A very Bengals way......

[jonf45uk]

To lose a game!!!!

 

Total domination in the first half, should have gone in 17-0 but nugent missed fg gave them the ball in good position and with the crowd suddenly back in it. The fact that we only just managed 3 after that was disappointing,  but as usual the oppo changed their game plan and we seemed to react too slowly. A very definite game of 2 halves......and a bit.

We were lucky to be given a shot in OT,  but we should have won the game in the first half IMO. 

Thought mccarron did ok, the death of the o line in the 2nd half not doing him any favours and my only gripe with him was missing on 3 long shots down field with an open man. 

Most worrying is I don't think anyone will fear us going into the playoffs without dalton and eiffert, and with dalton having no play time for 3/4 weeks how will he hold up if thrown back in in the playoff game? 

On the plus side I thought the defence did well in a  difficult situation( were clearly knackered in the 2nd half with the amount of time they were on the field) and if they could cut down on penalties (I'm looking at you Vontaze) and stay healthy, they're a good unit. (How is Dunlap not in the pro bowl?????)

A hard loss to take after how well we played for 30 mins, but we don't seem to be able to keep it up for a full 60. Oo-er missus ;)

Just seen mccarron has injured his left hand as his status for next week is unknown........honestly, if we didn't have bad luck we'd have no at all!!!!

Anyway happy new year to everyone, have a good one wherever you're celebrating :)

[gregcook68]

5 hours ago, jonf45uk said:

To lose a game!!!!

 

Total domination in the first half, should have gone in 17-0 but nugent missed fg gave them the ball in good position and with the crowd suddenly back in it. The fact that we only just managed 3 after that was disappointing,  but as usual the oppo changed their game plan and we seemed to react too slowly. A very definite game of 2 halves......and a bit.

We were lucky to be given a shot in OT,  but we should have won the game in the first half IMO. 

Thought mccarron did ok, the death of the o line in the 2nd half not doing him any favours and my only gripe with him was missing on 3 long shots down field with an open man. 

Most worrying is I don't think anyone will fear us going into the playoffs without dalton and eiffert, and with dalton having no play time for 3/4 weeks how will he hold up if thrown back in in the playoff game? 

On the plus side I thought the defence did well in a  difficult situation( were clearly knackered in the 2nd half with the amount of time they were on the field) and if they could cut down on penalties (I'm looking at you Vontaze) and stay healthy, they're a good unit. (How is Dunlap not in the pro bowl?????)

A hard loss to take after how well we played for 30 mins, but we don't seem to be able to keep it up for a full 60. Oo-er missus ;)

Just seen mccarron has injured his left hand as his status for next week is unknown........honestly, if we didn't have bad luck we'd have no at all!!!!

Anyway happy new year to everyone, have a good one wherever you're celebrating :)

 

After all the if onlys and analysis, even though they played their hearts out, once the dust settles, it still comes down to the fact that they didn't get it done ...... on the big stage, in a big game .... once again.

After watching them for 47 years, I don't know, maybe Sanders is right. Maybe the franchise just isn't built for the moment! 

[volcom69]

This is a team of  two halves. For the second week they come out in the second half and can't do crap.

i thought AJ did pretty good, the o-line first half was great, second half not so much.

The running game in the first half was pretty good, second half once again they sucked!

To win a playoff game this year, they need to play the best defense ever getting turnovers, and they need to run the ball! They need to learn to play 4 quarters not just 2, and maybe they can pull out a win. 

At this point all we have is hope! Happy new year to you as well

[Walrus]

They played well enough to win against a tough opponent. No, they didn't get the W, but I think chalking this up to a classic prime-time "bungle" smacks of pure superstition. Next time they'll get the win. And it's looking likely they'll have that shot in a few weeks.

[volcom69]

2 minutes ago, Walrus said:

They played well enough to win against a tough opponent. No, they didn't get the W, but I think chalking this up to a classic prime-time "bungle" smacks of pure superstition. Next time they'll get the win. And it's looking likely they'll have that shot in a few weeks.

Yea maybe they will get that win next time, and yea they looked good enough to win, but they always look good enough to win in the big games but always find a way to lose.

Had a chance against Arizona, but defense couldn't stop them.

Had a chance against Houston but AJ fumbled the ball.

