Cincinnati Bengals Tied For Best Record In The AFC
by Josh Kirkendall on Nov 7, 2011 12:17 AM EST
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Thanks to a Joe Flacco 26-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Torrey Smith to help secure a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals are now tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the best record in the American Football Conference. Better than the New England Patriots (5-3), the New York Jets (5-3), the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3), the Houston Texans (6-3) and any team in the AFC West -- none of whom actually sport a winning record.
Now some will point to the Cincinnati "ease of schedule" argument, but as some former players will tell you, winning six out of eight games in the National Football League is impressive (just listen to John Thornton and Artrell Hawkins on the radio). Additionally winning all but one of your road games in the National Football League is even harder. Winning games your supposed to win is the mark of a good team, thriving through adversity, staying calm under intense pressure, helping secure four comeback victories in six season wins.
Regardless of where you fall on that argument, Cincinnati is facing that gauntlet as we speak, beating the Titans in Tennessee and setting up games against the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers during the next two weeks.
As for the Bengals and all of their fans, was there any doubt that the Bengals would go 6-2 after finishing with a 4-12 record in 2010, the day that Carson Palmer demanded a trade?
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WHO-DEY
2011 Year of the Red Rifle
Carson Palmer 2011 Comeback Player of the Year
by Throw the ball on Nov 7, 2011 12:27 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Never doubted it WHODEY
we are not just fighting for AFCN right now but the #1 seed amazing… could all change after these next 4 games either we will be labeled pretender… or the team to beat.
by Bengalsfan024 on Nov 7, 2011 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
Never wouldve predicted this. Mainly had no idea Dalton was this mature.
With that said, Im confident we have an excellent chance of beating the Steelers Sunday. And as for the argument for the “weak” schedule, our team lead by a rookie QB leads the AFC in road wins with 4. We are the team to beat now.
First seed in the AFC if it ended today.
They do have one of the softest schedules in the league though.
So do the Ratbirds and Squeelers.
"It’s time people started realizing just how good a player Carlos Dunlap already is, and that starts with the Bengals. They gave him a season-high 58 snaps and what was the result? Carnage on the right side of the Seattle line." -Pro Football Focus
Both the Ravens and Steelers have faced each other twice.
Not to mention the Steelers beat the Patriots and Baltimore beat Houston. Sorry, I’m all for the “don’t blame the schedule” argument, but we haven’t seen anything yet. The net two weeks tell us if we can hang in the AFC. 1-1 and we’re in GREAT shape. 0-2 and we’re still alive, but need to refocus. 2-2 and this si some weird bizarro universe where we’ve already locked up the division.
riddle me this
the Ravens have lost to the titans and the jaguars two teams that are not considered to make the playoffs…. not to mention the ravens almost lost to the cardinals. The bengals beat the same two teams, does that not make them better? I mean at least the bengals are beating the teams they should beat… and our only two loses came from Denver which we played a rookie QB with only a half of expierence and to San Fransico which is having a great year… Say we win one of the those two teams and we are sitting 7-1, everyone would be on the bengals band wagon right now!
AMAS
I've used this argument year after year, and the answer is none of that matters.
As much sense as it seems to make…and it does…it doesn’t hold water. None of that matters when the Bengals line up against the Steelers on Sunday or the Ravens the next week.
Well it does make sense and should point you in the right direction
Even after the Steelers loss, the analyst were still predicting that the ravens and steelers will be in the playoffs and still totally over looking the bengals, which i kinda don’t mind. BUT the fact is those wins and losses to same opponents should matter at this point. There Ravens and Steelers haven’t really played any good teams until they played each other. Now we get our chance to prove ourselves but i think we will be way better than what they know. Sometimes when you hear something long enough you start believing it, and i think the steelers maybe over looking us. I did hear a ravens player mention the bengals after the victory…
AMAS
good point
I forgot the Titans beat the Ravens
by ticalcaldwell on Nov 7, 2011 8:33 AM EST up reply actions
Bills were coming in hot as hell and we handed them their second loss of the season.
Sure, we lost to the 49ers, but the Steelers lost to the Ravens twice. Our schedule has been pretty cupcake but we’ve faced our fair share of good opponents.
"It’s time people started realizing just how good a player Carlos Dunlap already is, and that starts with the Bengals. They gave him a season-high 58 snaps and what was the result? Carnage on the right side of the Seattle line." -Pro Football Focus
I'd throw the Titans up there as another good opponent as well.
Not the Patriots or the Debts, or each other, no, but still fairly good opponents.
