Cowboys @ Bengals Pre-Rodeo/Game Thread

[BengalByTheBay]

That's what worries me about the up coming games, Pitt and Baltimore know how to win the big game. The bengals are young and need to learn how to overcome mistakes, and need to learn to play big in must win games.

You know I hear this statement all the time, but just true is it? Didn't Pittsburgh just lose a "big game" against lowly San Diego AT HOME? Didn't Baltimore just lose a "big game" against the Redskins? Weren't both of those teams were just as motivated as the Bengals? It's not as if the Steelers somehow knew the Bengals were going to lose while they were busy getting stomped by the ferocity that is Philip Rivers. No, teams just lose sometimes. It happens. Yeah, it sucks. It's frustrating to lose like that at home, but it could certainly have been worse.

[kingwilly]

That's what worries me about the up coming games, Pitt and Baltimore know how to win the big game. The bengals are young and need to learn how to overcome mistakes, and need to learn to play big in must win games.

You know I hear this statement all the time, but just true is it? Didn't Pittsburgh just lose a "big game" against lowly San Diego AT HOME? Didn't Baltimore just lose a "big game" against the Redskins? Weren't both of those teams were just as motivated as the Bengals? It's not as if the Steelers somehow knew the Bengals were going to lose while they were busy getting stomped by the ferocity that is Philip Rivers. No, teams just lose sometimes. It happens. Yeah, it sucks. It's frustrating to lose like that at home, but it could certainly have been worse.

I really feel this loss was THE pivotal moment of the year. How they proceed will define the year.

Win out, it will have been the thing that turned them around.

Lose any additional game, and it was the game that cracked them.

With the short week now, they better have their big boy pants on.

If Marvin can't make it work, I predict he resigns and moves on. I think he could end up in AZ or Buffalo.

[walzav29]

If they Bengals win out they could win the division. Ravens have Broncos, NYG, and Cin. Thats brutal. Injuries have beat the Steelers and Ravens down. They are ripe for the picking, but can these young guys get over the mental hurdle? Dalton is now 0-4 against them.

[HoosierCat]

CasinoAmbush: also sane.

[cincy9275]

i feel marvin has to prove he deserves this job. really all marvin is know for is mostly epic failure as a HC here. i think he has to win out. prove he can beat the stoolers and ratbirds and win a damn play off game. anything less and he should be fired period!

to many talented players here for marvin to chase away from here. think about it, how many all-star level players. have demanded a trade or resigned some where else? we can't have andy aj or geno wanting out of here because of marvin.

[Spor_tees]

CasinoAmbush: also sane.

I once heard a very important quote that is very fitting for this thread:

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting a different outcome."

-spoken by a mass-murderer played by Steve Buschemi in "Con-Air" yet attributed to someone else before him in real life. So by saying the Bengals screwed the pooch, yet were in the same company as many other teams better than them, gets me a pin on my chest, I'll apply for the job.

[volcom69]

Was listening to Lap and was saying the bengals had 8 dropped balls yesterday, how crazy is that. Lack of focus or whatever it was, lets hope they got it out of there system.

[TJJackson]

I really feel this loss was THE pivotal moment of the year. How they proceed will define the year.

Win out, it will have been the thing that turned them around.

Lose any additional game, and it was the game that cracked them.

I agree with this, but based on how flat they were, I am all but sure they are, as you put it, cracked

I really feel they HAD to have this one

I hope I am wrong

They are very, very, VERY fortunate that Pittsburgh lost

Frankly - barring a complete collapse by the Steelers, which I don't anticipate - the playoffs start for the Bengals this week. Any loss and (imho) they are out. I emphasize the "imho" here.

[ArmyBengal]

Was listening to Lap and was saying the bengals had 8 dropped balls yesterday, how crazy is that. Lack of focus or whatever it was, lets hope they got it out of there system.

Was that counted on both sides of the ball or was that just the WR's ??

Either way, that cost them the game.

