Ex Post Facto: Bengals vs Patriots

[Stripes]

Yes, the Pats were the better team toady, no doubt. But that much better? Naw, this was slop.

I don't think they were that much better either, but even a close separation between two good teams can sometimes result in an asswhooping like this one. I think the absence of anything remotely resembling a pass rush was the reason the Patriots were able to dismantle the Bengals in the first half. I don't think it was under-preparedness or overconfidence, it was an actual football dynamic in which a serious Bengals weakness was exploited for gobs of points.

Then the Palmer/Gresham mishap that led to the pick six, along with the kick return TD, made the game an utter laugher. Short of those, I think the game finishes somewhat close, as I don't buy that the Bengals big passing yardage numbers were all the result of a soft zone defense. The Patriots are more aggressive than that, as we saw late in the game when they continued to throw it despite a big lead.

[Stripes]

Tell me how are the bengals going to fix this pass rush. Zim said they worked all offseason to get a better pass rush and we have not see that yet. Any good pass rushers available out there? These guys didnt even get close to getting Brady no pressure.

They might not be able to fix the pass rush. Their best chance will be heavy blitzing, something we didn't see today likely because Brady has historically been awesome against blitzing defenses. To slow him down, teams have always had to generate a pass rush from the defensive line, and the Bengals simply couldn't do it today.

Odom still looks bad, and Geathers has never been a rusher. Peko, as much as I've always pimped him, was non-existent most of the game as so was Tank. If the problem continues, it'll be plenty of reason for the Bengals to play the young guys we all want to see.

[whizzo]

i think atkins and MJ can definitely help with the passrush. but to do that, they need to get on the field...

[Trevor]

If we end this week with mankins and schmitt i'll be very very happy

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

This is where we need the big speech by Bluto Blutarski.

[HoosierCat]

I think the absence of anything remotely resembling a pass rush was the reason the Patriots were able to dismantle the Bengals in the first half. I don't think it was under-preparedness or overconfidence, it was an actual football dynamic in which a serious Bengals weakness was exploited for gobs of points.

I understand your point, but the lack of a pass rush does not explain how we give up a TD on teams, or why the o-line can't keep Palmer clean, or why Benson gets about 6 carries in the first half, among other things. This team came in fat and happy and paid the price.

[volcom69]

I think the absence of anything remotely resembling a pass rush was the reason the Patriots were able to dismantle the Bengals in the first half. I don't think it was under-preparedness or overconfidence, it was an actual football dynamic in which a serious Bengals weakness was exploited for gobs of points.

I understand your point, but the lack of a pass rush does not explain how we give up a TD on teams, or why the o-line can't keep Palmer clean, or why Benson gets about 6 carries in the first half, among other things. This team came in fat and happy and paid the price.

They sure did they came in floating on a cloud. They have TO the Ocho, they have the #4 defense, they have this awsome return game, who is going to beat us. Well i hope they realize its not that easy, you just cant go in and say on paper you are better then the other team, you have to go out and prove it. Only thing proven today was the fact they have alot of work to do.

[HoosierCat]

FWIW even when he wins Moss is a d*ck.

/>http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/09/12/loud-randy-moss-says-some-in-new-england-dont-want-to-see-me-do-good/

Today could be the high point of NE's season...

[BengalszoneBilly]

they have the #4 defense,

Which seemingly can't pressure the opposing QB. Until that changes the Bengals will continue to lose.

[volcom69]

they have the #4 defense,

Which seemingly can't pressure the opposing QB. Until that changes the Bengals will continue to lose.

No doubt i was just stateing that i think this team came in alittle to cocky, and it showed. Im not seeing where the pressure is going to come from. MJ didnt even show up in the stat column today, Rey looked lost out there and was not that impressive, im just not seeing it right now. Was this defense a fluke last year?

[cHaD711Johnson]

If we end this week with mankins and schmitt i'll be very very happy

What makes you think that we're getting Mankins? Can you please explain that?

[Trevor]

mankins wants out of NE... we need a guard,.. Probably wont happen but itd be awesome

[vettespd20]

FWIW even when he wins Moss is a d*ck.

/>http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/09/12/loud-randy-moss-says-some-in-new-england-dont-want-to-see-me-do-good/

Today could be the high point of NE's season...

MOSS is a POS i really dislike this guy!!

[Sea Ray]

I'm not at all interested in any of the following predictable tripe:

"The Bengals were overconfident."

"The Bengals were unprepared."

"Carson Palmer sucks."

"The Bengals can't handle big expectations."

etc...

