Does anyone think the season isn't over?

[walzav29]

I thought Roy Williams was hitting like a truck out there. They had good rotation on the DT's as well. I think it's a 50/50 game Sunday and if it wasn't for the offensive showing so poorly I'd would have been surprised if the Bengals lose.

[Bearcat1975]

Cmon guys saying Cook is superior to Guy-chick is like being the 2nd to last guy picked for the intermural team.

I don't even know who the LG is now - Roland? Andre WILL make them better when he's ready - will give them that, but that's minimal effort (drafting someone who falls to you and then not signing him? that's it?)

THREE sacks given up Sunday for 26 yards!! Numerous pressures and an INT into a caving screen play

3.6 YPC for Benson with 21 carries, 76 yards total - blech - almost HALF of those coming on ONE CARRY!! Not even a 100 yards rushing total! Terrible.

Someone explain to me how this o-line is going to win games over a season's time? Trust me, just watch, you saw what happened last year, this is the same line except for one slight upgrade at center. Better hope Andre is the real deal and can start by week 3!

I think it could be debated with strong points on either side as to whether or not the Bengals really had any viable options this offseason to improve their oline. Some say there are steps that could have been taken that were not, others say the Bengals did the best they could with the options they had.

But one thing that cannot possibly be debated by anyone even halway paying attention, is that this line is a bad one and it will most likely be the

"anvil that breaks the camels back" for the Bengals this season.

Its a shame too. Because if they had a decent oline and their defense continues to look solid, my prediction would have been playoffs instead of

6-10.

[ArmyBengal]

I agree with TJ here a win or loss in the next few games wouldn't suprise me either way.

The Steelers defense is going to miss Polumalu for the next 3-6 weeks.

[Ickey44]

I thought Roy Williams was hitting like a truck out there. They had good rotation on the DT's as well. I think it's a 50/50 game Sunday and if it wasn't for the offensive showing so poorly I'd would have been surprised if the Bengals lose.

I'm not worried about the defense at this time, but if the offense doesn't find a way to score it doesn't matter what the defense does. It's up to Marvin and Brat to watch the game film and drill this guys until they get it right. There was absolutely no reason for all those stupid penalties last week.

Also, somebody needs to tell Collins that when the rusher lines up waaaaay outside that he needs to get back faster.

PS. Benson needs to learn how to pick up a blitz, too. He almost got Carson killed Sunday.

[Sea Ray]

Seeing how the Patriots won that game last night and never burned a TO was more than luck. Belichick is an elite game manager and Lewis is not. When it comes down to equal talent, equal ability, equal score, those details win the game.

It was mostly luck. If the Bills player had gone down at the 30 or even in the end zone things would have been much different. You could say coaching taught the Pats how to cause a fumble but that's about it.

Anyone who doesn't think the Bengals are better than last year forgets how bad things were. Look at all our starters who aren't even in the NFL this year:

Kyle Larson

Chris Perry

Eric Ghiacuic

Levi Jones

Willie Anderson

John Thornton

Feel free to add to my list in case I missed any. We also get Carson back; Chris Henry was on suspension and couldn't practice. Rudi was washed up. Chad was screwed up.

This team is immensely more talented than just a year ago.

The biggest thing right now for this team is whether it can rebound mentally from Sunday. Looks like most Bengal fans haven't.

[jonahdsage]

After a day of wallowing behind me and reading some of these threads I have come to the following conclusion: The bengals did what it took to win on Sunday. I KNOW, they lost. I get it. But that play was a miracle, plain and simple. The defense shut them down all day and we'll never see a play like that again in our lifetime. The offense didn't score as much as we would like, but they scored when we needed them to. To say our o-line is marginally better than last year is somewhat goofy to me. Midway into the 2nd quarter ced was averaging i believe 4.2 a carry. Two runs for a loss and not running at all in the 3rd quarter didn't help those numbers as the game went on. We were marching down the field and then would get a stupid penalty -- I don't get why it's a penalty for a linemen to be driving a linebacker downfield in a block. That OPI on chad was garbage. Sportscenter lastnight was playing the top 5 "c'mon man" calls of the weekend and chad's OPI was one of them. As far as my mental state goes (i know this will bring criticism) I consider the bengals to be 1-0. To say the season is over right now is silly. If coles comes into Green bay and has all those drops again, we can worry about him more. I'm glad he was seriously open when he got thrown to, that the balls were catchable and delivered well. I just can't imagine him having the braylons all year long.

So my final thought is I'm believing the defense hype and am thinking that 14 points is what our offense needs to shoot for to win most games. Hopefully this weekend we'll see 21+, but with the way our defense looked there's a lot to be excited about. Denver had 12 sacks the whole year, and sunday we got them for 3. Stay up bengaldom.

