Name a team that made the playoffs with last ranked defense?

[walzav29]

I can't believe that the Bengals are dead last in total defense. Marvin was a defensive specialist. Is it because of injuries this season? Do you think the return of Simmons and the overall health along with more experience with the rookies help this season? I just can't see a miracle playoff run with the last ranked defense.

[agreen_112]

I can't believe that the Bengals are dead last in total defense. Marvin was a defensive specialist. Is it because of injuries this season? Do you think the return of Simmons and the overall health along with more experience with the rookies help this season? I just can't see a miracle playoff run with the last ranked defense.

Are you serious? The answer is 100%, absolutely yes! We're missing our 3 STARTING LB'S for christ's sake (1 from suspension)!!!

[derekshank]

Well... LB's are a big part of it. Last year they were one of our strong points, and we just needed to fix the D-Line. The D-Line has played much better... but our LB's are all back-ups.

Also... out secondary has under-performed. Last year they were one of the best. This year, we've been giving up way too much... and we're not getting the INT's. I don't know if we're just playing against better offenses or what... but the secondary has not been the strong point of our defense as was the case last year.

[Tasher]

Colts!

[Kazkal]

I'd take our defense over the colts.

[volcom69]

I think the D-line has played horrible, yea the lbs are backups but it sucks when u dont get any pressure either 500 some yards throwing are u kidding me thats just horrible, i hate watching this team on def. they underachive every year.

[Dan2330]

Same stuff every year, can't tackle worth a damn! That 3rd down play early in the game they had stopped for a lost should have never turned into a first down. Coverage on the Horn touchdown looked like some backyard crap, 3 Bengals all mashed together, Horn not that fast anymore, someone should have been long on that play. The flea flicker was dead obvious.

I think the Chiefs the year they were like 13-3 had a crappy defense, may not have been last in league but they were horrible and it showed when Colts moved up and down the field in the playoffs on them.

[kybengalsfan]

Same stuff every year, can't tackle worth a damn! That 3rd down play early in the game they had stopped for a lost should have never turned into a first down. Coverage on the Horn touchdown looked like some backyard crap, 3 Bengals all mashed together, Horn not that fast anymore, someone should have been long on that play. The flea flicker was dead obvious.

I think the Chiefs the year they were like 13-3 had a crappy defense, may not have been last in league but they were horrible and it showed when Colts moved up and down the field in the playoffs on them.

I will agree with you about the secondary playing awful, and way underperforming. O'Neal and James are not doing anything positive for this team. As a matter of fact, I believe our defense did better with O'Neal out this week at N.O. He appears to me to lack in aggressiveness, and James is slow and afraid to hit anyone. At least Kevin K. gives 100% and is the best safety in the league when the other team is in the Red Zone, as evidenced by his three picks this year, all at opportune times. Notice this week that he didn't act stupid and try to run it out, like so others would have. Actually, I thought the D line looked good this week, not allowing their runners to do anything, and the 3rd and one play when they stopped McAleister was huge. Yeah, I cannot understand how the secondary, which used to be our strength, is now our weakness on D. Send them to see a shrink!

[HoosierCat]

Im not going to complain about a secondary that, as of the last game, was playing without its best cover corner and this year's FA (non)savior at SS out. Along with their best LB in pass coverage, Simmons, on the bench, too. And that's just this week's IR; gawd knows what next week's sheet will look like.

[BengalPimp]

UNDERSTAND THIS

The Bengals still have 6 games to play. Right now they may be last in total defense, but by the end of the season they'll most likely be in the Low 20's or better.....We were like 22nd 2 weeks ago..things can change quickly.

REMEMBER IN OUR LAST 6 GAMES WE PLAY THE TEAMS WITH THE 2 WORST TOTAL OFFENSES IN THE LEAGUE (RAIDERS 32ND) AND (BROWNS 31ST) THAT ALONE WILL MOVE OUR DEFENSE UP IN THE RANKINGS.

We also play Baltimore(22nd in total offense) and Denver(19th)

The only 2 offenses that we still have to play that are any good at all are the Colts(3rd) and Steelers(5th)

the 4 games against teams with offenses 19th or worse....including the 2 worst in the NFL will more than offset the others.....so realistically, with injured players coming back, and the "Weak" offenses that we will face this defense can improve a lot by the end of the season.

[Sportsdoc]

Except for the players, the scheme, the attitude, the coaches, and execution, the Bengals Defense is fine.

Bad news, we probably can't/won't sign our best defensive player Justin Smith.

Bad news, we probably can't/won't sign our best lineman, Eric Steinbach.

Good news, we have locked up Bobby Williams who cannot pass block.

We also have locked up Willie Anderson, who at most, has 2 years left..

And we have a left tackle who needs to lose 30# and whose knees are shot and will retire 3 years from now with bad knees.......

[derekshank]

Bad news, we probably can't/won't sign our best defensive player Justin Smith.

