7-2 at the bye week

[Stripes]

We made it to the bye week at a more than impressive record of 7-2. Just look at those numbers a few times, it is wonderful. I mean...7 is such a big number compared to 2!

The final seven games of the season come as follows. I'll predict wins and losses.

Indianapolis - W

Baltimore - W

@ Pittsburgh - L

Cleveland - W

@ Detroit - W

Buffalo - W

@ Kansas City - W

That is 13-3 folks. It doesn't seem the least bit far fetched. Yes, we could very easily lose to Indy, but that is still 12-4! I think we'll win one of the Indy/Pitt games, and I think we pull out the Chiefs game too. This is so awesome.

[Stripes]

Also, the remainder of the Steelers' schedule is every bit as important.

Cleveland - W

@ Baltimore - W

@ Indianapolis - L

Cincinnati - W

Bears - W

@ Vikings - W

@ Browns - W

Lions - W

They are on pace for 13-3 or 12-4 as well. If we want the North, we have to beat them.

[walzav29]

That's how it should be. You want to be the best, you have to beat the best!

[derekshank]

I was talking to a non-Bengals fan yesterday, and asked him what he thought the Bengals would do for the rest of the season. Lookin gat their schedule, he said he thought we would lose to the Colts, and taht is it. He predicted we would go 13-3! We are definitely getting respect from the casual observer.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

The Bengals' will go as far as their defense lets them this year.

[belmontbengal]

The Bengals' will go as far as their defense lets them this year.

So very true, and it terrifies me at this point...

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

We will not lose twice to Pittsburgh. Expect the game at Pittsburgh to be similar to last year's game in Baltimore. A chance for Carson Palmer to prove he is THE BEST QB IN THE LEAGUE!

[HairOnFire]

There's the rub. A 7-2 record almost guarantees the Bengals a playoff spot, but to win the division outright they'll have to find a way to beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Fail to do that and we're looking at a Peyton Manning can't beat the Patriots sort of storyline.

[turningpoint]

I think the only game we lose the rest of the season is the KC game.

we go 13-3.

[Jet23]

A 7-2 record almost guarantees the Bengals a playoff spot

I don't know why people keep saying that. In years past, if you were 7-2, you could start printing playoff tickets. Not this year. Let's face it, there is a real chance the Bengals are going to lose to the Colts and the Steelers. That will give them 4 losses right there. KC and the Jags only have three losses. They have already lost to the Jags and they have to go to KC for the last game of the year.

There is a real chance that an 11 & 5 team will not make the playoffs. Everyone keeps saying that the West teams will just beat each other up. NOT TRUE. The Chiefs only have two Divisional games left and they are both at home (Denver & SD). I think the Bengals will make the playoffs, but I think they should secure a berth before we talk of home field advantage.

[CBin2k7]

There is no way an 11-5 team doesn't make the playoffs. The Jags still play the Colts, KC has games with DEN, SD, NYG and us. 11-5 will be in the playoffs.

[Jet23]

There is no way an 11-5 team doesn't make the playoffs. The Jags still play the Colts, KC has games with DEN, SD, NYG and us. 11-5 will be in the playoffs.

You're probably right, but I would have felt a lot better had Oakland not blown the KC game.

[HoosierCat]

KC and the Jags only have three losses. They have already lost to the Jags and they have to go to KC for the last game of the year.

There is a real chance that an 11 & 5 team will not make the playoffs. Everyone keeps saying that the West teams will just beat each other up. NOT TRUE. The Chiefs only have two Divisional games left and they are both at home (Denver & SD).

The Chiefs, however, have a brutal second half sked. They have Dallas, NYG, us, and the Pats in addition to SD and Denver. Their only "gimmes" are Buffalo and Houston. That's a tough road to go 6-2 on.

Jax, however, could be a 11-12-game winner easy. Their second half is a cream puff. Aside from Indy, their one tough game, they play Baltimore, Tenn x2, AZ, SF, Cleveland and Houston.

I think 11-5 gets in. But I read someone earlier today (the fox sports guy I think) say that one, and perhaps more than one, AFC team would go 10-6 and miss the playoffs this year.

[bengalindian]

I heard someone on ESPN say that the NFC was catching up to the AFC quickly. Bullcrap. That's pretty crappy that there may be one or two 10-6 teams that don't make the playoffs and perhaps one or two teams that could go 7-9 or 8-8 and make the playoffs in the NFC. Some sort of realignment needs to happen if this keeps up, because its unfair that the Bengals could go 4-0 against the NFC and possibly still be kept out. Just my two cents.

[bengalboomer7]

I wouldn't worry about that Bengalindian. During the late 80's and all through the 90's this was said about the AFC(being way weaker) Over time it will almost always equal out.

[Jet23]

I heard someone on ESPN say that the NFC was catching up to the AFC quickly. Bullcrap. That's pretty crappy that there may be one or two 10-6 teams that don't make the playoffs and perhaps one or two teams that could go 7-9 or 8-8 and make the playoffs in the NFC. Some sort of realignment needs to happen if this keeps up, because its unfair that the Bengals could go 4-0 against the NFC and possibly still be kept out. Just my two cents.

It's a cyclical thing. Heck, prior to the Broncos winning it, look how long the NFC dominated. There is no comparison between the two conferences this year. That is why it is misleading when people talk about 7-2 teams having an 80% + chance of making the playoffs. Not when the AFC elite teams are racking up easy W's against the crap NFC teams.

Looking at the schedules, it does appear as if 11 & 5 gets you in, but that is not a lock. Although the Jags appear to be trying to give it away, they have a cake schedule. You never know, if KC or SD catches fire, it is possible 11 & 5 doesn't make it. That would suck.

