Im rooting for the Ravens Sunday

[walzav29]

I would say the Bengals best shot is the wildcard route, and that means the Steelers and Colts need to go down. Pats play the Colts and The Ravens take on Pitt. Gotta roll KC first of course.

[ArmyBengal]

I'll root for any team that assists the Bengals in reaching the playoffs.

Even if it is all in vain...

[Earendil]

I have two favorite NFL teams... the Bengals, and whoever is playing the Steelers.

[HoosierCat]

Uh-oh. It looks like the Ravens took out Byron Leftwich. Steelers will be working out QBs this week. I guess it will be Charlie Batch time vs. the Browns.

Not to get too far ahead but it's uncanny the way things seem to be breaking for Cincy. Pitt loses its Nos. 1 and 2 QBs on successive weeks. The Raiders are a disaster. San Diego has lost five of the last six and can't protect Rivers. Dallas barely squeaked past Cleveland in their own house. Philly is in complete meltdown mode.

I know, I know: we're talking about the Bengals here. If anyone can f**k this up, they can. Still...huge opportunity if they can keep playing like they have the last couple weeks.

[ArmyBengal]

The way I see it is, one game down two to go.

Beat the Raiders and Chargers in the next two weeks and they are in business.

They put themselves where they are and I want to see them respond.

How bad do they want it ??

[TJJackson]

They probably can't afford more than one loss the rest of the way to make it in. 9-7 is a big maybe. I think they'll need 10-6.

I think Baltimore and/or Pittsburgh (with or without Rapistberger, and by then, probably with) hands them at least 1 loss and possibly 2, unless Baltimore's playoff slot is set in stone at that point and they play it like a 3rd preseason game.

[HoosierCat]

I don't think 9-7 gets them in, either. Even 10-6 might not do it. But as someone noted a few days ago, having a shot at least keeps the season fun.

[Spor_tees]

The Bengals can not afford to lose an AFC game. That means they could lose a game to an NFC team, but those are against Dallas and Philadelphia who they should beat. I guess if they lose one AFC game and go 10-5 they still should get in, but that depends on a lot of the other teams that are in the middle of the pack like the Bengals. Now if the Bengals lost to either the Ravens or the Steelers, I would find it hard to believe that a team who is 2-4 in their own division makes the playoffs.

[TJJackson]

if they lose one AFC game and go 10-5 they still should get in

So in this scenario, they just don't play one of their games? It gets cancelled and no rescheduled or something?

[kingwilly]

I don't think 9-7 gets them in, either. Even 10-6 might not do it. But as someone noted a few days ago, having a shot at least keeps the season fun.

We only get in by ending with better record than Indy. They play Bills, Lions, Titans, Texans, Chiefs, Texans. They need to split with Texans (Texans might have 1 seed locked by last game, so that might be a gimme).

Our remaining schedule: Raiders, @Chargers, Cowboys, @Eagles, @Steelers, Ravens. Certainly, winning out is ideal but unlikely. They "could" lose any of these. Wining at Pitt, at SD and at home v Ravens are priority but really they need to have a better racord than Indy. If Pitt really implodes, possible, then it might not matter.

So, two in a row and it gets interesting again. Funny how the 4 game skid jams up what was a really noice position in start of October.

[Spor_tees]

if they lose one AFC game and go 10-5 they still should get in

So in this scenario, they just don't play one of their games? It gets cancelled and no rescheduled or something?

No, I meant 10-5-1...or there could be another earthquake in Kentucky that wipes out every stadium so that they don't play the last game of the season against Baltimore. Regardless if they lose a game against either Baltimore or the Steelers, that makes them 2-4 in the division. How many teams with that bad of a division record normally make the playoffs?

P.S. I sent Hair a message and told him used missed him very much.

[kingwilly]

if they lose one AFC game and go 10-5 they still should get in

So in this scenario, they just don't play one of their games? It gets cancelled and no rescheduled or something?

No, I meant 10-5-1...or there could be another earthquake in Kentucky that wipes out every stadium so that they don't play the last game of the season against Baltimore. Regardless if they lose a game against either Baltimore or the Steelers, that makes them 2-4 in the division. How many teams with that bad of a division record normally make the playoffs?

P.S. I sent Hair a message and told him used missed him very much.

