Carson Palmer: Tampa Bay Is A Must-Win

by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 6, 2010 3:17 PM EDT in Analysis

With the Bengals heading into the fifth week in the regular season (can you believe we're already playing the fifth week in the regular season?), Cincinnati is at a bit of a cross roads. Are they the team that we had expected them to be with the added talent, improving off last year's 10-6 squad? Or did we expect too much, and therefore we're angry because they're not fulfilling our slammed as nails prophesy. Speaking of which, don't order the Coke tonight, Todd. You'll thank me later.

After losing the regular season opener by 14 points, the Bengals beat the Ravens and Panthers before the team's defense surprisingly took the day off. When asked with the Tampa Bay media if this week's game was a "must-win", Carson Palmer said:

"This is a must win, absolutely," Palmer said. "Coming off a bye week off of a win two weeks ago is a big deal. We're acting like our backs are against the wall because they are."...

It might seem a bit strange to call the fifth game of the year a "must win", but you have to factor in the team's remaining schedule. After the bye week, the Bengals will play the Steelers twice, the Colts, Saints, Jets, Chargers, Ravens, Dolphins and Falcons, along with a rematch against the Browns. We've known for some time that the team's schedule would be rough. Unfortunately, we're slowly approaching the point in which it actually becomes tougher.

Poll

Is this weekend a must-win game?

Yes

418 votes

No

11 votes

429 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I will order whatever I want to, sir!

by Todd G on Oct 6, 2010 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

Every game is a must win in my eyes until we clinch a playoff spot!

by TCfromDubVee on Oct 6, 2010 3:35 PM EDT reply actions

If you can’t win against TB at home with a healthy team, expectations then will be zero. Assuming they continue to play .500 football the rest of the way (after losing to TB), then the coaching staff should be fired (well the OFFENSIVE and head coaches at least) at a minimum. Personally, if we don’t reach the post season this year then I think team ownership must take the blame and fire themselves and get professionals instead of amateurs to run this organization. For examples look to NE and PITT, not CLEVE or CIN.

by brisd on Oct 6, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

+1000

The more I look into other organizations, the more I realize what a joke Cincinnati is. I love the Bengals, but the level of incompetence and mismanagement, or whatever you want to call it, is inexcusable. We’re talking about an organization that’s valued at 9/10 of a billion dollars. Can we trade owners please!? MB is reluctant to give up his draft picks, yet he’s terrible at drafting players. Blah blah blah. I could go on forever.
I’m starting to feel bad for Carson. His O-coordinator, and owner are among the worst in the league. ML is not a top tier coach. You just lose to the Browns, and your saying the next game is a “must win”. He should be saying, “We’re are going to dominate the Bucs.” His psychology has been devastated.

by DonMegga on Oct 6, 2010 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Carson’s too professional to say anything like that. That’s just what we need, TB coming off a bye AND with that quote stapled to their bulletin board…

by Todd G on Oct 6, 2010 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I really dont understand the big deal about the loss to the browns.

They are not that bad. Take away the bengals self inflicted turnovers and we win.

by Diesel2405 on Oct 6, 2010 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Because they were winless going in. Granted, they shouldn’t have been. They should have beat TB and they should have beaten the Ravens, but for bad luck and/or stupid mistakes on their part. But they still were, and that makes it sting more.

Plus we need every game we can get with a schedule as tough as we currently have and we were expecting this to be one we did get. That makes the disappointment sting as well.

by FriarBob on Oct 6, 2010 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions

You do realize

Marvin was coach of the year last year, right? He has done wonders with this team over the past few years, especially with the handicaps of working for MB. Also, aside from smith and Simpson, our past few drafts have been top notch. We have less misses and more gems out of those classes than most teams.

I’d gladly trade owners, just not with Oakland, Washington, Cleveland, or Dallas.

RIP Slim.

by brandone on Oct 7, 2010 8:37 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I said ML was not a top tier coach and should have been more specific. I agree 100% that ML has done wonders, except with his challenges. I don’t think ML is a Bill Bellichick, Tony Dungy or Sean Payton caliber coach. I like ML and maybe he’s a genius planning out his new contract as Head Coach/GM…

by DonMegga on Oct 9, 2010 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions

if you are going 8-8

you can play half-assed each week and not call any game a must win.

if the bengals want to reach the play-offs in 2010, considering the number of veterans on this team, that should be the goal, then getting the team north of .500 is a must.

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Oct 6, 2010 4:06 PM EDT reply actions

+1

I think we’re in the 9-7 or 7-9 range right now

by DonMegga on Oct 6, 2010 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

with Pitt and Balt starting strong..

we need at LEAST a 9-7 record to make the playoffs..

or we can just sweep em both. that would also really help our case.

OH Yeah! Duffman's pelvis is thrusting in the direction of the problem!
TO: "Coach said he would address that."

by duffmane on Oct 7, 2010 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL at the poll results!

It's time to sink or Zim.

by Pardon_My_French on Oct 6, 2010 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

The poll results speak for themselves. This has to be a statement game for us to set the tone for the rest of the season.

by Kwamo on Oct 7, 2010 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't have it any other way

Stop worrying about teams based on what they did last year, since every season sees dramatic changes in talent and competition. Last year, I about had an aneurism thinking about the upcoming schedule and what our current record was. The Bengals earned my respect last year and let’s allow them to grind away towards another hard-fought playoff run. It’s a blue-collar city with a blue-collar team.

Moisture is the essense of wetness, and wetness is the essense of beauty.

by Blue Steel on Oct 6, 2010 8:16 PM EDT reply actions