"It’s time people started realizing just how good a player Carlos Dunlap already is, and that starts with the Bengals. They gave him a season-high 58 snaps and what was the result? Carnage on the right side of the Seattle line." -Pro Football Focus
I think you guys posted an article recently about beating the "easy" teams...
which is just part of winning a season. The Steelers consistently beat the teams they are expected to beat which can soften the blow of losing to higher caliber teams later in the year. Winning these “easy” games is just helping the Bengals down the road this year…
All this does is validate my preseason prediction...
That the 2011 Cincinnati Bengals would get the #1 seed in the AFC playoffs. Seriously, look it up. Totally what I predicted. I swear. (Don’t look it up)
After extensive research, I can say that you did in fact predict this.
But seriously, let’s forget all this talk about our ‘soft’ schedule. Any given sunday means that anyone can win on any given day. How many people had Miami beating KC today? Hmmm…mmkay.
Yeah that Miami @ KC game
ruined my 5 team pickem bet :(
by Oregonbengalsfan on Nov 7, 2011 1:54 AM EST up reply actions
We're going to go 4-2 in the AFCN games
and then do what it takes to get into the playoffs.
This team isn’t going to underestimate anyone this year. We have some tough games ahead and players will be getting banged up. The good news is, we have some starters coming back. I think Rey, Gresham, Adam Jones will be primed up for this next set of games. We will need them all!
Wrong! Conan! What is best in life?
To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.
Talking about strength of schedule
Of the Steelers 6 wins, 4 have came against the Colts 0-9, Seahawks 2-6, Jags 2-6, Cards 2-6. That is an INCREDIBLE record of 6 – 27. WOW. Their signature win is against the Titans (who we beat) and the Pats at 5-3. We beat the Bills who are 5-3 also. So I dont want to hear any more shit about an easy schedule.
by redrifle14 on Nov 7, 2011 1:22 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
Schedule...
All that talk is a load of bologna. You don’t win back-to-back road games first in one of the toughest places to play, and then against a winning team on the opposite coast, to top off a five-game win streak, unless you’re puurrrrtyy good. Can they win ANY games against Pittsburgh or Baltimore, out of four games?
The question should really be, how can they not??
Haters hate, and let’s face it, people cannot let go of the past, when it comes to the Bengals. They still think the Bengals suck. They WANT them to still suck. Why? Because they want at least some things to not change from season to season. People crave consistency and fear change – especially in there being certain basement-dwelling teams that they can count on to ridicule, and make themselves in turn feel better about their own teams. That’s my theory anyway.
GO BENGALS!
uh, which coast is Memphis on?
Also, allow me to correct you to say “to continue a five game win streak”.
"Suck for Luck"? Forget that
2010 was "Schemin’ for Green and Faultin’ for Dalton."
Allow me to correct you
its Nashville.
It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain
dang
I honestly forgot that!
"Suck for Luck"? Forget that
2010 was "Schemin’ for Green and Faultin’ for Dalton."
That doesn't count
I heard the Bengals have only played college teams this year, so their wins should only count as half wins. The Bengals are a 3-2 team. Face it!
Try not to take the above message too seriously.
i went to bed with the steelers winning
and that was good i was thinking because i wanted them a little less hungry. but now they will be motivated for sure.
it is a big game.
by andyfrombrooklyn on Nov 7, 2011 7:01 AM EST reply actions
For sure.
I got this clip of Ben and Ray Lewis stopping to look at the camera right in the middle of jawing each other on the field…
lemme see if I can transfer it to an image…
"Suck for Luck"? Forget that
2010 was "Schemin’ for Green and Faultin’ for Dalton."
here it is
Two of the NFL’s leading stud criminal tool heads:
Ray is the handsome one.
"Suck for Luck"? Forget that
2010 was "Schemin’ for Green and Faultin’ for Dalton."
Wow
For some reason I always thought Ray Lewis was black… must have been all the eye black I was seeing. Ben looks slightly better looking than I have ever seen him before in this shot.
hmm.
that’s Roethlisberger and Starks. Sorry.
I did find a picture of Ray doing his pregame schtick:
"Suck for Luck"? Forget that
2010 was "Schemin’ for Green and Faultin’ for Dalton."
"When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less."
Paul Brown.
" Mike Brown is the owner that Cincy doesn't deserve, not the one it needs..."
by palewook on Nov 7, 2011 7:24 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
ENJOY THE W......