Good Lord you are irritating. Like getting fiberglass insulation on your skin...

Stop acting like a douche and agitating anyone who you correspond with. FFS

[kingwilly]

if they lose one AFC game and go 10-5 they still should get in

So in this scenario, they just don't play one of their games? It gets cancelled and no rescheduled or something?

No, I meant 10-5-1...or there could be another earthquake in Kentucky that wipes out every stadium so that they don't play the last game of the season against Baltimore. Regardless if they lose a game against either Baltimore or the Steelers, that makes them 2-4 in the division. How many teams with that bad of a division record normally make the playoffs?

P.S. I sent Hair a message and told him used missed him very much.

Now, I will agree that at 2-4 in the division their chances are slim, unless Indy hits a slump. They are the only team I see preventing Cincy from making it.

Also, I foresee a scenario where we beat the Ravens (who are resting) and then travel to Baltimore for Wildcard.

[Spor_tees]

if they lose one AFC game and go 10-5 they still should get in

So in this scenario, they just don't play one of their games? It gets cancelled and no rescheduled or something?

No, I meant 10-5-1...or there could be another earthquake in Kentucky that wipes out every stadium so that they don't play the last game of the season against Baltimore. Regardless if they lose a game against either Baltimore or the Steelers, that makes them 2-4 in the division. How many teams with that bad of a division record normally make the playoffs?

P.S. I sent Hair a message and told him used missed him very much.

Good Lord you are irritating. Like getting fiberglass insulation on your skin...

Stop acting like a douche and agitating anyone who you correspond with. FFS

Wait I don't want to make an issue with this, but are you talking to me or TJ? I'm not the instigator in every thread with every post I make. I just want to be sure where you are going with this.

[kingwilly]

if they lose one AFC game and go 10-5 they still should get in

So in this scenario, they just don't play one of their games? It gets cancelled and no rescheduled or something?

No, I meant 10-5-1...or there could be another earthquake in Kentucky that wipes out every stadium so that they don't play the last game of the season against Baltimore. Regardless if they lose a game against either Baltimore or the Steelers, that makes them 2-4 in the division. How many teams with that bad of a division record normally make the playoffs?

P.S. I sent Hair a message and told him used missed him very much.

Good Lord you are irritating. Like getting fiberglass insulation on your skin...

Stop acting like a douche and agitating anyone who you correspond with. FFS

Wait I don't want to make an issue with this, but are you talking to me or TJ? I'm not the instigator in every thread with every post I make. I just want to be sure where you are going with this.

No, I'm addressing you. TJ is a known qty for poking at those who try to rile people up. Seems you've been trying hard to rile folks since coming back. I'm jut saying let it chill a bit. Text on a screen can be read so many ways, its easy to over-infer and take things the wrong way. There are some who simply exist to agitate. Others just share ideas and go back and forth in discussion. Arguing each and every point is not only tedious but makes the poster look like a bit of a douche.

I generally don't argue deeply into every little thing, though on football matters I will. So, let the ad hominums go and work the merits. Just a friendly offering of suggestion.

[HoosierCat]

Funny how the 4 game skid jams up what was a really noice position in start of October.

Yup. If they had just managed 2-2 they'd be sitting pretty right now. They would even still have a decent shot at the division. But as usual the Bengals can't do anything the easy way.

[Spor_tees]

Funny how the 4 game skid jams up what was a really noice position in start of October.

Yup. If they had just managed 2-2 they'd be sitting pretty right now. They would even still have a decent shot at the division. But as usual the Bengals can't do anything the easy way.

The first Browns game and the Dolphins game were the playoff killers. If they had won those games, they would be sitting at 7-3 and firmly planted at the top of the wildcard race. Unfortunately Baltimore is 4-0 in the division so that is out of reach.

[kingwilly]

Funny how the 4 game skid jams up what was a really noice position in start of October.

Yup. If they had just managed 2-2 they'd be sitting pretty right now. They would even still have a decent shot at the division. But as usual the Bengals can't do anything the easy way.

The first Browns game and the Dolphins game were the playoff killers. If they had won those games, they would be sitting at 7-3 and firmly planted at the top of the wildcard race. Unfortunately Baltimore is 4-0 in the division so that is out of reach.

