Bring on BALT

[AMC]

After what I saw last night against PITT, going into BALT is going to be a very, very tough game....and they will still remember last year's comeback game up there....

We need to come out and smash them in the mouth and be more physical than we have ever been...

Forget the records, getting a win in BALT will be a very nice accomplishment for the Bengals....

[Stripes]

I agree, this should be a tough game.

I think our offense matches up with the Baltimore defense better than any other team in the league, especially with Perry against the 46. Everybody has been making predictions each week that Perry will have his breakout game. I am saying this will be the week for him. Rudi will be likely to struggle some, so this would prove very beneficiary. We all know what our open offense can do to that Baltimore secondary when it is clicking.

The key to this game (as always) will be stopping run. Jamal Lewis has been struggling all year long, but still, he is a perennial Bengals killer. If there is any week where he will finally get it going, it is this week. If Lewis continues to struggle, then we can expect plenty of what we saw last year in Chester Taylor. We better be able to keep them in check.

I am licking my chops at the prospect of our Bengals secondary going against Anthony Wright. This should be fun to watch.

[AMC]

I agree, this should be a tough game.

I am licking my chops at the prospect of our Bengals secondary going against Anthony Wright. This should be fun to watch.

I think that will determine the game, turnovers....I don't see us stopping the run effectively, so it looks like another bend but don't break kinda weekend....

Will be interesting to watch our WRs vs. their CBs....that will also be a big factor...

[BengalszoneBilly]

I don't see us stopping the run effectively, so it looks like another bend but don't break kinda weekend....

God I hate that term. It's nothing but an excuse for piss poor play.

[AMC]

I don't see us stopping the run effectively, so it looks like another bend but don't break kinda weekend....

God I hate that term. It's nothing but an excuse for piss poor play.

I agree....I don't like alot of bending myself....I like a no bend and no break defense myself!!!!!!!!!

[walshfan]

Baltimore KNOWS we can be run on..

Look for a steady dose of Lewis and Taylor..

They have a good secondary in Rolle and McCallister...

If there was ever a team you need to get the lead on its Baltimore to put them in passing situations... "Radio" Simmons will throw some picks given the opportunity.....

Im hoping to see our Oline give Rudi some holes and Carson to stay away from forcing anything...

Im excited yet worried about this game....

[derekshank]

Worried is a strong word... although I'll admit it concerned me how strong they played Pittsburgh. But they always play Pittsburgh strong... and they are the same type of team as Pittsburgh, so they match up well.

They will not go down easy, since they are in the division... but I also think that they will resemble more the way they played in previous weeks against us, more so than they looked last night against Pitt.

But we will have to play better this week than we have played the last two weeks. I very much doubt Pittsburgh will lose @GB this week.

[HoosierCat]

Bengals opened as 4-point favorites...line has slipped to 3 since...

Balti's run game didn't impress last night but Wright looked much better than usual. Ravens D got some pressure on Cheeslisburger but pass D looked very soft.

Certainly a winnable game...

[CBin2k7]

I am very worried about this game. I have a feeling that Baltimore will determine who wins the AFC North. the offense has got to produce this game. Just think in the next 4 weeks Balt will play Pittsburgh and Cincy again. Some of the things they do well on Offense we struggle with, they like to use their TE's and RB's a lot in the passing game. I still remember what Hymes did to the Bengals last year in Cincy. I hope we can win this game, if they pull it out, I will be the happiest I have been all season.

[Jet23]

I don't see us stopping the run effectively, so it looks like another bend but don't break kinda weekend....

God I hate that term. It's nothing but an excuse for piss poor play.

I agree....I don't like alot of bending myself....I like a no bend and no break defense myself!!!!!!!!!

I'm not crazy about the term either, but I don't think it is an excuse for bad play. The Bengals don't take a lot of chances, they prefer to make you beat them methodically. It is frustrating as hell to watch, but you really can't argue with the results. If they could generate any type of push from their front 4, they would be pretty damn strong. The one time I recall them blitzing on Sunday, one running back took out two blitzers.

[CincinnatiKid]

I would give the advantage to Baltimore since we can't stop the run and its on their homefield. The only way we win is to force turnovers and the Baltimore offensive coordinator gets pass happy.

[BengalByTheBay]

I don't see us stopping the run effectively, so it looks like another bend but don't break kinda weekend....

God I hate that term. It's nothing but an excuse for piss poor play.