Kinda DE-motivating hearing all this chit chat about “a easy schedule”. Enough! If your a real BENGAL fan then embrace this and move on. This is positive motion here GOING foward. Showing signs of hope for a playoff spot. Im sick and tired of hearing “im not convinced as of yet with the Bengals OR wait until we play the RAVENS / STEELERS”. Do you all remember in 09 when the BENGALS SWEPT THE AFC NORTH!!? Do you? I sure do! Do you think maybe that just maybe this 2011 BENGALS team is better then the 09 SQUAD!!? DO you? I sure do! You know why? They got heart, man. They play every down like it is the last down. They move on to the next play and work together as a unit. We do have a young team. We do have a ROOKIE QB. We are 6-2. On this day my friends we are a number seed in the AFC and a legit contender. Remember we were winning games we were supposed to win. Thats a good thing. Correct me if im wrong but the last 2 ROAD GAMES were without MALALUGA / GRESHAM / JONES and a few others and were still doing it!!! We got a tough game coming up here this Sunday at PBS. The Bengals are tough and will give these STEELERS a run for their $$$$$. Steelers thought they had to be on their A Game with only the RAVENS in this DIV they never thought they would have to actually put a game plan together to beat the BENGALS in 2011. Its gonna be a good one you all. WHODEY!
What is DE-motivating
is listening to you dog ass all the Bengal players during a game.
Lighten up a hair.
"Suck for Luck"? Forget that
2010 was "Schemin’ for Green and Faultin’ for Dalton."
hah, thanks :)
I like Hezlep. He is passionate. He doesn’t just splurge out whargarble (although he tends to write really reeeeaaaally long paragraphs). He does say what he means at the time… I think maybe just temper it a bit.
Ever been at a game and the guy screams “YOURE A BUM” no matter what… that’s Mark during a game.
"Suck for Luck"? Forget that
2010 was "Schemin’ for Green and Faultin’ for Dalton."
The real schedule argument
All this is, is an excuse for the national media to not give the Bengals credit….YET…if we beat the Steelers…..respect WILL be given….
If I'm being completely honest, I never expected this.
I took offense to the 32nd place preseason ranking, yes, of course I did. But to be going into week ten as the number one seed in the conference? Riding a five game win streak which hasn’t happened since we were on the road to Super Bowl XXIII? An undefeated October which hasn’t happened since the 1970’s? Are you freaking kidding me?
This team has heart. It has heart in spades. Andy Dalton and AJ Green are firmly planting themselves in the annals of NFL history and we’re only halfway through this, their rookie season. As we get key players back the team is only going to get better. I hope Carlos Dunlap can be ready sooner than later, to say he is a vital part of the 2011 Cincinnati Bengals puzzle would be a gross understatement.
This team can do something very, very special this year. I’m certain of it.
Peter King ranks the Bengals 13th, 6 teams w/ a worse record ahead of them.
He gives 4 players offensive player of the week awards, including Julio Jones against the Horrendous Colts.
That’s incredibly poor journalism.
As for the Steelers, it’s better that they lost. This is a team that thrives on confidence, and falters when their confidence is shot. Remember a few years back when they just kept losing and losing and losing? They couldn’t get out of the funk. They thrive on winning, and question themselves and press upon losing.
So yeah, I think it’s better that they lost.
Change gone come mane! Trust me! Cause i Bleed tigerblood!--Jerome Simpson
Someone needs to tell the Ravens this info.
Over at the Ravens Blog, they believe they are #1.
Wrong! Conan! What is best in life?
To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.
.
I guess it depends on how they interpret the AFC North record (1-0 vs 2-0). Our guy here used winning percentage. Their guy used win count.
"Suck for Luck"? Forget that
2010 was "Schemin’ for Green and Faultin’ for Dalton."
and finishes with the "whatever" arguement.
that would be their interpretation.
But I think we just need to kick some ass for the month of November and let our wins keep doing the talking.
Wrong! Conan! What is best in life?
To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.
The good news is it looks like the AFC East is going to beat up on each other just like the West.
10 wins probably takes that division and the next two will probably have 8-9 wins. That puts us in great shape to make the playoffs with 9-10 wins. If we can go 2-2 over the next 4 weeks I think we’re a lock for at least a wildcard spot.
I can’t believe we’re actually talking about playoff scenarios this year…Surreal season…
I PREDICTED IT DAMNIT!
I predicted us being 8-0 or 7-1 at this point with only a loss to the Colts. My my how the season has changed… Never thought we’d lose to DENVER or SanFran either…
Now it’s time to prepare for the nail-biting second half. Andy has, well, exceeded everyone’s expectations (except mine cause I watched him at TCU and knew he was nice!). Andy still hasn’t had that “break-out” game of big points yet. But it’s coming cause he’s learning to use the tight-ends more. “Man can he thread a needle”!!
The defense is solid save for some weakness in the secondary. The SPECIAL TEAMS have been outstanding not allowing a run back of any consequence..
Moviing forward, the Defense seems to play tighter in the REDZONE and 4th QTR. “IF” they can start stronger, I think they can stay strong.
The Offense need to score TDs on the first possession not Field goals.
Tough road ahead though…
I represent the Bengals of Cincinati with extreme passion and prejudice and make no apologies for it!
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