Are We Really A Legit SuperBowl Team?

[bengalskyspy]

I voted maybe. How about that for decisiveness! They would be a Cinderella team if it happens, suggesting that they don't really have realistic shot. I am not negative on this team, I just want to bring some sobriety to the discussion. 9-7 or 10-6 would not be a major dissappointment.

[skyline]

Probably not...it isn't ENTIRELY out of the question, but I just don't see us dominating the top teams yet.

[Defender]

The elite teams have killed the Bengals so far, and it's looking pretty certain that it'll happen for a third time in four games. It will take a LOT of luck and a big turn around for them to be considered SuperBowl worthy. A fast start like Marvin preaches could go a long way towards moving them back in the playoff talk.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

I seriously doubt we are Super Bowl caliber right now. Will be be there by game 3? Maybe.

Give it a year or two, and lets just go for a winning season and hopefully the playoffs this year.

[Stripes]

I voted for maybe, but my opinion lies more between maybe and probably not. I expect a lot out of this team this season. A playoff berth, and maybe even a division championship. To be a legitimate superbowl contender, then I'd say you must be widely projected to win at least 11 games, probably 12 or 13. I think it's unfair to expect more than 10-6 out of the Bengals, but I won't rule out the possibility of 11-5 if we can start fast.

[The Big Orange]

Well, This forum so far proves one thing...we aren't all just a bunch of blind homers, nor are we mikebrownsucks.com skeptics...somewhere in between...

I call us realists who haven't forgotten our past nor euphoric about our future...but if I think this group sways in one direction generally I'd say we are slippery...quick to move opinions depending on a Hobson training camp video or a preseason game we weren't even really trying to win...

It's a good thing none of us are coaches...as ML says, we're not as good, nor as bad as everybody says we are.

[BengalsFanForever]

I voted yes. If we look at last year at the end of the season, we had the Patriots and Steelers, probably the two best teams in the AFC, beat. If I remember right, it was only one or two mistakes that cost us the games. This year we are better. I think in regular season we play the Eagles better. I honestly think we can be Super Bowl contenders. At the very least, we should make it to the AFC Championship game.

[Spain]

Yes but we have regressed , have you guys not been watching this preseason we will be lucky to beat cleveland.

[BengalszoneBilly]

It all depends on the defense. If they come together and give the offense a small cushion to work with, they got a shot.

[AGrizzlyBaer]

i could see us being like the titans from a couple years ago

[Jet23]

Realistically, probably not. But who knows. The two Super Bowl appearances came after terrible years, so you never know. On any given day they can beat Philly and NE, but they are nowhere near as consistent as last year's Super Bowl participants.

After a solid decade of two steps forward, three steps back, I, for one, just want to see solid improvement and progression. I would accept a wild card appearance, even if they lost the wild card game. At least that would show we are moving forward.

I am not above daring to dream and reaching for the stars. IF, Carson is the second coming of Peyton, IF Odell is the second coming of Ray Lewis, IF Pollack is the second coming of Kevin Green, IF P-dub or one of the young guys steps up, IF they realize they have a TE, IF they are blessed and lucky along the way.....who knows. But, that is a lot of IFs.

[Bengal_Brad]

Spain: You need to just become a Browns fan. I don't know if you thrive off negativity or what. I mean PRE-season games mean SO much!! Come to think of it you are right, as I recall New England did stick their tail between their legs after we thumped them last PRE-season.

In the next edition of the dictionary under "fair-weather-fan" will be Spains pic.

[Stripes]

At the very least, we should make it to the AFC Championship game.

That's a tough statement to swallow. I'm sure fans of New England, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Buffalo, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Denver, San Diego, and Oakland are saying the same thing. I almost listed the entire AFC right there, but not too many of them have less a chance at the AFC Championship than the Bengals.

