The thing about football, is that the Bengals could have won that game and everyone would have been talking about how much the Bengals have improved and how they aren't the same one-and-out team they've been for the last three years. They didn't win, so no one is saying that. But to think the Bengals couldn't have won that game with the full roster is wrong (not to say they WOULD have, but they definitely COULD have). Trying to see long-term trends in a team because we couldn't win a playoff game this year is silly.

 

We were missing our two best receivers, leaving the rushing game the only one we had, which is pretty easy to defend when you know what to expect. To put this on Dalton or Lewis is shortsighted. And trust me, I'm no fan of either Dalton or Lewis.

 

I though Lewis should have been fired years ago. Right now would be an incredibly inappropriate time to fire him. We kept him through the worst and it's gotten better. I don't think Andy Dalton is an "elite" quarterback. But I also don't think Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, or Joe Flacco are "elite" quarterbacks and they won Super Bowls. Dalton can win a Super Bowl. I'm never going to put my faith in him until he does win one, but you don't have to have Peyton Manning or Tom Brady to win a Super Bowl. And who would we replace Dalton with, anyway?

^Any given Sunday is a phrase for a reason.  The Titans COULD have beat the Colts yesterday if they played.  I am not judging Dalton on one game.  I didn't even watch the game yesterday.  I am judging him over his career.  Like I said, he is very capable.  But he is not and never will be among the top tier QBs and it is rare, although not impossible, to advance deep into the playoffs without a really good QB or at least one who performs exceptionally well in playoff games (e.g. Eli Manning).

^I never like to make excuses for a team but in this case it isn't so much an excuse, but a fact.  Without AJ Green, it would be hard to be better than the 12th-8th best team in the league.  You build your offense around AJ Green, not Andy Dalton.  Andy Dalton can get him the ball, but he is no Peyton Manning.

 

I agree with you, Andy Dalton can win a Super Bowl with the Bengals.  But it will be because the whole team is clicking, which we have seen it do in flashes.  This year was a comedy of injuries, Starting with Marvin Jones, Tyler Eifert, AJ Green in and out all year, and Jermaine Gresham.

 

Let's not forget Vontaze Burfict, who is a rising NFL star linebacker.  He was ranked I believe the 51st best player in the NFL going into this season.  All those things add up.

 

IMO, what the Bengals did this year without all those players shows how good of a team Marvin Lewis has built.  In the NFL, you have to be clicking on all cylinders to win a playoff game, let a lone a Super Bowl.  Cheers to the Bengals being completely healthy next year.

You'll never win anything building your offense around a WR.  How many times do they touch the ball?  10 times a game on the high end?  Green is most definitely a weapon and changes the way a defense has to defend the Bengals, but he can't be the centerpiece.  There is no position more important in all of professional sports than Quarterback.

We have a good team. The best team? No. But a damn good team when we are healthy.

 

When Dalton is playing well, he is about as good as any quarterback with a few exceptions (I would say Peyton Manning, Rodgers, and Brady). He just needs to work on consistency.

 

If not Dalton, who? Do we draft someone and try to hold on to our current roster for 3+ years while he develops into a (possibly) good quarterback? Almost no quarterback comes out of college ready to play in the postseason. Andy Dalton has put up great numbers in his first few years. Better than almost any quarterback has put up at this point in his career.

 

I agree that he probably will never be put on a pedestal as an example of a great quarterback, but he is acceptable for a playoff team. Definitely nothing to scoff at and despise.

You'll never win anything building your offense around a WR.  How many times do they touch the ball?  10 times a game on the high end?  Green is most definitely a weapon and changes the way a defense has to defend the Bengals, but he can't be the centerpiece.  There is no position more important in all of professional sports than Quarterback.

 

I don't agree with not building your offense around a wide receiver and here is why.

 

I do agree that there is nothing more important in professional sports than a quarterback, and quarterbacks need to make amazing plays at a times, a la Andrew Luck yesterday when he escaped the rush and three a strike running forward in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.

