I hate to say it, but I expect a loss.

[walzav29]

Years of hope and being severly dissapointed have led me to believe this Sunday will be a loss. I think of 2 season openers that let me down.

#1. The loss to San Diego a couple of years ago. The previous season we beat the Super Bowl bound Pats and the Ravens. They were supposed to be up and comers. Worst game ever.

#2. Last years loss to Jet's. The hype was there, but then Martin runs like it's 1996. 1-4 follows that.

I'll be rooting, and hoping, but I'm prepared for the worse. Lord have mercy on our Bengal souls.

[oldschooler]

If you hate to say it...then why did you ?

Anyway the Browns have only won 1 home opener

since they rejoined the NFL...that was last year against

the Ravens...over half of that team is gone.

Marvin has been preaching a fast start since before

the draft. He has this team focused...I expect a win...

[ArmyBengal]

I expect a win as well, but with it being the Battle of Ohio Part I, a division game, and at Cleveland for the season and home opener, anything can happen...

Bengals- 24

Browns- 17

WHODEY !!!

[skyline]

I expect them to win, but after all the years of losing, how could you not have that unsettled feeling in the pit of your stomach?

[bengalskyspy]

I also have an uneasy feeling that will only be cured by a good ol' fashioned ass-kicking by the BENGALS over the Browns. I need to see them dominate, pulverize. and humiliate the team up north before I will be free of the demons of the past. I dont just want a win, I want to see them administer some pain. Then I will know the past is past.

[BengalszoneBilly]

I'm expecting the Bengals to squeak out a win in a hard fought (as usual with Cleveland) game. Cincinnati 37 Cleveland 32.

[walzav29]

That's what I want to see. A 45-0 beating. The same whippin that the Broncos put on the Bengals in Marvins 1st game. That's what should happen right? Shouldn't they have the same loser mentality as the Bengals did 2 season's ago? There should be seperation between these 2.

[HoosierCat]

Years of hope and being severly dissapointed have led me to believe this Sunday will be a loss. I think of 2 season openers that let me down.

#1. The loss to San Diego a couple of years ago. The previous season we beat the Super Bowl bound Pats and the Ravens. They were supposed to be up and comers. Worst game ever.

#2. Last years loss to Jet's. The hype was there, but then Martin runs like it's 1996. 1-4 follows that.

I'll be rooting, and hoping, but I'm prepared for the worse. Lord have mercy on our Bengal souls.

Personally, I think the last couple openers ought to be cause for hope, not fear. Two years ago we got blown up by Denver in a game at PBS. The team looked completely discombobulated, horrifying fans with the specter of yet another year of the "Bungles."

Zip forward to last year's opener. This time, the Bengals are on the road (in NY, no less), going up against a loaded Jets squad, with a second year rook at QB, a starting CB and LB missing, and a patchwork OL. And wonder of wonders...they almost pull it off. Were it not for Rudi's disasterous fumble (returned for a TD) I think they very well would have.

Now comes this year. Another road game, this time in Cleveland. The Jets were loaded; the Browns are a patchwork team. All our starters appear healthy. Carson is making his 14th NFL start, not his first. By all rights, we ought to beat Cleveland to a pulp.

Would I be surprised if they didn't? No, not really. Nothing about this team surprises me any more. Will I be disgusted if the blow this game? Oh, yeah, you bet.

[redsfan2]

Years of hope and being severly dissapointed have led me to believe this Sunday will be a loss. I think of 2 season openers that let me down.

#1. The loss to San Diego a couple of years ago. The previous season we beat the Super Bowl bound Pats and the Ravens. They were supposed to be up and comers. Worst game ever.

#2. Last years loss to Jet's. The hype was there, but then Martin runs like it's 1996. 1-4 follows that.

I'll be rooting, and hoping, but I'm prepared for the worse. Lord have mercy on our Bengal souls.

The loss to San Diego was pre Lewis. Those guys were so out of shape that the Chargers were actually laughing at them while the game was still going on ... well sort of going on anyway.

Jets aren't that bad of a team ..... they ended up with a pretty good record last year, and we weren't the only guys they snuck one in on. Remember .... that game was pretty close.

Last year the Browns won 3 games at home .... year before that it was 2. As bad as those teams were, this one is worse. New coaches ... new players ... one of their new starting db's is hurt. Like we saw with coach Lewis, it takes a while for everybody to get on the same page ..... and that ain't usually in the 1st game. Crennel will most likely put a good team in Cleveland ..... but it's not going to be on day one.

We fans have been rabbit punched by this organization so many times that we've all got post traumatic stress syndrome. We complain about the press giving us no respect .... and we're afraid to even give it to ourselves.

I expect a win this week. The Browns may have a good first quarter or even first half, but they'll fade. No misplaced disrespect to the organization, but at this point they're just not organized enough to sustain an efficient effort for 4 quarters. Having said that ............. Now Could we lose ?????? Hell yeah .. Ask the Ravens. We've all walked into the edge of the door or hit ourselves on the thumb with a hammer ...... thing is that we usually Don't. Same case here .... could happen .. but in all reality .. probably not.

Mellow out .... enjoy the game.

