Bounce back from 1-3?

[combatbengal]

After this week, we should be 1-3. I don't see us beating the Pats. We have so much going against us. Our Def vs their off, injuries, our poor ST, etc. The question is, can we bounce back from a 1-3 start and get into the playoffs? After NE, we have a bye week. We should beat KC , not sure about the Jets, won't beat the Squeelers, should beat Buffalo, and should have Henry back for the Ravens. The way we're playing, and number of injuries, I just don't see us in the playoffs. I hope and pray I'm wrong!

[Kazkal]

Aye I think we can,still go 10-6 or 11-5 even after loss to patriots I do like the looks of our schedule after them.

[Stripes]

I just hate the atmosphere in Bengalia right now... 1-3 may be a likelihood, but it isn't a certainty!

[khoskinssmu]

i predict a victory. carson will put the team on his back. special teams will play better, and defense will not be a factor.

who dey!!!

[BengalByTheBay]

Well, if you assume certain defeat against NE, I suppose you should assume things like losing vs. Pitt., at Balt., etc. Personally, with this team, I don't assume defeat. Monday is about as close as I get for the rest of the season. Reality says that the injuries and other issues make a win on Monday very difficult. Granted, I don't think most of us are blind enough to think this wouldn't be a huge upset. It has happened before, though, so it's not impossible. Nonetheless, this team can clearly compete with, and beat, the best teams in the league. It can also lose to Cleveburg. So, predicting a record right now seems like a big waste of time. I'd wait until week 7 (Jets). If we have a .500 record at that point and we're getting people healthy, the bandwagon swells. If we have less than .500, I expect it'll just be a few hardcores here with SteelerFan87.

[Kazkal]

Aye I haven't written down a loss yet anything can happen on sunday,

Maybe Marvin Lights a fire under carsons arse who then farts spreading the fire to everyone elses ass

[Bengals1]

Aye I haven't written down a loss yet anything can happen on sunday.

Yes, the problem is we need something to happen on Monday when we actually play the Patriots.

[HoosierCat]

I just hate the atmosphere in Bengalia right now... 1-3 may be a likelihood, but it isn't a certainty!

Two thoughts:

One: if there is a cloud of doom 'n' gloom over Bengaldom right now, you know exactly where to look for the reason. The Bengals have worked very hard these past three weeks to earn their fans' distrust.

Two: If Monday night's game was New England versus [insert team name here], the Pats would be favored. Maybe if they were playing the Colts in Indy it'd be a pick 'em. That's about it. New England is playing ludicrously good football right now; they are on course to score more than 600 points while holding their opponents below 190. That the Bengals are just a TD dog, versus the Bills last week a 17 point dog, is actually a measure of respect (arguably ill-deserved) for the Bengals.

Can the Bengals win? Sure -- but they would have to play a perfect game, and the Pats would have to be off their feed. Neither seems likely to happen Monday night...but we'll see.

[JoePong]

Even if we lose on Sunday, we have a real good shot to get on a roll after that, especially if we start to get players back healthy. The toughest games we have left are the two stealers games and the ravens. The toughest part of the schedule will be behind us after Monday. I could easily see us going 10-6 or 11-5.

We should get Brooks back this week, and Lemar Marshall and Dhani Jones will get more familar with the defense. Jeanty will come back. Levi and Willie are getting healthier. Ghiaciuc will be back. Henry and Chris Perry will return. Last week sucked, but we still almost beat one of the best teams in the NFC in one of the toughest stadiums to play.

It's not a certainty that we will go on a roll, but it is very possible if we just survive the early part of the season.

[walzav29]

Well, I think we'll be 1-3, bu the irony is that so were the 2001 Superbowl Champion Patriots. I think a run can be made after the bye week.

[damiancasey]

I think everyone needs to face the music. I have pictures of myself when I was a kid painted up with orange stripes many years ago for BOTH superbowls - Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason era. They lost both and since then they have been a second rate also-ran.

I hoped against hope that Marvin was going to turn this team around but - guess what? It's never going to happen. You know what I saw Sunday night? I saw the old - pre-Marvin Bengals that were only good at one thing...losing. They did everything in their power to lose that game - and they lost.

Bengals are a small market team with ownership that only slightly cares about winning and coaching that is good but not great. It's a fact. Given this fact - all the winning seasons that the Bengals have going forward will be in spite of the ownership and coaching - not because of the ownership and coaching. That being said, the chances of us getting to the playoffs - much less - getting to the superbowl - much much less winning the superbowl - are statisticly VERY slim. Every year Bengals fans waste their time hoping that this will be the year. It's NEVER going to be the year.

[damiancasey]

I think everyone needs to face the music. I have pictures of myself when I was a kid painted up with orange stripes many years ago for BOTH superbowls - Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason era. They lost both and since then they have been a second rate also-ran.

