired of hearing "experts" refer to Palmer as the 3rd best (?) QB in the league. He out-performed Brady last year and out-scored Manning. Yes, Manning won the passer rating but what is that really worth. Give me the Passing TD title EVERY TIME! Rudy returns to form this week. And hopefully we get healthy through this game and the bye week.

Sidenote: TDB! I'm having trouble reading past the attached pic in your posts. Not asking you to change it, mind you! Just congrats on your good taste!

[membengal]

No letdown. Eyes front. Focused. In fact, unbelievably angry after a huge win.

Word. If anything, the Odell shenanigans insures that they focus immediately on the task at hand.

[derekshank]

The Pats haven't looked overly impressive thus far... and it'sa home game, so we have a lot going for us. But let's not forget that the Pats are a team with a serious case of multiple personalities.

Last year they would play like they did against Denver, and then the next week look like the Super Bowl team. This is why so many analysts refuse to give up on them. Every other week they show flashes of what made them great.

I think we are flat out the better team right now... but you never know who's going to show up to play. Not to mention the fact that their entire offense is our weakness. They have a good running game with Maroney/Dillon, and they have use a lot of 3 TE sets where all 3 TE's go out for a pass... and all their TE's are good.

All that said... I don't see this game as one we're going to lose. In fact, there a better chance we win by blow-out than lose.

[schweinhart]

Bengals shouldn't lose but they need to keep from getting their a$$e$ kicked on both sides of the line. Those front 3 of the Pats are good and Richard Seymour was the one who ended Palmer's 2004 season. Their LBs shouldn't be taken lightly either nor their safeties, especially Eugene Wilson who is almost as good as Madieu. I would expect a tougher time to score vs. the Pats than the Steelers if it weren't for the fact that the Pats CBs are bad except for Samuel. Same scenario of pass setting up the run ought to enable the Bengals to get 27. Maybe the O-line comes out pi$$ed off and determined to keep Carson clean.

Defensively, the Bengals had better get their sh#t together vs. the run or it will be another game that is controlled at the line of scrimmage by the other team. Still, the Bengals look like their coverage of TEs is improving and that should help neutralize Brady's primary receiving option. I can't see the Pats scoring more than 17 with the wideouts they got unless Chad Jackson ends up in man coverage by Tory James.

Bengals 27

Pats 17.

[GapControl]

Anybody think this is a possible letdown game after the big Pitt victory?

He's actually accomplished something I once thought impossible here in Cincinnati. The team naturally EXPECTS to go out and find a way to win each Sunday. They're not "hoping to win," or "going out to play their best and see what happens." They seem truly confident they can defeat any team in the league. Ya' know what? I'm beginning to believe that too...

What a fabulous spell, huh? Expecting to, preparing to, wanting to and finally actually WINNING football games. Marvin Lewis is a sorceror. I can imagine him going home from the stadium each night and humming, "I put a spell on you..."

I have to admit, after years of finding ways to lose ball games, I still have that dreaded anticipation creaping up on me during the close games, the one where the Bengals penalize or fumble away their chances, leaving me broken and disheartened.

I am becoming a believer. There must be a magic in the air.

[slf]

... Richard Seymour was the one who ended Palmer's 2004 season. ...

Yes, by taking out his knee, that is why Carson was wearing the knee brace for the 2005 season. Previous two weeks were the 58-48 Clowns victory, and the come from behind 27-26 shredding of the Ravens D in their house. Palmer was hitting his stride. The week before the game bengals.com ran a story about how Carson Palmer made three winning drives or comeback victories in the fourth quarter (Carson Comeback). In Foxboro, Palmer was bringing the Bengals back again when the injury occurred, Dec 12, 2004 L 28-35. Pretty much ended Bengals chances for the playoffs that year.

With the recent spate of sacks, one has to be concerned about # 9's health over the course of the season. Here is hoping the O-line gels a little better.