Hopefully the playoffs change there luck, guys are healthy, and if AJ is the QB we see him take over. They are a very talented football team, and it's time to show it when it matters, in a playoff game. 

[gregcook68]

16 minutes ago, volcom69 said:

Happy new year to you as well

Same to you Vol! At the very least they have had 5 winning seasons and 5 playoffs in a row!

Better than my wife and son's poor Eagles! 

[volcom69]

1 minute ago, gregcook68 said:

Same to you Vol! At the very least they have had 5 winning seasons and 5 playoffs in a row!

Better than my wife and son's poor Eagles! 

Oh trust me i will be the last ones to complain about being in the playoffs and losing, at least they get there. 

I remember when the Eagles made the playoffs every year, but never made it anywhere, my brother would complain so bad. I remember telling him well at least your team makes it and has a shot, every year the bengals at this time are at home.

Crazy how times have changed lol.

[Walrus]

6 minutes ago, volcom69 said:

Yea maybe they will get that win next time, and yea they looked good enough to win, but they always look good enough to win in the big games but always find a way to lose.

Had a chance against Arizona, but defense couldn't stop them.

Had a chance against Houston but AJ fumbled the ball.

Hopefully the playoffs change there luck, guys are healthy, and if AJ is the QB we see him take over. They are a very talented football team, and it's time to show it when it matters, in a playoff game. 

I'm not sure we've seen them look as good as they did when they were rolling in the 1st half. Not in prime time. So they struggled to adjust to a zone defense - that's fixable. The altitude might have been an issue as the D seemed to wear out and that won't change if they have to face Denver again. But like I said before they did enough to get a win. Next time they'll finish. 

[gregcook68]

7 minutes ago, volcom69 said:

Oh trust me i will be the last ones to complain about being in the playoffs and losing, at least they get there. 

I remember when the Eagles made the playoffs every year, but never made it anywhere, my brother would complain so bad. I remember telling him well at least your team makes it and has a shot, every year the bengals at this time are at home.

Crazy how times have changed lol.

Exactly! You have 0% chance of winning the SB if you don't make the playoffs, which is why I will be rooting for the Jets and watching that score, because I want Thugsburgh sitting at home for the playoffs!

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Not sure what to think anymore - Marvin's teams do the same thing seemingly, every Dec/Jan, collapse, all it takes is an injury or two.

There are systematic problems with how they are doing things that aren't being addressed, despite the same results year after year (coming up short).

This team isn't going anywhere in the post season, I'd be amazed if they did, but they will be lucky to win one game, it will depend on the match-up (hopefully KC or the Jets).  They don't handle pressure well at all, the defense disappears for long stretches, as does the offense, they sooner or later make a fatal mistake, or commit a dumb penalty, and they never seem to recover from those.  And the 0-line can't run block or pass protect to save their lives for 4 quarters - constant penalties, gaffes and under-performing from that group...yet no one is held accountable.  Something is also just old and predictable about their blocking schemes that I think every NFL D-coordinator has figured out by now, seeing as they've had the same 0-line coach for over 15 years now.  The rushing yards early last night were mostly after contact and a matter of moving piles for an extra 3-4 yards it seemed - not ONE big run.  In fact I can't remember the last big run either of these RB's have had that wasn't a trick play or screen.  And BOTH of them have the ability to take it to the house at any time, but it hasn't happened this year.

[rwjcgc]

Some teams do the things necessary to win big games against top competition.   Other teams do not have that ability.

Marvin Lewis's Bengals teams are in the second group.  

Personally I hold Mike Brown responsible for the failings of the team as it's General Manager - the buck stops with him (and the Brown family front office staff).   He is apparently enamored with Coach Lewis who appears to have a contract for life.   To my view, Lewis has been routinely out-coached  throughout his Head Coach tenure (few have done so little with so much team talent).

I hope the Bengals can turn their fortunes around this postseason but the realist in me knows that the chances are remote at best.
 

[volcom69]

They need a running game and they need one bad! To me this is the biggest thing right now.

Teams advance in the playoffs with a good run game, a great defense, and a QB that does not turn the ball over.

So far though I have not seen the run game, and that's what worries me heading into the post season.

Right now these wild card teams are as hot as it gets, Cheifs winning 9 in a row, Jets looking like a real tough team. I don't know who I would want to face more.