[Pidge]

So my final thought is I'm believing the defense hype and am thinking that 14 points is what our offense needs to shoot for to win most games.

I know there's some optimism about the defence, which I share, but that would put this D at 28th best since going to a 16 game schedule in 1978. Now, I think about 20 points a game would be a vast improvement over the last few yrs and would have been good enough for top ten last season. It's also a little more realistic - just my opinion.

It should also give our offense a good enough chance of winning more games than they lose, if it plays to its potential.

[jonahdsage]

So my final thought is I'm believing the defense hype and am thinking that 14 points is what our offense needs to shoot for to win most games.

I know there's some optimism about the defence, which I share, but that would put this D at 28th best since going to a 16 game schedule in 1978. Now, I think about 20 points a game would be a vast improvement over the last few yrs and would have been good enough for top ten last season. It's also a little more realistic - just my opinion.

I definitely think we'll end up a top 10 defense. I in no way am calling carson and saying "hey man, just 14 points a game and you got it." I just think our defense is going to make our offense significantly better and won't be like in years past where we lose games 35-31. Holding denver to 48 and 50 yard field goals on opening day is a great start and Huber is already making a huge impact (I heard that 5 punts inside the 20 in a game is tied for 2nd for most all time in a game). If our team can consistently score around 20 points we'll win a lot of games this year.

[Pidge]

So my final thought is I'm believing the defense hype and am thinking that 14 points is what our offense needs to shoot for to win most games.

I know there's some optimism about the defence, which I share, but that would put this D at 28th best since going to a 16 game schedule in 1978. Now, I think about 20 points a game would be a vast improvement over the last few yrs and would have been good enough for top ten last season. It's also a little more realistic - just my opinion.

I definitely think we'll end up a top 10 defense. I in no way am calling carson and saying "hey man, just 14 points a game and you got it." I just think our defense is going to make our offense significantly better and won't be like in years past where we lose games 35-31. Holding denver to 48 and 50 yard field goals on opening day is a great start and Huber is already making a huge impact (I heard that 5 punts inside the 20 in a game is tied for 2nd for most all time in a game). If our team can consistently score around 20 points we'll win a lot of games this year.

Sounds good to me, you've sold me on it. Pitt will give us a chance because of their mediocre running game (whoda thunk it) and Quinn, well I have an irrational hatred of him anyway but I'm not convinced he'll be anything other than average in the NFL (famous last words). The Ravens will be the toughest games in the division i think, along with the ever strong Steelers.

If we can beat the Browns and split with Pitt, the rest of our schedule isn't, on paper at least, very scary looking. Whatever, I'm excited to see what our D does this season.

[Stripes]

Of course the season isn't over. We lost one game on a freaking fluke play. It happens, oh well, boo fuggin' hoo. We showed the capability to play good football on both sides of the ball. The defense was clearly dominant all game long, save the fluke. I don't give a crap if the Broncos are inept offensively. When inept offenses face good defenses, they tend to score about six points, right?

The offense moved the ball. Don't expect absurd St. Louis bad snaps to happen in every single football game (though his mistakes have become more frequent than any of us would like). Don't expect SEVEN dropped passes in every game, much less three from a veteran like Coles. Don't expect the Bengals to ignore the downfield passing game every week. Don't expect Bernard Scott to get one touch every week.

Seriously, the game was loaded with improbables and I refuse to take anything seriously from it aside from what seemed like normal football -- the Bengals defense shutting down the Broncos offense over and over and over.

Go win a game in Green Bay. Take the home game against Pittsburgh. Are either really so dang impossible? I am so surprised how many people think so. After the defense did THAT?

[HAPPYJAQ]

Call me crazy and an optimist, but I think the Bengals have a chance to win the next two. Green Bay is certain to be an extremely heavy favorite in this game and the Bengals go into it with nothing to lose and everything to prove. The thing that gives me the most confidence is that the mental makeup of this team is different than in the recent past, where we had obviously perpetual sulkers in guys like Rudi, T.J. and even Willie (at times), lurking in the locker room. If we can cause some turnovers and find something in the running game, I think we'll win in Lambeau. Hopefully, the newfound confidence will carry over to the game against a Pittsburgh team that we match up with as well as in any year I can remember. If this scenario happens, Cleveland becomes a "trap game", witch makes it just as important as the previous two, in proving that this is indeed a different and vastly improved Bengals team.

In any case, I'd be happy with a 2-2 split with 3 of the next 5 games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

I'm starting to think that this lost came at the right time, and in the precisely right way for the Bengals to use that loss, and the feeling associated with it, as the springboard to a good season.

