How important is the season opener?

[The Big Orange]

I'm not sure how it will affect the season, but if we win, I'm buying my kids new bicycle's. If they lose, I'm burning the treehouse down...what's fair is fair.

[buck3y3d]

I think the game will be a mistake laden game with at least two turnovers on each side. If the Bengals win the turnover battle, i think they'll get the W. Then they get to return home, where i believe they should beat the Vikings (even though i think this might be a playoff team).

[ackley1]

the opener is extremely important. we gotta start off the season with a bang for once. not to mention that we're playing the turds.

[BengalszoneBilly]

I don't think Dilfer's as bad as people make him out. I honestly think he's still better than Boller.

[ackley1]

I don't think Dilfer's as bad as people make him out.  I honestly think he's still better than Boller.

i agree...he can play well enough to win games.

[bengalsLB]

if the browns are runing the 3-4 we should just run it right down their throat and expose their weak front 7

[cincyhokie]

Got to control the clock with Rudi....play smart football....let the Browns make the irrational emotional mistakes.

It's a must win. Stay simple. Stick it to them early and often.

We should win this game by 2 TDs.

No more excuses if we're a playoff team.

[Scottishbengal]

This is a monster game - definitely a "must win" match, just because it's a divisional match.

I don't think it's going to be stroll in the park though, and I'd expect the Browns to run the ball down the middle all day, controlling the clock as much as possible.

I really don't know how to call this, it's a divisional game, it's an Ohio derby, it's in Cleveland, the Bengals have all to prove, Browns have nothing to lose, it's the seasons' opener and Cincinnati tend to start slowly. I just don't know.

Every dog has it's day - even an underdog.

Hell, just get the season started and put me out of my misery!!!!

[walshfan]

Point spread by Danny Sheridan for opening games ( other point spreads are just about the same)...

( usually 3pts goes to the team for playing at home )

Cincinnati by 3 over Cleveland in Cleveland (so if we were at home it would be 6)

Indy by 4 over Baltimore in Indy

Pittsburgh by 7 over Tenn. in Tenn.

[jrandom42]

At this point in the rebuilding, Crennel is looking at the Browns being in the same position the Bengals were in at the start of the 2003 season. I look for the Bengals to go in and do a decent inpersonsation of the Denver Broncos of 2003 and just totally hammer the Browns. Final Score Bengals win 30-10.