[TippCityRick]

skyline Posted on Sep 8 2005, 08:36 AM

  I expect them to win, but after all the years of losing, how could you not have that unsettled feeling in the pit of your stomach? 

Would I be surprised if they didn't? No, not really. Nothing about this team surprises me any more. Will I be disgusted if the blow this game? Oh, yeah, you bet.

I'm with both of you. Yeah, we should win. Hell, we'd BETTER win!! But I'll feel a lot better come Sunday at 4pm with us up a couple of touches.

[bengalindian]

We will never be able to have a fully confident feeling about anything until the Bengals make the playoffs. Hopefully, it's this year.

[derekshank]

Well, I'm not sure we ever should have a overly confident feeling when the Bengals are playing teams within the division. We must always be open to the possibility that the game means more to the other team, even if they are only playing the "spoiler".

We are definitely the better team on paper... but we have been for a few year now, and they always manage at least one win off of us. We can't be paper champions anymore. I believe we'll win, but I've believed that we'd sweep them two years in a row now. This is not a game that they can look past... and they won't.

[The Big Orange]

I have to say, I can't hardly take anyone who isn't a little bit homerish right now...What is not to like about our team except it's history?

We've got an up and coming QB, 2 good RB's, great recievers, a great O-line, a good D-line, an opprotunistic secondary, a great kicker, good special teams, solid coaching, and a good amount of returning players who have jelled well ...And we are healthier than ever.

We are better than the Browns, just about everybody thinks so, why shouldn't we win...because of hocus pocus..."We've always had a slow start"..."The Browns always play us tough"..give me a break...

Live a little..dream big...be gutsy...there are no guarantees, but if you think we are better than the Browns, say so damn it, and quit being a woos

And everyone said, "Amen"

[redsfan2]

I have to say, I can't hardly take anyone who isn't a little bit homerish right now...What is not to like about our team except it's history?

We've got an up and coming QB, 2 good RB's, great recievers, a great O-line, a good D-line, an opprotunistic secondary, a great kicker, good special teams, solid coaching, and a good amount of returning players who have jelled well ...And we are healthier than ever.

We are better than the Browns, just about everybody thinks so, why shouldn't we win...because of hocus pocus..."We've always had a slow start"..."The Browns always play us tough"..give me a break...

Live a little..dream big...be gutsy...there are no guarantees, but if you think we are better than the Browns, say so damn it, and quit being a woos

And everyone said, "Amen"

AHHHHHHHHHMMMMMMEEEEEEENNNNNNN ! ( I'm Catholic )

[derekshank]

I have to say, I can't hardly take anyone who isn't a little bit homerish right now...What is not to like about our team except it's history?

We've got an up and coming QB, 2 good RB's, great recievers, a great O-line, a good D-line, an opprotunistic secondary, a great kicker, good special teams, solid coaching, and a good amount of returning players who have jelled well ...And we are healthier than ever.

We are better than the Browns, just about everybody thinks so, why shouldn't we win...because of hocus pocus..."We've always had a slow start"..."The Browns always play us tough"..give me a break...

Live a little..dream big...be gutsy...there are no guarantees, but if you think we are better than the Browns, say so damn it, and quit being a woos

And everyone said, "Amen"

I agree to a point Big O. I really think we will win this game, (and there is nothing wrong with a little bit of homerism every once in a while) but I think there is more to be concerned about this team than it's history. (Our defense for instance)

We certainly out match the Browns on paper, but I am not going to make any guarantees here, because we have lost to a lot of teams we have out matched on paper... I am hoping the players don't go out there taking anything for granted. I don't think Marvin is expecting us to waltz through this game with a 30 point victory, so why should I?

I expect us to win this game, but to expect the Browns to just roll over for us is silly. They want to punch us in the mouth just as much as we do them. We just have to punch harder. I think we will. I don't make score predictions... but I'd say we win by around 10

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

I hate to say it, but I expect a loss too.

BUT NOT THIS WEEKEND

I expect this weekend to bring back the memories of the glory days. To lead us all into the promised land in which next week for our home opener, the crowd will be chanting, and the stands will reverberate with the chant of "Who Dey!". The name Rudi will be chanted with thunderous might (hey, his name is much easier to chant than Chris Perry). The uproar of the fans resounding hymn "DEFENSE DEFENSE" will distract the Vikings, and the world will be made right.

I expect this game to be a blowout of immense magnitude, and a game upon which Marvin will rally his men throughout the season.

[AGrizzlyBaer]

i hope crennels first game was like marvins, a lot of hype but to get spanked at home

[redsfan2]

solid coaching, 

I don't make score predictions... but I'd say we win by around 10

7 to 10 points sounds reasonable to me. Expecting your team to win a game against an opponent who is in the early stages of rebuilding isn't " Homerisitc ". In my opinion. " 75 to 0 we're gonna crush 'em ... they have no chance " and the ever popular and very concise " they Suck" Now that's homer.

Rev ........ I left in the " solid coaching " because I'm not as sure about that. I have 2 thoughts on that.

