It's Over Baby!

[Kirkendall]

...sweaty donkey balls and all!

I stuck with ya until this..

[walzav29]

My point of this whole thread is the complaint that after following this horrible team for 23 years you would think it would be too much to expect more than 4 playoff appearances in that time. I've bought Jersey's, helmets, coats, t-shirts, tickets, paid $7 a beer, direct TV to watch them, and I'm saying I'm sick of the same crap. GET YOUR s**t TOGETHER AND TACKLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate that whole "poor Bengals need fans support." I drove from Michigan to give them "support" against the Ravens and they couldn't make 1 tackle. I'll be out there against Denver, but that doesn't mean I'm going to sit there and enjoy seeing them suck. They need to step it up!

[kybengalsfan]

I simply cannot understand why the defense seems to be getting worse, rather than better. Webster did not seem to stand out when he was playing; Hardy is back at his regular position and that was supposed to make them stronger. I cannot remember Hardy making a play (I'm sure he probably has, I just can't recall seeing one). J. Smith always seems to be in the wrong place, pushed away from the ball carrier or late arriving for pressure to the QB. Thorton and Williams certainly are not getting their names credited for much. Miller is trying, but in addition to being a rookie, he is easy to push around, it appears. Simmons is the only one who looks to be NFL caliber. Each week it appears that our defense is simply blown off the line by every team we play (exception was Miami). I believe our secondary is not doing a bad job, especially with all of the injuries. Actually, it seems like Williams and Ratliff are progressing well.

Why can a coach like Coughlin (sp?) at the Giants, in his first year, turn a team around so quickly, and we cannot even improve our run defense after having a whole year and a half to "fix it?" I strongly suspect Frazier needs replacing. What we do not need now is some novice coordinator as a social experiment with our team. How can the team and the def. coordinator watch game films and not improve? If they see how pitiful they look, you would think they would be bound and determined to do something about it.

[walzav29]

Yes. Frazier looks retarded, and I'll bet he gets canned after this year. We weren't suppose to worry about J. Smith's sack total because he is good against the run. What the hell were they talking about? He seems to get ran over quite a bit. We need an all new defensive line.

[cincykent]

What a difference the loss makes on the season. They were up 17-14 when Watson fumbled. Instead the Steelers drove for the go ahead TD. Now we are two games back of first and in the cellar of the division. With a win we would be tied for first going into the bye. We should get healthy over the next two weeks and hopefully get on a roll, but it may be too late once again.

[BengalBobNC]

We should get healthy over the next two weeks and hopefully get on a roll, but it may be too late once again.

Too late? After only 4 games when we are in the AFC North? There are no powerhouses in the AFC North. Baltimore got beat last night at home by the Chiefs. The Steelers are not that good and neither are the Browns. If we keep playing like we are, then yes, it will be over in a few more games. If we come out of the bye week like we did last year...the season is far from over.

The Bengals are planning on having several injured players back during the break.

The AFC North will probably be won with another 9-7 or 8-8 record. No wildcard team will come from the AFC North, so it is win the division, or continue to build a young team into the AFC North dominating champs.

[HoosierCat]

Why can a coach like Coughlin (sp?) at the Giants, in his first year, turn a team around so quickly, and we cannot even improve our run defense after having a whole year and a half to "fix it?"

[Pinching the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes, silently counting to 10 before I start to post...]

OK, when was the last time the Bengals were 10-6? The 12th century or thereabouts, right? When was the last time the Giants were 10-6? That would be...2002.

The Giants were something like the 18th-ranked run D last year, despite going 4-12; they lost 3 starters in the secondary to injury and got killed in the air. Even then they ranked 25th against the pass, about as good as us. All they had to do was get their guys back on the field and they had a very solid middle-of-the-pack defense as a base.

The Giants' main problem was the o-line and QB -- they were something like 30th in the league in points last year -- and they rebuilt the line and got this QB named Kurt Warner to start. And so far, no one is more surprised that's working than Tom Coughlin, I guarantee you.

Marvin can only wish he had as much on defense to work with as Coughlin. As it is, I agree with you that Williams appears to be settling in, and Ratliff looks promising. Webster was improving quickly at MLB (no surprise he started slow, playing on a new team with 10 new guys in a new system) but he's gone for the year now and Miller is going to have to grow up fast. I agree Hardy isn't looking like he's worth much, but the best guy to replace him would have been Abdullah, and he's on IR, too. And everyone talks about the Lewis/Frazier "scheme" and how it relies on LBs and DBs to stay in their lanes and fill gaps...well, when you starting different sets of LBs and DBs every single game, it shouldn't be a surprise that things aren't working as well as they might.