 

However, even if a WR only touches it 6-10 times a game, a guy like AJ Green is who the defense needs to stop.  They double him, put a safety over top, press, zone, chip, everything they can.  He pulls attention away from everyone else.  There isn't very many guys in the league who can do that.

 

The other reason is because, elite quarterbacks are not a dime a dozen.  There are maybe 5-8 guys you can put in that category.  Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger at times, Philip Rivers at times, Eli Manning at times, and you could vouche for a Matt Ryan as well.

 

Andy Dalton can get his receivers the ball.  But when AJ Green is out, they can sneak that safety closer to the box, they can blitz and do man cover with no help over top, load to stop the run.  When AJ Green is in the game and healthy, they can't do that because he will blow the top off the defense and Andy Dalton will get him the ball in stride.

 

IMO the Bengals have built their offense centered around AJ Green.  A pro style offense that can pound the rock, but they can't pound the rock if the defense isn't softened up by a big play receiver.  So that to me shows the offense is built around the WR.

 

Now, is that the best way to a Super Bowl / playoff success?  I don't know that, so you may be right it is a QB problem.  But this game, in my opinion you couldn't blame it on Andy Dalton because he didn't have his weapons.

The other reason is because, elite quarterbacks are not a dime a dozen.  There are maybe 5-8 guys you can put in that category.  Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger at times, Philip Rivers at times, Eli Manning at times, and you could vouche for a Matt Ryan as well.

 

And Andrew Luck.

 

In my dynasty league he was the #1 scoring player.  He's made it this far in the playoffs.

 

Neither makes him elite, but both combined put him in the conversation.

In my opinion, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady are the only three "elite" QBs.

 

If you're team has one of these three as QB, you should be eternally thankful.

 

Aside from that, we all know who the bad QBs are or the ones who are way past their prime. Anyone who isn't in this lowest level should be happy with their QB as they are good enough to take them to a Super Bowl and replacing them is a difficult task that could cost other extremely valuable players to keep in budget. Dalton is in the top third of QBs IMO, and that is plenty good enough. Also easy to be frustrated with a guy like that, too. Which is what we are experiencing now.

I think Luck is now firmly entrenched in the 'elite' category.  You can stack his numbers for his first three years against any QB in NFL history.

 

As for Dalton, he is not elite..... but he is probably not even in that next tier, which has Rivers, Rothleisberger, Flacco, etc.  I am not saying you should throw him to the curb..... but rather to just be open to the possibility of upgrading the position.  That's my objective opinion.  As a Browns fan, by all means please do ride him out until the red turns gray ;)

I think it is way to early to place Luck in the "Elite" category of QBs. He's only been in the league for [almost] 3 seasons. He might burn out fast and fall into a footnote of NFL QBs. I think a QB has to be around for at least 5 years or so before you can consider him for "elite" status. Even then it is usually way too early.

 

At this point (year 3 of his career) Eli Manning had won the NFC East in his first full season [11-5 record], made a second straight postseason appearance (losing 23-20 in the Wild Card game), then won the Super Bowl in the 2007 season against the undefeated New England Patriots.

 

He even won a second Super Bowl! And no one considers him elite. Let's not speak too soon on QBs. Luck still has a ways to go to prove himself. Though I admit, he is one of the best QBs in the league right now (top 5 IMO). I fully expect him to become an elite QB, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Winning a Super Bowl does not make you elite.  I think most agree that the Giants beat the Pats in that first win for Eli due to their pass-rush on Brady.  It was akin to Baltimore's first Super Bowl win, as well as Tampa Bay's. 

 

I think 3 years is enough to judge a QB.  Teams have plenty of film on him and still can't stop him.  Sometimes, players have a good year or two and then the league figures them out.  Not him.  Putting age aside, if I were to pick a QB to lead my team for just one year, Luck would be at or near the top of my list.  What he has done is even more impressive considering that the Colts don't have elite RBs or a great OL.

