Is anyone optimistic?

[walzav29]

Can anyone generate hope? I'm all out of love.

[cincyhokie]

No hope here.

If they can win a few games in a row and stop with the mistakes and imploding play, maybe.

[whizzo]

only if we can reduce the penalties to, at most, two per game. and Carson gets his pre-2008 arm back. and Brat realizes what his players do well, and what they don't. and Brat and Marvin grow a pair of balls.

[kingwilly]

The thrill is gone.

Maybe win 3 more games... Cleveland, Bills and maybe at Baltimore if they sit their starters before the playoffs.

This team is more toasted than Rod Jones.

[COB]

This season is far from over. How many times do you sit back at the end of the NFL season, and teams that ended up good were not that good in the first quarter of the season? This Bengals team is not a classic horrible team that just gets run over by guys. They're wrecking their own chances to win games. In that respect I'm optimistic, that this team could turn out better than they look right now.

Firing Brat would be a great thing to do right now. If that can't be done, somehow force him to emphasize the run. We looked pretty good in the running game Sunday. Keep running until you force the other team to stop the run. Then the pass will be there, for Chad to drop probably.

[membengal]

With that schedule, having dry humped the easy part of it, they are staring 6-10, at best, square in the face.

[Stripes]

I'm not optimistic, but I readily grant that most of our blubbering is probably more reactionary than logical. The NFL always seems to make less sense than it did a week prior, so should the Bengals somehow figure it out (regardless of offensive philosophy) and win some games against teams that currently appear much better, I won't really be surprised.

Not expecting much though.

[kingwilly]

I'm not optimistic, but I readily grant that most of our blubbering is probably more reactionary than logical. The NFL always seems to make less sense than it did a week prior, so should the Bengals somehow figure it out (regardless of offensive philosophy) and win some games against teams that currently appear much better, I won't really be surprised.

Not expecting much though.

But ours is a logical reaction.

When the Bengals commit 9 penalties, toss 3 INT's and lose at home to a clearly weak team (despite running for 149 yards), it is only logical to bitch and complain.

What defies logic, and evokes emotional reactions, is the continued employment of Bob Bratkowski as Offensive Coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Can anyone generate hope? I'm all out of love.

Well, at this rate I see us landing a draft pick at about the #10 slot, which falls nicely between the "way overpaid" and "questionable talent" crowds. There's that, right?

[Wraith]

No optimism the anger boiled it all out of me.

[BengalPimp]

I still believe!!! Yes, we blew 2 games we should have won, but this team still has the talent to make the playoffs. Who cares about the damn schedule....If they just handle their business, they can win. Everybody's wondering how we'll do against the tough schedule, well, teams like the Colts and Chargers don't look very strong and are very beatable .....11 games left, and some of you are already packing it in??? Shame on You.

[Stripes]

11 games left, and some of you are already packing it in??? Shame on You.

It really is absurd. I hope we all regret it.

[combatbengal]

No hope here! We never know what Bengal team will show up. We have a bye week and I'm sure the coaches will give these guys plenty of time off, instead of locking them down and fixing all the issues that we have.

First game back we go to Atlanta. Falcons are on fire! There's a loss

Then we host Miami who's 2-2. They will most likely beat us in another close game.

Then the Steelers come to us and well I don't want to think about that game.

Week 10 we go to the Colts and they always plays us tough.

Then in week 11 we get to play the Bills. In that game we'll play to their level and may get a close win

We're at the Jet's on Thanksgiving and that will be very ugly!

Week 13 we host the Saints, the Super Bowl Champs! Oh Lord!!!

Then we head to the Steelers! They'll be ready for us!

Last three are against the Browns chargers and Ravens.

The way we're playing now, I only see mybe three more wins. I sure hope I'm dead wrong!!!

[HoosierCat]

I still believe!!! Yes, we blew 2 games we should have won, but this team still has the talent to make the playoffs. Who cares about the damn schedule....If they just handle their business, they can win. Everybody's wondering how we'll do against the tough schedule, well, teams like the Colts and Chargers don't look very strong and are very beatable .....11 games left, and some of you are already packing it in??? Shame on You.

