Bengals vs Chargers After Thoughts

[Kazkal]

-It's a loss but I still feel good & Think we will be competitive in the playoffs...we'll have Scott,Peko & Crocker back which will help alot.

-Quan is the man had some good catches when given the chance

-Foschi Continues be solid Tight End Ya he's not gates but sure hell lot better then we've had as of late.

-Leonard Made a few nice plays but \tear at the one he didn't make

-Defense Played besides a few plays & Leon Hall just simply had a bad day after a great season

-Special Teams looked good after the opening kickoff Graham with 2 touchbacks I was amazed.

-I really want a Playoff run of redemption Wonder if it's possible for us to Face the Texans the Broncos & the Chargers.

-With the Chiefs & Jets left I'd like to see them just go ahead & Start Big Dre & Hopefully Mathis will be ready soon just not a fan of livings..

[Pidge]

Like Cosby, like Foschi (although he will need to slip down the depth chart a spot or two next season), happy to see Carson get his eye in again. Much better game offensively.

The defense made some plays and some good stops and were beaten like a drum at times. They need to get their missing starters (the ones not on IR) back soon. You can only keep slapping band-aids on sucking chest wounds for so long and in that context, I can't be too disappointed in the D. Just a lack of talent/experience hindering them at this point.

The usual bulls**t indiscipline still sticks to this offense like the stench of Old Spice though.

[Stripes]

The defense is much different without Peko, similar to Pittsburgh without Polamalu. The loss of hair-mass must throw off their physics.

[ChadJohnson-85]

Now that I'm calm....

1. Cosby and JP looking good

2. Despite the fumble things are looking way better with Caldwell as a #2 WR

3. Execute in the red zone. And a note for the off season. Get a new OC that can design better plays for the red zone.

4. Where was Leon today? Dear Lord....

5. Looks like were back to giving up big plays.

6. O-Line looked way better in pass protection today.

7. Didn't really get running game going that great.

[volcom69]

There were some good things in this game like you mentioned, but once again they hurt themselves.

Redzone offense still sucks

Penalties still suck

Right now they do not look like a playoff team there is so much to fix. Marvin better work on his game management.

It was a good effort ill give them that, but they could have won this and they didnt because of there stupidness.

[Kazkal]

2. Despite the fumble things are looking way better with Caldwell as a #2 WR

That was nice a nice Hit by their Defense,Now the Coordinator who called the play :|

3. Execute in the red zone. And a note for the off season. Get a new OC that can design better plays for the red zone.

He's had a few nice plays designed for chad and even though Carson had 3td day...he should not be safe :|...

Really does anyone know if his contract expires nxt year?

4. Where was Leon today? Dear Lord....

I think the 5th string CB store his jersey and snuck in the game :|

[derekshank]

Coles had 4 catches for 48 yards and a TD. He apparently wants to win his job back.

[Pidge]

Coles had 4 catches for 48 yards and a TD. He apparently wants to win his job back.

Yep, forgot about him. He made some good catches. He responded like a pro to the challenge he was set by the coaches - stop sucking.

[ChadJohnson-85]

Coles had 4 catches for 48 yards and a TD. He apparently wants to win his job back.

Maybe he just plays better in the slot? Doubt that's the reason. If you are right we need to cut him. We don't need people who aren't gonna play up to their full potential just because they got to the spot they want to be in. I say keep him at #3 WR. Caldwell showed that he deserves it.

[Kazkal]

Bah Forgot to mention Coles,He had a very respectable Day hopefully he keeps it up... <3 <3 <3

[cincy9275]

very disappointing. we failed to make the plays down the stretch to win the game. even though they played better, it was still not enough. we had them on the ropes and blew it. that to me that just out weighs anything else about the game. just another failure in a long line of them. i wanted this game so bad just to show we belong, only to get a all to familiar result. this one stings bad.

[ChadJohnson-85]

very disappointing. we failed to make the plays down the stretch to win the game. even though they played better, it was still not enough. we had them on the ropes and blew it. that to me that just out weighs anything else about the game. just another failure in a long line of them. i wanted this game so bad just to show we belong, only to get a all to familiar result. this one stings bad.

Well I could care less what other people think about our team. In fact I like how people think we don't belong. Screw them. We'll catch people off guard in the post season. I guarantee it.

[Kazkal]

very disappointing. we failed to make the plays down the stretch to win the game. even though they played better, it was still not enough. we had them on the ropes and blew it. that to me that just out weighs anything else about the game. just another failure in a long line of them. i wanted this game so bad just to show we belong, only to get a all to familiar result. this one stings bad.

