Even though Bengals fans within the 75-mile radius from Paul Brown Stadium won't be able to see the game this weekend, unless fans attend (psh), it doesn't mean that the Bengals won't actually play the game. Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings takes a few minutes to get us prepared for the team's week four game kicking off this Sunday.

Against the Patriots and Oakland, it seemed that Buffalo’s slow start were often self-inflicted; much of it penalties and interceptions in the first half. Yet they’re able to turn it around, making them the first team in NFL history to win consecutive games in which it trailed by at least 18 points in each contest. What happens in the second half that gives Buffalo a boost?

They stopped making those mistakes you mentioned, started playing excellent football, and their opponents started making mistakes of their own. Tom Brady threw four interceptions. Darren McFadden had a key fumble lost that set up a Bills score. The Bills are tied for second in the league with 10 first downs that have come by way of opponent penalty. They've made some seriously excellent halftime adjustments in these games - credit that to Chan Gailey - but they've also gotten a ton of help in making these comebacks.

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The Cincinnati Bengals host the San Francisco 49ers in their regular season home opener this weekend. It's the third time the 49ers played against the Bengals in Cincinnati since 1991 with the Bengals winning both games, scoring at least 40 points in each; the last was in 2003 with the Bengals winning 41-38. So we spent a few minutes with Fooch at Niners Nation to get to know the team that's devastated so many Bengals fans for so long (think two Super Bowls).

Frank Gore signed a four-year deal worth $25.9 million in late August and the Bengals have said that their number one priority is stopping San Francisco’s running back. Through the first two games this year, Gore has only averaged 2.5 yards/rush on 42 carries. Is this a trend that 49ers fans are worried about?

It's troublesome that he's struggled this year but my belief is that it's hard to tell whether it's Gore losing a step or the offensive line struggling. The offensive line has definitely struggled but that does not preclude the possibility that Gore is slowing down. However, it's hard to tell given the mess the offensive line is in. Until I see an offensive line getting more push in the run game I can't say for sure whether or not Gore has lost anything.

What’s the key to stopping Gore?

Given that, for now the best bet is for the Bengals to stack the box against the Gore. If he has not lost a step, preventing holes from opening up is the easiest way to stop things. Alex Smith has shown an ability to complete passes this year, but the coaches still don't seem to have sufficient faith to open things up a bit more. A more consistent passing attack could open up some holes for Frank Gore.

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Opening Remarks:
“Well, that was a good start for us and I think we got off to a pretty efficient start. Offense should have possibly had some more points in the first half and the first quarter. In the second quarter we didn’t play as well. I thought in the third quarter we kind of just hung around a bit, but in the fourth quarter I thought we made some plays in special teams, offense, and defense that ended up being critical plays in the game. It was a nice job of just keep playing and good things will happen. We had to come out and play our first game to see where we are as kind of a barometer of things and have an opportunity to get better as we move forward. I think the guys that we knew would handle things actually did handle things how we expected. We have a lot of work to do, but it was a good start and a good victory to get up here on the road. It was one where we had some chances to not make plays, but we found some way to make some and get off the field, get the ball to the offense and win the game.”

On how the game ranks on his personal satisfaction:
“Number one in 2011 and that is it. I have been very comfortable with what I had coming into this season. I am excited about our football team and I wanted to get out here and start playing so that they (the players) could understand how I felt about things. So we could come out and put a direction on some things and keep tweaking things and keep getting better. I think we know have an opportunity to do that. It was a long time coming to get to today so it has been an interesting process, but I think our guys have done a nice job of hanging in there and getting through it and now moving forward from it. Now we have something to keep building at. We have a starting point; it is not an ending point or close to where it needs to be, but at least we do have a starting point.”

Read the rest at Bengals.com.

Most of you know me well enough to point out that I have an affinity for detailed analysis when it comes to football. Mainstream statistics like yards, points, quarterback sacks are nice to make quick points about the individual prowess of one's value on the field. But they never truly detail the picture of a game or the configuration of an entire team. In the past few years organizations and websites have surfaced, providing a more articulate interpretation of the game using advanced statistics that paints the picture that was once black and white into a fireworks display of awesome.