Explain this. We've got plenty of cap space, and we have spent significantly more on offense than defense. If we at any point desire to change that trend, Justin Smith is a good place to start. We need to keep one of the few bright spots on this defense.

[rudi32]

UNDERSTAND THIS

The Bengals still have 6 games to play. Right now they may be last in total defense, but by the end of the season they'll most likely be in the Low 20's or better.....We were like 22nd 2 weeks ago..things can change quickly.

REMEMBER IN OUR LAST 6 GAMES WE PLAY THE TEAMS WITH THE 2 WORST TOTAL OFFENSES IN THE LEAGUE (RAIDERS 32ND) AND (BROWNS 31ST) THAT ALONE WILL MOVE OUR DEFENSE UP IN THE RANKINGS.

We also play Baltimore(22nd in total offense) and Denver(19th)

The only 2 offenses that we still have to play that are any good at all are the Colts(3rd) and Steelers(5th)

the 4 games against teams with offenses 19th or worse....including the 2 worst in the NFL will more than offset the others.....so realistically, with injured players coming back, and the "Weak" offenses that we will face this defense can improve a lot by the end of the season.

Understand this: the Bengals D won't be near the low 20s at the end of the season, barring a series of miracles.

Let me show you why. They've allowed 377.6 yards per game (3776 total in 10 games). Atlanta is currently the 20th ranked defense, allowing 330.6 per game (3306 total). Let's assume for a moment that the team ranked 20th at the end of the season is right about where the Falcons are now. At their current pace, the Falcons will give up 5289.6 yards this season. To achieve 330.6 yards per game, the Bengals can only give up another 1513.6 yards -- an average of 252.3 per game. That's an average of 125.3 less than what they've allowed so far. It would also be on par with the Bears to date (allowing 251.8 per game), the number one defense in the NFL.

Further, let's look at the average output of the offenses the Bengals faces:

Browns (ranked 31) 256.9

Oakland (32) 239.3

Baltimore (22) 304.6

Denver (19) 310.3

Indianapolis (3) 374.8

Pittsburgh (5) 371.9

If those teams can manage average performances against the worst defense in the league, that's an average of 309.6 yards per game (1857.8 yards total). That would bring the Bengals per game average to 352.1 over the year. Right now, that would tie Houston for the 28 ranking in total defense.

EDIT: It is noteworthy that the Bengals have held three teams (Kansas City (-25), Pittsburgh (-6.9) and Carolina (-30.2)) below their season offensive average. In the seven other games, teams have exceeded their average offensive output by at least 41 yards (Tampa Bay) and by as much as 194 (New Orleans).

Sorry to say it, but this team will be at or near the bottom of the defensive rankings come January.

[Kazkal]

Bad news, we probably can't/won't sign our best defensive player Justin Smith.

Explain this. We've got plenty of cap space, and we have spent significantly more on offense than defense. If we at any point desire to change that trend, Justin Smith is a good place to start. We need to keep one of the few bright spots on this defense.

I think people just don't understand how cap works and figured sense we gave out alot of big contracts that we must not be able sign smith...But ya know having around 10million cap raise + 5million from tory and 5million cap number from justin thats 20million in cap space alone and 5-6 year contract would be about same cap number he is now.

[TJJackson]

Sorry to say it, but this team will be at or near the bottom of the defensive rankings come January.

That was beautiful, and absolutely correct.

I hope those you are addressing took heed.

That said, *if* the Bengals do manage to hold opponents for the remaining 6 games to an average of under 300 yards a game, they'd considerably improve their chances not only to make the playoffs but also their chances to advance past the opening game.

That' an awfully big IF tho.

[jditty47]

like hobson said in his most recent email response, if they dont move up past 27th after the oakland game, they will have lost one of the next 3 games. No reason to improve our defensive stats vs cleveland, baltimore, and oaklands terrible pass offenses. we should win all 3, esp with balt at home.

[BengalPimp]

Understand this: the Bengals D won't be near the low 20s at the end of the season, barring a series of miracles.

Let me show you why. They've allowed 377.6 yards per game (3776 total in 10 games). Atlanta is currently the 20th ranked defense, allowing 330.6 per game (3306 total). Let's assume for a moment that the team ranked 20th at the end of the season is right about where the Falcons are now. At their current pace, the Falcons will give up 5289.6 yards this season. To achieve 330.6 yards per game, the Bengals can only give up another 1513.6 yards -- an average of 252.3 per game. That's an average of 125.3 less than what they've allowed so far.

Further, let's look at the average output of the offenses the Bengals faces:

Browns (ranked 31) 256.9

Oakland (32) 239.3

Baltimore (22) 304.6

Denver (19) 310.3

Indianapolis (3) 374.8

Pittsburgh (5) 371.9

Sorry to say it, but this team will be at or near the bottom of the defensive rankings come January.

You are assuming those other teams maintain their averages without any change. That's just plain dumb.

