Question of the Day: Are the Bengals a better road team?

by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 28, 2009 1:04 PM EDT in Analysis

Of the eight division leaders in the NFL, five teams are undefeated at home (New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints). Six have a winning record (New York Giants). The Bengals improved to .500 after beating the Chicago Bears and Arizona is the only team with a losing record. In fact, if you go through Marvin Lewis' record at home during the regular season, the Bengals haven't achieved a winning percentage higher than .625 in any season. Now, I know what you're thinking; well, that's not bad. It's still a good percentage. In truth, that's only a 5-3 record. Though maybe it's not that hard to imagine; through most of Marvin Lewis' tenure, the Bengals have been a .500 team. The following is a breakdown of the Bengals record at Paul Brown stadium during Marvin Lewis' tenure.

	Home Record	Winning %	Division	Conference	NFC
2009	2-2	.500	1-0	1-2	1-0
2008	3-4-1	.438	0-3	2-4	1-0-1
2007	5-3	.625	2-1	4-2	1-1
2006	4-4	.500	2-1	3-3	1-1
2005	5-3	.500	2-1	3-3	2-0
2004	5-3	.500	1-2	3-3	2-0
2003	5-3	.500	1-2	3-3	2-0
	29-22-1	.567	9-10	19-20	8-2-1

This year the Bengals are truly .500 at home. And I'm actually not talking about their record. Against the Denver Broncos, it ended terribly. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it ended beautifully. Against the Houston Texans, the Bengals played disappointedly. Against the Bears, the Bengals played perfectly. Through four home games, there's been no middle ground. Emotions have run high, and sunk just as far. What's more amazing is how the offense plays better on the road, while the defense plays strong at home.

	Home (four games)	Away (three games)
Total Offense	331.0	365.7
Rushing Offense	111.8	149.0
Passing Offense	219.2	216.7
Avg. Points Scored	23.0	23.7
Total Defense	356.5	321
Rushing Defense	74.8	105.7
Passing Defense	281.8	215.3
Avg. Points Allowed	17.5	19.3

Alternatively, the Bengals are undefeated on the road, winning in Green Bay, Baltimore and Cleveland. Why the discrepancy? Shouldn't the Bengals be a better home team? Shouldn't all teams be better at home? Carson Palmer thinks this team is better on the road.

“We’re definitely a better team on the road. We enjoy playing on the road,” he said. “I personally love playing on the road. Different stadium, different atmosphere.”

So maybe because they believe they're a better road team, the Bengals have actually made it show. At least the offense.

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Comments

Bah.

Over the long run, Home-Away splits are going to be roughly even. The Bengals will probably finish the season with a winning record at home and are well on their way to a winning record on the road.

I mean, look at the remaining home games: Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City
Meanwhile, we’re on the road against: Pittsburgh, Oakland (where we’ve never won), Minnesota, San Diego, New York Jets

I think we’ll see these numbers balance themselves out a little bit. It’s just frustrating to me, this year, because we’re playing powder puffs at home (KC, Cle, DET), and are traveling to Minnesota, San Diego, when the Steelers’ only difficult road game this year is @DEN (besides @CIN).

Pittsburgh really, really lucked out in the schedule department this year because Tennessee and Miami aren’t very good this year. They also were privileged enough to face the class of the NFCN at home.

by jsl413 on Oct 28, 2009 1:09 PM EDT reply actions