[walzav29]

I just got off the phone with Pat and Tim on afternoon blitz, and they said Roy Williams blew it going for the big shot. They also said that the big thing were the drops. They also said that people are jumping off the bandwagon because of the way they lost. I asked if people should give up, they said "HELL NO!" Those are my boys. Let's stick with em!

[HoosierCat]

Call me crazy and an optimist, but I think the Bengals have a chance to win the next two. Green Bay is certain to be an extremely heavy favorite in this game and the Bengals go into it with nothing to lose and everything to prove. The thing that gives me the most confidence is that the mental makeup of this team is different than in the recent past, where we had obviously perpetual sulkers in guys like Rudi, T.J. and even Willie (at times), lurking in the locker room. If we can cause some turnovers and find something in the running game, I think we'll win in Lambeau. Hopefully, the newfound confidence will carry over to the game against a Pittsburgh team that we match up with as well as in any year I can remember. If this scenario happens, Cleveland becomes a "trap game", witch makes it just as important as the previous two, in proving that this is indeed a different and vastly improved Bengals team.

You may be crazy, but you also may be right. I'm disappointed in how the offense performed, but contrary to the beliefs of certain tools around these part, it wasn't the fault of any single player or group. Everyone took turns contributing their $0.02 to the mess, which is exactly what you would (and I did) expect to see given all the new and shifted players. They need reps, and finally got some, and that will pay dividends next week.

Meanwhile, judging by some of the comments by Bengals defenders, they're going to be looking to make Palmer's prediction about someone getting killed on the field come true next week.

[blueridge]

It is unbelievable that this subject is even being discussed after 1 game. A person would have to be a sniveling loser to write off this team now.

[BengalPimp]

Hell NO the season isnt over....far from it. I was encouraged by the overall play of the defense. The offense stalled for the first 54 minutes or so. But Carson leading them to a 91 yard TD drive going 6-for-6 in the process, was also encouraging. Remember, aside from a few minutes in the first preseason game, the guy hasnt played an actual game in like 10-11 months. Carson will definately look better next week even against a pretty good Packers secondary.

Yes, we lost, BUT......It took a friggin miracle play for us to lose....Back in the day, we were the Broncos, and we would have needed the miracle play. So, if it takes teams needing a miracle play to beat us, I'M ENCOURAGED !!!!!!

[volcom69]

I just got off the phone with Pat and Tim on afternoon blitz, and they said Roy Williams blew it going for the big shot. They also said that the big thing were the drops. They also said that people are jumping off the bandwagon because of the way they lost. I asked if people should give up, they said "HELL NO!" Those are my boys. Let's stick with em!

Oh so that was you uh! I listen to those guys everyday my favorite duo on there. Yea they gave Roy Williams the bone head play of the week for hitting Marshel instead of staying back and playing the ball. In someways i understand that, but then again we are not on the field, and neither are they so they dont know what Roy saw, or the reason he did that so i really dont think its fair for us or for anybody to really blame him, but it gives the media something to make fun of the Bengals for so they do it. It was a heart breaking lose, but its time to get over it and move on to Greenbay and i hope thats what everyone else on the Bengals is doing.

Nice call in!

[truthteller]

It was the freaking Denver Broncos at home. Should of beat that team by 3 touchdowns. The fluke touchdown should not have mattered. Spin it any way you want this team will not see the post season.

[skyline]

I just got off the phone with Pat and Tim on afternoon blitz, and they said Roy Williams blew it going for the big shot. They also said that the big thing were the drops. They also said that people are jumping off the bandwagon because of the way they lost. I asked if people should give up, they said "HELL NO!" Those are my boys. Let's stick with em!

Oh so that was you uh! I listen to those guys everyday my favorite duo on there. Yea they gave Roy Williams the bone head play of the week for hitting Marshel instead of staying back and playing the ball. In someways i understand that, but then again we are not on the field, and neither are they so they dont know what Roy saw, or the reason he did that so i really dont think its fair for us or for anybody to really blame him, but it gives the media something to make fun of the Bengals for so they do it. It was a heart breaking lose, but its time to get over it and move on to Greenbay and i hope thats what everyone else on the Bengals is doing.

Nice call in!

According to Zimmer, they're wrong. He said the idea of a cover 2 is for all players to converge on the ball, which is exactly what they did.

Just thought I'd point that out...

[volcom69]

I just got off the phone with Pat and Tim on afternoon blitz, and they said Roy Williams blew it going for the big shot. They also said that the big thing were the drops. They also said that people are jumping off the bandwagon because of the way they lost. I asked if people should give up, they said "HELL NO!" Those are my boys. Let's stick with em!

