2007 Schedule!!!

[HoTbOy]

Maybe on paper it looks like the Bengals can go 13-3, but in all actuality it's like a 9-7, 10-6, if that...The Bengals have a few holes to plug and I don't see 1 draft and no offseason activity fixing the problems this year...I hope that I am wrong, but then I thought SAdams would fix the run D last year and I wish he was gone this year...If the Bengals are relying on the draft we will be in 2nd place in the division again behind Baltimore...

[Whur CHad At?]

We have a lot of holes to plug, and they are all gonna be filled with rookies...hmmm

[Stripes]

We have a lot of holes to plug, and they are all gonna be filled with rookies...hmmm

Gotta love long-term thinking.

[Whur CHad At?]

Been thinking long term since 2003...looks like Palmer has really only worked out so far.

[Stripes]

Jeremi Johnson, Scott Kooistra, Madieu Williams, Landon Johnson, Caleb Miller, Robert Geathers, Stacey Andrews, Eric Ghiaciuc, Tab Perry, Johnathan Joseph, Andrew Whitworth, Domata Peko, and Ethan Kilmer resent that.

[WhoDeyForever]

I love all your confidence people

(end sarcasm)

[brau09]

I say 8-8, defense is too bad

yea we went 8-8 against one hell of a schedule last year (strength of schedule had to be like 5th-7th toughest) and with a sh***y D. this year we have a lot easier(if you go on last years records) schedule. i'm thinkin 11-5. if marvin can turn around an entire organization from perennial losers to one of the only teams to not have a losing record in the last 3 yrs, then marvin can at least get a mid-teen ranked D

[Kazkal]

The law of averages say that it's time for Cleveland to steal one from us, and I'm thinking it's coming just in time to f*ck us at the end of the season. Overall though, I'm liking this schedule though.

Ya but hopfully in return will sweep Ravens(which woulden't suprise me at all) and or steelers

[Kazkal]

I'm starting to wonder if this is a steelers board with all the negatives,

ya people can be homers but we do have a good enough team that we can challange to be more then a WC to be top 3 seed "shrug" 9-7? ya teams like 49ers and titans are on the rise but hopfully were healthier this time around carson will be ready and not coming back from a major injury...I don't know about you guys but i'm as excited about this season as I was 2006 after going 11-5.

[jjakq27]

Been thinking long term since 2003...looks like Palmer has really only worked out so far.

Come on Whur. It's not been that bad has it?

I think it is time to admit that last year was one f**ked up mess from day one. I'd like to think that the 11-5 in 2005 is closer to the norm than 8-8 from last year.

[ArmyBengal]

After looking at the schedule, I just don't see another 8-8 year ahead of us. Even with the defensive questions, someone will step up and who knows what the draft will bring us. I'm thinking along the lines of 10-6 and maybe even another 11-5 season. The bad part of this is regardless of how well we play during the regular season, if the defense doesn't gel and we win games on our offensive strength, once we hit the playoffs, the defensive shortcomings will catch up to them. This looks (at this time) to be an easier schedule. We will be sure to revisit this after the draft !!!

WHODEY !!!

[turnip]

I waited until after the draft to make my optimistic, but still reasonable prediction

Baltimore Win

@Cleveland Win

@Seattle Win

New England Win

@KC Loss

NYJ Win

Pittsburgh Win

@Buffalo Win

@Baltimore Loss

Arizona Win

Tennessee Win

@Pittsburgh Loss

St. Louis Win

@San Francisco Win

Cleveland Win

@Miami Loss

12-4; 8-0 at home 4-4 away

[BengalszoneBilly]

I waited until after the draft to make my optimistic, but still reasonable prediction

New England Win

@KC Loss

NYJ Win

Pittsburgh Win

@Miami Loss

I'd agree with all but these picks which I would flip all the other way.

[ArmyBengal]

Ok, going back and looking at what those teams drafted and who WE drafted, I'm still more than optimistic of us having (at a minimum) a 10-6 season and possibly better. However, the point will still be that even with a playoff run, our defense will be the death of us if they don't figure something out. Here's to hoping our defense is at least middle of the pack. Give me the #15 defense in the league and we are in the SuperBowl !!!

WHODEY !!!

[Scottishbengal]

Just to pass the time I've had a brief glimpse over this thread from the start, and generally the predictions were:-

8-8: Whur CHadt At

9-7: membengal, duus

10-6: Armybengal

11-5: TDB, Hoosier (best case probably), bray09, jjakg27, Billybroome

12-4: djaxFTW, kazkal, turnip

13-3: WhoDeyForever, walzav29

14-2: CJ-85

I feel we're going to end the season 9-7 behind the Ravens.