Agreed. I've seen a lot worse.

[Dimster28]

11 games left, and some of you are already packing it in??? Shame on You.

It really is absurd. I hope we all regret it.

it is not a hope, u all will regret it, this forum disgust me lately, full of whiners and quitters, bengals will made it in playoff. no question

to all, have fun complain everyday, i wont be back until season over so i can enjoy my football without read this all complains. BYE

[kingwilly]

I still believe!!! Yes, we blew 2 games we should have won, but this team still has the talent to make the playoffs. Who cares about the damn schedule....If they just handle their business, they can win. Everybody's wondering how we'll do against the tough schedule, well, teams like the Colts and Chargers don't look very strong and are very beatable .....11 games left, and some of you are already packing it in??? Shame on You.

Agreed. I've seen a lot worse.

Nope, this about as bad as it gets...

I guess I should qualify this by the inclusion of "disappointment" as to how bad it gets....

Yes, it could be much worse. It has been worse. But it has never been a bigger disappointment.

[Pidge]

Nup. Even if we somehow stumble our way above .500 again we can't keep trying to beat two teams every game. Last yr was frustrating, and downright panic-inducing at times, in it's ups and downs but the one constant all yr (save the Bears game where we humped them - funny that!) was the utter lack of focus and complete ineptitude this team showed for the vast majority of most games - on offense.

That was surely something that the coaching staff noticed. One would have thought that might have been remedied, if not fully at least in large part, this last off-season. Instead it has continued and possibly become a bigger problem. Add to that our D is no longer performing as one of the best units like they did last season and instead of the offense getting the f**k out of their own way just long enough to snatch victory, we're losing games. Losing games from a winning position and getting man-shamed from the off. We can lose them any way you like.

Maybe if the D was performing lights out like they did at times last yr we'd be getting away with it again. No chance now though.

This is all on the coaches. This team has no direction on or off the field.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

I still believe!!! Yes, we blew 2 games we should have won, but this team still has the talent to make the playoffs. Who cares about the damn schedule....If they just handle their business, they can win. Everybody's wondering how we'll do against the tough schedule, well, teams like the Colts and Chargers don't look very strong and are very beatable .....11 games left, and some of you are already packing it in??? Shame on You.

Agreed. I've seen a lot worse.

Relative to expectations?

I mean, for instance, we knew the 2002 team would suck. And in fact, it found innovative ways to do so. And once Carson went down, 2008 was obviously a lost cause. But I've never seen an offense this stacked accomplish so little - or if I have, I've successfully repressed it and I'd appreciate the courtesy of letting me stay that way.

[HoosierCat]

Relative to expectations?

I mean, for instance, we knew the 2002 team would suck.

Actually, we didn't. Expectations coming into '02 were only slightly lower, if that, than this year's. Though the Bengals had finished '01 6-10, they also had the No. 9 defense in the league, a budding star in Chad (then) Johnson and this guy named Dillon at RB. The idea was to emulate the 2000 Ravens: Kitna would be our Trent Dilfer, the D would play tough, and the combination of Corey and Chad would allow us to keep defenses honest.

Then came the idiotic front office decision to foist Gus freakin' Frerotte on poor Dick LeBeau and bring Smith back into the mix for a three-way QB "competition" that ended up turning the season into one of the worst ever. Not only did they lose, they got crushed. With Frerotte and Smith in the first four weeks, they went 0-4 with a combined score of 23-119. No, I have to rate 2002 as worse than this year by far.

[derekshank]

I still believe!!! Yes, we blew 2 games we should have won, but this team still has the talent to make the playoffs. Who cares about the damn schedule....If they just handle their business, they can win. Everybody's wondering how we'll do against the tough schedule, well, teams like the Colts and Chargers don't look very strong and are very beatable .....11 games left, and some of you are already packing it in??? Shame on You.

