Writers don't like to check but...

[walzav29]

I hear alot about the Bengals losing to playoff teams, and I know Peter King hates checking these things, but the Lions are 0-5 and haven't beaten 1 team over .500. The Bengals have. Just saying.

[jjakq27]

Neither have the Pats

Wall Street Journal

Despite going 13-3 and earning the top seed in the AFC, the Patriots became just the ninth team since the 1970 merger to make the playoffs without beating a single opponent with a record better than .500.

Read more: http://www.700wlw.com/pages/lancesBlog.html#ixzz1iPAAnybI

[Sea Ray]

There's no question the Bengals are deserving of making the plaoffs. They've been in position for the #6 seed for much of the year and their resume clearly is better than the Titans, Jets and Raiders. As much as we thought it was an easy schedule last summer, as it turns out we played 7 playoff teams which I think is tops in the league.

[derekshank]

Chris Berman of all people said, "They went 0-4 against Pittsburgh and Baltimore... but they went 9-3 against everyone else. That's pretty good. They don't have anything to apologize for."

I'm all for Marvin Lewis playing the "disrespect" card if that is likely to have positive results... but about 50% of the analysts out there thought the Bengals would beat Baltimore. Cincinnati is not being treated unfairly by most people (except for that tool Rodney Harrison).

[Wraith]

Almost every winning team every year can say the same thing about beating bad teams, in fact the mark of a good team is beating the teams you are "supposed to beat" and to that the Bengals did not have a "bad loss" all season, unlike the Steelers and the Ravens.

Amoung the other things that the writers have not researched is the Bengals Offense vs. their competition.

The Bengals played 10 games this season against top 10 defenses. 2 vs. #1 Pitt, 1 (2) vs. #2 Houston, 2 vs. #3 Balitmore, 1 vs. #4 San Fran, 1 vs. #6 Jacksonville, 1 vs. #9 Seattle, and 2 vs #10 Cleveland. In those games we are 4-6 with 5 very close losses.

[HoosierCat]

Good point, wraith.

Another oddball fact to keep in mind re: teams with winning records: 2011 is tied with 2006 for fewest winning teams since the 2002 realignment.

2002 - 16

2003 - 14

2004 - 13

2005 - 17

2006 - 12

2007 - 13

2008 - 15

2009 - 15

2010 - 14

2011 - 12

[derekshank]

Good point, wraith.

Another oddball fact to keep in mind re: teams with winning records: 2011 is tied with 2006 for fewest winning teams since the 2002 realignment.

2002 - 16

2003 - 14

2004 - 13

2005 - 17

2006 - 12

2007 - 13

2008 - 15

2009 - 15

2010 - 14

2011 - 12

That's crazy, considering that the AFC North has 3 teams with a winning record.

That's right... 25% of all winning teams in the entire NFL reside in the AFC North.

[kingwilly]

Good point, wraith.

Another oddball fact to keep in mind re: teams with winning records: 2011 is tied with 2006 for fewest winning teams since the 2002 realignment.

2002 - 16

2003 - 14

2004 - 13

2005 - 17

2006 - 12

2007 - 13

2008 - 15

2009 - 15

2010 - 14

2011 - 12

That's crazy, considering that the AFC North has 3 teams with a winning record.

That's right... 25% of all winning teams in the entire NFL reside in the AFC North.

And that's why this is the toughest division in football. Even more so when Cleveland takes RG3.

I really like the quote from Chris Berman. Going 0-4 to Pitt/Balt is an anomoly. As well, 3 of the 4 were very close games.

[Sea Ray]

And that's why this is the toughest division in football. Even more so when Cleveland takes RG3.

I really like the quote from Chris Berman. Going 0-4 to Pitt/Balt is an anomoly. As well, 3 of the 4 were very close games.

Do you think Minnesota is so pleased with Ponder that they'll pass on RG III? Even if they don't want him, they'll have to consider trading their pick for someone who does. Ditto for St Louis. If Holmgren really wants RG3, I think he'll have to part with his other 1st rd pick. I don't think RG3 is really a west coast offense guy so I'm not sure he's a fit in Cleveland. If the Browns do go with him then they ought to revamp their offensive scheme

[kingwilly]

And that's why this is the toughest division in football. Even more so when Cleveland takes RG3.

I really like the quote from Chris Berman. Going 0-4 to Pitt/Balt is an anomoly. As well, 3 of the 4 were very close games.

Do you think Minnesota is so pleased with Ponder that they'll pass on RG III? Even if they don't want him, they'll have to consider trading their pick for someone who does. Ditto for St Louis. If Holmgren really wants RG3, I think he'll have to part with his other 1st rd pick. I don't think RG3 is really a west coast offense guy so I'm not sure he's a fit in Cleveland. If the Browns do go with him then they ought to revamp their offensive scheme

I think Minny has to ride Ponder and get better Oline. I also think RG3 can work in Cleveland. They won't keep Hillis, and they will get more WR's. It will be a west coast hybrid a la Philly. Big plays downfield and lots of screen and dumps to TE's and RB's.... and RG3 can run. Certainly better than Colt McCoy.