Ravens @ Bengals Last Regular-Season Roundup Thread

[Stripes]

The Ravens are about to finish trouncing the Giants to take the AFC North. That means that since the Bengals cannot overtake the Colts, they are locked into the 6th seed and will play on the road against the 3rd seed.

That is currently set to be either New England, Denver, or Houston (the top three seeds are all still in question).

New England is the 3rd seed IF: [Houston beats Indianapolis AND Denver beats Kansas City] OR New England loses to Miami.

Denver is the 3rd seed IF: [Houston beats Indianapolis OR New England beats Miami] AND Denver loses to Kansas City.

Houston is the 3rd seed IF: New England beats Miami AND Denver beats Kansas City AND Houston loses to Indianapolis.

Of these, I think the Patriots and Texans are about equally likely (all hinging on the HOU @ IND game barring a surprising upset by KC and/or MIA). The Broncos are highly unlikely, but not impossible.

Of the three, this is my personal preference of opponents:

Houston - most beatable

New England - scary

Denver - terrifying

You can also use this thread to talk about whether you think the Bengals should play to win (versus resting numerous starters) against the Ravens if you like. I hope they do play to win, since they're going to need all of the confidence they can possibly muster before going on the road to deal with one of the juggernauts listed above.

[HoosierCat]

Bengals could also go to Baltimore in the wild card round if they lose next week and Miami beats the Pats.

/>http://www.cincyjungle.com/2012/12/23/3799474/cincinnati-bengals-locked-in-at-no-6-seed-figuring-out-possible

Grantland likes us versus the Pats.

New England Patriots

Should Fear: Cincinnati Bengals

Why? Because the Bengals do just about everything that would keep Patriots fans up at night. One of those things is throwing to a dominant receiver. If his Bengals make it there, A.J. Green would be the best receiver in the playoffs, and the reality is that the Pats just don't have anybody who can cover him. The likes of Aqib Talib just won't be enough.

And while nobody truly matches up well against the Patriots, the Bengals might come closest. Cincinnati truly has an elite interior pass rusher in Geno Atkins, who'd be going up against the weakest part of the New England offensive line — its middle. With Leon Hall struggling after last year's Achilles tear, the Bengals don't have a true no. 1 cornerback. But they have as many as six competent-or-better corners on the roster when everyone's healthy, which could make it a little harder for the Patriots to find the mismatches that their offense thrives upon.

/>http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/45924/which-matchups-are-kryptonite-for-nfl-playoff-contenders

[Spor_tees]

If the Bengals defense can hold any team to 10 points the Bengals can win. If they keep trying 56 yard FGs I'm not so sure.

[kevnz]

I love our chances against the Pats. Would much rather see them in the first round than any other team. I think the Pats are way overrated.

[Spor_tees]

I love our chances against the Pats. Would much rather see them in the first round than any other team. I think the Pats are way overrated.

I know this sounds kind of crazy, but for the Bengals to beat the Pats, they may need to play with only 2 LBers and 3 safeties. There is no way that Burfict or Lawson can cover Hernandez and Gronkowski all game long, and that isn't even taking into account Welker.

I could see 4 guys up front, Burfict and Lawson, then Hall, Jones, Nelson, Newman, and Crocker. They could activate Kirkpatrick and rotate him and Clements in.

[Kazkal]

If the Bengals defense can hold any team to 10 points the Bengals can win. If they keep trying 56 yard FGs I'm not so sure.

I thought you would love those field goals

[Spor_tees]

If the Bengals defense can hold any team to 10 points the Bengals can win. If they keep trying 56 yard FGs I'm not so sure.

I thought you would love those field goals

Yeah I love 51 and 52 yard FGs, I don't like 56 yard FGs in a stadium where there has NEVER been a FG longer than 52 yards kicked in the history of the stadium.

[COB]

If the Bengals defense can hold any team to 10 points the Bengals can win. If they keep trying 56 yard FGs I'm not so sure.

I thought you would love those field goals

LMAO.

[ArmyBengal]

If the Bengals defense can hold any team to 10 points the Bengals can win. If they keep trying 56 yard FGs I'm not so sure.

I thought you would love those field goals

LMAO.

Yeah, I enjoyed that one as well.

Anyway, there aren't many teams I would get all happy about having to face, so it doesn't really matter to me.

This team plays better on the road anyway, so whatever. Give me the Pats if i'm choosing.

[Stripes]

Bengals could also go to Baltimore in the wild card round if they lose next week and Miami beats the Pats.

Good call. That'd be an interesting opportunity to make amends for week 1, seeing how different both teams are right now.

[walzav29]

I want to play starters and go for win in week 17. I think it's important to keep that mindset going. They just had an extra 3 days rest. Lets just do it. They've had 1 4 game winning streak this season. Do it again, and we're Super Bowl Champs.