^Any given Sunday is a phrase for a reason.  The Titans COULD have beat the Colts yesterday if they played.  I am not judging Dalton on one game.  I didn't even watch the game yesterday.  I am judging him over his career.  Like I said, he is very capable.  But he is not and never will be among the top tier QBs and it is rare, although not impossible, to advance deep into the playoffs without a really good QB or at least one who performs exceptionally well in playoff games (e.g. Eli Manning).

 

Eli's an interesting example. He seems to only be successful with a surrounding cast; strong running game and great depth at WR. There are very few QB's that elevate everyone around them to that next level, when needed. Even Peyton is off the mark with any kind of effective pass rush. Then you have guys like Jay Cutler with awesome RB and WR's and he's somehow still terrible....

 

Anyhow from what I've seen of Dalton, he's still fairly inconsistent and makes some terrible throws. But he's still fairly young. Who is to say he can't take that next step?

I think Luck is now firmly entrenched in the 'elite' category.  You can stack his numbers for his first three years against any QB in NFL history.

 

As for Dalton, he is not elite..... but he is probably not even in that next tier, which has Rivers, Rothleisberger, Flacco, etc.  I am not saying you should throw him to the curb..... but rather to just be open to the possibility of upgrading the position.  That's my objective opinion.  As a Browns fan, by all means please do ride him out until the red turns gray ;)

 

Luck is the kind of QB who will probably get Indy into a couple of super bowls. He is a big, strong, athletic, smart QB, and the Colts have been an excellent franchise for some time.

In my opinion, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady are the only three "elite" QBs.

 

If you're team has one of these three as QB, you should be eternally thankful.

 

Aside from that, we all know who the bad QBs are or the ones who are way past their prime. Anyone who isn't in this lowest level should be happy with their QB as they are good enough to take them to a Super Bowl and replacing them is a difficult task that could cost other extremely valuable players to keep in budget. Dalton is in the top third of QBs IMO, and that is plenty good enough. Also easy to be frustrated with a guy like that, too. Which is what we are experiencing now.

 

Big Ben and Drew Brees are elite to me, and probably a lock to make the HOF. Eli, besides the 2 super bowl wins, has been a starter for a long time and is racking up some really good stats, he is on the cusp. Rodgers will probably get there also. I think Jim Plunkett is the only QB starter with 2 super bowl wins not in the HOF.

I don't think you can say that with AJ Green, the Bengals would have won the game.  We had Green the past 3 playoff games, and he was pretty much a non-factor.  In fact, I think Green shares many of the prime time struggles that Dalton has exhibited.  He's a solid receiver, but I don't think his impact alone would have changed much of anything in this game.

 

I also think that Dalton is capable, but I have very little faith in his ability to win the big game.  Other than the Broncos game this year (which I think was a fluke game anyways), has Dalton ever beat a truly good team? He's proficient enough to beat the bad to average teams in the league, but he doesn't have the skill or personality/fire to ever overcome adversity and put the team on his back.

Who knows if they would have won, but now there will always be speculation.

 

You don't take the best player on the team, by a longshot, out of the lineup and expect to win a playoff game.  Andy Dalton did not play bad, at all, in that game.  The receivers had no separation.  Rex Flipping Burkhead was the teams third wide receiver, and no offense to him, but he was an honorable mention All Big Ten running back as a senior at Nebraska!

 

I understand that people are tired of the 4 straight losing in the playoffs.  But, if you don't have AJ Green, you have absolutely no chance in the playoffs if you are this Bengals team, built the way they are.  With AJ Green?  We will never know, but it is a whole lot better of a chance than it was on Sunday.

I don't think you can say that with AJ Green, the Bengals would have won the game.  We had Green the past 3 playoff games, and he was pretty much a non-factor.  In fact, I think Green shares many of the prime time struggles that Dalton has exhibited.  He's a solid receiver, but I don't think his impact alone would have changed much of anything in this game.

 

I also think that Dalton is capable, but I have very little faith in his ability to win the big game.  Other than the Broncos game this year (which I think was a fluke game anyways), has Dalton ever beat a truly good team? He's proficient enough to beat the bad to average teams in the league, but he doesn't have the skill or personality/fire to ever overcome adversity and put the team on his back.