Football Outsiders is one of those sites, releasing an annual Football Outsiders Almanac that provides a more detailed and objective analysis that greatly encapsulates our analytical perspective of the game.

You can purchase their latest, the Football Outsiders Almanac 2011 in PDF version or hard copy. One of their creators, Aaron Schatz joined us for a few minutes to talk about this year's Cincinnati Bengals.

1) You wrote that the 2009 Cincinnati Bengals were essentially the same team in 2010, even though there was a six-win discrepancy. Explain to our readers how you came to that conclusion, along with your points about the close scoring and stronger strength of schedule.

The 2009 and 2010 Bengals both finished 19th in our DVOA ratings despite radically different records. Why? The 2009 Bengals were 6-3 in games decided by a touchdown or less. The 2010 Bengals were 2-7. The 2009 Bengals had an average schedule. The 2010 Bengals had the second-hardest schedule in the league according to average DVOA of opponent.

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This week the Cincinnati Bengals head to Carolina to play the 0-2 Panthers. After losing our first two meetings against Carolina, getting the bloody snot knocked out of noses by deficits of 21 points or more, the Bengals hosted Carolina for the first time on October 22, 2006. After Carolina took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Jake Delhomme to Kris Magnum, both teams would exchange a pair of punts. With eight minutes left in the second, Carson Palmer led the offense on a 13-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that ended with the God of Golden Arms completing a 16-yard pass in the endzone to Reggie Kelly. Carolina quickly responded with Delhomme completing four passes of 10 yards or more, capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass to Nick Goings. That would complete Carolina's scoring for the day, while Shayne Graham converted a 23-yard field goal in the third and Carson Palmer completing a one-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the fourth, giving Cincinnati a 17-14 win.

Four years have passed since then. Instead of Rudi Johnson and Chris Perry, the Bengals have Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott. Instead of Houshmandzadeh and Antonio Chatman, the Bengals have Terrell Owens and Jordan Shipley. Instead of Tony Stewart, the Bengals have Jermaine Gresham. And the Bengals will no longer see Jake Delhomme in a Panthers uniform -- instead, we'll see him the following week against Cleveland.

Along with the Bengals being a newer squad since our last meeting, the Panthers have done mostly the same thing. So Cat Scratch Reader's Managing Editor Jaxon sat with me to talk Panthers football.

1) Jimmy Clausen will get his first NFL start this weekend against the Bengals. What are Panther fans expecting out of the rookie quarterback?
We’re not going to set the bar too high, there is no need. At a minimum we are looking for less turnovers and a little more fire from the QB position. Anything over 21 points is gravy .

2) Between DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, do the Panthers rotate the running backs based on situations or does Stewart play when Williams tires out?
They pretty much give Williams the first 2 or 3 series then start alternating in Stewart. The emergence of RB Mike Goodson as a 3rd down receiving option has complicated the carries equation even further. I do expect a greater focus on the run this week so look for 16 carries for Williams, 12 for Stewart and for Goodson, 1 carry and 2 catches.

3) You wrote on Cat Scratch Reader that this year's team, compared to the preseason expectations, are crashing. Aside from the quarterback situation, what else has caused the team to play below expectations?
For me it’s been the poor play of the offensive line. In all fairness to Matt Moore in many cases he had 2-3 seconds to get rid of the ball. We are missing RT Jeff Otah, who is still recovery from a knee scope (week 5 maybe?). His loss puts Geoff Schwartz at RT instead of RG and the smaller Mac-Bern at RG. The Panthers got paid running off the right side last season but those running lanes have been few and far between in 2010. Until Otah gets back I’m afraid the Panthers will have to change their running identity, running more to the left and using more draw plays.

Schwartz has been getting steamrolled at times in pass protection, giving up the edge only to see his QB stay in harms way. LG Travelle Wharton has been solid but the four other starters have all allowed sacks. These guys have easily been the biggest disappointment.