Agreed. I've seen a lot worse.

Relative to expectations?

I mean, for instance, we knew the 2002 team would suck. And in fact, it found innovative ways to do so. And once Carson went down, 2008 was obviously a lost cause. But I've never seen an offense this stacked accomplish so little - or if I have, I've successfully repressed it and I'd appreciate the courtesy of letting me stay that way.

I would even say that 2007 is far worse than what we're seeing this year. We started out 1-4 with some mind boggling losses (allowing 51 points to the Browns for instance).

My expectations weren't as high this year because I knew with all the offensive changes, there would be problems. I stated last year that the problem with the passing game had more to do with the blocking than the weapons... but we have no new blockers and a whole slew of new weapons.

I still think that the Bengals are a far more talented team than some of the opponents they are losing to... but so are the Packers. So, I'm not overly optimistic, but I still want to believe that they will pull their heads out of their asses and return to what won them the AFCN last year.

[Jet23]

With even an average schedule, there would be reason for optimism. But, successfully navigating through the remaining schedule will take a leader... and the Bengals simply do not have one. Like everyone else, I hope that I am wrong. Carson Palmer is a terrific guy but, not everyone has the personality to be a leader. ML was a leader, now he is just the lead excuse maker. Unlike most, I don't blame Brat all that much. Somewhere along the line you have to trust that your 30-year old qb will not make a stupid mistake. Throwing a pass on 3rd and 13 is an aggressive / gutsy call. Throwing an interception, in that situation, is just plain bad. Paul Alexander is the worst position coach in all of football.

As far as the tone of this board, it is as negative as I have seen it. It is no wonder, since the city of Cincinnati is once again playing the role of Charlie Brown as Lucy pulls the football away. I will continue to go to the games and cheer for the Bengals. But, I will be very surprised if they become a contender.

[ct_bengal]

i,ve calmed down a little bit. if they can rattle off 4 or five in a row they will be back to square one. falcons won all close games not impressed. dolphins, meh not impressed. pittsburgh is a toss up. buffalo should be a win they give up way to many rushing yards, and you would think they would cruise thru that game. so those 4 seem winnable to me, and if they can get to 6-3 thats not too bad. not to mention it all depends what happens in the division also, if the ravens are steelers drop 1 or 2 that will be a motivating factor. I would say tho if they lose the next 2 games then you can almost certainly cash a check on the season.

[HairOnFire]

I think Dimster has the right idea. That being, claim you're still optimistic but disgusted by all the quitters. So you bail out and promise not to return until after the season.

I call it..."Quitting for Tough Guys"

As for the more optimistic rants of Pimp and Hoosier? All I'll say is that it makes me sorta sad seeing both of you fail to grasp the so-called it moment. The tipping point. The final straw. An inability to see the writing on the wall or the hand before your face.

In fact, both of you remind me of victims of violence so incredible that onlookers staring at their now managled bodies say things like..."Lucky bastard never knew what hit him."

As for my beloved Bengals? Well, I see this thing going one of two ways. First, total meltdown. Or the alternative scenario based upon a rousing and improbable return to respect that in the end falls just short of the playoffs precisely because of the Bengals failure to bank easy wins when it mattered.

Bengalnation, by all means, continue to get your popcorn ready. Because the Bengals are legally and contractually obligated to play 11 more games this season.

But let's not kid ourselves about a possible 12th game.

[BengalByTheBay]

I think Dimster has the right idea. That being, claim you're still optimistic but disgusted by all the quitters. So you bail out and promise not to return until after the season.

I call it..."Quitting for Tough Guys"

There's a definite appeal in this position. Believe me, I've considered it. I think, however, that what I will do is to bet heavily taking the points. Whenever the Bengals are favored, they choke and almost never cover -- then I see a stretch of improbable wins (or close losses) against favored opponents (of which there should be quite a few on the upcoming schedule). I call it ... "Easy Money for Losers". Get your popcorn ready.

[Horsemen]

I'll be optimistic when this team commits to being a winning franchise.