Bengals Early Bird Special: T-Minus One Day Until Showdown of Rookie Quarterbacks

by Ryan Harper on Oct 8, 2011 8:01 AM EDT

CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 2: Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals passes the football on the end around run during the game against the Buffalo Bills on October 2, 2011 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals defeated the Bills 23-20. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)

Good morning everyone! I hope you're all ready to fire up your grills, drink some beers, and watch the Bengals take on the Jaguars. For once you don't have to worry about work.....hopefully.

Tomorrow should be filled with a lot of excitement. For the Bengals, they go up against a Jacksonville team that has been anything, but impressive. For the Jags offense they have barely been able to put up any points. And the defense has looked adequate, at best.

Here are five reasons why I believe the Bengals are going to defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars tomorrow.

Cedric Benson is going to have more space to than he's going to know what to do with. With the return of Bobbie Williams there should be more holes for Benson to plow through. I have a feeling Benson will rack up over 100 yards. But if he doesn't then I have a feeling he'll tally 80 or more yards, which still is a relatively decent game.
Andy Dalton will find a rhythm earlier than he has in the past. I believe Dalton will get settled into the game in the first half and help the Bengals put up some points, instead of the second half. I can see Dalton throwing a pair of touchdowns. Also Dalton will hopefully have some more time in the pocket to look for a receiver to pass to with the return of Williams.
Jay Gruden will do a better job at mixing up the play-calling. It won't be lopsided favoring one more than the other. I think it will be a healthy mix of running and passing plays.
The Bengals defense is ranked number one. The Jaguars offense can't even average ten points a game. The defense has been able to control the passing and rushing game up to this point of the season. And that shouldn't change on Sunday. Tomorrow they are going to have to remember who is carrying the ball for the Jags. Blaine Gabbert doesn't have any viable threats to throw the ball to. And as I've stated before, Gabbert hasn't looked that great on the field.
The Bengals are awesome. Need I say more?

Prediction: The Bengals will move above the .500 mark by defeating the Jaguars 24-10.

Alright here is a look at what you may have missed or overlooked from Friday.

A deeper look at the Bengals offensive line and their "grade" through the first four games of the season.
The Bengals injury report as of Friday evening.
In order to make room for Bobbie Williams on the active 53-man roster the Bengals had to cut guard Otis Hudson. And now they have added him to the practice squad. To make room for him on the practice squad the Bengals cut defensive tackle Jason Shirley.
The nominations are in for the Caption Contest and now it's time for everyone to vote for their favorite.
Hamilton County has sent out a letter to the Bengals and Reds to shave improvement and maintenance costs for both stadiums.
A closer look at Cincinnati's rushing defense this season. And on Sunday it's going to be vital for the Bengals to limit the damage by Maurice Jones-Drew.
Andy Dalton won the GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Week with his performance in the Bengals comeback win against the Buffalo Bills.
The first quarter GM report card for Bengals owner Mike Brown.
If some of you were wondering why you were able to catch the tail-end of the Bengals vs. Bills game, then here is your explanation as to why CBS aired it.

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Comments

from a jags fan

The Bengals are the worst team we’ve faced so far…Yes I believe Carolina is better…The fans are the cockiest yet…..Ok you beat the BIlls (woopededo)….The Jets and Saints are very good and their fans didn’t come here and parade about them, they talked football…You guys are treating the Bengals like they are the Super Bowl champs.

" Mike Brown is the owner that Cincy doesn't deserve, not the one it needs..."

by palewook on Oct 8, 2011 8:51 AM EDT reply actions

I don't think we were that bad

One person throws out a score prediction and suddenly we are the cockiest fans. Numbers shouldn’t be a part of conversation between fans of different teams, because numbers don’t mean much when your out there on the field. I agree the Saints fans were really cool when they were here last week, not throwing out scores at us or saying how we could only average so many points on offense. Take away the guys throwing out numbers, and the whole “who is a better running back?” conversation and I think we were pretty polite and decent fans.

That said I don’t get the Carolina is a better team argument, sure they have some killer fantasy guys, but they haven’t been able to win. I don’t care how many yards you throw for, if at the end of the day you lose, you lose. We are a solid and productive team with a good defense and quality guys all around. We can win this game if we stay hungry and focused. If Andy can keep this team alive by being not only a leader in the sense that he gets guys ready, but that he keeps making plays to keep us in the game, then we will win this game.
WHO DEY!!!!!

Flying is as simple as throwing yourself at the ground and missing

by bill schwab on Oct 8, 2011 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions

by last week i mean last year

I really need to proofread these things. Well, at the end I was kinda more focused on other things, like a Bengals win. Confound my excited fandom, it drives me to typos!

