Bengals hold onto the third seed in the AFC
by Josh Kirkendall on Dec 14, 2009 11:09 AM EST
in Playoffs
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PrintNo one is giving up on this team. No one. We're still 9-4 with a firm butt in the captain's chair to make the playoffs. Why would anyone give up now? Yes, this team is having a rough go of it. Since beating the Steelers on November 15 to go 7-2, they've lost to Oakland, beat the Browns by nine points and the Lions by ten points before losing to the Minnesota Vikings by 20.
Are the Bengals losing steam, or are they like predator playing dead ready to strike like they've done during several of their wins this year?
Either way, the playoff picture is clearing up for the Bengals and the AFC.
Cincinnati remains the third seed in the AFC and if the season ends today, they'd host a Wild Card game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts have clinched homefield advantage and the only interesting thing from now until the playoffs for Indianapolis is whether or not they'll go undefeated. Actually, the more interesting story is whether or not the Colts should play their starters in the final game of the year if 16-0 is on the line.
A big game looms with massive playoff implications for Cincinnati and San Diego this weekend. A win for Cincinnati does two things. One, it clinches the AFC North and a playoff spot. Two, it gives Cincinnati the tie-breaker for the second seed -- which means a bye week and hosting every other AFC team except for the Colts -- with the Jets and Chiefs left on the schedule. Here's the breakdown.
| Seed | Team | Record |
| 1 | Indianapolis Colts | 13-0 |
| 2 | San Diego Chargers | 10-3 |
| 3 | Cincinnati Bengals | 9-4 |
| 4 | New England Patriots | 8-5 |
| 5 | Denver Broncos | 8-5 |
| 6 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 7-6 |
| STILL IN IT | ||
| Baltimore Ravens | 7-6 | |
| Miami Dolphins | 7-6 | |
| New York Jets | 7-6 |
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I win wasn't mandatory against the Vikings
Much as we all would have loved to see us at least compete(!!!) against them, it was a mere stutter step. So I am not overly concerned at this point in time that we can’t compete with other playoff teams, at least, until the dust settles after the Chargers game next week.
That said, the staff and team had best deal with not having Henry to throw to. The line best learn how to pass block to allow the recievers time to get open and for Palmer the ability to make quality throws to them.
third seed ... bird seed
I still believe we will make the playoffs and our defense is playing great football right now despite being banged up. However, we must address our offense, their penalties and miscues are killing this team. It’s not about just getting there. We need to be prepared to score more than 10-16 points, we need to be able to throw a ball further than ten yards to short routes, we need to spread out the opposing defense, we need to get creative offensively. There is nothing wrong with keeping a defense on their heels and will somebody please tell me why our franchise kicker is kicking off out of bounds in a freaking dome stadium! I know Mike Brown thinks getting into the playoffs is as good as a SB win, but if they continue to ignore these consistent issues we are one and done.
by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Dec 14, 2009 12:12 PM EST reply actions
The Defense was ok
but not great against a top tier offense on the road. Our corners proved why they both should be pro-bowlers, but we had a LOT of trouble over the middle of the field. Every big play that the Vikings came up with was on little screen passes or dump offs that went for big gains. I give the Vikings a lot of credit for their offensive gameplan. They found something that worked against us and kept doing it until we couldn’t stop it anymore.
This is our year!
This is true...
…the only way to pass on the Bengals is to pass to someone who isn’t covered by Hall or Joseph. Catch Dhani Jones one on one with an RB and that’s your target.
Question / Poll
Would you rather get the #2 seed with the first round bye only to lose to Indy or SD in our fist playoff game or get the 3rd seed and beat a wild card team before facing Indy or SD?
I would take the 2 seed
If we get the 2 seed, we don’t see INDY until the AFC CHampionship game. That leaves SD playing in Cincy in January, or NE, which still hasn’t won on the road or an opponent below them.
SD’s run defense didn’t look spectacular against Dallas. LT is old and showing it.
I am still sitting on the Bandwagon. I agree we need to stop the stupid penalties and take some deeper shots, but we can still go to the AFC championship game if not the Superbowl.
We'll be the 4th seed
unless we lose to KC.
The sixth seed could end up being the Ravens.
Anyone think the Bengals can beat the birds a third time? I don’t.
by occams_tiger_teeth on Dec 14, 2009 1:41 PM EST reply actions
absolutely i do. marvin owns the ravens.
i'm going to go america all over your ass!
by Raging Clue on Dec 15, 2009 10:36 AM EST up reply actions
I have a feeling Miami wins the East.
Not sure what that means but just thought I would throw my 2 cents in. It would probably put NE and Bal in the wild card spots.
The Vikings game was very important. Not to win. It was our Cardinals game. That’s what made it important. We got our butts kicked. Will we bounce back like the Vikes did and buckle down and get serious? If we have a chance. If we don’t, it won’t matter if we do make the playoffs or not. We’re toast.
Until we stop self-destructing with idiotic penalties and until Brat starts showing some ability to be creative on more than two plays a quarter (or is replaced, and Marvin with him), this team is going nowhere. But IF we can at least stop self-destructing, we’ll at least make the playoffs. That’s better than losing out and watching the Ravens take the AFC-N.
FriarBob...
My bad, I jumped to conclusions on your post the other day, please check out my response there.
'I’ve learned to become a flat-liner. There’s a lot out there that’ll make your heart jump if you allow it."
-Coach Tomlin
by NYSteelersFan4 on Dec 14, 2009 3:52 PM EST up reply actions
My Take...
As a huge cincy fan living in NY, i watch all the games anyway I can. I have seen every one this year and have begun to wonder…are we a run team because carson cannot throw deep anymore? are we a run team because the coaches feel the O line cannot pass protect (and only open up running lanes for the backs)?