Well I could care less what other people think about our team. In fact I like how people think we don't belong. Screw them. We'll catch people off guard in the post season. I guarantee it.

Agreed man A loss sucks but I dunno I'm just not feeling that bad as others...I was happy with what I saw Leon is a good cornerback he had a bad game...Carson showed he still is a elite Quarterback in this league when given the chance to throw and some help from his WR's...Minus some Yellow Hankeys & Leons poor play and we could have won this game...Now if we face them again we would have 4 Very helpful players back and I'm sure Leon will wanna show that this was a one time thing.

[cincy9275]

very disappointing. we failed to make the plays down the stretch to win the game. even though they played better, it was still not enough. we had them on the ropes and blew it. that to me that just out weighs anything else about the game. just another failure in a long line of them. i wanted this game so bad just to show we belong, only to get a all to familiar result. this one stings bad.

Well I could care less what other people think about our team. In fact I like how people think we don't belong. Screw them. We'll catch people off guard in the post season. I guarantee it.

i hope your right. i hope they use these last two loses as motavtion. two very tough road games against 2 good teams. now they see what they will face in the playoffs. i hope they learned from it and kick some ass when the time comes.

[semiotter]

Well this old Fart really liked the way Carson played and got all his offense teamates on the sidelines and was talking to them.

Plus they played good today against a very good team at home.

So maybe we still get a home game in playoffs and go all the way.

[ChadJohnson-85]

very disappointing. we failed to make the plays down the stretch to win the game. even though they played better, it was still not enough. we had them on the ropes and blew it. that to me that just out weighs anything else about the game. just another failure in a long line of them. i wanted this game so bad just to show we belong, only to get a all to familiar result. this one stings bad.

Well I could care less what other people think about our team. In fact I like how people think we don't belong. Screw them. We'll catch people off guard in the post season. I guarantee it.

i hope your right. i hope they use these last two loses as motavtion. two very tough road games against 2 good teams. now they see what they will face in the playoffs. i hope they learned from it and kick some ass when the time comes.

I hope I'm right to. But really. Nobody has mentioned Henry since we lost. Will we be depressed throughout the rest of the year? I hope they understand that they need to move on. It's tough. I know from personal experience. Life goes on. Henry wouldn't want us to give up. Don't give up because we thought this was a tribute game to Henry. A real tribute would be winning the SB (when it comes to football). R.I.P Chris

[Clackwoods]

I was at the game and here is what I saw (I was six rows up on the 50 behind the Bengals bench<--Only telling to reference my excellent vantage point):

Negatives:

Our Offense throwing the ball on 3 and 1 on the Chargers 40, followed by the decision to punt the ball on 4 and 1 at the Chargers 40 turned the tempo of the game in the Chargers favor during the 3rd quarter. The punt only netted 20 yards. I understand the caution, but you got the sixth rated run game in the league, you go for it.

Leon Hall got beat on both of those TD catches by Jackson, the big catch that set up the GAME WINNING FG, and a couple other big first downs. Simply put: He cost us the game. I love him and his big season, but he just wasn't there today.

Keith Rivers going out of the game on the final drive? I understand you want your best guys against the pass, but taking him out and putting in Johnson doesnt make sense, especially when he makes a huge interception and a big sack in the fourth.

JT Osullivan's seemingly nonexistent relationship with Carson during the game. When Carson came back to the sidelines after drives and mistakes it was Jordan and not JT talking to him and Chad. JT just sat out on his own little Island the entire game. He needs to step it up.

Three straight delay of game penalites (UNHEARD OF)

Positives:

The call to throw it to Coles right after Jammer got hurt. They expoited that matchup with Casone.

Rushing the fake punt team out on 4th and 1 to make San Diego waste a second half timeout. (EVEN THOUGH THEY ENDED UP PUNTING)

Carson running and diving on that ball and saving the game (AT THE TIME) for us.

Carson running all the way down the field on the fake reverse pass to Chad to throw a block.

Carsons leadership. After those penalties the crowd was going f**king crazy. I have been to a lot of games and that is the loudest I have ever heard a home crowd....(Including the big house) He pulled the offense together and gave them a fiery pep talk and they responded with 11 points. He also kept them together when it was 2nd and 36 and got the team into field goal range with a beautiful throw to Quan.

In conclusion:

This team has the leadership to make it a long way. I believe if this game would have been at home they would have won it. The crowd noise was insane, I could barely hear the person next to me, I could only imagine what it was like in the huddle.

I am not sure why we weren't running as much, maybe it had to do with the fact that they jumped to an early lead, but we must stick to the run game.

