My new off-season predictions

[Allentown21]

We'll fa & the draft is over and rosters are mostly set.

 

Here is my prediction 

 

AFC championship 

14-3 Cincinnati 44

11-6 Buffalo 27

 

NFC championship 

15-2 LA Rams 30

12-5 49ers 27

 

Superbowl 

Cincinnati 30

La Rams 27

 

 

Bengals get revenge 

 

Burrow MVP 

Garrett dpoy

 

Surprise team- Vikings 

[Stripes]

That would be lovely. Here’s hoping you’re Allentownstrodamus.

[COB]

Please let this all come true.

[Allentown21]

11 hours ago, COB said:

Please let this all come true.

This really should be the Bengals year. 

 

Only way I see Buffalo winning in a hypothetical playoff is if Allen pulled an elway and went alien mode. And even then I think the Bengals would need to make at least 1 big mistake. Basically like last year 

 

Kc is dangerous if Mahomes is healthy in the playoffs obviously.  Thts also a situation where I'd be biting my nails as a Bengals fan

[ArmyBengal]

I hadn't really given much thought to the other teams and what they have done to this point.
Let's take a look...

AFC North:
Baltimore-  I don't think overlooking the Ravens is ever wise with Lamar and they had a down year last year.
Their o-line is going to look different and of course they added Trey to the defense, which should help them some.
I wasn't a big fan of their draft either, which is different.

Pittsburgh-  I think this team is going to feel some growing pains with new coaching, but the defense is solid.
Rodgers is certainly over the hill, but he didn't have an abysmal year last season.
Decent draft, but they also lost some starters from last season in free agency.

Cleveland-  They better hope Jared Verse is fucking All World...

I have heard the talk of the Bengals having the most stability with the only team having the same coach return, but from my perspective I don't know that's really such an advantage.  It's not like the other teams in the division added unknowns as head coaches either.  I think it's about fit.  If they fit what those the players well on those teams, this division could be a lot closer than what I keep hearing.

I'm VERY optimistic with the upcoming season with what I see on paper and the current health status of the Bengals.
Even with the head coaching changes with the other teams and all the hype surrounding the Bengals, I expect this to be one of the best divisions in the league in 2026.  It's not like the other teams hired some no body to come be the head coach of their teams.  I'm not sure being the only team that didn't change head coaches gives us that much of an advantage.

Cincinnati-  13-4
Baltimore-  12-5
Pittsburgh-  11-6
Cleveland-  4-13

[ArmyBengal]

Remainder of the AFC:

New England will be interesting to see what they do against a first place schedule this year.
I also liked their draft.  They should be in the mix again this year.

Buffalo has Allen and will be in the mix because of him alone.  Hated their free agency and ok draft.
That being said, I expect them to be within striking distance of New England.

Jacksonville bled talent in free agency and I hated their draft.  They will not be the same team in 2026.

Houston will be much what they were last year.  Great defense and taking over the AFC South again.
I really liked their free agent additions on both sides of the ball.  This is a true contender.

Denver is another fun team to watch with Bo Nix, but they didn't do much of anything in free agency or the draft.
The addition of Waddle to the offense can't be viewed as a negative and think they are right there as well.

The Chargers and Herbert are pretty solid as well and don't think that's going to change.
They had some decent additions in free agency and the draft.

And last but not least, the Chiefs...
They great unknown with Mahomes and his knee, but I don't really think he's the biggest story for them in 2026.
For me, it's them needing to reload the defense.  The secondary was damn near gutted in free agency.
They added Mansoor Delane (a Bengals favorite for projections) and a 4th round safety.
I loved the addition of Kenneth Walker at RB for them and if Mahomes is 100% they could be interesting.

For me, those are the teams that stack up in the AFC Conference as true contenders.
Those teams are really solid in my opinion with some elite defenses mixed in.

Two AFC teams that I'm interested in seeing what 2026 brings them are the Jets and Raiders.
The Jets bringing back Geno Smith would be a feel good story.  I actually like that roster.
The Raiders and Mendoza at QB along with some other additions will be fun.

Even if the Bengals have the magical season many are projecting for them, this is tough sledding.
I cannot recall an upcoming football season where I have been looking so forward to it starting.

 

[HoosierCat]

Bengals go 0-17

Entire coaching staff shot

Entire roster cut

Mike admits The Family has no clue what it’s doing, shuts down franchise forever

Stadium demolished, replaced by world’s largest Arby’s

Bengalszone rebranded to Arbyszone

[ArmyBengal]

But will there be potato cakes?