[HoosierCat]

42 minutes ago, ShulaSteakhouse said:

Not sure what to think anymore - Marvin's teams do the same thing seemingly, every Dec/Jan, collapse, all it takes is an injury or two.

There are systematic problems with how they are doing things that aren't being addressed, despite the same results year after year (coming up short).

This team isn't going anywhere in the post season, I'd be amazed if they did, but they will be lucky to win one game, it will depend on the match-up (hopefully KC or the Jets).  They don't handle pressure well at all, the defense disappears for long stretches, as does the offense, they sooner or later make a fatal mistake, or commit a dumb penalty, and they never seem to recover from those.  And the 0-line can't run block or pass protect to save their lives for 4 quarters - constant penalties, gaffes and under-performing from that group...yet no one is held accountable.  Something is also just old and predictable about their blocking schemes that I think every NFL D-coordinator has figured out by now, seeing as they've had the same 0-line coach for over 15 years now.  The rushing yards early last night were mostly after contact and a matter of moving piles for an extra 3-4 yards it seemed - not ONE big run.  In fact I can't remember the last big run either of these RB's have had that wasn't a trick play or screen.  And BOTH of them have the ability to take it to the house at any time, but it hasn't happened this year.

AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA <deep breath> AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHhahahahaha...snort...chuckle...heheheheheh...<deep breath again>

Thanks for the belly laugh, Shula. Didn't realize how much I needed it. You do realize that you are full of what makes the grass grow, don't you? Let's invite everyone who has enjoyed your comments along on a little thought experiment: would this post have been written had it been Andy Dalt -- oh, excuse me -- HOWDY DOODY who fumbled away the last chance in overtime?

Spoiler: of course not. No, today this board would be ringing with your condemnations of HOWDY DOODY, assertions that HOWDY DOODY can't win big games, lists of all of HOWDY DOODY'S shortcomings, real or alleged, and calls for HOWDY DOODY to be benched for AJ McCarron because HOWDY DOODY is holding the team back. But because it was not HOWDY DOODY but rather AJ McCarron who blew it at the end, who is to blame? Well, let's look at your post. Apparently it's the fault of:

Marvin

Injuries

The defense

The offense

Penalties

The oline

The blocking

The RBs

Pretty much everything BUT AJ McCarron, the guys whose last two plays in the game were both fumbles, even if the refs gave him a mulligan on the first. If that had been HOWDY DOODY, we would never hear the end of it. 

You don't know what to think? Here, I'll help: the Bengals are almost certainly going to go one-and-done in the postseason again because HOWDY DOODY is on the bench with a busted thumb. You got your most cherished wish, the thing you've been begging for for years. Dalton is on the sideline. And odds are that will cost us any shot at a championship.

[COB]

1 hour ago, HoosierCat said:

You got your most cherished wish, the thing you've been begging for for years. Dalton is on the sideline. 

Easy there, Dalton was still on the sideline, which means the force field of primetime fail that he exudes still influenced the game.  If Dalton had made this same stupid play, would I criticize him more than McCarron?  Yep.  Dalton has started like over 80 games, this is McCarron's second game.  There has to be some sort of allowance for that level of inexperience.

All in all, McCarron played pretty well in that game, and did it against what we were repeatedly reminded was the NFL's number one defense. 

And what kind of QB rating did he put up against the number 1 defense, in primetime, on the road in Mile High?  He put up an 86.6.  Dalton couldn't post a number that high in his first prime time game if his life depended on it.  In fact, he didn't post a number that high until his 7th prime time game, by which time he had started something like 55 games.  This was McCarron's second game.  

And Dalton posted that good QBR rating against the Patriots in a pick'em game in which he lead the Bengals to a stirring 43-17 defeat.  McCarron at least had this team in position to win the game in the 4th quarter.  

I wasn't overjoyed to see us lose that game.  But at least we competed.  I honestly believe Sandy Dalton would have choked that thing away in the second quarter and we all would have turned off the tube by the 4th.  We've all gotten so used to getting our hopes crushed by Dalton's ineptitude that any display of competency by him and we're all ready to jump on his jock for a glorious ride to wherever it is deluded fans go to be ground down by an inevitable wild card defeat.  It's like we all have Stockholm Syndrome.  Fuck it.  That was McCarron's second game and he played balls out against a great team.  Dalton posted a QBR last year of like 3 in prime time against the crappy Cleveland Browns.  And that was his 8th prime time game.  There was no excuse for that, other than he is a choking loser who has zero chance to ever lead a team where I want the Bengals to be, in the Super Bowl.  