[HairOnFire]

A 7-2 record almost guarantees the Bengals a playoff spot

I don't know why people keep saying that. In years past, if you were 7-2, you could start printing playoff tickets. Not this year.

So the only way you'd let me claim the Bengals were "almost guaranteed a playoff spot" without a challenge is if they had gone 8-1 or even 9-0?

Some of you guys worry too much. The Bengals have some tough games remaining, but they're a pretty good football team and the wheels on the car aren't going to suddenly come off. Show a little confidence. Your bowels will thank you.

[HairOnFire]

The Chiefs, however, have a brutal second half sked. They have Dallas, NYG, us, and the Pats in addition to SD and Denver. Their only "gimmes" are Buffalo and Houston. That's a tough road to go 6-2 on.

Jax, however, could be a 11-12-game winner easy. Their second half is a cream puff. Aside from Indy, their one tough game, they play Baltimore, Tenn x2, AZ, SF, Cleveland and Houston.

I think 11-5 gets in. But I read someone earlier today (the fox sports guy I think) say that one, and perhaps more than one, AFC team would go 10-6 and miss the playoffs this year.

Wild things? Teams in the AFC West are going to take turns killing each other. The AFC East has absolutely nobody worth worrying about. In the South there's Jacksonville, but they almost always plays at the level of their competition....so if they're facing nothing but creampuffs then they'll most likely play a couple of games looking very much like a hot and fluffy pastry. They'll stumble somewhere. Trust me, the fat kid will see to it.

[Stripes]

I think the Jaguars are done. As Hair said, they don't scare anyone, they are beatable in every single game they play. They will flounder somewhere.

The only wild card threats I see are Jacksonville if the above is wrong, and maybe San Diego/Kansas City. They should take a beating in the division though.

[NYBengalfan]

I think that PIT will lose to INDY.

I can see a couple trap games in Chiago and Minnesota. CHI's Defense is just as good if not better than PIT's. And MIN is playing better under Brad Johnson, and the Metrodome is a tough place to play at for visitors

[derekshank]

In the past two years the Bengals have played BETTER after the bye. Not to mention that we still only have to play 3 more teams with winning records. Even if we lose all of them we will go 11-5.

Jax has a cake schedule, but almost lost to Houston. They will probably get in... but I'll be amazed if they do any better than 11-5. They will lose to the Colts, and against one of those cupcakes.

No one is in the East... and in West, there are good teams, but not great teams. Denver will most likely win the division (not taking away a wildcard).

SD already has 4 losses, and nearly lost to the Jets, and still have to play Denver again, @Was, @Ind, and @KC. They will not go 11-5.

KC seems to be pretty overrated. They have lost 3 already, and should have lost this week to a very bad Oakland team. They have to play NE, Den, @Dal, @NYG, SD, and @Cin. They will be lucky to go 11-5, and we control our own destiny by playing them ourselves.

My guess is that we will beat everyone we are supposed to, because Marvin knows there is no room for a slip up at this point, and we will beat at least one of the teams with a winning record, going either 12-4 or 13-3.

For the first time I can say I would be disappointed with 11-5 because we are better than that... but 11-5 will still make the playoffs. We are easily in the top 5 of AFC teams, and the top 6 go to the playoffs.

My guess is the playoffs will look like this.

Indy and Pit get the byes

Den and NE win their divisions

Cin and Jax get the wildcard

[Stripes]

Our season all boils down to the Indianapolis, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh games. I really don't see us losing even two of those games. We are in a great position to knock off the Colts, and the line there should be near a push. I think we lose in Pittsburgh simply because of the brutal matchups, and the history, but we go into KC and take it to 'em.

13-3 or 12-4 automatically means Superbowl contender, wherever you are seeded in the playoffs. It will be a crime that possibly the Patriots will get in at 8-8 or 9-7, and be seeded higher than us.

[HoosierCat]

Our season all boils down to the Indianapolis, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh games.

In order of importance, I would say the games rank like this:

1. Pitt

2. Baltimore

3. Cleveland

You could flip-flop Balti and Cleveland, but if we lose any of these games, it's a big hit to our AFCN championship hopes and a signal to start studying the wild card scenarios.

4. Indy

5. Detroit

Common opponents with Pitt. And it could come down to that tiebreaker.

6. KC

7. Buffalo

Obviously, this could change. But that's how I see it now.

[duus]

Our season all boils down to the Indianapolis, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh games.

In order of importance, I would say the games rank like this:

1. Pitt

2. Baltimore

3. Cleveland

You could flip-flop Balti and Cleveland, but if we lose any of these games, it's a big hit to our AFCN championship hopes and a signal to start studying the wild card scenarios.

4. Indy

5. Detroit

Common opponents with Pitt. And it could come down to that tiebreaker.

6. KC

7. Buffalo

Obviously, this could change. But that's how I see it now.

I could not agree more! Pittsburgh is clearly the number one game left on the schedule. Lose that one, and all else becomes that much more important. Win it, and the others become slightly less important. That's the sign of a big game. After that, all other divisional games are most important (Baltimore and Cleveland in Cincinnati). They should win those, but they are surely more important than non-divisional games. Then after that I agree the 'common games' with Pittsburgh become the big ones. These non-divisional games will show up big if the Bengals split with the Steelers. If the Bengals find a way to pull off the win in Pittsburgh, then it is almost likely that the two teams may have the same record overall as well as within the division. Then it will come to AFC record, which could easily be the same as well. Then you are to common opponents. Two wins against Indy and Detroit would clearly be more important than KC and Buffalo ... contrary to popular opinion.