They beat NE and Green Bay. Simply put. The Bengals do no know how to adjust after half time.

 

Dalton has regressed since his pro-bowl in 2012.  All his numbers are way down this year except interceptions.

 

Good Gawd Dalton is horrible.

Ouch!!! It was much worse than I thought.

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2015/01/26/andy-dalton-got-booed-off-the-pro-bowl-field/

The Pro Bowl is dumb. How do you know the receiver didn't run the wrong route?

But they ran the right route with the 5 other QB's?

I don't get why you would even look at the Pro Bowl for any indication of talent. I was specifically referring to the last throw of the game.

 

The very first play of the game, everyone started booing because the RB wasn't trying to push forward and they weren't trying to tackle him. It was pathetic. They barely touch each other.

 

In all honesty, I think they need to change it to NFC vs. AFC and change it to flag football. That way, you will at least get people who are really trying, yet tackling isn't allowed. And it could create some interesting plays that you couldn't see in the regular play.

Cincinnati Bengals unveil stadium improvements, and here’s how much it’ll cost taxpayers

Feb 24, 2015, 2:17pm EST

Steve Watkins Staff Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

Cincinnati Bengals fans are going to see some big changes when they walk into Paul Brown Stadium this season.

 

The Bengals are installing new scoreboards, overhauling concession stands, adding some new bars and other areas to draw fans in the concourses, improving WiFi and replacing furniture in the club seating lounges. They're also making major changes to areas the fans won't see. That involves a multimillion-dollar renovation of the Bengals' weight room and training facilities.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/02/24/cincinnati-bengals-unveil-stadium-improvements.html

NFL Draft is just a few days away. Granted, the draft is boring for us Bengal fans... just adding more depth, special teamers, practice squad guys for a fifth consecutive playoff season.

 

But they'll have the best hat in Chicago...

 

Another QB? Didn't they already have  Aj Mccarron?

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/bengals-believe-mccarron-can-be-a-starting-qb-062015?adbsc=social_20150621_47907206&adbid=923499867688154&adbpl=fb&adbpr=749212008450275

 

Report: Bengals believe McCarron can be a starting QB

Great day of training camp with the NY Giants.

 

 

 

Giants practicing their 3-finger stance.

 

Nerdiest QB in the NFL

 

 

Not a cloud in the ... oh wait.

 

 

These are from last weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bengals looked good in the first preseason game of the year. They beat the Giants 23-10, and the starting teams were phenomenal. Dalton and the first team offense played fewer than 3 minutes, after scoring on their first drive. The Giants starters stayed in through the second quarter but struggled against the Bengals defense, and did not score. The Bengals backups look good all around, too. Even Greg Little had a great sideline catch for 42 yards. Special teams was the only thing that looked unpolished at all.

The Bengals destroyed Oakland. They got a couple junk time TDs at the end of the game, but it was 33-0 going into the 4th quarter. I’m glad one of the west coast games is already out of the way so early in the season. Everyone else in the AFC North lost this week, which is always nice to be able to say.

Just about a perfect week 1 performance from the Bengals, and it was great to see them take advantage of the fact that the rest of the division all lost.  Baltimore lost T-Sugs for the season as well, which I think substantially weakens Baltimore's defense.  If things play out how they're looking now, it'll be a dog fight between the Steelers and Bengals for the division.

 

San Diego will be a much tougher test next week.

How is the Steelers ahead of the Bengals in the power rankings?

They looked pretty dominant against the 49ers. Two games isn't enough to determine who is better. We have beaten two teams we should have beaten. I'm cautiously optimistic about the Bengals.

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2015/09/bengals-valuation-jumps-50-percent.html

 

In other news, the Bengals' valuation has raced past the $1 Billion mark. Operating profit up to 56 million a year.

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2015/09/bengals-valuation-jumps-50-percent.html

 

In other news, the Bengals' valuation has raced past the $1 Billion mark. Operating profit up to 56 million a year.