We won the first Browns game. Losing to them at all is a disgrace. Losing to Miami is suckage, too. If they were 7-3, things would be looking rosy with Pitt all banged up at QB. There is not much else in the AFC from Bengals and below. The teams that can really trip us ate SD, Cowboys and Philly.

After last two weeks, I like the chances.

[Spor_tees]

Funny how the 4 game skid jams up what was a really noice position in start of October.

Yup. If they had just managed 2-2 they'd be sitting pretty right now. They would even still have a decent shot at the division. But as usual the Bengals can't do anything the easy way.

The first Browns game and the Dolphins game were the playoff killers. If they had won those games, they would be sitting at 7-3 and firmly planted at the top of the wildcard race. Unfortunately Baltimore is 4-0 in the division so that is out of reach.

We won the first Browns game. Losing to them at all is a disgrace. Losing to Miami is suckage, too. If they were 7-3, things would be looking rosy with Pitt all banged up at QB. There is not much else in the AFC from Bengals and below. The teams that can really trip us ate SD, Cowboys and Philly.

After last two weeks, I like the chances.

Sorry the second Browns game, it was part of that four game skid where the players looked like they had been shot up with ketamine. Just walking zombies going through the motions. Philly is going through a QB controversy and now are starting a new guy. The Cowboys are schizophrenic these days, you don't know if you are going to see a playoff contender or a team that looks like they are only playing because they don't have anything better to do. The big question will if Murray is back by then or not. Jerry Jones said he would rather Murray stay out until he is 100% than let him play and continue to hurt himself. San Diego is the only game that scares me outside of Baltimore and the Steelers.

This spell check sucks on here btw. LOL Even when I spell something right it says it is wrong.

[TJJackson]

After last two weeks, I like the chances.

I too have liked what I have seen the last two weeks, but after the early failures to beat teams we should have beaten (like the aforementioned second Browns game) I can't claim that I am confident we'll handle these other teams "we should beat" over the next several weeks

Even if I am underestimating the Bengals here -- either the Steelers or the Colts ALSO have falter for us to claim one of the WC spots. I know the Steelers have QB problems right now but I think their defense will carry them until Ben can play again, and while the Colts do have to face Houston twice, one of those is the final game of the season where Houston may well be playing for nothing

so I am not optimistic.

Talk to me again if after the next two games they are 7-5 and have pulled ahead of either the Colts or Steelers :-)

[Spor_tees]

After last two weeks, I like the chances.

I too have liked what I have seen the last two weeks, but after the early failures to beat teams we should have beaten (like the aforementioned second Browns game) I can't claim that I am confident we'll handle these other teams "we should beat" over the next several weeks

Even if I am underestimating the Bengals here -- either the Steelers or the Colts ALSO have falter for us to claim one of the WC spots. I know the Steelers have QB problems right now but I think their defense will carry them until Ben can play again, and while the Colts do have to face Houston twice, one of those is the final game of the season where Houston may well be playing for nothing

so I am not optimistic.

Talk to me again if after the next two games they are 7-5 and have pulled ahead of either the Colts or Steelers :-)

Not to mention the ability of the Bengals to make backup and rookie QBs look like super stars. Also look at the first Steelers game where the defense let a third string running back look like Franco Harris. That's the sad thing about this team, you just don't know what they are going to bring mentally to the game. They have the talent, that's for sure, it's all about the other things as to whether they will be successful.

[volcom69]

It's a matter if they can handle success or not. That has hurt this team every year coming off a winning record. It's a matter of just doing your job, and playing togther like a team should. The defense the last couple of games have come togther, I've noticed guys flying to the ball, more then one guy making tackles. It's going to be tough, one game at a time, they do have the talent, and guys should get healthy soon. I still don't trust this team, but I'm having fun again watching games, so I guess will see.

[HoosierCat]

The AFCN weirdness continues...

Leftwich reportedly has 2 fractured ribs.

Plexiglass may be a Steeler again.

Ed Reed has been suspended for 1 game for repeated hits to the head.

[Spor_tees]

The AFCN weirdness continues...

Leftwich reportedly has 2 fractured ribs.

Plexiglass may be a Steeler again.

Ed Reed has been suspended for 1 game for repeated hits to the head.

It's Tommie Maddox their third stringer?

[TJJackson]

Its kinda funny that their former backup QB Dennis Dixon refused to even work out for them