I mean at least hit the priority questions in the story brother.

[Stripes]

Let’s face it. We’ve been Arbyszone for ten years.

[ArmyBengal]

Terry should be getting kickbacks for all the mentions of Arby's around this joint.

[Stripes]

A forum full of aging men pining after roast beef.

Football.

[ArmyBengal]

15 hours ago, Stripes said:

A forum full of aging men pining after roast beef.

Football.

Football...  Heaven...  
Same thing

[COB]

Reading this thread made me realize something - I’m getting Arby’s for lunch today.

[TJJackson]

18 hours ago, Stripes said:

A forum full of aging men pining after roast beef.

that might be the case if Arby's had roast beef

More like shaped and sliced cardboard

[HoosierCat]

1 hour ago, TJJackson said:

that might be the case if Arby's had roast beef

More like shaped and sliced cardboard

Please. Arby’s serves only the finest horseflesh.

[TJJackson]

W E

H A A A V E

T H E

C A H H H H H H H H D   B O A R D 

[TJJackson]

Go to Roneys

[Stripes]

4 hours ago, TJJackson said:

that might be the case if Arby's had roast beef

More like shaped and sliced cardboard

Maybe I wasn’t referring to food

[TJJackson]

Possibly a Black Widow reference?

[COB]

 

My latest email to the Bengals (so far unanswered):

 

Dear Whatever Descendant of Paul Brown is reading this:

Once again, I’m providing you with free advice.  Pay heed.  

 

Your Jumbotron game is lacking.  

 

Here is a Jumbotron idea you won’t be able to resist - You take that scene from Full Metal Jacket where Animal Mother is blabbing to the other grunts.  You superimpose Mike’s face over Animal Mother’s face.  You change the blasted up Vietnam scenery in the background to blasted up Minarets so we’ve time traveled from ‘Nam to the current Iran conflict.  

 

Scene: Mike: (animal mother’s voice, you use the actual audio from the movie until the end, when you low-tech dub Mike’s scratchy old man voice saying the last word)   “Freedom? You'd better flush out your head, new guy. This isn't about freedom; this is a slaughter. If I'm gonna get my balls blown off for a word, my word is ‘ARBY’S.’”

 

Presumably, the crowd will go wild.  If you are motivated, interface with Arby’s corporate (a random collection of Chuds) and get free roast beef sandwich coupons to give to all the fans.  Put Mike’s smiling face on the coupons with a text bubble that has him saying, “Getting my balls blown off for Arby’s!”

 

If you are worried about your fans suffering a series of mini-strokes when they consume Arby’s roast beef and the attendant gazzilion miligrams of salt, don’t be.  We can take it.  

 

Signed, your number 1 fan, COB

 

[Prophecy]

Can we please stop talking about Katie Blackburn's meat flaps? 

[ArmyBengal]

2 hours ago, Prophecy said:

Can we please stop talking about Katie Blackburn's meat flaps? 

Slow roasted meat mountain?

[Allentown21]

Ne will be very tough again. Maye was superb last year. His playoff was pretty tough but thts pretty normal being his 1st time in the playoffs. Division could go either way.

 

Some would say the same about Baltimore and Cincinnati, but I favor the Bengals more. 

[ArmyBengal]

New England is interesting.  They came off a horrible 4-13 season finishing in the basement and went 14-3 last year.

Vrabel coming back to take over as head coach was a great move by the organization and his impact was felt.
(Dianna Russini concurs with the last four words)

It never hurts getting a last place schedule, but not only that, they had the 2nd easiest schedule heading into last year.
That won't be the case this season for them.  Actually, they have the 6 hardest schedule for the upcoming season.

That is why I say they will be interesting to watch.  I don't disagree that Maye had a stellar season.
They have a good running back room and added AJ Brown to a good WR room.
The also did a good job adding talent do their defense along with a decent draft class.

It's the NFL though.  No will surprise me.

[COB]

4 hours ago, ArmyBengal said:

 

Vrabel coming back to take over as head coach was a great move by the organization and his impact was felt.
(Dianna Russini concurs with the last four words)

Heh. 
 

And you reminded me of the patriots’ weak schedule last year.  As they headed into the playoffs I recall some media saying they hadn’t beaten anyone with a winning record, or had only played a few teams with winning records, something like that.  Then they got handled.