Oh so that was you uh! I listen to those guys everyday my favorite duo on there. Yea they gave Roy Williams the bone head play of the week for hitting Marshel instead of staying back and playing the ball. In someways i understand that, but then again we are not on the field, and neither are they so they dont know what Roy saw, or the reason he did that so i really dont think its fair for us or for anybody to really blame him, but it gives the media something to make fun of the Bengals for so they do it. It was a heart breaking lose, but its time to get over it and move on to Greenbay and i hope thats what everyone else on the Bengals is doing.

Nice call in!

According to Zimmer, they're wrong. He said the idea of a cover 2 is for all players to converge on the ball, which is exactly what they did.

Just thought I'd point that out...

True, but i think everyone is saying that they should have not been playing a cover 2 defense in that situation, and made sure that they had a safty over the top just in case something like this would happen. Zimmer sent them out in the cover 2 because its what was working all game, and it did up until that last point. So Roy did what he was supposed to, but left center field wide open, but i guess who would of thought that Stokly would have been in the same area as Marshel. Alot of what ifs, and not much they can do now but move on.

[derekshank]

The people who are bitching about the fact that the Bengals were playing cover-2 are the same people who would have been bitching if they had played prevent and given up the FG.

You won't hear me saying the Bengals should have won this game, because it took them more than 59 minutes to score a single damned point. They deservedto lose. But to blame the defense, or to say that players were out of position allowing that miracle to happen are just flat out wrong.

[derekshank]

Maybe not the right thread for this... but I didn't think it deserved one of its own.

I just saw a Febreze commercial that featured the Bengals mascot "Who Dey" using a giant litter box and requiring the 49ers mascot to neutralize the odor by spraying Febreze from the other room.

I thought this commercial was incredibly accurate. I was also forced to purchase Febreze after the Bengals offense took a big fat smelly dump in my living room on Sunday afternoon.

[HAPPYJAQ]

The people who are bitching about the fact that the Bengals were playing cover-2 are the same people who would have been bitching if they had played prevent and given up the FG.

You won't hear me saying the Bengals should have won this game, because it took them more than 59 minutes to score a single damned point. They deservedto lose. But to blame the defense, or to say that players were out of position allowing that miracle to happen are just flat out wrong.

Good post and points, but I agree with ET's take that the Safeties seemed a little shallow. You'd much rather get beat on a long FG attempt, even by as hot a kicker as Prater is, than to a 80+ yard TD pass with only seconds remaining on the clock.

A "softer" Cover 2 shell would've been ideal, IMO, but at the same time I'm just a fan. Also, why not Morgan Trent in the game instead of Roy, for better coverage personnel on the pass?

[Ickey44]

The people who are bitching about the fact that the Bengals were playing cover-2 are the same people who would have been bitching if they had played prevent and given up the FG.

You won't hear me saying the Bengals should have won this game, because it took them more than 59 minutes to score a single damned point. They deservedto lose. But to blame the defense, or to say that players were out of position allowing that miracle to happen are just flat out wrong.

Good post and points, but I agree with ET's take that the Safeties seemed a little shallow. You'd much rather get beat on a long FG attempt, even by as hot a kicker as Prater is, than to a 80+ yard TD pass with only seconds remaining on the clock.

A "softer" Cover 2 shell would've been ideal, IMO, but at the same time I'm just a fan. Also, why not Morgan Trent in the game instead of Roy, for better coverage personnel on the pass?

Seriously? That play was well defended. Crocker and Williams hit Marshall at the same time the ball would've gotten there if Hall hadn't tipped it. They had no way to know that the ball wasn't there. They were doing what they were supposed to do, which has already been confirmed by Zimmer. Marshall had a few steps on Hall so I'm sure neither safety had reason to believe that Hall would even touch the ball, much less deflect it.

For his part, Hall wasn't able to jump high enough to bat the ball down so he did the only thing he could: deflect the ball. He did his job and so did Crocker and Williams.

I really wish people would stop second guessing the play and the call because 99 times out of 100 deflecting a ball like that ends up in an incomplete pass or an interception.

And no the season is not over. There are still 15 games left to play.

[ArmyBengal]

I was also wondering initially where the safeties were on that play, but Zimmer seemed to give good explanation of what happened and I have no reason to doubt what he is saying from my standpoint. I think it's just time to put this play and game behind us and move onto the Packers game coming up.

[semiotter]

The NFL is tough every week. You can't look at the other teams record because it doesn't work that way

The season isn't over. Carson probley still has a little rust from not playing last year and in PS. It will get better if the O(mg) gets better. The defense really looks good and will jell as time goes on. Youth, talent and vets will make this one of the best.

So dang everyone its just one game hang in there. I've been in Texas all week and listening to Dallas sports call shows and the fans here are calling and bitching and they won!!!! Fans are a funny lot.