Is everybody happy???

[Stripes]

Of course I'm happy. I'm ecstatic. We won, by a multiple touchdown margin. The defense gave up a couple big plays, but for the most part, they stopped the run (Odell is going to be awesome) and held strong in the red zone.

Palmer completed 76 percent of his pass attempts and threw for nearly 300 yards and 2 touchdowns. How could anyone possibly be disappointed in him?

The Vikings struggled badly on offense today against the Bucs, so let's hope they'll be having similar timing issues next Sunday!

Here we go baby, 1-0!!! :player:

[San Antonio Bengal]

Lets hope they get better on shutting down the run.

Um, last I checked, we only allowed 95 rushing yards and Droughns had 78. We didn't allow a rushing TD. So, then if this wasn't "shutting down the run," what is?

From this game, it seems what really needs work is the pass D and getting to the quarterback.

[HoosierCat]

The Bengals got some lucky breaks that in the past seemed to go against them. Yes, I am happy with the victory, but I am a little concerned that the defense is still not where it should be.

Me, too -- but that's not necessarily a bad thing. On the one hand they got a solid victory...on the other there's plenty of game film highlights of their foulups, bleeps, and blunders for Marvin to drill them with. They got the win...but they have lots of work still to do. Best of both worlds.

At the very least, no reason for them to get all cocky going into the home opener vs. Minny.

[CBin2k7]

Lets hope they get better on shutting down the run.

Um, last I checked, we only allowed 95 rushing yards and Droughns had 78. We didn't allow a rushing TD. So, then if this wasn't "shutting down the run," what is?

From this game, it seems what really needs work is the pass D and getting to the quarterback.

pass D will improve if they start getting to the QB. No pass rush, will mean a lot more passing yards put up against our corners.

[jrandom42]

You my friend are clueless. Backbreaking of times? His INT came with 4 mins left in the game, us up 14, and gave the browns the ball at their 5 yardline. Thats not backbreaking at all. It was bad playcalling though to be throwing at that time.

Actually, the interception was caused by Carson getting hit just as he released the ball. Another tenth of a second of pass protection and it's another TD.

[MacD BengalFan]

Lets hope they get better on shutting down the run.

Um, last I checked, we only allowed 95 rushing yards and Droughns had 78. We didn't allow a rushing TD. So, then if this wasn't "shutting down the run," what is?

From this game, it seems what really needs work is the pass D and getting to the quarterback.

I had not read the stats when I made this statement, but I did watch the game and I felt that was a problem. But I stand corrected, the pass defense needs to play better and not make an average receiver look like a stud, and that is what happened. And yes, the defense needs to get more pressure on the QB as on several occasions Dillfer had all day to make a pass. If this does not change by next week, the Vikings will have a field day next week.

[andybren]

A win's a win, even if it's only the Browns. Chalk it up, move on.

As I mentioned on another thread, the bend-don't-break defense is stressful to watch, but ultimately we held them to under 100 yards rushing and only gave up one really big play. The only other points were two field goals (one of which was coming off Carson's fumble around mid-field). The TD's called back by penalties complicate things, but otherwise, I think the defense looked successful. And purposeful.

I'm not getting any post-game analysis out here on the west coast, so if somebody could chime in with some specifics regarding the defense, I would appreciate it.

***

EDIT: In reviewing the play-by-play on ESPN.com, I realize now that the two TD's called back by penalty were not against the defense (one was a punt return, the other was an INT return), so disregard what I said about that.

[Stripes]

A win's a win, even if it's only the Browns. Chalk it up, move on.

As I mentioned on another thread, the bend-don't-break defense is stressful to watch, but ultimately we held them to under 100 yards rushing and only gave up one really big play. The only other points were two field goals (one of which was coming off Carson's fumble around mid-field). The TD's called back by penalties complicate things, but otherwise, I think the defense looked successful. And purposeful.

I'm not getting any post-game analysis out here on the west coast, so if somebody could chime in with some specifics regarding the defense, I would appreciate it.

Droughns had some success pushing for yardage on us early on, but he really slowed down in the second half. We gave up two plays big enough to mention. The first play from scrimmage was a 24 yard Droughns run, and Frisman Jasckon caught a 68 yard touchdown pass from Dilfer (most of the yardage was YAC down the sideline).

Otherwise, the defense held strong, Odell lead the team in tackles, followed by Pollack and Madieu. We had a better pass rush late in the third quarter and through the fourth qurter, and Dilfer's stats took a hit because of it.

Tory James struggled mildly covering Antonio Bryant, but not alarmingly so. He was slowed down a bit by a foot injury I believe.

[andybren]

Watching the game with no sound (sports bar), that Pollack stat sneaked up on me. Was he getting substantially more playing time than Landon?

[Stripes]

Watching the game with no sound (sports bar), that Pollack stat sneaked up on me. Was he getting substantially more playing time than Landon?

I'd say that Landon got more playing time out of the two, but with Pollack being a rookie, the Browns offense called plays in his direction to test him. That'd lead to his tackle numbers increasing.