 

Truly the pride before the fall.

 

Glad we could chip in on that scoreboard

How is the Steelers ahead of the Bengals in the power rankings?

 

Which power rankings? The NFL's have the Bengals in 4th, Steelers in 8th. The Ravens fell all the way to 22nd after the loss to Oakland.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000536440/article/nfl-power-rankings-week-3-cardinals-climb-eagles-plummet

 

If you're talking about ESPN's rankings, they have always heavily favored big market teams, and thus they aren't as accurate.

3-0. The biggest surprise so far is still Dalton, who has a QB rating of 121, second best among NFL starting QBs (behind only Aaron Rodgers).

 

The Bengals got off to a similar start last year before imploding against the Patriots. Hopefully they can avoid a repeat of that even though the schedule is continuing to look tough. KC and Seattle are up next, at home.

Upcoming...we will have two nationally televised night games back-to-back.

 

Week 9: THURSDAY Nov 5 vs Cleveland

Week 10: MONDAY Nov 16 vs Houston

 

 

Looks like Monday Night Football is regularly edging out the 2015 All-Star Game for TV viewers and Week 1's Thursday Night game attracted 20 million viewers, or about TWICE the 2015 All-Star Game.

http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/thursday-night-football-ratings-record-1201596785/

 

I am not surprised that Andy Dalton is doing well.  He actually is a legit NFL Quarterback.  It has hard for a lot of native Cincinnatians to see this, I believe.  But it is a consensus with people who know football that the guy can make plays, he is more athletic than what people give credit for, and he is tough back there.  Look at his 8 yard touchdown run where he juked a high level linebacker out of his shoes and dove into the endzone on their first score.

 

Not only this, but Tyler Eifert back and Marvin Jones healthy has really helped them stretch the field offensively and spread it around.  Of course AJ Green is easily one of the best players in the NFL, period.  He is one of the closest modern day Randy Moss's in the NFL right now.  Last year, they didn't have Eifert, Jones and Green was hampered by injury most of the year.  Then you got two distinct running backs, Gio and Hill, with a veteran offensive line.

 

The defense needs some work.  I don't think the linebacking core is very strong.  Mauluaga is a middle of the pack linebacker in the NFL.  Vinny Rey is below average and so is AJ Hawk.  If they can get Burfict back it will be a huge upgrade.

 

Defensively, Geno Atkins is back to top 3 DT in the NFL form, which is huge.  He soaks up double teams like a sponge making those linebackers and the other D-line look better than they are.  That said, the corners are playing really well especially Adam Jones.  Kirkpatrick is probably a top 10 "second corner", and they have nice depth with Hall and Dennard.  Safeties are average.

 

Overall, if the Bengals can stay relatively healthy all the way through and Dalton continues to play at the high level he is, they will easily win the AFC North and should contend for home field advantage and challenge the Patriots for the AFC Title.

 

^^Memory like an elephant. Combine audiences for the Celeb Softball, HR Derby and ASG to get a better measure.

 

;)

 

Yes, on Burfict.  Game changer.  Iloka deserves a mention too.  Don't underestimate his skills.  That DL is DEEEEP!

 

I agree with you prediction.  This team has more potential than any Bengals team...ever.  Yes, I said that.

I think the 2005 Bengals team had more potential than the current team. But this is a good team. Hopefully Dalton can avoid making bad decisions like that interception he intended for Green in the endzone.

 

I'm too young to really know much about the years we went to the Super Bowl, so I can't comment on that.

I think the 2005 Bengals team had more potential than the current team. But this is a good team. Hopefully Dalton can avoid making bad decisions like that interception he intended for Green in the endzone.

 

I'm too young to really know much about the years we went to the Super Bowl, so I can't comment on that.

 

2005 Defense was not that good. They made plays from time to time though. Forest Greg's super bowl team was very good all the way around.