Do you all stand by your predictions or has the draft and FA signings altered your thinking one way or the other?

[derekshank]

19-0 baby!

[membengal]

Stand by mine. My guesses are always +/- 1, so anywhere from 8-8 to 10-6 seems right, I settle at 9-7.

I hope I am wrong.

[ArmyBengal]

I'm sticking with my 10-6, but like I posted last, maybe better. I don't see anything worse than 10-6, barring injury...

WHODEY !!!

[Stripes]

Sticking with the 11-5. Leaning more towards the 10-6 side of that record than the 12-4 side.

[DesperateDerelict]

Everytime I examine the schedule, it seems more and more favorable. Points to ponder:

- 3 of our toughest opponents will be coming off of short weeks => @Baltimore (after being @Pitt on Monday); Tennessee (after being at Denver the previous Monday); & @Pitt (after they host Miami 6 days prior).

- Our 2 toughest home games, at least on paper based on last year, are Baltimore & New England - our our first 2 home games, and both on Monday night.

- We play the NFC West, the 2nd easiest (next to the NFC North)

- We play the AFC East, probably the easiest AFC Conference.

- We do NOT play a first place schedule.

I'm hoping for a 12 - 4 record, and will be VERY disappointed by anything less than a 10 - 6.

WHO DEY !!

[hrod382]

12-4. Schedule is easier and honestly how much more could go wrong this year than last?

I've been pretty close the past 3 years too so I'm not just being Mr. Optimistic.

'04 I picked 8-8

'05 I picked 10-6

'06 I picked 9-7

Carson will be top 3 in MVP votes.

[membengal]

Look, I am not trying to bust anyone's optimism, but this might be a good time for a reality check. I mention that because when expectations are outsized, and the team doesn't meet the outsized expectations, this board gets to meltdown mode pretty quickly.

I am clearly on record for 9-7 (or one game on either side), which may even be a game or two high. Why?

1. The defense. While I like what they did in the draft and free agency, we will be counting on rapid maturation from some kids (Joseph, Brooks, Hall, Peko) and some oldtimers to step it up in a way that has not really happened for this team in a decade or so. Each year I presume they can find a way to get to the middle of the pack defensively, and each year they find a way to disappoint me. If they can't make that improvement, I don't see how they can do much better, at the outside, than 10 wins. IF they make that improvement? Well, then sure, sky's the limit. But I am skeptical. Hopeful. But skeptical.

2. I have hammered it elsewhere, but will mention it again. The WR depth makes my itchy. One injury to Housh or CJ, and it is damn near the apocalypse. And the team will have wasted one of Palmer's prime years. Fingers crossed for Tab et al, this is a huge concern. Henry can't get back quick enough to suit me (fully aware that he may never get back).

3. Luck. Maybe we are due some, but it has been toxic for awhile, and I can't count on it going back anytime soon. Fumbled snaps, rogue winds, weird roughing the passer calls, dropped ints, somehow it all seemed so familiar last year.

Put all that in the hopper and 9 wins, give or take, seems about right. Particularly when you look at how front loaded difficult that schedule is. Hope I am wrong. I will be the first to say I was wrong, but some of the extreme optimism here seems misplaced at this point in time.

Hope to see things on defense and at depth at WR that make me change my tune by early October...

[HoosierCat]

Look, I am not trying to bust anyone's optimism, but this might be a good time for a reality check. I mention that because when expectations are outsized, and the team doesn't meet the outsized expectations, this board gets to meltdown mode pretty quickly.

Hey, just for the record, I stay in meltdown mode 24/7. Somebody has to.

I generally agree with your assessment. I'm a touch less concerned about WR depth that I was a couple weeks ago thanks to reports that Tab is progressing nicely. And I'll make a prediction that if, come September, we need a wideout, Kelly Washington will be available...cheap.

On defense, I agree that what weve gained in youth will be offset by what we've lost in experience. That said, the Bengals' decision to stockpile bargain bin DTs and the snagging of Hartwell have improved things. I figure if they are going to sign over-the-hill DTs, at least they have come to the (correct IMHO) conclusion that it's better to sign several short-term than one long-term and declare him the mighty savior. If just one of the Admas - Myers - Allen trio can come in healthy and make some plays the d-line ought to be a bit better. And thatll take some pressure off the back 7.

As to luck, yeah, they're due for a break. We'll see if they get it. I'm sticking with my 11-win maximum right now, but I'll bump my minimum wins up to 8.