Overall, while dissapointed with the outcome I saw some things that give me hope come playoff time.

[Clackwoods]

Oh and for the life of me, why the hell haven't we made some type of adjustment against screen plays? We have been getting burned by them all YEAR. And in the first half they were dominating us in the flats.

[ChadJohnson-85]

Oh and for the life of me, why the hell haven't we made some type of adjustment against screen plays? We have been getting burned by them all day. And in the first half they were dominating us in the flats.

Agreed. Zimmer better have something planned in time for the play offs. Teams will take advantage of that. Why wouldn't they? In fact I think that teams have already been doing it. It seems like very game we get killed on the screen pass.

[JoePong]

The one thing that continues to piss me off is Palmer's total lack of awareness when it comes to the play clock. The number of delay of game penalties this year has been ridiculous, and how many times has Marvin Lewis had to come sprinting in from the sideline to get the ref's attention and call a timeout to prevent us from getting a delay of game?

You expect crap like that from a rookie, not a veteran QB.

And I was furious at the stupid spiking of the ball with about 25 seconds left in the 1st half when we had 1st and goal. There was absolutely no need for that, and it probably cost us a TD by totally wasting a down. Especially when we still had a timeout.

[JoePong]

Oh and for the life of me, why the hell haven't we made some type of adjustment against screen plays? We have been getting burned by them all YEAR. And in the first half they were dominating us in the flats.

The screen play and the dumpoff passes in the flat, as well as the tight end have killed this tam for as long as I can remember.

[COB]

I feel really good about the Bengals right now.

They showed much more game today than I expected. The offense looks better, the defense is missing a couple guys. But since offense is where we all think they need to improve, can't complain when they actually do so.

We just lost two games to a couple teams who, at home, are monster teams. If the d-backs coach would tell Leon Hall to play inside technique on that last pass, we get into overtime. The playoffs are about where you are in the arc of your season, and it looks to me like the Bengals are going in the right direction. We'll see against KC.

[COB]

The one thing that continues to piss me off is Palmer's total lack of awareness when it comes to the play clock. The number of delay of game penalties this year has been ridiculous, and how many times has Marvin Lewis had to come sprinting in from the sideline to get the ref's attention and call a timeout to prevent us from getting a delay of game?

You expect crap like that from a rookie, not a veteran QB.

And I was furious at the stupid spiking of the ball with about 25 seconds left in the 1st half when we had 1st and goal. There was absolutely no need for that, and it probably cost us a TD by totally wasting a down. Especially when we still had a timeout.

Carson played a great game. You are tilting at windmills. Think about that fumble recovery on our last drive. That was a hell of a football play. He threw the ball great. He just had a great game, and any player who has a great game is subject to his detractors cherry-picking a few plays from said game and claiming those plays illustrate some imagined deficiency. Your point about the play clock is just such a claim.

[Clackwoods]

The one thing that continues to piss me off is Palmer's total lack of awareness when it comes to the play clock. The number of delay of game penalties this year has been ridiculous, and how many times has Marvin Lewis had to come sprinting in from the sideline to get the ref's attention and call a timeout to prevent us from getting a delay of game?

You expect crap like that from a rookie, not a veteran QB.

And I was furious at the stupid spiking of the ball with about 25 seconds left in the 1st half when we had 1st and goal. There was absolutely no need for that, and it probably cost us a TD by totally wasting a down. Especially when we still had a timeout.

Carson played a great game. You are tilting at windmills. Think about that fumble recovery on our last drive. That was a hell of a football play. He threw the ball great. He just had a great game, and any player who has a great game is subject to his detractors cherry-picking a few plays from said game and claiming those plays illustrate some imagined deficiency. Your point about the play clock is just such a claim.

Three delay of games in a row is unheard of and rediculous, but you have no idea HOW LOUD that stadium was. I couldn't hear myself talk

[Pidge]

Gotta say, it's a valid one, whatever the reasons are for bringing it up. Virtually no situational awareness. Now, it's easy to say it whilst sitting on my couch scratching ym belly but WTF was that spike about? Did any of us think he was hurrying them to the line so he could run a quick play or to spike the ball? Exactly. Sure, we're not in the pressure cooker of a game but the guy is paid very handsomely to be cool in those situations.

It might (probably not) not have made a difference to the outcome but still. Either take the quick TO and take 3 shots into the end zone or run a f**king play. He took exactly the wrong option.

That said, relatively minor complaint. Great improvement shown today. It was like watching a different O (the penalties aside) out there. Keep it up guys.