At least McCarron represents some degree of hope.  

 

http://www.sportingcharts.com/articles/nfl/the-troubles-of-prime-time-andy-dalton.aspx

[HoosierCat]

27 minutes ago, COB said:

Easy there, Dalton was still on the sideline, which means the force field of primetime fail that he exudes still influenced the game.  If Dalton had made this same stupid play, would I criticize him more than McCarron?  Yep.  Dalton has started like over 80 games, this is McCarron's second game.  There has to be some sort of allowance for that level of inexperience.

Well, not according to this guy named COB who posts on bengalszone. In the wake of Dalton's injury he told me that the Bengals offense was so dumbed-down and simplified to deal with Dalton's limitations that anyone could be plugged in and it would run fine. I'm sure he'd find any talk of allowances to be absurd.

Quote

I honestly believe Sandy Dalton would have choked that thing away in the second quarter and we all would have turned off the tube by the 4th.

Of course you do. Just like you have to keep posting the same old tired articles and keep ignoring the fact Dalton was having a league-MVP-caliber year ("any display of competency"...please).

Quote

That was McCarron's second game and he played balls out against a great team

"Balls out". Yes, exactly. Twice. On the last two plays.

Quote

There was no excuse for that, other than he is a choking loser who has zero chance to ever lead a team where I want the Bengals to be, in the Super Bowl.

Well, then you better pick another team to follow, since Sandy Dalton will be back as soon as his thumb heals. 

[gregcook68]

As brilliant as both of these long winded world class couch coaches think they are, actually they are more full of themselves, than anything else.

This franchise has never been able to get over those key victories that result in championships, be it those 2 SB games in 1981 and 1988, the playoff game losses in 1970, 1973, 1975, 1982, 1990, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, the key season game losses that make them miss the playoffs, the primetime season games, or the key loss last night for a bye in the playoffs.

Marvin has only been here since 2003 and Dalton since 2011.

In 47 year franchise history, the ONLY common denominator has been the Brown family.

Again, maybe Sanders is right. This franchise just isn't 'built' for championship moments!

I will continue as a fan, but will always be waiting for the other shoe to drop until they hold the Lomardi!

[COB]

53 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

 

"Balls out". Yes, exactly. Twice. On the last two plays.

Heh.

[HoosierCat]

1 hour ago, gregcook68 said:

This franchise has never been able to get over those key victories that result in championships, be it those 2 SB games in 1981 and 1988, the playoff game losses in 1970, 1973, 1975, 1982, 1990, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, the key season game losses that make them miss the playoffs, the primetime season games, or the key loss last night for a bye in the playoffs.

Well, as far as prime time games are concerned, the problem is actually pretty easy to identify: they get stuck playing on the road a lot.

Here's all 63 Bengals prime time (regualr season) games since 1968:

Overall, they're 20-43. Break it down by location, though and you find they are 7-33 on the road and 13-10 at home.

Ignoring ties and assuming I did my math right, lifetime the Bengals are 132-224 in the regular season on the road and 198-155 at home, regardless of the time of the game. They're worse in prime time on the road then they are at other times, but I think that can be chalked up to the quality of opponent they get in the spotlight.

[HoosierCat]

Oh, and it's even worse in the playoffs. 5-4 at home, 0-9 on the road.

[redsbengalsbucks]

Well I must be in the minority, I was happy with the way this team responded against the number 1 D in the NFL.  All I was hoping for was a well played game with a chance to win.  They did that.

I also have a lot more confidence in AJ after the way he played last night, even with the way it ended.

Bring on the play-offs.  Dalton or not they have a good shot of winning this season as long as everyone else stays healthy.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

4 hours ago, HoosierCat said:

AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA <deep breath> AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHhahahahaha...snort...chuckle...heheheheheh...<deep breath again>

Thanks for the belly laugh, Shula. Didn't realize how much I needed it. You do realize that you are full of what makes the grass grow, don't you? Let's invite everyone who has enjoyed your comments along on a little thought experiment: would this post have been written had it been Andy Dalt -- oh, excuse me -- HOWDY DOODY who fumbled away the last chance in overtime?