Flying is as simple as throwing yourself at the ground and missing

by bill schwab on Oct 8, 2011 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

i tossed out 15-12

when a jags fan asked for score predictions. hardly a blow out =) guess i was supposed to say jags 44- bengals 0 because we the worse team in the nfl. (rollseyes)

" Mike Brown is the owner that Cincy doesn't deserve, not the one it needs..."

by palewook on Oct 8, 2011 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

For the record

I didn’t think you were that bad, either.

by Mahlalie on Oct 8, 2011 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Jags fans started it by telling us how great Blaine, their O-Line, and D are.

Uhhhh reality check buddies. Your team has looked like horse doo doo for four weeks.

I mean rationally I think this is a close game, b/c the Bengals have trouble letting Dalton loose. Not much trust yet, and he hasn’t really given them reason to do so early in games.

But that doesn’t mean I’m going to respond kindly to some Jags fans when they come in and start talking about how good their team actually is. They aren’t good. At all.

In their two games not counting the Mud Bowl against Carolina and the opener against the Titans (the Titans were very lost that game, first game w/ CJ back, looked awful) they’ve been outscored 55-13.

They are bad.

Change gone come mane! Trust me! Cause i Bleed tigerblood!--Jerome Simpson

by Grizzlyfox on Oct 8, 2011 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Okay

that’s just not true, either. I don’t remember anyone saying Blaine or our O-line are great. O-line’s okay-decent. Blaine’s a young rookie with flashes of greatness, nothing more at this point.

Now you’re just under-selling the Jags. The Jets game was inept QB play by our now-backup. The Saints, we held to around ten points under their season average. We kept it within reach. Say what you want about our bad offensive play thus far, but the offense isn’t indicative of the team’s play as a whole.

Also, the comments of one or two fans isn’t indicative of an entire fan base. I always try to be respectful of other teams and their fan bases because I know how it is for my team to be the butt of every joke.

by Mahlalie on Oct 8, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

for the most part i though it was pretty good discussion

by JCompton41 on Oct 8, 2011 1:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I concur.

by Mahlalie on Oct 8, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe this game will be pretty close. Blaine hasn’t looked like a 1st round pick yet, but he will eventually come around. Hopefully not against us.

by redrifle14 on Oct 8, 2011 9:44 AM EDT reply actions

Blaine hasn't looked like a first round pick b/c he's not.

Him and Ponder? Seriously guys? WTF

Change gone come mane! Trust me! Cause i Bleed tigerblood!--Jerome Simpson

by Grizzlyfox on Oct 8, 2011 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Blaine

was considered the best QB in the draft by a lot of people who know more than you or me. He’s made some throws that very few people can make, and he learns from his mistakes very quickly. His biggest thing after last week is not to stray from fundamentals, especially good footwork, after taking some hits. It just takes practice. A lot of people think he’s going to be very special.

by Mahlalie on Oct 8, 2011 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions

If he needs some hits to learn how to be a better quarterback...

Then we will introduce him to the Professors Geathers, Atkins, Peko, Dunlap, Johnson, Sims, Rucker, and Fanene. All top teachers

Flying is as simple as throwing yourself at the ground and missing

by bill schwab on Oct 8, 2011 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

MJD

What concerns me about this game is MJD. The defense should be focused on him because Gabbert is starting, but the Bengals ALWAYS have trouble with this type of back. Guys who have the ability to make a second or third cut and then go aren’t the ones this defense is designed to stop. With Rey going ‘commando’ and filling the wrong hole (as was said in a previous post), MJD could really make them pay. If you over-pursue he’ll kill you. Being smart and patient and getting on D and getting a couple early scores is how the Bengals can win this.

by Jeff Wallace on Oct 8, 2011 10:49 AM EDT reply actions

i feel like a deek for saying this

starting to wonder if rey doesn’t need glasses..

" Mike Brown is the owner that Cincy doesn't deserve, not the one it needs..."

by palewook on Oct 8, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

I welcome all haters...

I’m really excited about this Bengals team. I don’t think we could have expected any better considering all the challenges they’ve faced so early in the season (short preseason, losing J. Joe, rookie qb, suspended starting guard, and what was that other thing? Something about someone quitting on the team…). This team has really impressed me. I’ve grown to enjoy all the doubters and haters out there as the Bengals are slowly beginning to prove all of them wrong. I especially enjoy the lack of love from former player Chris Collinsworth…I can’t wait for the Bengals to shut him up. Can’t wait till Sunday. Who Dey!

by M Shop on Oct 8, 2011 10:53 AM EDT reply actions