2010 Schedule

[Wraith]

2009 is over and I thought it would be interesting to compare the 2009 schedule vs. 2010.

One of the first things to jump out at me is that in 2009 the Bengals played all of the teams in the top 7 defenses in total defense, in their 17 games they played the Jets twice (no. 1), the Packers (no. 2), the Ravens twice (no. 3), the Steelers twice (no.5, no. 4 being the Bengals themselves), the Vikings (no. 6), and the Broncos (no. 7). That is 10 of their 17 games against top 7 defenses. In 2010 we miss the Packers #2, the Vikings #6, and the Brocos # 7. We replace the Broncos with the Charges (no. 16), the Vikings with the Saints (no. 25), and the Packers with the Falcons #21. We do add the Patriots and the Colts #11 and 18 respectively and we add the Panthers #8 but in total our average defense against in 2009 was 14.25 (13.47 if you throw in the playoff game vs. the Jets) and our average defense against in 2010 is 15.38 which is actually quite a jump considering that last year we had games against the Lions #32 and Chiefs #30 that come off our schedule in 2010.

Conversely, our offense against schedule breaks down like this. In 2009 we went had 6 games vs the bottom 12 offenses in the league and the best offese we played against was the Texans at #4 (and we all know how that turned out), this year we play 6 games vs. the bottom 13 offenses from last year so that is relatively consistent but we play games vs. the #1 Offense N.O. and the #3 Offense the Colts. The good news is New Orleans plays in Cincinnati and it is in December so that definately works to our advantage. We miss Houston and Minnesota the two best offenses we played last year but we do add New England in Foxboro. We go from a paltry 19.19 Avg. Offense against to a less paltry 16.06, most of our games are still vs. avg or worse offenses but nothing like last year.

Our Passing Defense is our strength and should only get better with J. Joe in a contract year and some better depth at both the safety position and the Corner position as well as new pass rushers and another year for first year studs Michael Johnson and Rey Maualuga to get more consistent pressure. Fortuneately most of the top offenses we face are primarily passing teams with little or no threat of a running game. We had the most trouble with teams like the Jets and Minnesota who play terrific defense and have a very strong running game (Houston was an aberration) Our defense should be better this year than last but they face much stiffer competition so that will be a challenge.

From an offense perspective, this schedule indicates the likelyhood of an offensive resurgance. The AFCN will always be a gauntlet but if you take games against the Ravens and Steelers away from the schedule we only have 2 games against teams that had a top 10 defenses last year the Jets and the Panthers both on the road. By losing Julius Peppers it is very likely that the Panthers will take a step backwards in defense next year and the Jets will be the toughest team to beat in the AFC IMHO so throw that one out, though the team should be geared up to play that game.

What does all of this mean? Who knows? but, I thought you guys would like a breakdown.