Spoiler: of course not. No, today this board would be ringing with your condemnations of HOWDY DOODY, assertions that HOWDY DOODY can't win big games, lists of all of HOWDY DOODY'S shortcomings, real or alleged, and calls for HOWDY DOODY to be benched for AJ McCarron because HOWDY DOODY is holding the team back. But because it was not HOWDY DOODY but rather AJ McCarron who blew it at the end, who is to blame? Well, let's look at your post. Apparently it's the fault of:

Marvin

Injuries

The defense

The offense

Penalties

The oline

The blocking

The RBs

Pretty much everything BUT AJ McCarron, the guys whose last two plays in the game were both fumbles, even if the refs gave him a mulligan on the first. If that had been HOWDY DOODY, we would never hear the end of it. 

You don't know what to think? Here, I'll help: the Bengals are almost certainly going to go one-and-done in the postseason again because HOWDY DOODY is on the bench with a busted thumb. You got your most cherished wish, the thing you've been begging for for years. Dalton is on the sideline. And odds are that will cost us any shot at a championship.

 

Dalton probably won't win a playoff game either.  He's tried 4 times already.  Then again maybe he'll get lucky some day...I don't know, neither do you.  

But yeah let's wipe out a great game by a rookie QB in his 2nd start, on the road in a playoff-caliber game against the #1 defense, who gave his team every chance to win into OT.

I praise Dalton or let him off the hook any time he isn't throwing INT's, having passes batted-down or missing WR's left and right - no problem with him when he's NOT doing that.

Not so sure i would've hammered Howdy Doody for one turnover in OT last night though - if he had played like AJ did for the rest of the game.  (the "mulligan" was a legit incomplete pass BTW - it's why the refs ruled it that way).

But I realize you have your Ginger Agenda and need to turn legitimate points I can back up with #'s and facts any time, into some rant about "me." 

So, whatever dude.

 

 

[redsbengalsbucks]

Wow, let it go Dalton has done everything that was needed from him this season.  His career numbers are blowing away team records, so I guess you didn't like Kenny or Boomer when they were playing either.

[gregcook68]

22 minutes ago, ShulaSteakhouse said:

 

Dalton probably won't win a playoff game either.  He's tried 4 times already.  Then again maybe he'll get lucky some day...I don't know, neither do you.  

But yeah let's wipe out a great game by a rookie QB in his 2nd start, on the road in a playoff-caliber game against the #1 defense, who gave his team every chance to win into OT.

I praise Dalton or let him off the hook any time he isn't throwing INT's, having passes batted-down or missing WR's left and right - no problem with him when he's NOT doing that.

Not so sure i would've hammered Howdy Doody for one turnover in OT last night though - if he had played like AJ did for the rest of the game.  (the "mulligan" was a legit incomplete pass BTW - it's why the refs ruled it that way).

But I realize you have your Ginger Agenda and need to turn legitimate points I can back up with #'s and facts any time, into some rant about "me." 

So, whatever dude.

 

 

Yeah whatever dude! That's you own a restaurant and aren't an NFL coach.

[redsbengalsbucks]

Best news today is Hewitt should be good for the play-offs.  Losing him last night meant Rookie TE's the whole game.

[gregcook68]

2 hours ago, HoosierCat said:

Well, as far as prime time games are concerned, the problem is actually pretty easy to identify: they get stuck playing on the road a lot.

Here's all 63 Bengals prime time (regualr season) games since 1968:

Overall, they're 20-43. Break it down by location, though and you find they are 7-33 on the road and 13-10 at home.

Ignoring ties and assuming I did my math right, lifetime the Bengals are 132-224 in the regular season on the road and 198-155 at home, regardless of the time of the game. They're worse in prime time on the road then they are at other times, but I think that can be chalked up to the quality of opponent they get in the spotlight.

I trust your research Cat, but the bottom line is they still can't get over the hump and get the ring. Until they have their 2004 Red Sox moment, most fans will hope for best and expect the worst.

Yes, its like Vol said, nice to have them winning now and 'making' the playoffs now, with at least a 'chance' to hold the Lombardi.

They certainly could care less what a bunch of couch coaches in a forum think!