I hoped against hope that Marvin was going to turn this team around but - guess what? It's never going to happen. You know what I saw Sunday night? I saw the old - pre-Marvin Bengals that were only good at one thing...losing. They did everything in their power to lose that game - and they lost.

Bengals are a small market team with ownership that only slightly cares about winning and coaching that is good but not great. It's a fact. Given this fact - all the winning seasons that the Bengals have going forward will be in spite of the ownership and coaching - not because of the ownership and coaching. That being said, the chances of us getting to the playoffs - much less - getting to the superbowl - much much less winning the superbowl - are statisticly VERY slim. Every year Bengals fans waste their time hoping that this will be the year. It's NEVER going to be the year.

The Patriots have a winning organization - their ownership is committed to winning. I don't think Mike Brown eve watches all the games...

[HairOnFire]

The question is, can we bounce back from a 1-3 start and get into the playoffs? ....... The way we're playing, and number of injuries, I just don't see us in the playoffs.

I'll put things this way. The Bengals can beat the Patriots, and it wouldn't the stunner that most think, but no....that's not the way I'd bet. And yeah, the Bengals can bounce back from a 1-3 start and make the playoffs if they can suddenly get healthy, but there's no guarantee of that. In fact, the injuries haven't stopped, have they?

Bottom Line: It's week 4 and I'm already handicapping the Bengals competition for the last wild-card spot.

[walzav29]

Damn. I started doing the same thing.

[damiancasey]

The question is, can we bounce back from a 1-3 start and get into the playoffs? ....... The way we're playing, and number of injuries, I just don't see us in the playoffs.

I'll put things this way. The Bengals can beat the Patriots, and it wouldn't the stunner that most think, but no....that's not the way I'd bet. And yeah, the Bengals can bounce back from a 1-3 start and make the playoffs if they can suddenly get healthy, but there's no guarantee of that. In fact, the injuries haven't stopped, have they?

Bottom Line: It's week 4 and I'm already handicapping the Bengals competition for the last wild-card spot.

I totally agree that the Bengals CAN beat the Patriots...the question isn't can they miraculously win one game...the question is - based on what we've seen so far and what injuries we know have occurred - what are the going to do this year. I think based on that it really looks pretty damn bleak. True - anything could happen - but if you had to put your money where your mouth is it would be stupid to put it on the Bengals.

[Kazkal]

Aye I haven't written down a loss yet anything can happen on sunday.

Yes, the problem is we need something to happen on Monday when we actually play the Patriots.

Ya mondays is a doomsday

[HairOnFire]

...the question is - based on what we've seen so far and what injuries we know have occurred - what are the going to do this year. I think based on that it really looks pretty damn bleak.

Yup, that's todays reality. That said, we're the bastard sons of Paul Brown and because of injuries and the constantly changing performance level of all teams he always refused to predict how his team would do or look beyond four games or so. And that's probably even more true for THIS team. And for a quick reminder just think back to last season. Winning streak. Losing streak. Winning streak. Losing streak.

BTW, old Paul wasn't known for his sense of humor but I've always loved the way he described watching bad football. He once said that all teams are built differently...some for speed, others for power, still others for finess and precision...but bad football always looks the same.

But here's my favorite Paul Brown one-liner.

"When the clown car stops and the doors fly open...nobody gets out with their dignity intact."

[damiancasey]

quote]

BTW, old Paul wasn't known for his sense of humor but I've always loved the way he described watching bad football. He once said that all teams are built differently...some for speed, others for power, still others for finess and precision...but bad football always looks the same.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Two thoughts:

One: if there is a cloud of doom 'n' gloom over Bengaldom right now, you know exactly where to look for the reason. The Bengals have worked very hard these past three weeks to earn their fans' distrust.

Two: If Monday night's game was New England versus [insert team name here], the Pats would be favored. Maybe if they were playing the Colts in Indy it'd be a pick 'em. That's about it. New England is playing ludicrously good football right now; they are on course to score more than 600 points while holding their opponents below 190. That the Bengals are just a TD dog, versus the Bills last week a 17 point dog, is actually a measure of respect (arguably ill-deserved) for the Bengals.

Can the Bengals win? Sure -- but they would have to play a perfect game, and the Pats would have to be off their feed. Neither seems likely to happen Monday night...but we'll see.

I'll echo this post. The Bengals were flat LUCKY to win in the opener against the Ravens, and have showed their true colors since. To ignore this is nothing more than denial. We are in deep doo-doo folks, and will be lucky to exceed the record of the Browns if this keeps up. The Bengals potent offense is more than offset by the crap play by the (especially) defense and special (Ed) teams. The team of 2005 is nothing more than tailights in the distance.