2025 Opponents Set/Offseason Notes

[HoosierCat]

Cleveland x2, Baltimore x2, Pittsburgh x2 obvs.

Home: Pats, Jets, Jags, Bears, Lions, Cards

Road: Bills, Fins, Broncos, Packers, Vikings

So 9 home, 8 away, no trip further west than Denver. Also, no Chiefs.

Road schedule is tough, all good teams. But they should feast at home if they get their shit together in the offseason. Lions are the only obvious tough out there.

[ArmyBengal]

Time for record projections.
RIGHT ?!?!

at Browns- WIN
at Steelers- LOSE
at Ravens- LOSE
Browns- WIN
Steelers- WIN
Ravens- WIN
Patriots- WIN
Jets- WIN
Jaguars- WIN
Bears- WIN
Lions- LOSE
Cardinals- WIN
at Bills- LOSE
at Dolphins- WIN
at Broncos- LOSE
at Packers- LOSE
at Vikings- LOSE

That's 10-7 on the season.
Now if they open the season with any of the teams I listed as a WIN in the first 3 weeks, my projection changes to 7-10.
Honestly, just like this year, they can beat any of these teams.  Zac, Pollack and Anarumo (see no changes) will keep that from happening.
FINAL PROJECTION 9-8

[TJJackson]

its really bad luck that we take on the NFC North at a time when that division is very strong

 

[HoosierCat]

19 minutes ago, TJJackson said:

its really bad luck that we take on the NFC North at a time when that division is very strong

 

Lions and Vikes are good. Pack is mediocre. Bears are a horror show.

[TJJackson]

pack has 11 wins

[HoosierCat]

12 minutes ago, TJJackson said:

pack has 11 wins

Six of with came against the putrid AFCS, Miami and NO. They’ve taken care of the teams they should have beat but they aren’t going far in the postseason.

[TJJackson]

my dead gramma said to tell you that 11 wins is 11 wins :-)

[Stripes]

Already have my 0-2 stamp ready to slam into the predictions thread for whoever the first two opponents are.

[glasgowbengal]

Anyone recommend any of the road trips? Only been to Miami. Any of the other cities worth a visit? 

[Stripes]

46 minutes ago, glasgowbengal said:

Anyone recommend any of the road trips? Only been to Miami. Any of the other cities worth a visit? 

Denver is a cool town, and it's great access to the Rocky Mountains.

[ArmyBengal]

Lambeau Field is legendary.
Couldn't tell you anything about the area but I’m going to see a game there at some point just because.

[COB]

2 hours ago, glasgowbengal said:

Anyone recommend any of the road trips? Only been to Miami. Any of the other cities worth a visit? 

I can tell you where not to go - Shitsburgh.

[HoosierCat]

Well, when the Pats come to town, we know one thing they won’t have, Jerod Mayo.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/patriots-fire-jerod-mayo-after-first-season-in-new-england-post-bill-belichick/

Quick hook in NE.

ETA: ah, makes sense now. The fix is in for Vrabel to take over.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/mike-vrabel-interviewed-with-jets-to-put-pressure-on-patriots-could-be-eyeing-move-to-new-england-in-2025/

[AMPHAR]

On 1/3/2025 at 4:18 PM, glasgowbengal said:

Anyone recommend any of the road trips? Only been to Miami. Any of the other cities worth a visit? 

1.  Green Bay is very good.  Everyone at the game is on a road trip.  Town is small but everyone is there to have a good time.  Stadium cool.

2. I have toured Vikings stadium its really cool.  They had a decent downtown but the riots tore the crap out of it and I'm not sure its recovered.

3. Baltimore/Browns - would not recommend.  They get off treating visiting fans like assholes.   If they aren't visiting fans? Then they fight each other.

4. Pittsburgh - wasn't bad at all.   I'm sure if you are from Pitt or a Steelers fan its the greatest in the world but its good/average from NFL perspective.

This is a homer view, but Cincinnati with the banks on full tilt is near the top, IMO.     Easy in and out.  Easy airport.  Decent hotels nearby. 

 

[HoosierCat]

Jags will be bring a new HC when they come to town too.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/jaguars-fire-doug-pederson-as-head-coach-after-three-seasons-jacksonville-retains-gm-trent-baalke/

[HoosierCat]

11 signed to reserve/futures contracts.