[BengalBobNC]

[Pinching the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes, silently counting to 10 before I start to post...]

OK, when was the last time the Bengals were 10-6? The 12th century or thereabouts, right? When was the last time the Giants were 10-6? That would be...2002.

Absolutely JC! Other coaches who took over a team had a lot more to work with than Coach Lewis did.

[ackley1]

I don't know why some of you guys get pissed off when other Bengals fans complain about us losing. I'm f**king pissed and I'm tired of losing, and I can't blame any Bungles fan for critisizing the team. I'm tired of having nothing to cheer about every season. The last time the Bengals were in the playoffs I was in third grade!!! I'm tired of this sh!t....f**k patience!!!!

See thats why I think ur a complete ass!! I am tired of them losing also and it sucks, but to go as low as saying BUNGALS f**k that bro. It sucks when we lose but its part of it and everyone show be thinking of it as be there for ur team and see that u support them no matter what and dont give up on them. What if they gave up on it or lets say a bengals player is at home right now reading this forum (you know some of them do) what the hell would they think. I know what i would think iw ould be like screw some of these BAD fans they think they can do better tell them to get there fat ass out and do it. JUST MY opinion

Bad fans??? If I was a bad fan I would have given up on them already. So are you saying your a better fan than me because I'm tired of being patient? I didn't say I was giving up on them...I'm just tired of saying "well maybe next year". I will support the Bengals until I die, but forgive me if I want a little something in return a**hole!!! How the f**k am I a BAD fan because I'm tired of losing???

[cincykent]

We should get healthy over the next two weeks and hopefully get on a roll, but it may be too late once again.

Too late? After only 4 games when we are in the AFC North? There are no powerhouses in the AFC North. Baltimore got beat last night at home by the Chiefs. The Steelers are not that good and neither are the Browns. If we keep playing like we are, then yes, it will be over in a few more games. If we come out of the bye week like we did last year...the season is far from over.

The Bengals are planning on having several injured players back during the break.

The AFC North will probably be won with another 9-7 or 8-8 record. No wildcard team will come from the AFC North, so it is win the division, or continue to build a young team into the AFC North dominating champs.

I don't know what you are watching but the Steelers are 4-1. They don't look like they are headed to a 9-7 or 8-8 season. Losing to the Steelers last week may be the difference in winning the division or not. We still have road games against Baltimore, New England, and Philly. I haven't seen anything from the Bengals that makes me believe we can win a road game against a winning team.

[schweinhart]

Steelers are 4-1 now but got 3 tough games in a row. Boys on the road and Pats and Eagles at home. They're staring down the face of 4-4.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Steelers are 4-1 now but got 3 tough games in a row. Boys on the road and Pats and Eagles at home. They're staring down the face of 4-4.

Don't the Bengals play these very teams later this season too? Other than the Cowpokes at home, a win will be tough to come by!

[schweinhart]

Bengals do play Pats and Eagles and worst yet on the road.

But the Eagles game is the last game of year. Who knows? The Eagles might be as bad at the end of the year as they were at the beginning of last year.

The point is with the Steelers that they have played the most winnable part of their sked. Bengals are looking at Broncs and Boys at home with 2 road games vs. Browns and Titans to finish 1st half of season. The next 4 games are the 2nd most winnable quarter of the Bengals sked.

The Boys have the Fins run game and an ancient QB. The Titans are not the Titans of old and have lost 2 home games this year after winning 12 of their last 13. The Broncs have the record right now and an excellent D but Jake is a beatable QB because he's prone to big mistakes.

3 out of 4 to finish 1st half at 4-4? It all starts w/ the Browns this week.

[BengalszoneBilly]

The Broncs have the record right now and an excellent D but Jake is a beatable QB because he's prone to big mistakes.

Tell me about it. Sunday he throws as many INT's as TD's and still wins by 3. Sooner or later that plan just ain't gonna work, and if it's all the same to everyone, it can stop working on Monday night against the Bengals! :player:

[TippCityRick]

OK, how to summarize how I feel about "It's Over Baby!"??? First, it's only 25% over and even though the preliminary information is a bit dismal it is NOT in any way over. However, I share a bit of despair with several of my colleagues.