As for the Patriots, I think the Bengals have what it takes send them to 2-2, it will be another good test against a championship caliber team. Who - Dey!

[rwalling]

Not seeing their offense scoring enough points, especially if we can control the running game of Maroney and CD.

Too many missing pieces on their defense to stop us.

34-16 Bengals

[HoosierCat]

Not seeing their offense scoring enough points, especially if we can control the running game of Maroney and CD.

CD may or may not be in...but in any event sounds like he's gone into his usual "sulk mode."

September 25, 2006

Dillon sighting

Running back Corey Dillon was present during the media-access period in the locker room today. He didn't answer questions from reporters.

Dillon left Sunday's game in the second quarter with what the team reported was an arm injury (NBC reported it as a right arm injury). Dillon didn't return to the game.

Today in the locker room, Dillon didn't have his arm in a sling.

[in9itrust]

I feel really confindent about next Sunday. Especially after seeing the Pat's performance against the Broncos. CD is going to be out, but our weakness is stopping the run. Pissburgh proved that last week. I think the D and O line will be fired up and ready to play. (our two biggest flaws last week)

If it comes to a offensive game, we will definitely outgun the Pats. They don't have Branch or any other big time recievers to put big numbers up. Brady made it really clear that Branch was the X factor, and they can't put much on the board. BUT, like I said, we need to stop the run!

[CBin2k7]

Sunday is a big game in the AFC grand scheme of things. It's never to early to start talking about Home Field Advantage, First Round Byes, etc...

Well this is game 4 of that AFC homefield push, a win Sunday gives the Bengals a 4-0 record, 4-0 against the AFC, which is huge when you start talking about tiebreakers. It puts the most likely AFC East champs 2 games behind them, and firmly in their rear view.

The Pats will come out fired up, and they are always well coached. Their Defensive schemes are solid and with their veteran LB's will be carried out. They can not out talent us, but they can out scheme us on defense.

While they don't blitz as much as Pittsburgh they do like to send the occasional Vrabel or Colvin. Their LB core is pretty slow and they are very vulnerable in the back 4.

Samuel and Hobbs are good corners, Hobbs is just coming into his own, but he is underrated, although not a match for our 3 and 4 WR sets. Eugene Wilson is a solid safety who is very good in coverage and average in run support, but he left the Denver game with an injury. Harrison, well we know about him and his hard hitting ability.

Ghiaciuc will have to be pretty stout against Wilfork in the middle, he will proabably get alot of help from the Guards.

On offense, the receivers are not very good, but Gabriel is fast/Jackson is fast and Brady will go over the top if James gets caught peeking in the backfield. Their run game is pretty simple, they don't do a lot of cutback running, their o-line is decent, but with good gap control the Bengals can stop them. The TE's are good route runners and they have plus speed, and Brady loves to screen. The last couple of games the Pats have been running some no huddle, it's different from the Bengals no huddle, in the fact that they like to quick snap and catch you off guard.

All in all, a winnable game, against a pretty good team, at home... Bengals 31 Pats 21

[sonsofkraftybob]

Great posts. How do you guys think you'll protect Palmer? Last week your o-line looked like a seive. Throw in a couple Doublecheeseburger picks, a muffed punt and I think the score is reversed.

But nevertheless, the pats are on the decline and lacking wideouts and whatever else the talking heads say are facts...I for one will enjoy this game. Should be entertaining.

[jjakq27]

Is Dillon going to play this week?

[membengal]

Great posts. How do you guys think you'll protect Palmer? Last week your o-line looked like a seive. Throw in a couple Doublecheeseburger picks, a muffed punt and I think the score is reversed.

But nevertheless, the pats are on the decline and lacking wideouts and whatever else the talking heads say are facts...I for one will enjoy this game. Should be entertaining.

Not real worried about the line blocking, honestly. Pats are third straight 3-4 team Cincy has played, and, after Pittsburgh's exotic looks and rushes, Ghuicac should be far more ready to handle whatever it is NE throws at it. I think Cincy will score a bunch against the Pats.