Allow me to give YOU an example. The Chargers in their first 8 games(before the Bengals) gave up an average of 267 yards per game......after 9 games(and the Bengals offense hit them) they were averaging 298 yards per game...thats 31 yards per game jump...in just 1 game, they are currently at 302.3 after 10 games, thats 35 yards per game more in 2 weeks......to give you an idea, 35 yards per game can move you a lot in the rankings....matter of fact 35 yards less a game would make the Bengals 25th overall...so its not just what we give up...its what the other defenses ahead of us do as well.....just ask the Chargers.

[rudi32]

No, what I am assuming is that the 20th ranked team (whoever that turns out to be) will be giving up right about what the Falcons are now. That accounts for some teams getting better, some teams getting worse, and others remaining about the same. You seem to assume that every team except for the Bengals will get worse. Is that smart?

In 2005, the 20th ranked defense was Detroit, giving up 322.4 yards per game. In 2004, it was Carolina, at 336.4. In 2003, it was Philadelphia at 331.7. This year's 20th ranked defense is Atlanta, at 330.6. Historically, that is about where you would expect the 20th ranked defense to finish. So, is it "plain dumb" to assume that for the Bengals D to finish at or near 20th, they need to be around 330 yards per game over the course of the season? I don't think so.

[HoosierCat]

While I agree with rudi32 that the Bngals will end up ranked in the basement defensively, I'm also not sure I see either the importance of that fact, or why anyone would be expecting anything different.

Really, how we finish in the rankings relative to Carolina or Atlanta or whoever seems to me a trivial thing to get worked up over. A more interesting comparision, to my mind, is how this year's D stacks up against others fielded here in the Marvin Lewis era.

This year's squad is on course to give up a bit over 6,000 yards. However, over the three prior years, the Bengals defense has coughed up an average of about 5,550 yards a season. Over the same time frame, they have given up an average of 369 points a year; this season, they are on course to give up 373.

In short, there's nothing especially awful about this D. Yes, it is awful, but awful has been the norm around these parts for the last several years. The best yardage total they've allowed was a "mere" 5,365 (2004) and fewest points was 2005's 350.

The difference this season has not been due to an especially poor defense. Yes, the D is poor, but it was poor last season, too. The trouble was more on offense. Through the first eight games of the season, the Bngals averaged about 22 points a game, a pace that would put them off some 70 points versus 2005 and represent the worst offensive output since 2003. In the last two games, however, they have averaged 36 points a game, so hopefully things are finally, finally clicking.

Finally, regarding the defense, I have to ask, why all the howls of protest and dismay? Was it not plain to everyone the moment that Pollack broke his neck and Odell got booted for the year -- all of which happened by, what, week 3? -- that we could take all our offseason hopes of a significant defensive improvement and flush them down the toilet? Everything was predicated on the two of them blossoming in 2006.

Frankly, as bad as our current defense is, it's amazing that it isn't worse. I mean, all you have to do is look at the NO game to see how far down the barrel they are scraping. They had to put Ethan freakin' Kilmer out as a nickle corner, for gawd's sake! Yes, he made a nice play, but the point is that he was hardly on the field by design; he was on the field because the next-best choice was to pick some fan out of the stands and put him in.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I'm trying to remember the last pro bowl Simmons, Pollack or Thurman made?

[HoosierCat]

I'm trying to remember the last pro bowl Simmons, Pollack or Thurman made?

And your point is...?

[TJJackson]

Ethan freakin' Kilmer ....was on the field because the next-best choice was to pick some fan out of the stands and put him in.

Nah....they would have put in Fat Sam....that man can move! :-)

[San Antonio Bengal]

Total defense is a very misleading stat. You can't properly gauge a defense on just a single number.

[rudi32]

For the record, I never said it was important where the defense is ranked. We all know the unit has been pretty bad. The other poster claimed they could end up ranked in the low 20s or better, and my first thought was that's nearly impossible, especially with just six games remaining. Basically, the guy was saying the Bengals D could leap-frog about 12 other teams. I then just did some research and some simple math to confirm what I thought.

Besides, don't you think it's telling that the Bengals have to play like a number one defense the next six weeks to have a chance to be the 20th ranked defense in the league? Maybe depressing is a better word for it.

Also, having such a poor ranking may be important to Marvin Lewis and Mike Brown. No one wants to be the worst at anything. In 2002, the Bengals' 2-14 record was the worst in franchise history, and it prompted Brown to go outside the organization for a new coach and make a few other changes. Might a 32nd defensive ranking justify more big changes in players, coaches, etc?

[Tasher]

Go in the tank now! Go in the tank now!

Get the high / good draft picks!

Go in the tank now! All is lost, all is lost! The sky is falling!

We will be fine. Look at SD and KC last year, neither made the playoffs while SD was facing one heck of a brutal schedule and had injury problems. Look at Philly last year AND now this year. Decimated by injuries and TO, did not make playoffs.

The top offenses just got done with us, relax and enjoy the exciting football.