Anyways, this game leaves me with only one real impression: the pass rush is horrific. Otherwise, the better team won today. Forgotten in all of this melting down is that the Patriots are a really good football team.

If the Bengals were "prepared" then they really suck. I was giving them the benefit of the doubt by using the unprepared comment. This was the biggest ass whooping of week one. I don't think NE is "that" much better but they sure were today

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I was encouraged that the offense (with the no-huddle any ways) seems to have a chance to be pretty good with the new additions, and Scott looked better/smarter/tougher.

They can't just do the slow developing running plays to Benson or have Palmer drop back 3 steps and let a play develop though - that crap won't fly behind this line, they have to keep Palmer rolling out and mix up their plays and personnel more.

The defense is a huge issue, but they cannot possibly be a bad as they have looked most of preseason and today. I don't know what Zimmer is doing, but his players are confused, lost, and slow right now, that was one of the most pathetic defensive performances I've seen here in quite some time. Brady might beat you, but for God's sakes don't make it easy - not a single big defensive play or turnover the entire game. What'd they have, one punt all day long?

Let's see how they do after the first 3 games, they can still be a very good team if Marvin can do his job for once and field a team that doesn't play like a sloppy bunch of undisciplined children.

[Sea Ray]

take away a stupid interception pick 6 and a kickoff return (kinda fluke plays) we wouldnt have lost this game more than likely

Did you watch the game or did you just glance at the recap? NE dominated this game as much as can be done in the NFL. They completely dominated the O and D lines and dominated special teams just as much. The only times NE was stopped was when they overthrew a pass or dropped one. This could not have been more of a mismatch on an NFL field. This was complete domination of one team over another.

[TJJackson]

I was at soccer games all day - my kids are undefeated so far, woot! - but I did note in the stats that Geno got in briefly and had a quarterback hurry in very limited playing time. Hope to see a lot more of this guy

Shipley stats look legimiately OROY-ish. Let's hope he can keep this up for 15 more games :-)

How did the Flesh Zeppelin look? The oline isn't going to be good til he is good

[ArmyBengal]

This is why whenever the Bengals lose, all members should take 3 hours away from the board.

[HoosierCat]

This is why whenever the Bengals lose, all members should take 3 hours away from the board.

Agreed.

OTOH, the Reds suck the season is over they will not make the playoffs OMG THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!

[ArmyBengal]

NO PASS RUSH.

Those 3 words need to be addressed more than ANYTHING right now. Sure there are other things that need to be improved, but if the pass rush doesn't improve and what we saw today is the norm, they are in BIG trouble.

The interior of our o-line is the other thing that concerned me prior to the start of the season and I think it showed today. Cook looked to have lost strength and appeared to be working from his butt on many occasions. Livings ?? Mathis ?? Who cares ?? They both blow.

All that being said, I will take the asswhooping today in stride and look for a regrouping heading into next weeks game.

One game isn't going to make or break the entire season unless it's the last game of the season and you need a win to go to the playoffs.

I really find it helps to stay away from the forum for a while after the games ends to avoid overreacting.

The offense settled down in the second half and I think they will be ok.

[ArmyBengal]

Well, we seemed to turn things around after last seasons week one loss.

I'm not saying things didn't go wrong, I'm saying they can improve.

[vettespd20]

take away a stupid interception pick 6 and a kickoff return (kinda fluke plays) we wouldnt have lost this game more than likely

Did you watch the game or did you just glance at the recap? NE dominated this game as much as can be done in the NFL. They completely dominated the O and D lines and dominated special teams just as much. The only times NE was stopped was when they overthrew a pass or dropped one. This could not have been more of a mismatch on an NFL field. This was complete domination of one team over another.

Take advise from armybengal. i did in fact watch every single play. did you take a nap during the 3rd quarter? besides the kick return we smacked them around the whole quarter and most of the 4th. we had a VERY BAD START and let up stupid plays, and the end result we didnt play good enough to win today. I am not saying it was an even game because it was not. We played A GREAT TEAM AT THERE HOME FIELD and they out played us. But the sky is not falling so lets not fire marvin, bench carson and take a dump on the whole team.

[AGrizzlyBaer]

Next week will be huge for us. Here's to hoping the Jets beat the Ravens up monday night.

[walzav29]

The game was disgusting. They were out-schemed by a much better coaching staff. We'll still win the division. I think Zimmer will wake the defense up, but to get dominated that bad by the Patriots is a bummer. The elite teams always beat Cincinnati. I hate it.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Next week will be huge for us. Here's to hoping the Jets beat the Ravens up monday night.

Don't worry. New York will smash Baltimore tomorrow.