CB Micah Abraham

HB Gary Brightwell

CB Nate Brooks

WR Cole Burgess

OT Andrew Coker

DE Raymond Johnson III

S PJ Jules

S Jaylen Key

G Tashawn Manning

WR Kendric Pryor

LB Craig Young

https://local12.com/amp/sports/bengals/bengals-sign-11-players-reserve-future-contracts-micah-abraham-gary-brightwell-nate-brooks-cole-burgess-andrew-coker-raymond-johnson-pj-jules-jaylen-key-tashawn-manning-kendric-pryor-craig-young

[HoosierCat]

Well that explains it…

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2025/01/08/jermaine-burton-news-bengals-wide-receiver-accused-assault/77542872007/
 

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton is accused of assaulting a woman he was dating, but she refused to press charges, Cincinnati police reports show.

An assault was reported the morning of Dec. 30, just days before the Cincinnati Bengals nixed Burton from traveling with the team to Pittsburgh, the last game of the season.

 

[COB]

48 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

Well that explains it…

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2025/01/08/jermaine-burton-news-bengals-wide-receiver-accused-assault/77542872007/
 

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton is accused of assaulting a woman he was dating, but she refused to press charges, Cincinnati police reports show.

An assault was reported the morning of Dec. 30, just days before the Cincinnati Bengals nixed Burton from traveling with the team to Pittsburgh, the last game of the season.

 

Let’s see: falls asleep in meetings, doesn’t bother to learn the playbook, no show/no calls to a walkthrough before what was to be his big breakout game, gets evicted from his home, and gets into a police-involved altercation with his girl.  
 

Drug problem, alcohol problem, or a personality disorder that renders him an irredeemable idiot.   Doesn’t really matter which, this dude should be unceremoniously cut.  

[HoosierCat]

It’s just amazing to me that every few cycles the bengals have to learn the same lesson again: don’t use premium picks on knuckleheads. When your whole strategy is building through the draft, because you won’t or can’t afford to play at the top end of free agency, minimizing risk is the name of the game. Now they’ve hosed themselves again. Tee is headed to the market and his alleged replacement is a homeless guy who hits women. Fan freaking tastic. Don’t give me bs about culture, Zac, just don’t do it. Move on to the next guy on the board. And I’m sure it’s not all him (hi duke, hi Katie, etc.). All of you, just stop.

[Stripes]

Jackson Carman had character concerns too. Learn and grow.

[TJJackson]

I kinda cant blame them. 

I truly believe the guy has first round level talent and they got him in round 3

They gambled

They lost

Coulda been amazing if they guy werent crazy sauce

ah well

If I were running the team, I'd arrange for a fellow to accompany him at all times - ostensibly a bodyguard/driver, but really, a minder.   Makes sure that no assaults occur and all meetings are attended.  If he doesnt accepting the babysitting service, yeah, outright release.

[HoosierCat]

Jets, Browns, Jags get UK "home" games in 2025.

https://www.nfl.com/news/new-york-jets-cleveland-browns-jacksonville-jaguars-2025-nfl-london-games

We play all three but the Jets and Jags are coming to Cincy so the only chance this time around would be the Clowns.

[zbeaster]

On 1/3/2025 at 4:18 PM, glasgowbengal said:

Anyone recommend any of the road trips? Only been to Miami. Any of the other cities worth a visit? 

Denver is cool and has some really nice surrounding areas. I haven't been to Lambeau but want to get there, I'm sure it's an awesome experience. 

[zbeaster]

On 1/7/2025 at 6:34 PM, HoosierCat said:

11 signed to reserve/futures contracts.

CB Micah Abraham

HB Gary Brightwell

CB Nate Brooks

WR Cole Burgess

OT Andrew Coker

DE Raymond Johnson III

S PJ Jules

S Jaylen Key

G Tashawn Manning

WR Kendric Pryor

LB Craig Young

https://local12.com/amp/sports/bengals/bengals-sign-11-players-reserve-future-contracts-micah-abraham-gary-brightwell-nate-brooks-cole-burgess-andrew-coker-raymond-johnson-pj-jules-jaylen-key-tashawn-manning-kendric-pryor-craig-young

Any of these guys you are particularly intrigued by?

[zbeaster]

On 1/3/2025 at 6:39 PM, COB said:

I can tell you where not to go - Shitsburgh.

Is it that bad? Seems like a cool away game trip to do.