That ran into some bad luck in the super bowl. They were better than the Niner's. The 88' team was interesting. Boomer was pretty good that year,

but the Bengals has 8 games rushing the ball for over 200 yards, that is pretty amazing in the NFL. Season ended like it started, goal line stand

to keep the Cardinals out of the end zone for a W. Last game Barney Bussey either forced a fumble or blocked a FG in OT as the Bengals beat the

Redskins 20-17. Skins should have won that game and sent Bengals to Buffalo if they won their first playoff game. 88' defense was outstanding in the playoff.

Bengals also had some really good teams in the 70's. Wyche said in 88', win all home games and go .500 on the road, and that is what they did.

Great come back win. Dalton is 2-0 against Seattle? Wow!

Yesterday's game really felt like one of those pivotal, benchmark games for the franchise.  I remember when the Bengals were coming out of the 90s and early 2000s hibernation, we had a win against a good SF 49er squad that marked an emergence from the cellar of the league.  I believe the following year we had the Kansas City game, where Chad Johnson guaranteed the victory, and the Bengals came out and knocked off the then undefeated (I think) Chiefs.  Yesterday similarly felt like a leap had been made, or a mental hurtle had been crossed.  The Bengals have beaten other elite teams in the past, but I've always felt that those games were, for some reason or another, flukes.  It strategically started raining in Biblical proportions right as Tom Brady got the ball in the 4th quarter when we beat the Pats a couple years ago.  We got a punt return and some really windy and rainy weather against the Broncos last year.  We beat Green Bay at a time when they were kind of struggling, and won in very dramatic fashion then too.  Yesterday's game showed grit, heart, and an abundance of confidence in the talent that is on this team.  Really, if it weren't for the Whitworth holding penalty that negated AJ's 72 yard TD, and the disaster play by Burkhead, this game wouldn't have even been close.  Also, Dalton's INT before the half allowed Seattle to go on top before the half, when it looked like the Bengals would be taking either a 10-7 or 14-7 lead into the break.  They certainly didn't play a perfect game, but the Bengals collectively stood up and refused to lose to a very good team.  This season is getting exciting for sure.

 

Also, Kudos to the Browns for beating the Ravens.  Love to see Baltimore down in last place in the division.  Hopefully the Chargers will also take care of the Steelers tonight.  Who Dey!

I was watching the game on the Fountain Square board when that rain came down during the Patriots' drive maybe two seasons ago.  It rained insanely for about 8 minutes, just enough time for Brady to go 4 and out, or maybe there was a first down, but the sun was shining 15 minutes later. 

Stunning comeback victory. I thought that game was over for sure. Down 24-7.  :clap:

An interesting stat I saw is that NFL teams have a 1-427 record when trailing by 17 or more in the 4th quarter over the past 5 years, with the Bengals being the only team to manage a come back that big. I think the Eagles 21 point comeback in 2010 was the last time this occurred.

Bengals Fans: just realized that this season is doomed since the Superbowl is being played in San Francisco.  No doubt the evil ghosts of the 1980's 49'ers will besiege the team, with somebody getting picked up for cocaine possession the night before.  I also just emailed the kid I watched Superbowl XXIII with who I haven't seen in 20 years to tell him if they get in I'm flying out to San Diego to watch it with him. 

An interesting stat I saw is that NFL teams have a 1-427 record when trailing by 17 or more in the 4th quarter over the past 5 years, with the Bengals being the only team to manage a come back that big. I think the Eagles 21 point comeback in 2010 was the last time this occurred.

 

Yeah almost impossible to pull off. FWIW The Bengals have blown 2 games when leading at half 28-7 under Marvin, 2006 to San Diego and 2010 to Buffalo.

In both game the opposition scored 42 second half points.

6-0 going into the bye week.  Not much to complain about.

 

I take back my statement before the season that I would trade Andy Dalton straight up for Jay Cutler. 

6-0 going into the bye week.  Not much to complain about.

 

I take back my statement before the season that I would trade Andy Dalton straight up for Jay Cutler. 

 

This is like all the Reds fans suddenly realizing the error in their celebration of Dusty Baker's ouster.  Where are similar calls for Price's head despite much worse seasons?