I can be mad at not having timeouts left, I can be mad at many other things as well, but had someone found a way to hold onto even one of the INT's, one of the 1st down producing throws, one of the TD's, this game would have been a blow out.

I guess there's always that, but it doesn't put another "W" in the win column...

[ArmyBengal]

Speaking of things that cost them the game, I just saw where in the last two Cowboys drives, the Bengals defense gave up 118 yards. They had only given up 170 total on the Cowboys first 8 drives. Was that a change in the scheme ?? A breakdown in what the players were doing on the field ?? I don't know, but that really needs to be addressed as well.

I will go back and admit my lack of preparedness statement was off.

They apparently had a good game plan and were executing.

Things changed and drops happened.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Speaking of things that cost them the game, I just saw where in the last two Cowboys drives, the Bengals defense gave up 118 yards. They had only given up 170 total on the Cowboys first 8 drives. Was that a change in the scheme ??

It's called the "prevent" defense. Basically it prevents you from winning.

[ArmyBengal]

I get that for sure Billy, but I just don't get it, if that was what happened.

I don't understand how you can abandon what got you the 9 point lead.

[walzav29]

To me this is a pivitol stretch to evaluate Marvin Lewis. Below are the records going into the final 4 games and then how they ended. The Bengals have to go 3-1. The reason for hope is that the players seem better and have higher character than those other teams. If the Bengals stumble again and finish 1-3 then thats it. I'll be officially off the Marvin bandwagon. Regardless of us being better than the 90's, the goal HAS to be a Championship. This team has too much talent to falter down the stretch again. We'll see what happens.

7-5 – 8-8 2003 1-3

6-6 – 8-8 2004 2-2

7-5 – 8-8 2006 1-3

9-3 – 10-6 2009 1-3

7-6 – 9-7 2011 2-2

[BengalszoneBilly]

To me this is a pivitol stretch to evaluate Marvin Lewis. Below are the records going into the final 4 games and then how they ended. The Bengals have to go 3-1. The reason for hope is that the players seem better and have higher character than those other teams. If the Bengals stumble again and finish 1-3 then thats it. I'll be officially off the Marvin bandwagon. Regardless of us being better than the 90's, the goal HAS to be a Championship. This team has too much talent to falter down the stretch again. We'll see what happens.

7-5 – 8-8 2003 1-3

6-6 – 8-8 2004 2-2

7-5 – 8-8 2006 1-3

9-3 – 10-6 2009 1-3

7-6 – 9-7 2011 2-2

We could hire an office temp with a bad attitude and match those results.

[walzav29]

He did finish 3-1 in 2007 and 2008, but those were lost seasons.

[BengalByTheBay]

So by saying the Bengals screwed the pooch, yet were in the same company as many other teams better than them, gets me a pin on my chest, I'll apply for the job.

Steve Buscemi says you're not qualified.

[Stripes]

Drops happen sometimes. That's football. On this particular team, they have not been a season-long issue.

Interceptions get thrown sometimes. That's football. Dalton has thrown too many, but he has still had a good year overall.

Bad calls get made sometimes. That's football. Completely out of anyone's control.

Timeouts get wasted constantly. That's Marvin. That's Marvin's entire career.

[HoosierCat]

Drops happen sometimes. That's football. On this particular team, they have not been a season-long issue.

Interceptions get thrown sometimes. That's football. Dalton has thrown too many, but he has still had a good year overall.

Bad calls get made sometimes. That's football. Completely out of anyone's control.

Timeouts get wasted constantly. That's Marvin. That's Marvin's entire career.

Other HCs waste timeouts too. But overall you are absolutely right. I wonder sometimes if too many Bengals fans only watch the Bengals.

But anyhow. We didn't see anything Suday we haven't seen all year, with the possible exception of AJ having an off day. The passing game has no rhythm because the position has no continuity. Our secondary has never been mistaken for "ball hawks." Both units are patchworks and it's notable that the Bengals still almost won, despite playing like crap.

We need Sanu back, we need more talent in the secondary, we need some fu*king linebackers...same stuff different week. 7-9 is still possible and I'm stickin' to it.