#1 If the offense doesn't live up to expectations ..... Brat is going to have a lot more bar time available to him after this season. Him and Frazier can go on a real toot and they won't have to drive anywhere either.

#2 If the defense is not vastly improved ... I think there'll be a couple of position coaches jettisoned. I think Bresnahan has a year with this group. If it falls short in one area ... linebackers ... line ... etc. Then I'd look for that coach to get deep sixed and a new guy of Bresanhans choice and Marvins OK to be brought in. If that doesn't work ... then he'll be able to look up Frazier and Brat.

[derekshank]

solid coaching, 

I don't make score predictions... but I'd say we win by around 10

7 to 10 points sounds reasonable to me. Expecting your team to win a game against an opponent who is in the early stages of rebuilding isn't " Homerisitc ". In my opinion. " 75 to 0 we're gonna crush 'em ... they have no chance " and the ever popular and very concise " they Suck" Now that's homer.

Rev ........ I left in the " solid coaching " because I'm not as sure about that. I have 2 thoughts on that.

#1 If the offense doesn't live up to expectations ..... Brat is going to have a lot more bar time available to him after this season. Him and Frazier can go on a real toot and they won't have to drive anywhere either.

#2 If the defense is not vastly improved ... I think there'll be a couple of position coaches jettisoned. I think Bresnahan has a year with this group. If it falls short in one area ... linebackers ... line ... etc. Then I'd look for that coach to get deep sixed and a new guy of Bresanhans choice and Marvins OK to be brought in. If that doesn't work ... then he'll be able to look up Frazier and Brat.

I didn't say "solid coaching" anywhere in my post... just for the record. Gotta give Big O his due there.

[The Big Orange]

Rev ........ I left in the " solid coaching " because I'm not as sure about that. I have 2 thoughts on that.

#1 If the offense doesn't live up to expectations ..... Brat is going to have a lot more bar time available to him after this season. Him and Frazier can go on a real toot and they won't have to drive anywhere either.

#2 If the defense is not vastly improved ... I think there'll be a couple of position coaches jettisoned. I think Bresnahan has a year with this group. If it falls short in one area ... linebackers ... line ... etc. Then I'd look for that coach to get deep sixed and a new guy of Bresanhans choice and Marvins OK to be brought in. If that doesn't work ... then he'll be able to look up Frazier and Brat.

I agree about Brat...I'm not much of a Brat fan at all. If Brat is gone after this season (can we fire him even if we do win the Super Bowl-probably not), then I will personally stand outside of PBS on a food strike, or eating nothing but salads, which is the smae thing, until they hire Zampese as O-coordinator.

I love the Zamp..I agree with you on the position coaches, as long as it isn't Coyle...I think he develops talent well...Madieu, Keiwan

[redsfan2]

solid coaching, 

I don't make score predictions... but I'd say we win by around 10

7 to 10 points sounds reasonable to me. Expecting your team to win a game against an opponent who is in the early stages of rebuilding isn't " Homerisitc ". In my opinion. " 75 to 0 we're gonna crush 'em ... they have no chance " and the ever popular and very concise " they Suck" Now that's homer.

Rev ........ I left in the " solid coaching " because I'm not as sure about that. I have 2 thoughts on that.

#1 If the offense doesn't live up to expectations ..... Brat is going to have a lot more bar time available to him after this season. Him and Frazier can go on a real toot and they won't have to drive anywhere either.

#2 If the defense is not vastly improved ... I think there'll be a couple of position coaches jettisoned. I think Bresnahan has a year with this group. If it falls short in one area ... linebackers ... line ... etc. Then I'd look for that coach to get deep sixed and a new guy of Bresanhans choice and Marvins OK to be brought in. If that doesn't work ... then he'll be able to look up Frazier and Brat.

I didn't say "solid coaching" anywhere in my post... just for the record. Gotta give Big O his due there.

Yeah ... I know ... I was just too lazy to separate them. I did space them out .. and specify " Rev " when alluding to the quote.

I did spell check tho and use proper punctuation .. so I should at least get neatness points if nothing else.

[HairOnFire]

I'm counting on a close game and a win. Then again, the last time I checked my calendar said it was September.

[Bobcat Bengal]

I expect them to win, but after all the years of losing, how could you not have that unsettled feeling in the pit of your stomach?

Skyline summed up my feelings exactly.

I felt that way when I was watching the Philly game.

I'm just glad I was watching it at home and not at a Sports Bar or anything.

[Bobcat Bengal]

the crowd will be chanting, and the stands will reverberate with the chant of "Who Dey!". The name Rudi will be chanted with thunderous might (hey, his name is much easier to chant than Chris Perry).

I dunno about that one.

"RU-DI, RU-DI, RU-DI"

"PER-RY, PER-RY, PER-RY"

Sounds good to me.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

the crowd will be chanting, and the stands will reverberate with the chant of "Who Dey!".  The name Rudi will be chanted with thunderous might (hey, his name is much easier to chant than Chris Perry).

I dunno about that one.

"RU-DI, RU-DI, RU-DI"

"PER-RY, PER-RY, PER-RY"

Sounds good to me.

Yeah, but is it Tab or Chris?

Might as well be chanting "John-son John-son"