This team is flawed defensively. They want to play with light and quick linebackers who will make tackles in their respective holes. Two problems here. First we have no defensive tackles that can tie up multiple blockers so these "light and quick" linebackers can run free and make tackles. Secondly, when these "light and quick" linebackers do get to the opposition they don't seem to be able to finish the job. Until the Dline picks it up and the LBs make tackles this defense will give up long drives and points.

This puts pressure on an offense led by a second year pro, first year starter. This pressure is causing Bratkowski to call too many pass plays in order to get our team back in contention in games. This has manifested itself in Palmer throwing more passes per game than most anyone else in the league. Look at Pittsburgh. Big Ben (as a Miami grad I reserve the right to call him by non-derogatory names) is well protected by his Oline and has a running game/defense that is taking the game pressure off his shoulders. Hence all the analysts that are saying that he and not Palmer is the best young QB in the AFC North. This same formula was supposed to be used by Marvin's gang, but we've consistently gotten away from our running game even when ahead (Pittsburgh) and it's cost us.

To summarize - Until the Dline can hold up on the run and we put pressure on the QB this team will not rise above mediocre. 8-8 was my original prediction but I have lowered to 6-10. This may seem like despair but it is reality based analysis my friends. Now, all together . . .

GO BENGALS!!! WHO-DEY!!! BEAT THE HECK OUTTA DEM BROWNIES!!!!

[HoosierCat]

Steelers are 4-1 now but got 3 tough games in a row. Boys on the road and Pats and Eagles at home. They're staring down the face of 4-4.

Don't the Bengals play these very teams later this season too? Other than the Cowpokes at home, a win will be tough to come by!

Hey, wins are never easy in this league. But schweinhart has a point that the Steelers have a tough stretch coming up. Frankly, so do Cleveland and Baltimore. Three weeks from now I could easily see the division looking something like this

Pitt 4-4 (as per schweinhart)

Baltimore 3-4 (no jamal? L Buffalo, Philly)

Cincy 3-4 (W Cleveland, Tenn, L Denver)

Cleve 2-5 (L Cincy, Philly)

[cincykent]

Steelers are 4-1 now but got 3 tough games in a row. Boys on the road and Pats and Eagles at home. They're staring down the face of 4-4.

Don't the Bengals play these very teams later this season too? Other than the Cowpokes at home, a win will be tough to come by!

Hey, wins are never easy in this league. But schweinhart has a point that the Steelers have a tough stretch coming up. Frankly, so do Cleveland and Baltimore. Three weeks from now I could easily see the division looking something like this

Pitt 4-4 (as per schweinhart)

Baltimore 3-4 (no jamal? L Buffalo, Philly)

Cincy 3-4 (W Cleveland, Tenn, L Denver)

Cleve 2-5 (L Cincy, Philly)

Win at Tennessee? I don't think so. They just scored 47 on the Packers. Just think what Chris Brown is going to do to the Bengals swiss cheese run defense.

[HoosierCat]

Win at Tennessee? I don't think so. They just scored 47 on the Packers. Just think what Chris Brown is going to do to the Bengals swiss cheese run defense.

Green Bay turned the ball over, what, six times? I think that might've had a bit to do with it, too. Brown is a good back but frankly I'm more worried about McNair in the Tenn. game. However, we have to worry about Cleveland first.

[Jonboat]

I can understand the frustration we've seen this for far to long, but consider this we've got a rookie QB, a banged up O-line going against some of the toughest Defenses in the NFL. Last week we had on Def. a rookie LB & 2 Rookie safeties, one of which is a corner back! All of our injuries have hit positions we thought was our strengths coming into the season (Lb & O-line) but as bad as the D. has played so far, we've had a chance to win @ the end of nearly every game. The biggest thing I seen is poor tackling we seem to be in postition to make plays & don't make the tackle ! The Jets run blockers ate up CM, Alot of JL runs we had him if we didn't miss tackles & JMO I thought the bull$hit PI call in Pitts really changed the momentum of the game. I hope we get healthy w/ the bye then, I think we'll get a better prospective of this team. Injuries I think has been the main factor why they've been struggling, I just read an article that we lead the NFL with players on the IR plus how many are /have been injured that's not included in the IR? I'm not making excuses or saying we don't have problems esp. on Def. but it's hard enough to win in the NFL & even harder when you don't have the personel you want out there on the field so let's be patient & see what we got when we get healthy/healthier ! IF IT"S BROWN FLUSH IT DOWN !!!! GO BENGALS!!! Jonboat

[cincykent]

The Bengals MUST win 5 out of their next 6 to have any chance at making the playoffs.