[ArmyBengal]

I say let the starters do just that and see how the game progresses.

If there was a player or two I would like to see get more reps, I would say Herron and Whalen.

[HoosierCat]

It's a tough call Walter. Playing everyone sounds good right up until Geno blows out knee, then Marvin is a frickin' idiot for playing his starters in a meaningless game. Might be a good week for a big dose of Still, Thompson, Tate, Whalen and Boom.

[cincy9275]

It's a tough call Walter. Playing everyone sounds good right up until Geno blows out knee, then Marvin is a frickin' idiot for playing his starters in a meaningless game. Might be a good week for a big dose of Still, Thompson, Tate, Whalen and Boom.

i agree since the game in meaningless. let the starters get a couple reps then put in the back ups and young guys to get them some much needed reps. no reason to risk injury in a game that means nothing.

really i was hoping the game would be for the afc north but it's not. so be smart and get ready for the playoff's!

[ArmyBengal]

Yeah, I forgot to add Still and Thompson to that list of players i'd like to see get reps.

[TJJackson]

Agreed that Boom, Still, Thompson all need snaps

Collins needs some snaps, especially since the Flesh Zeppelin might not be with us next year

I want to see a LOT more of Orson and the new guy Conner too

I want Andy out of there by the 10 minute mark in the second quarter

[redsbengalsbucks]

Green, Atkins, Dalton, BJGE, Gresham, Whit, and Nelson don't even need to make an appearance next week. Let the backups play in practice as #1's all week and see what they can do.

Don't allow an injury in a meaningless game affect the playoffs!!!

[HoosierCat]

On the other end of the NFL spectrum, the Raiders lost again yesterday and Carson was knocked out of the game with a rib injury. You'd think they would put in Pryor, but not for some gawdawful reason they inserted Matt freakin' Leinart, who sucked. Bottom line, they look headed for a season-ending loss at SD.

Right now they would pick 5th in the second round. If they lose and Philly (vs. NYG) and Detroit (vs. da Bears) win then that will bump up to 3rd. If the Raiders win the pick could fall as far as 9th in the second round, depending on the results of those two games plus the Buffalo, Tennessee, Cleveland and Arizona games.

Draft order here: http://www.gbnreport.com/weeklydraftorder.html

[BengalszoneBilly]

On the other end of the NFL spectrum, the Raiders lost again yesterday and Carson was knocked out of the game with a rib injury.

There are quite a few Raiders fans out here in Arizona. While having a drink at the sports bar yesterday I asked a couple of them how that whole Carson Palmer thing is working out for them and they just looked down and shook their heads. :lol:

[HoosierCat]

I know I say this every year, but where did the season go? Seems like it just got started...

Looks like the Bengals are healthy going into the final game. For the Ravens, Stabby Ray is still out though he may return for the playoffs. There's some chatter that the NFL could try to suspend Ed Reed again for another hit on a defenseless receiver yesterday. Anquan Boldin left the Giants game with a shoulder injury but early reports are that it won't keep him out.

It will be interesting to see how Baltimore approaches this game. Do they want to face the Bengals for a third time or would they rather host the Colts? However hard they decide to come at the Bengals, Lewis is saying that Cincy's starters will play.

[TJJackson]

That's kind of a shame

By this point in the season, most every player is nicked up in some fashion - albeit not sufficient to end up on the injury report - and an extra week of rest would do them good

I'm not saying rest everyone - but for example they could rest Geno and/or Peko and thereby give Still and/or Thompson some needed snaps

Or rest Whit and give Collins some snaps

Try out some new kick returners....yeah, Tate needs a "rest" (a long one) (the longer the better)

Or pick any of our geriatric crew at CB and let Kirkpatrick or even Miles (yeah, I know, he's a safety) cover some receivers

[TJJackson]

I'd like our round 1 opponent to be Houston, because I really, really want some revenge on those guys from last year

[BengalszoneBilly]

I saw the hit Reed laid on that receiver, and I just don't see it as suspension worthy. It wasn't all that long ago ESPN ran 3 minutes of film about players getting knocked silly. "Jacked Up" or something like that. I found that pretty entertaining!

[HoosierCat]

Yeah, it doesn't look like a Reed suspension is in the cards. Which may not be a bad thing. He's been playing hurt all year and I'm really not sure he isn't a liability out there.

Not crazy about playing the starters but like Marvin said rest hasn't helped before.

[combatbengal]

What I don't wat to see is the Bengals play the Ravens in week 16 and then turn around and have to play them again in the first round of the playoffs! We did that a few yars back with the Texans and the Jets!! Wasn't pretty at all.