What do you think of this win?

[Stripes]

My vote goes to option number three. We have proven that despite mental mistakes and a struggle by our great offense, we can win tight football games. I think we won this game Baltimore Ravens style. The offense was inconsistent, but they didn't turn the ball over. Their only true problem was the penalties, but I see that as a minor issue.

When the offense struggled, the defense stepped up and dominated the Texans. Not only did they manage seven sacks today, but they proved they can win without getting a ton of takeaways too. They did well to manage Domanick Davis, holding him under 90 yards in about 20 touches, and kept Carr mostly ineffective throughout the game.

It is a great feeling to know that we can win a game in which we commited 14 penalties, and the offense only managed 16 points. This is the sort of effort that can rocket a younge defense to the top. They couldn't be anymore confident than they are right now, and all of Marvin's work is surfacing.

Let's hope the trend continues that if either offense or defense is struggling, the other will pick up it's game and carry the Bengals to a win. In truth, that trend has favored not the offense, but the defense so far this season.

[kingwilly]

It was a tight game only in that we let it get that way. Execution wise, we moved the ball with ease. It ws the mistakes/penalties that got us searching for points.

By my count, we left 18 points on the table.

Tighten it up and we never play another close game again.

The inuries to the Oline were real unlucky. 2 Cetners??? How the hell does that happen? Glad we got Guichuc in the 4th.

Hats off to Steinbach and the O-line for stepping up and making it happen.

[bengalindian]

Where are all those Marvin-doubters now?? "Who the hell is Eric Ghaichuc??" "Why didn't we get a safety or DT??"

I feel that this could have been a blowout, but then again, it IS the NFL, and anything could happen. I don't think the Texans are as bad a team as everyone says, and that David Carr could be an above average QB if he had the talent around him that many other QBs around this league do (i.e. Brees, Eli, Old Culpepper, Griese, etc.).

Except for the penalties, good game all around, especially in spite of the injuries.

[CTBengalsFan]

As long as we can win the ugly ones, we're in good shape. I'd be really worried if we lost.

[jonf45uk]

from our opening drive i thought it would be a blow out, but the penalty that took away tj's td seemed to knock us off balance and it never really recovered. still need a big run stopper in the middle of the line but full credit to the d for standing up when it counted.

an ugly win is a damn sight better than a hansome loss!!

[JungleFanatic]

an ugly win is a damn sight better than a handsome loss!!

Truer words were never spoken!

[Scottishbengal]

I went for No. 4 as it should have been a blow out (1), and I was glad to see them win in the end of an ugly contest (2) and I am pleased we can win tight games (3).

[smith288]

The win was ugly and I dont think it proves we can win close games. Texans are bad. It proves we can win tight ones with bad teams.

Do something like this against the Colts... Then I would be hella-satisfied.

[San Antonio Bengal]

The win was ugly and I dont think it proves we can win close games. Texans are bad. It proves we can win tight ones with bad teams.

It doesn't matter how "good" or how "bad" your opponent is when you're tied in the 4th quarter. Yes, the Texans are not a good team, but even if our own mistakes and the loss of some key players contributed to the low offensive output, the game was still tied. Good teams can lose to bad teams just as easily as they can lose to good teams. In the 4th quarter, both teams wanted to step up and win the game. Whether you're "good" or "bad" doesn't matter at that point.

[HoosierCat]

It was a tight game only in that we let it get that way.

Exactly. My vote went for "other." IMHO, what the Texans game showed is that the bengals have taken a step up from where they were the last two years.

They lost this game last year in Cleveland. And they lost it the year before that in Arizona. It was the game where they should have won, but found themselves fighting both the other team and themselves: mental errors, dumb penalties, missed assignments, dropped ballls, etc. For the last two years, it's been too much to ask them to beat both themselves and even a sucky opponent at the same time.

But yesterday they did just that. And that is a big step, make no mistake about it.

However, it is also a warning. The Bengals give the same kind of breaks to a team like Pitt or Indy and they will get creamed. So congrats on 4-0. Great job. But if you want it to be 5-0, you have work to do.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

I went with none of the above.

I was disappointed in the mental breakdowns that led to oh so many penalties.

I was excited by the fact that even with our number 1 and number 2 center out, and two of our safeties being out, we still got it done.

I was royally PISSED that the announcers talked the entire freaking game about what HOUSTON needed to do, and what HOUSTON was able to do, but never about what the Bengals needed to do our were doing. I was royally PISSED that the announcers sounded excited about the Texans beating the Bengals, and bored about the Bengals actually beating the Texans.

[derekshank]

I went with none of the above.