Better question is if Cincy's run D will recall what it did well against KC and Cleveland, or revert to last year's form like it did last week in Pittsburgh. If so, and NE controls the ball with the ground game, then Cincy would have a tough time winning. Cincy's D desperately misses Dexter Jackson in run support, and we will be holding our collective breaths until he gets back.

Welcome.

[sonsofkraftybob]

Is Dillon going to play this week?

HA! I know 15 Boston sportwriters that would LOVE to know that answer and the answer to a million other questions that Belichick keeps locked in his personal vault at Fort Knox!

Brady's been questionable for 2 and a half years!

Welcome.

Why thank you. I'll be here all week. Try the veal and please, tip the waitresses.

[BengalByTheBay]

I think the line will be better this week, with a little more time together. Last week was Bluto's © first start of the season, this will be his second. The starting 5 should be the same, which should help. Also, you are correct that the line had a bad game last week and that should make for some motivation. Finally, being at home should help on offense generally, and on the line specifically.

The run defense has me less concerned. Although Moroney appears to be a pretty quick back somewhat like Parker, it was the cutback runs that killed us last week. I really don't see that as being a natural part of the Pat's game. We always seem to have trouble with TE coverage, but we've been better this season so far. That is the part of the defense that has me the most worried at present.

[jjakq27]

Welcome.

Why thank you. I'll be here all week. Try the veal and please, tip the waitresses.

You seem a little more high-brow than the folks we just played.

That's a pleasant change. Welcome to our playpen!

[ArmyBengal]

I think IF Marvin keeps the guys focused on this game and finds a way to motivate them after a big win, we should beat the Pats by at least 10. Since we are playing at home, this will be a very exciting game for the boys in stripes !!! IF Burger Boy plays, the crowd will give him quite the earload !!! I still say the Bengals come out on top...

WHODEY !!!

[Stripes]

Patsie fans from the F2FA site have taken notice of our thread here. They don't seem overly confident about their chances in this one.

http://www.patriotsplanet.com/BB/showthrea...;threadid=18150

[Kazkal]

They are also 10-0 after a loss.

Tom brady is also 1-5? 1-6? vs the broncos but its all good were gonna have his number this time.

Put Oneal on jackson tory on brown(wheel chair battle)

[Kazkal]

http://forum.patriots.com/postlist.php?Cat...;sb=5&o=186

[Tasher]

Great posts. How do you guys think you'll protect Palmer? Last week your o-line looked like a seive. Throw in a couple Doublecheeseburger picks, a muffed punt and I think the score is reversed.

But nevertheless, the pats are on the decline and lacking wideouts and whatever else the talking heads say are facts...I for one will enjoy this game. Should be entertaining.

Not real worried about the line blocking, honestly. Pats are third straight 3-4 team Cincy has played, and, after Pittsburgh's exotic looks and rushes, Ghuicac should be far more ready to handle whatever it is NE throws at it. I think Cincy will score a bunch against the Pats.

Better question is if Cincy's run D will recall what it did well against KC and Cleveland, or revert to last year's form like it did last week in Pittsburgh. If so, and NE controls the ball with the ground game, then Cincy would have a tough time winning. Cincy's D desperately misses Dexter Jackson in run support, and we will be holding our collective breaths until he gets back.

Welcome.

That showing last week was called a "Dick LeBeau Special" courtesy of playing each other twice a year combined with Brahm going down in the middle the week before. Bengals gave up 21 sacks last year and things will get settled down this week.

Regardless, our D forces people to make mistakes, once you make them, we will capitalize. We had to deal with the same conditions, and we made FEWER mistakes. For all their vaunted D, we scored FOUR TOUCHDOWNS (3 in the red zone) and they scored 2 TDs and 2 FG. Do you think that the NE defense is BETTER than the Steelers D? In Cincinnati?

D up baby, and bring it on!

Welcome to our board!