I agree....I don't like alot of bending myself....I like a no bend and no break defense myself!!!!!!!!!

I'm not crazy about the term either, but I don't think it is an excuse for bad play. The Bengals don't take a lot of chances, they prefer to make you beat them methodically. It is frustrating as hell to watch, but you really can't argue with the results. If they could generate any type of push from their front 4, they would be pretty damn strong. The one time I recall them blitzing on Sunday, one running back took out two blitzers.

Good call -- I was thinking the same thing. You can only play the style of defense your personnel lets you play. We would all like to see them stuff every run, but I haven't seen anything from this group that gives me hope that they'll all the sudden be able to crush the run. What I do see is an opportunistic and patient defense that lulls opponents into mistakes. It's not as fun as watching a lot of pressure, sacks and run stops but we just can't do that at this point. As such, the defensive game plan matches our personnel. Based on the running game that the Ravens have shown this season, if we consistently put them in 3rd & 3 or 4 (which is about the best we can hope for) eventually A. Wright will make a wrong (or 5). While we can't stop anybody from running, at least Lewis appears to be a shadow of his former self -- we should be able to contain them (ie, at about the same average we have allowed so far).

[HoosierCat]

Per bengals.com, looks like Ray-Ray will still be out. Boller, too. Reed could be back but most likely not. All good news from the Bengals' perspective.

[kingwilly]

Admiring the demise of the Ravens is a sweet thing. Boy do i dislike the Ravens. I might even run on the field and steal the ball from Boller if I had the chance....

The funny thing is that the worse the Ravens do, the more the possibility exists that they could be in the running for Leinhart.

How funny would that be...Palmer, Rothlisburger and Leinhart in the same div?

I personally think Leinhart will go to the Titans with the 2nd pick but now I'm way off topic.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Big plays by the Bengals' offense will win this game, if it happens.

I think it's time for the offense to assert itself again and open things up.

And I mean screw the running game in the 1st half - forget it - keep a TE and a RB in to protect Palmer and let him slice and dice all day - even if it means a couple of INT's and a few sacks/hurries.

Screw this conservative crap where they are just grinding it out with the Ravens or Steelers or Jags - use your advantage (the better QB) and make teams defend downfield like they did in Chicago and Cleveland.

Freakin' throw the run-and-shoot offense out there Sunday and let the Ravens put 8 in the box like every other defense has been doing until they have to start dropping LB's into coverage every play...put them on their heels.

This is a game where the Bengals' defense needs to put 8 in the box and run blitz like crazy and make Wright beat you, and air it out on offense so much that their CB's can't see straight.

If the Bengals' lose, who cares, it's time the offense got it's confidence and swagger back and started taking more chances and challenging teams through the air more often.

I don't give a phuq if they're up by 7 early, go up by 21 instead, and send Henry, TJ and CJ all downfield - they can't cover them all - just give Palmer enough time to find them.

Rudi can get his licks with a lead in the 4th quarter and demoralize them - it's time this team went back to it's bread and butter - a spread offense that doesn't show any mercy or let up no matter what the score is.

Keep taking your shots. Cmon Brat and Carson - grow a set and quit worrying about your QB rating!

[NJ29]

I don't see us stopping the run effectively, so it looks like another bend but don't break kinda weekend....

God I hate that term. It's nothing but an excuse for piss poor play.

I agree....I don't like alot of bending myself....I like a no bend and no break defense myself!!!!!!!!!

I don't really see it as an excuse for piss poor play. I see it as us being a decent defense that actually has a spine. Our D gives up a few first downs, but the nusually they'll dig their heels in and get a stop or get a turnover. I'd rather be dominant, but I'd take that over average.

[BengalszoneBilly]

It is frustrating as hell to watch, but you really can't argue with the results.

I'm not trying to start a pissing match Jet23, but I feel I can fully argue with the results. If we didn't bend and break so freaking much (a.k.a. getting our asses run over) in those two losses against Jacksonville and Pittsburgh, our Bengals would still be undefeated, and heading into a showdown of the unbeatens with Indy!

[schweinhart]

Big plays by the Bengals' offense will win this game, if it happens.

I think it's time for the offense to assert itself again and open things up.

And I mean screw the running game in the 1st half - forget it - keep a TE and a RB in to protect Palmer and let him slice and dice all day - even if it means a couple of INT's and a few sacks/hurries.

Screw this conservative crap where they are just grinding it out with the Ravens or Steelers or Jags - use your advantage (the better QB) and make teams defend downfield like they did in Chicago and Cleveland.

