Playoff TALK!

[walzav29]

Ok. I'm rooting for Houston to get the #1 seed. I think the Bengals have a shot against the Pats. Here's why. The Ravens, Cardinals, 49ers, and Seahawks all beat the Patriots. The key? Defense. That's always the only way to beat New England. There defense can give up points. I feel the offense has been sluggish since Sanu left and Cook came back. both should be getting there legs under them. The offense will look alot better going against a defense that isn't Pittsburgh.

Then Houston. They are struggling a little, and they have had to have comeback wins against the Lions and Jaguars. They aren't used to the #1 seed. I think they can get bit.

Then Denver. This game will be ALMOST impossible, but can be won. Peyton has choked in playoff games before and it's always because of 1 reason. Pressure from the DL.

I think Carlos Dunlap will be the key if any of the above scenarios take place. There are some games he is purely dominant, and then he disappears. If he gets hot. Thats the key.

[HoosierCat]

I feel the offense has been sluggish since Sanu left and Cook came back. both should be getting there legs under them. The offense will look alot better going against a defense that isn't Pittsburgh.

IMO one of the under-remarked aspects of the Pitt game was that they got Marvin Jones going. Five grabs (second only to Green) and 65 yards -- and it would have been more like 90 yards and a TD if it weren't for good defensive play by Pitt. Jones has had a tough rookie season: buried on the depth chart to start, finally activated only to get hurt on teams, and finally tossed into the deep end of a playoff run. But if you look at the last four games he's gone from 2/20 against SD to 3/45 against the Boys to 5/65 against Pitt. You have to like the trend.

[volcom69]

I feel the offense has been sluggish since Sanu left and Cook came back. both should be getting there legs under them. The offense will look alot better going against a defense that isn't Pittsburgh.

IMO one of the under-remarked aspects of the Pitt game was that they got Marvin Jones going. Five grabs (second only to Green) and 65 yards -- and it would have been more like 90 yards and a TD if it weren't for good defensive play by Pitt. Jones has had a tough rookie season: buried on the depth chart to start, finally activated only to get hurt on teams, and finally tossed into the deep end of a playoff run. But if you look at the last four games he's gone from 2/20 against SD to 3/45 against the Boys to 5/65 against Pitt. You have to like the trend.

I love the trend, thought he should have had that pass for a TD. It would have been a really tough grab, but I bet he starts to hold on to those.

[walzav29]

Last year the Pats barely beat the Ravens 23-20 and in 2009 the Ravens pummeled the Pats at NE 33-14 and that was a year coming off of the Super Bowl. It is very hard to go to back to back Super Bowls.

There is one problem though. Zims defenses have been trounced by Brady

2004 @New England L, 28-35

2006 @Cincinnati L, 13-38

2007 @Cincinnati L, 13-34

2009 @Cincinnati L, 24-38

So Zimmer will definitely have his work cut out for him.

[HoosierCat]

Zimmer didn't become a coach in Cincy until 2008.

[ArmyBengal]

Honestly, any team we face in the playoffs is going to be tough.

I don't think there is any team we stand a significantly better chance of beating.

We will depend on what we have continued to depend on regardless of the team.

Not to mention they seem to play better on the road, so I won't even argue that matters all that much.

[walzav29]

I just don't want it to seem like they are overwhelmed. Completely outschemed. I watched that replay Wed. night and loved it. They played so tough. They lost the turnover battle, got outsacked, overcame some risky coaching moves and still won. They are 6-1 in last 7. Could easily be 7-0. They can throw, run, stop run, playing good in red zone. Punter is playing great. They are hot. Who knows? I feel like we're playing with the houses money, because we made back to back playoffs and the team has so much young talent. It feels like its the beginning. And the window for Denver, NE, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore is closing because of age.

[walzav29]

I love the fact that everyone is making obvious picks like Green Bay vs Denver. There is always an upset or something unexpected. The worl would love a Seattle/Cincinnati Super Bowl.

[ArmyBengal]

I think Seattle is another one of those teams that is really going to be tougher than most think.

Anyway around, I made the comment that if the Bengals were to make the playoffs by beating the Steelers and Ravens to end the season, they would be able to play against any of the teams they may face. I stand by that comment. While they have things they need to improve upon, they have the ability to hang with any team. Here's to hoping they continue their ways.

When looking at the schedules of the teams in the playoffs, they really haven't had those super tough teams.

No one has had a schedule that when looking at it makes you go, "WHOA".

The Bengals can beat these guys.

They just have to believe they belong there.

[walzav29]

I agree. Looking at the 10 day forecast it looks like the weather has a 10% chance of precipitation and a low of 15 degrees. I blizzard would benefit Cincy as well as wind. I like that the Bengals will have slugfest black and blue battles against Pitt/Balt going into the playoffs. Reminds me of The Warriors.