[InsultComicDog]

If the Bengals were in the NFC they would be a lock to make the playoffs. I like the Eagles, to a lesser extent the Vikings, and then another step down to the Falcons in the NFC, and really the Bengals are a better team than anyone else in the conference is likely to be.

[rizzy]

Yes they are.

ANY GIVEN SUNDAY

[HairOnFire]

Put me down for probably not. I'm one of those you've got to learn to walk before you can run sorta guys. Playoffs first.

[CBin2k7]

Probably Not because the D has a lot of work to do with 2 new parts and a new D coordinator, plus I think it will be another full year until you see this team at it's full potential. I think we are good enough to beat a New England, but we can just as easily turn around and lose to Cleveland.

[MacD BengalFan]

I am a maybe. I recall no one gave St. Louis, New England, Titans, and Carolina a chance just to make the playoffs. They all did at one time or another and went on to the Super Bowl. So with that in mind, if the Bengals gets a bounce here, a break there, they can make the same suprising run as those other surprise teams did. As far as being a total homer and saying "hellya", no, I would not say that. To many good teams in the AFC to say absolutely. But this is the era of parity in the NFL, so who knows.

[cHaD711Johnson]

Yes but we have regressed , have you guys not been watching this preseason we will be lucky to beat cleveland.

It is the preseason man, give it a break

[Spain]

Rationalize if you want guys, I just know one thing reality is reality. This team is not going to win this divsion. They were not prepared. Now if just saying Ra Ra makes you a better fan then so be it!

[MacD BengalFan]

Rationalize if you want guys, I just know one thing reality is reality. This team is not going to win this divsion. They were not prepared. Now if just saying Ra Ra makes you a better fan then so be it!

You sound like Chicken Little. "The Sky is Falling, the sky is falling!" Please. You are basing the season one bad pre-season game. You speak of reality, that is reality. One bad pre-season game. And that's right, they were not prepared and the coach took responsiblity for it and said it will not happen again. I believe him as I have seen how a his team reacts the following game after a bad lose. And that is what a championship caliber team is about. Taking responsibility for the mistakes. The Bengals will be fine against Cleveland and for the rest of the season. Just relax, the sky is not falling.

[BengalsFanForever]

At the very least, we should make it to the AFC Championship game.

That's a tough statement to swallow. I'm sure fans of New England, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Buffalo, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Denver, San Diego, and Oakland are saying the same thing. I almost listed the entire AFC right there, but not too many of them have less a chance at the AFC Championship than the Bengals.

I am not asking you to agree with me. In my opinion, if our guys play to their best abilities and make no mistakes, they are the best team out there. I would hope that other fans are saying the same thing about their teams. That's what rooting for a team is about. I'm sure even Cleveland fans are saying they can go all the way. The only difference is the Bengals can.

[walshfan]

Take a serious look at our defense and tell me we are a Super Bowl team?

[Irish Bengal]

After watching the game a second time, some plays in slow mo. It is my opinion that when our defense plays man to man we are much better.

Our zone coverages suck. We need to chuck guy at the line and reroute them. Remember most likely on Offense and Defense we were running vanilla plays. Why show anything to the opposition in pre-season.

[redsfan2]

Put me down for probably not. I'm one of those you've got to learn to walk before you can run sorta guys. Playoffs first.

I agree with this line of thinking ... for the most part. Based soley on our record of the last couple of years ... we're a .500 team.

First we have to get that winning record ... which I think we will this year. I've been saying 10 and 6 since the end of last year ...... Now, if that gets us into the playoffs ( and it should ) fine. If not, then we should be in a better position next year to have a 2nd winning season AND the team ( along with all the intangibles ) to go deep into the playoffs.

You make it past the first round of the playoffs, and it goes to the guys who are generally the heathiest and stick to what got them there in the first place.

A winning record though is absolutely critical THIS year. Another 8 and 8 season will see MAJOR shake ups on this team. Coach Lewis' credibility as a head coach is on the line at this point, and he knows it. :player: