December 12th and a huge meaningful game

[comstock]

14 years of drought, now back to back seasons where we had a chance late in december.

I really forgot what it was like to have a real NFL team. For those too young to remember the better years in the 80's I can't imagine only knowing 2-14 seasons your entire life. good lord.

whatever woke mike brown up and got him to finally change the way he ran this organization....thank god

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Mike Brown hasn't really changed how he runs the organization that much, he just got a coach from outside the organization who does things differently and asks for things...

MARVINS COACHING has changed the organization.

[comstock]

yes marvin, but prior to 2003 mike brown wouldn't let a coach actually coach, just turns out we got a damn fine one at the same time brown gave up his old ways. you have to realize the bengals organization did not function the way normal NFL teams did, and most including myself blame 14 years of losing on him. he finally got a clue or someone talked him into change and he gave up his old ways.

there is no doubt marvin is a great coach and the reason for our turn around, all I'm saying is if Ebeneizer hadn't changed his ways he wouldn't be here. Think: hire coaches from within ala costlet, lebeau, etc. That didn't happen this time.

[jamesbrooks21]

14 years of drought, now back to back seasons where we had a chance late in december.

Now if they will start playing in September instead of waiting until late October/early November to turn it on we will be alright. It's hard to start 1-4 and try to overcome it every year.

[HoosierCat]

Now if they will start playing in September instead of waiting until late October/early November to turn it on we will be alright. It's hard to start 1-4 and try to overcome it every year.

Very true, though on the other hand we have seen them start strong two or three times over the last 12-13 years and then collapse (2001 most recently). But I think the slow starts this year and last have more to do with Marvin's massive personnel overhaul than anything else. Something like 80% of the roster has changed since 2002, and there's only so much you can do in camp and practice; players need time in real games to put it all together. Hopefully, come next season, there will be fewer overhauls needed and more continuity, which should lead to a better start.

As for this year, you can see a regular pattern in the performance:

1st 4 games: 1-3

2nd 4 games: 2-2

3rd 4 games: 3-1

Now, we just need to keep that pattern going!

[Benzoo]

Very good point about the personnel changes, and I think the game by game breakdown really illustrates just that.

I think the biggest factor, though has been the emergence of Carson Palmer, and it didn't become evident to me just yesterday. He and Chad are definitely clicking, but he's spreading the ball around well enough to keep secondaries honest.

They CAN win in New England, especially if Dillon's out. Although, if Dillon plays, it will give them added incentive to bust chops. I really like their chances for an upset, but I won't be dissappointed if they lose.

The hole they dug at the beginning of the season is probably to deep to crawl out of, but this season should be considered a rousing success RIGHT NOW.

Simply put, the young kids have panned out. Marvin was right, and those who were poo-pooing that draft are probably all gladly eating those words as we speak.

This is Marvin's team, and I can't wait for the next draft to see who else he brings in.

The present is fun as all get out, but this is no fluke. The future is BRIGHT.

Playoffs or not.

Let's hope they just go into New England (and the rest of the season as well), let it all hang out all loosey goosey like, and whup the snot out of whomever steps in the way.

Step up, and get smacked in the mouth.

Who Dey.

[HoosierCat]

I think the biggest factor, though has been the emergence of Carson Palmer, and it didn't become evident to me just yesterday. He and Chad are definitely clicking, but he's spreading the ball around well enough to keep secondaries honest.

Let's hope they just go into New England (and the rest of the season as well), let it all hang out all loosey goosey like, and whup the snot out of whomever steps in the way.

Exactly. Palmer said something to the effect that the Baltimore game was a lot of fun, and when you're having fun and playing loose and have some confidence in yourself, good things tend to happen. That a 17-point deficit is seen as an opportunity to go out and have fun, versus a reason to fold the tent and get into the locker room as fast as possible, is another mark of just how far this team has come under Marvin.

As for Palmer, and the passing game in general, you're right, it's been building for a few weeks now. If you go back and look at the first 7 games, in which the Bengals were 2-5, Palmer had 10 picks to just 5 TDs, his completion percentage was in the 56% neighborhood, and in only 3 of those games did he complete a pass for more than 30 yards.

But if you look at the last five games (in which the Bengals are 4-1), Palmer has thrown 11 TDs versus 7 picks, has dipped below a 60% completion rate only once (and is 76% and 80% over the last 2 games!), and has thrown at least one pass for more than 30 yards every game.

Palmer still has a long way to go, and I have no doubt he still has many good and bad games ahead, but I think we're seeing him get over the rookie hump here. Lonnie Wheeler said in his Post column today that, yesterday, Palmer became the right QB for the Bengals. I would tweak that a bit: yesterday, Palmer simply became the QB for the Bengals.

[Art Vandalay]

I agree with one of the above posters. We need to actually play in September and October. BTW, I am not that excited yet. This is a tough division and we have tough games ahead. We still have HUGE improvements to make. I will be excited when we are 8-4 at this point, not 6-6. If we beat NE, then that will be a different story.

I really doubt that will happen, and I predict CD to rush for over 200!

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

yes marvin, but prior to 2003 mike brown wouldn't let a coach actually coach, just turns out we got a damn fine one at the same time brown gave up his old ways. you have to realize the bengals organization did not function the way normal NFL teams did, and most including myself blame 14 years of losing on him. he finally got a clue or someone talked him into change and he gave up his old ways.

there is no doubt marvin is a great coach and the reason for our turn around, all I'm saying is if Ebeneizer hadn't changed his ways he wouldn't be here. Think: hire coaches from within ala costlet, lebeau, etc. That didn't happen this time.

Uh Mike Brown let them coach... The problem was, every one of them was from the Bengals system and none of them had the BALLS to stand up and say Mr. Brown, I am going to do this.... I want this..... Give me this..... Make sure this happens.... They all did what the guy before them did, defer to Mike Brown.

Marvin came in and didn't. He came in and said. Ok, the first thing we need to do is change the weightroom. I am bringing on an assistance coach that will be much better at strength and conditioning, and this is what I want to do. Mike Brown said sure, here is the cash, get r done!

Marvin said Mr. Brown, I want to draft a bunch of young guys who will build this team over the next few years. I'm starting with a QB, because while I like what I see in Jon Kitna, he isn't the future. Carson Palmer is our clear pick in round one. The next thing I'm going to do is bring in a guy named Hue Jackson to coach these receivers. You have a lot of talent but they aren't performing as well as they can. Mike Brown said Ok, get r done!

Marvin said Mr. Brown, I know you want to be loyal to guys like Takeo Spikes, and even if they want to leave, you'd like to keep him because he's YOUR player. Well, I'm going to bring in my players, and if he doesn't believe, if he doesn't want to be here, I don't want him here. Mr. Brown said Ok Marvin, get r done!

In the past, the coaches have, at best, said "Mr. Brown, I think I might kinda maybe want to do something". Mike Brown said are you sure? They said well, only if you want...

BIG DIFFERENCE

[Kirkendall]

Best part, we rarely here Brown's name anymore 'round these parts. We don't dive into a whirlwind of excuses anymore and don't promote that as a name (hidden meaning).

OK, back on topic.

This game will be a blast to watch. I hope the Bengals win, but if they don't, hey, it's not like we're facing a bad team; this is the best team in the NFL hands down -- better than PITT IMHO.

Corey has motiviation to prove himself, the Pats want to prove pre-season game #2 wasn't a fluke, and have the continual motivation to win home-field advantage -- amoung other things Pat fans can put here.

Bengals, OTOH, have the motivation of momentum the previous two weeks, proving we don't NEED Corey, and to beat the best team in the NFL (11 others failed at that aspect).

Great game Sunday. I'd love to see how Cincy measures up to the Pats.

[jjakq27]

The return of the prodigal son.....

[HoosierCat]

The problem was, every one of them was from the Bengals system and none of them had the BALLS to stand up and say Mr. Brown, I am going to do this

I don't recall Dave Shula as being a product of Cincy, and Dick LeBeau has far deeper connections to Pitt. Coslet was a Friend o' Mikey, obviously, but he was also the only one to have been a HC someplace else, with the Jets. And he stunk there and he stunk here, so I think the explanation is simpler: Coslet just stinks as a HC.

I don't think it was a matter of cajones. Coslet just stunk. Schula was nowhere near ready to be an NFL HC, and never earned the respect of the players. LeBeau decided to treat the players like professionals, on the theory that if you treat them like pros they will act like pros. Instead, they ran their mouths and then folded at the first sign of adversity.

IMHO, none of the could have stood up to any interference by Mikey. Accusing the GM and president of not knowing what he was doing, or doing the wrong thing (even if they thought so, or even if they dared) would have only been the pot calling the kettle black. They never demonstrated one more iota of competence at their jobs than Mikey did at his.

Obviously, the increased staffing and resources are a big part of Marvin's success -- and kudos to Mikey for providing them. But I believe that the big difference is that Marvin is a motivator. Not only does he have a plan, but he has the rare ability to communicate that plan, and the passion behind it, to his players. He believes in them, and makes them believe in themselves, in ways that Shula, Coslet or LeBeau were never going to be able to do no matter what Mikey did.

[Bobcat Bengal]

I agree with one of the above posters. We need to actually play in September and October. BTW, I am not that excited yet. This is a tough division and we have tough games ahead. We still have HUGE improvements to make. I will be excited when we are 8-4 at this point, not 6-6. If we beat NE, then that will be a different story.

I really doubt that will happen, and I predict CD to rush for over 200!

Hey George, how's that architecture career treating ya?

The one thing I have to add to that is that Baltimore game was the last one we played in our division, we basically play two AFC East and Two NFC East teams from this point on....and both the Bills and Patriots will be daunting tasks.

The way McGahee is playing and with our Rush D, I want NO PARTS of him.

I'd rather face off against Dillon, IMO.

But yeah, its too soon to be punching playoff tickets yet, but so far, things have fell into place: the Chargers beat the Broncos, and the Steelers beat the Jaguars.

We have to do our part and keep winning these games. If we can go at least 3-1 (playing the Patriots at home will be a HUGE task, we just broke the 42 game streak, and now we have these guys to worry about) the rest of the way out, it might be feasible.

You know I'll be watching.

Who-Dey!