[membengal]

Look no further than Denver to figure out why we should all be ecstatic...

Let's see:

1. Team with playoff expectations opening on the road? Check.

2. The sad-sack home team was road-kill last year? Check.

3. The sad-sack home team was vastly overmatched on paper and just trying to figure out a new coaches scheme? Check.

4. Visiting team romps, right? Not so fast. Miami 34. Denver 10.

Let's just say the Bengals taking care of business in a similar situation should not be so easily dismissed.

At. All.

[Stripes]

This isn't the pre-season anymore. Every win counts, and is worthy of pride.

Keep it up boys, next week brings a real challenge. :player:

[DontPushMe]

Lets hope they get better on shutting down the run.

Um, last I checked, we only allowed 95 rushing yards and Droughns had 78. We didn't allow a rushing TD. So, then if this wasn't "shutting down the run," what is?

From this game, it seems what really needs work is the pass D and getting to the quarterback.

Misleading, Droughns was gashing us in the first half, but they had to ease up on the run a bit in the 2nd half because we had a good lead and they paniced. 'holding' your opponents starting RB to 12 carries for 78 yards, 6.5 ypc, is not good, at all. Our defense still needs much work.

[kingwilly]

Droughns would have gone big on the 04 Bengals but our O capitalized and forced them to pass. The D is better and clearly can play with a lead.

1-0 feels nice but next week is a real challenge.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

You my friend are clueless. Backbreaking of times? His INT came with 4 mins left in the game, us up 14, and gave the browns the ball at their 5 yardline. Thats not backbreaking at all. It was bad playcalling though to be throwing at that time.

Actually, the interception was caused by Carson getting hit just as he released the ball. Another tenth of a second of pass protection and it's another TD.

He was already falling when he threw it though, he's got to have the sense to hold the ball, take the sack, kick the field goal, and make it a 3-score game.

[CBin2k7]

Look no further than Denver to figure out why we should all be ecstatic...

Let's see:

1. Team with playoff expectations opening on the road? Check.

2. The sad-sack home team was road-kill last year? Check.

3. The sad-sack home team was vastly overmatched on paper and just trying to figure out a new coaches scheme? Check.

4. Visiting team romps, right? Not so fast. Miami 34. Denver 10.

Let's just say the Bengals taking care of business in a similar situation should not be so easily dismissed.

At. All.

Add the St Louis Rams to that list also,

San Fran 28

St Louis 25

[Bobcat Bengal]

Dont pat them on the back so much, they beat an bad team. Any team who plans on going to the playoffs SHOULD beat bad teams.

with a little help from the zebras , they come out ahead.

Yes!

Am I the only one who noticed that?

Without some questionable referee calls, the game would have been a LOT closer.

Anyone recall the Return for TD that was called back?

How about a Cleveland INT that was called back?

I think there were a few more plays as well, the Carson INT that was called back....

But, I am definitely glad we won the game and are 1-0.

I'm looking at Minnesota now. :player:

[redsfan2]

A lot of good points on this topic. Have to go along with Joisey tho .......... he refers to the Titans ... add the Cards to that list and the Browns from last season as well.

" Only the Browns " .... This is one of those lose lose situations .... Win and people are saying it's only the Browns ........ LOSE and they're saying how could we lose to the Browns ????? I don't care who it was .... we're not 0 and 1 since 2001 ? was it ??

" Got some lucky breaks " ..... No doubt. A lot of those were self inflicted by the Browns .... just like we used to do. ......... used to do.

Final analysis ..... we did the things we had to do to win the game when we had to do them.

They didn't do the things they had to do to stop us when they had the chance ...... whether it was giving up a 20 td to Walter or Mickens sticking his finger in CJ's eye ... it all boiled down to the same thing.

Yeah ....... I'm happy See? I'm going to be happier still when we put the stick to Minnesotas ass next week in Cincy!

[San Antonio Bengal]

Lets hope they get better on shutting down the run.

Um, last I checked, we only allowed 95 rushing yards and Droughns had 78. We didn't allow a rushing TD. So, then if this wasn't "shutting down the run," what is?

From this game, it seems what really needs work is the pass D and getting to the quarterback.

Misleading, Droughns was gashing us in the first half, but they had to ease up on the run a bit in the 2nd half because we had a good lead and they paniced. 'holding' your opponents starting RB to 12 carries for 78 yards, 6.5 ypc, is not good, at all. Our defense still needs much work.

78.3% of all statistics are made up. With that, if you throw out the outlying data point, Droughns average dips down to 4.9. Not great, but a lot better than 6.5 ypc. That stat is a little misleading.*

If the rushing attack was working so well, why did they fail to score a rushing TD? The total number of yards isn't as important as the number of points allowed. Sure the total yards and ypc help to gauge how a team is performing, but the most important thing are the points scored. Our defense did not allow any rushing TDs. That is a BIG improvement over last year. If we were unable to stop the run, they should have scored at least one, if not multiple rushing TDs.

* throwing out outlying data points is really common in statistical analysis especially with small data sets where one abnormal point can lead to misleading results for the stats calculated.