If the Season Ended Today: Bengals Take the AFC's No. 1 Seed in the Playoffs
by Jason Garrison on Nov 7, 2011 11:01 AM EST
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Through the first nine weeks of the 2011 season, the Cincinnati Bengals, led by rookie quarterback Andy Dalton, have a 6-2 record. They've defeated the Browns, Bills, Jaguars, Colts and Titans and lost to the Broncos and 49ers. Because the Patriots' loss to the Giants keeps them at 5-3 and the Steelers' loss to the Ravens on Sunday night puts them at 6-3, the Bengals and the Ravens, who also have a 6-2 record, are tied as the two teams with the best record in the AFC.
Because of that, you shouldn't be shocked when I say that if the season ended today that the Bengals would be in the playoffs, along with the Ravens and the Steelers. However, you may be shocked to know that they wouldn't just be in the playoffs, they would be in the playoffs as the AFC's No. 1 seed, complete with a first-round bye and a guaranteed home game.
Here's why.
You might think that the Ravens would be ahead of the Bengals because of their division record -- they're 2-0 in the division while the Bengals are 1-0. That's not the case, though. The Ravens are chasing the Bengals in the conference standings because of who they've lost too.
The Bengals' wins over both the Jaguars and Titans, which were both on the road, separates them from the Ravens. The Ravens lost to the Jaguars in Jacksonville on Monday Night Football in Week 7 and lost to the Titans in Tennessee in Week 2 and, according to the NFL, the Bengals' win percentage in common games breaks the tie between them and the Ravens and puts them on top of the AFC.
Of course we're only half way through the 2011 regular season and the second half, compared to the first, is brutal. The fact that they would have the No. 1 seed in the AFC if the playoffs started tomorrow doesn't really mean much moving forward, but we can all agree that the Bengals have surprised us up to this point.
I think we can all agree that the Bengals are good, but now we get to see how good this team really is.
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It's just amazing how
things can change. I know we have the Steelers and the Ravens coming up, but I feel invincible as a team right now. I just feel like we can win any game were in. I didn’t even feel that way about the 09’ team.
Congrats on the win!
As a texans fan and closet bengals fan, it is HUGE that y’all beat the tits. I love it! y’all look like the real deal. Just wait till y’all use all those Palmer Picks!
CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON
"closet bengals fan"
Never heard that one before
Tell J-Jo I love him
and I take it back… he can use the back door
"Suck for Luck"? Forget that
2010 was "Schemin’ for Green and Faultin’ for Dalton."
We have a long way to go.
The way we played the 1st half made me wanna puke, especially at Zimmer and that D. We need to step it up for the rest of the season.
What do you do when there's no way out? Find a way to get deeper in it.
Gotta remember
Hassel has been playing really well this year as has the titans Oline in pass blocking.
Maybe a Bengals/49ers Superbowl is in the works.....
Where’s Grateful Max at? He’ll know.
Wrong! Conan! What is best in life?
To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.
That's my dream
2011 Year of the Red Rifle
Carson Palmer 2011 Comeback Player of the Year
by Throw the ball on Nov 7, 2011 12:08 PM EST up reply actions
No No No
anybody but the 49ers still got nightmares , damn jus had a flashback
by rudebengal18 on Nov 7, 2011 12:10 PM EST up reply actions
No way. This time around we win!!!
Just like the Little Giants. Wait, did they win in that movie?
Wrong! Conan! What is best in life?
To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.
This is a good team
The top 3 teams in the AFCN are all closely matched and could beat each other on any given Sunday. If we lose the media and some fans will call us “fake”. I have no doubts this weeks game can go either way. That in itself makes me happy because we are a young team who will be around for quite sometime as contenders.
Don’t judge solely on the outcome of this next weeks game.
Believe in this team.
WhoDey!!
"Next season will be better" circa 1990
8 games into the season
and the Bengals have played exactly one division game.
I’m stoked that the team is 6-2 and playing good ball. Good teams win the games they have won and it is no fluke that this team is a good team, but I am not concerning myself with anything in regards to 1st place in AFC after 8 weeks.
The next four games are huge. Even though I know the Bengals are a good team, this squad still has to prove to me they can beat the Steelers and Ravens before I completely buy them as contenders.
by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Nov 7, 2011 12:00 PM EST reply actions
They have beat
Both the Ravens and Steelers when the Bengals were bad teams. I just don’t get the reasoning that they need to prove anything to anyone. A loss to either team means nothing more than a loss.
I understand what you mean and not trying to argue anything about that logic. I just see us as 3 evenly matched teams that can beat each other on any given week.
A win would be huge towards the ultimate goal but doesn’t tell the story about this team. Winning 5,6,7 or more in a row is no easy feat for any team.