I was disappointed in the mental breakdowns that led to oh so many penalties.

I was excited by the fact that even with our number 1 and number 2 center out, and two of our safeties being out, we still got it done.

I was royally PISSED that the announcers talked the entire freaking game about what HOUSTON needed to do, and what HOUSTON was able to do, but never about what the Bengals needed to do our were doing. I was royally PISSED that the announcers sounded excited about the Texans beating the Bengals, and bored about the Bengals actually beating the Texans.

Well, that's what happens when you are the favorite. We were favored by 9.5, so commentators and sports writers cheer for the better story. In this case, the better story would have been the team with all the problems, firing their O-Coordinator, and being in complete disarray coming into the home of an undefeated team and winning. Sorry... that's probably what most of the country wanted.

We are used to being on the other side of that. Commentators were pulling for the Bengals to beat the undefeated Chiefs a couple years back. Personally, I take it as a complement to be on the other side of the coin.

In regards to the poll, I voted ugly (even though I don't believe there is a such thing as an ugly win). We won, and I'm happy. It shouldn't have been that close, and though it doesn't prove a whole lot, it does prove that our defense is good enough to be trusted in a tight spot at the end of a game. The penalties have got to go though.

[HairOnFire]

In my opinion you could vote for any of the options without being the least bit wrong. That said, I voted for the close game option mostly because I'm in no mood to second guess a win of any kind, AND because the performance in none of these games is a guarantee or indicator of what to expect from week to week. However, I agree that most of the things a fan could complain about point to an offense that isn't really hitting on all cylinders, as some would suggest. Right now the offense is getting by on pure talent, outstanding balance, and a young QB's willingness to use every weapon at his disposal.

They're winning on defense, and I couldn't be happier.

[BengalPappaw]

IMO it was an "Other" This was a game we should win and we did. We showed the ability to overcome several roadblocks: 1) our own penalties, 2) overconfidence and 3) significant injuries.

The Bumgals would have lost this game -- because we had so many "ready-made" excuses.

We are past that kind of football (thanks to ML)

[membengal]

I hated this win. If they cannot win pretty, I think they should give it back...

[semiotter]

Hey I voted for number 3. Houston came out fired up, had new Off. cord. didnt want to lose another game wanted that first "W" and played a good game. We lost another center, showed with had depth on the "O" line. We arent going to score 40 every game, and what can you say about this Def. man now we got number99 kicking ass, look out AFC we are here>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Without two pre-snap, stupid penalties the Bengals legitimately have at least 14 more points on the board as those two TD passes were wiped out as a result.

Game should've been a blow out.

[redsfan2]

It was a tight game only in that we let it get that way.

Exactly. My vote went for "other." IMHO, what the Texans game showed is that the bengals have taken a step up from where they were the last two years.

They lost this game last year in Cleveland. And they lost it the year before that in Arizona. It was the game where they should have won, but found themselves fighting both the other team and themselves: mental errors, dumb penalties, missed assignments, dropped ballls, etc. For the last two years, it's been too much to ask them to beat both themselves and even a sucky opponent at the same time.

But yesterday they did just that. And that is a big step, make no mistake about it.

However, it is also a warning. The Bengals give the same kind of breaks to a team like Pitt or Indy and they will get creamed. So congrats on 4-0. Great job. But if you want it to be 5-0, you have work to do.

Not surprisingly, I voted the same as Joisey. Thinking behind it was a little different, but came out the same in the end. Wins are not categorized as pretty ... ugly .... or even close. They are wins or they are losses ... that's all.

Houston ... like the Raiders ... Packers ... etc. are NOT to be taken lightly in spite of their record. They will not roll over for you and play dead. If you want to beat them then you really do have to beat them ... and that's all there is to it. They played tough. They made too many mistakes ... had a bad break or two along the way and just plain didn't make enough plays to win the game. Sound familiar ????? It should .. it was us last year ... just like Joisey says.

I swear ... I think we're bitchin more about winning this game than the Texans are about losing it.

[ArmyBengal]

Proved we can win a close game of our own making ?? I think not, I wasn't impressed with the fact that it was a close game. I was more PISSED that it was a close game. Stupid penalties !!! This better than 12 penalties resulting in a total loss of over 100 yards won't come close to getting it done against P-Burg or Indy. When the penalties cost us points, it pisses me off. NO EXCUSES for that crap. The injuries were significant, but still don't account for how ugly this game was. This should have been a blowout, even with the injuries, but a win is a win and I'll stop bitchin now. Lets be happy about being 4-0, get some guys healthy to play and win against JAX this Sunday !!!

WHODEY !!!