The D is solid but we constantly get destroyed by teams who are big on the checkdown pass to the rb. Houston game, Minni game are examples of that. Our DBs take care of business as they did yesterday. Because the Offense did not move the ball, the D was constantly playing with their backs against the walls.
Are the coaches hiding something? We never knew why Coffman was not playing despite everyone screaming for a pass catching TE. Then one day he shows up on injury report. Is there something wrong with Palmer’s arm? Is there something wrong with Simpson? Why not give Jerome a shot? He has speed, leaping ability and quite frankly, besides Ocho and Caldwell, we have no one to rely on anymore. Get Simpson in there, build in some play actions and go deep and open the whole game up.
As someone mentioned in their comments, other teams are scoring points like mad with lesser talent. Is it Brat?
I still have tremendous hope for this team, for this year and years to come…but by this time of the year, the way they r playing needs to be turned around 360 degrees if they want a true run in the playoffs. Once they r in , anything can happen (as witnessed by Arizona last year and the 2005 Steelers)…
Hope there's room b/c I've officially jumped on the Simpson bandwagon.
by smoormandiddy on Dec 14, 2009 3:44 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t think there is anything wrong with Palmer physically. His TD to Chad was deep and right on the money.
I believe Palmer has taken to the mentality that the rest of the team is good enough to win, if he doesn’t throw interceptions forcing balls into coverage, or get strip sacked waiting for people to get open deep.
I think this is a good idea against weak teams, but against good teams, you have to take some chances.
This is exacerbated by the lack of a second receiver getting deep.( I think if teams played 85 1-1 with no safety help, he’d get open deep multiple times a game against any corner). I’d also like to see Simpson play. Starting Caldwell, and using Simpson in appropriate situations would be much better than starting Coles, and bringing in Caldwell on 3rd down.
Carson...
Here’s the real problem with Carson Palmer…..the Bengals have run the more this year than in any year that Palmer has been a Bengal. The problem is, he has not rhythm and is out of Sync….If you have noticed, he is throwing too high, behind and elsewhere. One thing to note about Carson…….Have you noticed when he throws an incompletion, he appears to be disgusted with the receiver?? Almost like it is never Carson’s fault for the incompleteion!!
i'm not saying simpson or purify is the answer,
and i’m not about to get into carson, the line, bratkowski, or penalties, but quan cosby definitely is NOT the answer. i just watched a short version of the game and quan can’t do shit besides return punt (he hasn’t even done that well the last few weeks). he is not a kick returner, he is not a slot receiver, he can’t run the ball, he can’t block.
he can’t get to top speed quickly enough to threaten any defender in the NFL. furthermore, his top speed is not that fast. he ran something like a 4.56 at the combine which is too slow for someone under 6’2", 260 lbs. kick returners and slot receivers are speed positions and he does not have enough speed to be competent in these areas.
he can’t block. he got manhandled on a couple bubble screens yesterday and i recall a few times in the detroit game where he looked like a matador on running plays.
would jerome simpson do any better? probably not if he let a late-rounder like andre caldwell and undrafted guys like maurice purify and quan cosby pass him up. but i do know that he and purify are faster and taller than quan. quan’s increase in playing time actually does hurt the team simply because it doesn’t help it.
Caldwell
was a third round pick, he’s not garbage.
Purify should either be sitting on the sideline inactive or he should be getting targeted. No point having him there just for special teams. Henry was NOT playing on special teams.
by occams_tiger_teeth on Dec 14, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions
Cosby and the offense
Cosby earned the punt return job and no one has stood out in a way that I think it should be taken away from him, Nelson needs to play safety and we are to weak at that position right now for him to return punts.
Offense: The offense scored on 2 of the 5 possessions in which they did not have a penalty or turn over in the final 3 downs of the drive.
On drives in which there was a penalty the average distance to go on 3rd down was 15. The Penalties we had yesterday killed drives.
On the drives that we punted and did not have a penalty, we passed on fisrt down in 2 of the three drives.
On the drive that resulted in a field goal, we ran every first down.
On the dirve that resulted in a TD, we passed on 3 first downs and ran on 3 first downs.
Running the ball has led to wins. Penalties and turn overs have led to losses. We need to run against San Diego, and we need to eliminate penalties and turn overs. If we do that I am convinced we will win.
Crocker is OUT for Sunday
I don’t see how this team beats a Chargers team that is 16-0 in December since 2006, without both starting safeties and Peko and with a gimpy pass attack that doesn’t scare anyone.
If they are to win the division they’ll do it the cheesy way by beating KC in a stinker of a game that won’t sell out.
The real fun would be if they lose the next two and have to win in the house of horrors in NY where they’ve NEVER won (just like Oakland and Minnesota — Bengals combined record in these 3 places now stands at a shocking 0-26!)
by occams_tiger_teeth on Dec 14, 2009 5:28 PM EST reply actions
Let the season play out
The 2000 Baltimore Ravens went 5 consecutive games without a touchdown. Amazing even for a bad team. – They won the Super Bowl.
The 2003 Panthers went 11-5 but were 1-3 against teams with winning records; the teams the beat had a collective .397 winning percentage; the Panthers averaged 20.3 pts per game (same as Bengals this year) – Went to the Super Bowl.
The 2007 Giants limped into the playoffs going 4-4 in the second half and got blown out at home 41-17 by the Minnesota vikings. – They, of course, won the Super Bowl.
In Fantasy Football terms
It’s really not important HOW you get into the playoffs, its how your team does IN the playoffs.
Get your shit straight Bengals! We got some work to do!
true story. just ask the 2008 arizona cardinals.
i'm going to go america all over your ass!
by Raging Clue on Dec 15, 2009 11:06 AM EST up reply actions
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