"Next season will be better" circa 1990
They are a good team
and i agree that they are evenly matched with the Steelers and Ravens….just pointing out that if they beat them this year it proves they are contenders and not just a feel good story because a large contention of people who follow football thought they were be terrible.
What they have done to this point in the season proves they are a good football team. For the most part, they are winning games good football teams win. The best part is they have a young core and should be competitive for the short term. Kind of remind me of the ATL teams since Matt Ryan came in – not with the same style of play, just the fact that they were a bad team that improved with the rookie QB and have been consistently good since Ryan was drafted.
by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Nov 7, 2011 1:08 PM EST up reply actions
Bengals Forth Quarter Team Scoring
The Bengals Offense is ranked #1 in Forth Quarter Scoring. 10.9 Points The Bengals Defense is ranked #1 in Points Allowed in the Third Quarter. 2.0 Points.
The Bengals are average in the Second Quarter
The Bengals Defense is ranked #3 in Points Allowed in the First Quarter. 2.1 Points.
Not bad at all.
What if?
Remember when Flacco and Sanchez were rookies who weren’t expected to take their teams anywhere? Anybody else think the D is at all comparable to those teams? Maybe pushing it. But does anyone else think Dalton is a hell of alot better right now? I sure do. Let’s see what you’re made of kid!
by banderson22 on Nov 7, 2011 12:10 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
hell yea
dalton is having better rookie years then them hell even this year his stats are better
by rudebengal18 on Nov 7, 2011 12:16 PM EST up reply actions
Who would have thought?!?! CRAZY!
If there is one truth to the schedule argument it’s that our toughest games are right ahead of us. We are absolutely a playoff-caliber team right now, but if we win 3 of the next 4 I will call us a Super Bowl-caliber team.
"I slyde my boehner into sexsalad...."
Sounds like a johnu1 production. --jch24
Singing - "I'm a Believer!"
Before the first snap of this season, I thought our 2011 Bengals was going to be an unmitigated disaster – not unusual for a team losing a veteran quarterback and number one wide out and starting rookies at both positions.
This year has surpassed my wildest imaginations. And, having the benefit of living out of state – I have not missed one glorious moment of this season. Regardless of whether the Bengals make the playoffs or not – they have already made my year.
There is hope for the future. Barring an injury or some other unforeseen event, Dalton is on a trajectory to be a legend in Cincinnati. Green is something so special I wouldn’t be surprised to see him mentioned with the all-time greats in the next few years.
Kudos to the coaches, players and personnel for a surprisingly grand year. My wife thanks you for the mood-altering play/curing my manic depression. Six weeks ago if you had told me playoffs I would have cynically laughed. Now…. now… I am a believer!
To those who have been bengals longer than I have
Is this the most admired and liked bengals team in the past decade?
Not really
people were naming their kids after players on the 05 squad
2011 Year of the Red Rifle
Carson Palmer 2011 Comeback Player of the Year
by Throw the ball on Nov 7, 2011 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
but
It’s the most exciting one imo, because we have the chance to watch the core group play together for a long long time.
2011 Year of the Red Rifle
Carson Palmer 2011 Comeback Player of the Year
by Throw the ball on Nov 7, 2011 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
Past decade?
I would say clearly.
I think the 2005 season had some similar hopes and fun to it, but they also had the smudges from the bad boys of the bunch getting into trouble and the history of the team to overcome. This season, the recent history isn’t as awful (although last year was more depressing than most). The amazement factors in as the troubles the team appeared to have in the offseason w/Palmer leaving, dumping Ochocinco, losing J-Jo to Houston in a quiet contract dispute.
This year is the culmination of a sequence of really good drafts, although earlier than I expected for sure.
"Suck for Luck"? Forget that
2010 was "Schemin’ for Green and Faultin’ for Dalton."
The law trouble really started in 06 though
2011 Year of the Red Rifle
Carson Palmer 2011 Comeback Player of the Year
by Throw the ball on Nov 7, 2011 12:46 PM EST up reply actions
God this is so much fun
even if we even out and don’t make the playoffs I’m so looking forward to the future with this team. It feels like 05 all over again except this time I think we have more “stable” players in the locker room.
2011 Year of the Red Rifle
Carson Palmer 2011 Comeback Player of the Year
unfortuanely
I think we would have called those guys “stable” at that point in time. I just hope things continue on the path we are on now and not end up on the path that team ended up taking.
"Next season will be better" circa 1990
after the pitt and balt game last night
all the analyst just assumed that there will be a rematch in the playoffs this year… totally over looking the bengals… it looks like, the steelers may not even make it, esspecialy if we can take on of the two games from them!
AMAS
i think Flaco, at the end of the game, may have mentioned the bengals
but other than that, the steelers and baltimore are on each others nuts
AMAS
Beginning to believe - even if they split the series
Good chance to win division or a wildcard. Who’d thought!? That’s why they play the games. Just beat Pitt twice and the season is a success for me.
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