Unearthing an Oracle

[The Big Orange]

After the next two week's it is not just possible, but probable that we will be atop the American Football Conference North Division. After we beat the Minnesota Vikings by a score of thirty-eight to twenty and the Chicago Bears by thirty to zero (our first shut-out in a while) we shall favor a record of three wins and zero losses.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to lose to the New England Patriots in week three after probably beating the Texas Texans next week to give them a two wins, one loss record.

The Ravens will probably beat the Tenneessee Titans and after their third week bye have a one win, one loss record.

The Cleveland Browns will probably lose to both the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts and will have zero wins and three loses.

The order will then be: the Cincinnati Bengals, first; the Pittsburgh Steelers second; the Baltimore Ravens, third; and the Cleveland Browns, fourth. Besides having an occassional tied record, for the remainder of the season the win-loss record standings will not change for this division.

The Orange Oracle September Twelfth, Two-Thousand and Five

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Did you not watch the Bears defense this weekend?

Why does everyone think they are going to be such a pushover? I doubt we will score 30 points against them IN CHICAGO. We might shut them out, but it will be closer to 10 7.

[CBin2k7]

The Bears D was playing the Redskins O, not exactly word beaters. But that D is good

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Victory next week is not a given (obviously). The defense must stop Culpepper and put pressure on him and I am not real confident of that happening.

So once again, it's how many points can the offense score in order to win the game...and how many TO's can the defense produce?

All that said it is the home opener, the fans are going to be loud as hell with the 1-0 start, and the players will most assuredly be fired up to get a home win.

The defense must contain and limit Culpepper from having a big game, the Vikes defense is improved, it will be a good one hopefully.

[Benzoo]

If The Oracle says it so, I'm not gonna argue.

Oracles are (almost) never wrong.

[bengalindian]

There is no strategy necessary to beat the Vikings. The oracle has already predicted what will happen, and thus, it will be so. We need to stop thinking about and discussing the game and what the Bengals need to do to win, because it's already a foregone conclusion.

[San Antonio Bengal]

Oracles are (almost) never wrong.

Really what about the so-called "unbreakable" 9i version?*

* My apologies to those of you who aren't computer nerds and don't get the joke. Even more apologies to anyone who does get the joke...

[bengalfreek]

If the pass rush does not improve dramatically over what the cats showed in week #1, Daunte Culpepper will carve us up like Cindy Lou Who's Christmas roast beast.

[Ox]

Daunte Culpepper will carve us up like Cindy Lou Who's Christmas roast beast.

Which is exactly what I'm most afraid of!

[Irish Bengal]

Thurman will shut down the run, everybody else will stop the pass.

WE WIN ! :player:

[Stripes]

One game at a time folks... We can't be 3-0 without first being 2-0... The Vikings are no joke, this will be a tough game... Let's hope we get it done. :player:

[HairOnFire]

If the pass rush does not improve dramatically over what the cats showed in week #1, Daunte Culpepper will carve us up like Cindy Lou Who's Christmas roast beast.

First, a hearty welcome to the Freek. I read where you had finally had enough of the Huddles nonsense and I was hoping you'd find your way here. Any chance you could convince Maldez and Edge to follow you?

With the pleasantries out of the way....I sorta disagree. I've now read about 40 or 50 posts warning that the Bengals pass rush will have to improve or Culpepper will carve the Bengals up. Perhaps this is true, time will tell, but I'm far more interested in seeing the Bengals run defense shut down a struggling Viking running game even if that means easing upon the pass rush in the same manner as against the Browns. Make the Vikings offense a one dimensional pass attack and I'm betting the Bengals come away with a victory.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Did you not watch the Bears defense this weekend?

Why does everyone think they are going to be such a pushover?  I doubt we will score 30 points against them IN CHICAGO.  We might shut them out, but it will be closer to 10 7.

Well, I was at the game and their defense didn't look that great. The Redskins just have absolutely no passing game whatsoever and poor blocking schemes.

Their defense is good, but the Redskins shouldn't be putting up many points on anyone. Seriously, the Skins put up 9 points on Chicago, you really think their offense is as good as the Bengals?

[walshfan]

the Bears defense shutdown the Redskins offense ....that isnt exactly a major accomplishment! hell the skins are going to go back to Brunnel this weekend trying to find some kind of continuity..

IHouston, like Minn. is still struggling with their Oline....Just who is Culpepper gong to go to if he carves us up....do you realize how valuable Moss was in taking the heat off the other receivers......

If we can get past Minn. its a good possibility that we can go 4-0 this season..

At least the odds are in our favor right now.

[HoosierCat]

I've now read about 40 or 50 posts warning that the Bengals pass rush will have to improve or Culpepper will carve the Bengals up. Perhaps this is true, time will tell, but I'm far more interested in seeing the Bengals run defense shut down a struggling Viking running game even if that means easing upon the pass rush in the same manner as against the Browns. Make the Vikings offense a one dimensional pass attack and I'm betting the Bengals come away with a victory.

Yup. And that's doable; the Bengals last year had their biggest troubles against the run when facing teams with top-flight backs; against mid-level to poor rushers they could hold their own. They showed that again against the Browns. Droughans had one good run, right at the start, and was then mostly a nonfactor the rest of the way, and Green couldn't get going at all.

[boomerman]

Is it possible that our pass rush looked so bad because of our defensive scheme against the Browns? I think we were playing run first, then pass rush. After all, the run is what's killed us the last few years.

Anyway, I'm hopeing that's the case.

[derekshank]

I've now read about 40 or 50 posts warning that the Bengals pass rush will have to improve or Culpepper will carve the Bengals up. Perhaps this is true, time will tell, but I'm far more interested in seeing the Bengals run defense shut down a struggling Viking running game even if that means easing upon the pass rush in the same manner as against the Browns. Make the Vikings offense a one dimensional pass attack and I'm betting the Bengals come away with a victory.

Yup. And that's doable; the Bengals last year had their biggest troubles against the run when facing teams with top-flight backs; against mid-level to poor rushers they could hold their own. They showed that again against the Browns. Droughans had one good run, right at the start, and was then mostly a nonfactor the rest of the way, and Green couldn't get going at all.

I agree. After that initial run, the Bengals pretty much shut it down. They got a measly 71 yards on the ground after that 24 yarder. The Vikings running game isn't much better, and I'd be lying if I said I watched the whole Vikings game, But on the plays I watched, their center was getting pushed around like a little boy.

It wouldn't surprise me to see Robinson and Thornton to get several stops for losses, and a few QB hurries in this game. Should be very winnable at home.

On the other topic in this thread... there is no way we should ever have an excuse for losing to the Bears. I don't care if they bring back their '85 defense. Their offense is so useless we should still win.

Our offense will score much more than 9 points, and it should be no problem holding them to only 1 TD, and a FG or two.