Freakin' throw the run-and-shoot offense out there Sunday and let the Ravens put 8 in the box like every other defense has been doing until they have to start dropping LB's into coverage every play...put them on their heels.

Especially w/o Reed and Ray-Ray, but maybe even w/ them in.

What the Bengals did in the 4th Q of last year's 2nd game is what they ought to do Sunday because obviously the Ratbirds were defenseless against it..ie throw to Housh and Chad.

In watching the 1st half of MNF, the Rats got so many multiple looks up front that keeping Rudi or JJ in to blitz block should be more of a priority for this one than having Rudi run, JJ lead block, or Perry receive out of the backfield in a single back set.

I'm not so sure about a TE, though, because the Rats can adjust off so that the only option for the TE is to run a route or double team. Besides, TE is the weakest position on the Benglas offense. I'd rather see Palmer have his best receiving options on the field all game long, which would be Chad, Housh, Henry, and IMO Chris Perry out of a slot or in motion out of backfield w/ either Rudi or JJ staying in to block w/ a run here and there to keep Rats honest up the middle.

If they do run w/ any success early, it's more likely that it will be from the pass opening up the run rather than a smashmouth style.

Regardless, it'll be hard for Palmer to audible in Baltimore and he's got to have hot reads lined up plus be sure to go the same direction the overload blitz comes from -- Big Ben didn't and got picked by an LB dropping back into coverage on the side opposite the double blitz.

I believe the Bengals can get at least a couple TDs and FGs from the offense in this one.

[BengalByTheBay]

It is frustrating as hell to watch, but you really can't argue with the results.

I'm not trying to start a pissing match Jet23, but I feel I can fully argue with the results. If we didn't bend and break so freaking much (a.k.a. getting our asses run over) in those two losses against Jacksonville and Pittsburgh, our Bengals would still be undefeated, and heading into a showdown of the unbeatens with Indy!

Well yeah -- but how do we go from bad against the run to good against the run with the same personnel? We were bad against the run in the games we won too, but we scored enough and made them run the long field to allow us to manage the game. Hell, the Pack could've won that game because we didn't keep scoring. We needed ..... wait for it .... the defense to bail us out with TO's. We all agree on what we'd like, but we're going to keep getting run on this season -- that's a given. So, with that in mind we need to play to the defense's strength, which is vs. the pass. To make them pass the ball you get a lead and force them to do it.

[Jet23]

I'm not trying to start a pissing match Jet23, but I feel I can fully argue with the results. If we didn't bend and break so freaking much (a.k.a. getting our asses run over) in those two losses against Jacksonville and Pittsburgh, our Bengals would still be undefeated, and heading into a showdown of the unbeatens with Indy!

[BengalszoneBilly]

I'm not either, but seeing the UK basketball logo, I now feel the sudden urge to argue with you...

Hmmm. Maybe I oughta give the UK logo a rest. It's too early to start honking that horn anyway.

About the defense, IMHO undoubtedly they've won some games for us. I feel they've lost some as well. Granted, the same could easily be said about the offense. Especially in the Pittsburgh game when they came away empty handed early on. I guess it's just me. I'm always very critical of the defense. Especially the run defense! I hate watching teams run roughshod over us week after week, month after month, and year after year! Goddamit Marvin, you're supposed to be a defensive "Guru!" Well how about "Guru-ing" up some kick ass run defense in Cincinnati for a change! Then I'll shut the hell up, much to the delight of many here I'm sure.

[Ox]

I believe I will begin honking the horn RIGHT NOW.

Besides most UK haters are mad because of the tradition our school has. What was that old hair commercial, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful"?

Pretty much says it all, don't ya think?

[Columbusbengal]

Besides most UK haters are mad because of the tradition our school has

I went to graduate school at UK so I'm a big fan! UK reminds me of the Atlanta Braves lately though. Always a serious contender - never a World Series (NCAA Tournament) winner.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Besides most UK haters are mad because of the tradition our school has

I went to graduate school at UK so I'm a big fan! UK reminds me of the Atlanta Braves lately though. Always a serious contender - never a World Series (NCAA Tournament) winner.

Let me be the first to flag myself but...If the Wildcats were anything like the lame Atlanta Braves, (A.K.A. the Champions of Under Achieving) then where did these 7 titles come from?

[walshfan]

UK has won two titles in the last 25 years.. formidable but rupp days are long gone.