4) The Panthers line up at the Bengals three-yard line with two seconds remaining in the game, down by four points. Who gets the ball?
Funny you should ask, since we had almost the same scenario in week one. 1st and goal at the four-yard line and we threw the ball three straight times; the third getting picked. There is no doubt in this situation you hand the ball off the RB Jonathan Stewart four straight effin times! If he can’t get four yards on four plays you might as well pack it up and go home. Designed roll-outs? Are you kidding me Jeff Davidson?

5) Same situation, except the Bengals line up at the Panthers three-yard line with two seconds left in the game, down by four points. Which defensive player do you expect to make the big play?
I’m going will old reliable here as well and that’s LB Jon Beason. Stuffing the run is his specialty and he is getting more opportunities from the weakside. If not Beason then Dan Conner, who plays MLB like a juggernaut.

6) For the local University of Cincinnati fanbase, what's your impression of Tony Pike and how has he looked so far?
Honestly we haven’t seen much of Pike. He got little playing time in the preseason until game 4 but you know what, I think he literally played himself onto the roster as 3rd QB in that game. He surprised us with his mobility and he ran the short passing game pretty well. There is a certain vocal segment of my membership though that says he has a ‘noodle’ arm and doesn’t get enough zip on the ball. So if anyone in Cincy Jungle disagrees I would like to hear your argument.

Some are already looking towards week 15 against the Chargers as the biggest game of the year for the Bengals, limiting the importance of this weekend's game against the Minnesota Vikings. However, in an odd world of things, both the Vikings and Bengals have proven very little against winning teams this year. If it wasn't for the Packers, neither team would have won a game against a team that has a winning record at this point in the season. So while Sunday's game has little to do with playoff implications, it does have a lot to do with proving that they belong with the NFL elite. Confidence is a big thing in the NFL and from Cincinnati's perspective, they'll need to beat the Vikings to prove that they can travel to California and beat the Chargers with the second seed in the AFC on the line.

But what about these Vikings? What should we expect? I sat down with Gonzo from Daily Norseman, who gives us some knowledge on our opponent this weekend, in a game that features two teams with a combined 19 wins this year.

1) The Vikings have played the Packers twice already. This is significant because before losing to the Cardinals, the Vikings had only beaten one team with a winning record. Then they lost by 13 to the Arizona Cardinals during last week’s Sunday Night football. Is there a feeling that the Vikings have a lot to prove against the Bengals, who are the third-ranked team in the AFC?
This week's game against the Bengals is, in my opinion, the most vital game of the season for Minnesota, because it could really set a tone for the team the rest of the way. If they beat the Bengals, it becomes easier to write the Cardinals' game off as simply a one-time bad performance, which I'm sort of under the impression it was. A loss to the Bengals, however, means that we could end up completely out of control going into what should be a relatively easy final three games of the season. The Vikings DO have a lot to prove against the Bengals this Sunday, and I think they'll be more than up for the challenge. I'm of the opinion that Sunday night in Arizona was the perfect storm of the Vikings coming out flat, the Cardinals being fired up, and Minnesota putting together their worst game of the season. I would be shocked if they played as badly against the Bengals as they did against Arizona.

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So who are these Detroit Loins? We've heard about their struggles last season and we've seen sporadic updates from game highlights and such. But from a football point of view, we really don't know who the Lions are. So we asked Pride of Detroit's Sean Yuille, who are these Detroit Lions?

1) Matthew Stafford leads all NFL rookies with 2,124 yards passing and 12 touchdowns. Is Stafford the franchise quarterback the Lions have been looking for?

I believe the Lions have found their franchise quarterback as long as Matthew Stafford can stay healthy and learn to throw less interceptions. He showed how tough he is and how clutch he can be against the Browns, but it seems like for every good outing he has a bad one. I'm sure he will throw less picks over time, but that is the one thing that I am concerned about. Even so, part of what makes Stafford a great QB is that he isn't afraid to make plays. Sometimes that comes back to bite him in the form of an interception, so it may just be a tradeoff that the Lions have to deal with. I would be fine with that as long as Stafford plays to his potential like we have seen in certain weeks this season.

1a) What’s the biggest thing Stafford needs to improve on?

As mentioned above, he has to throw fewer interceptions. Some of the picks are the result of mistakes by the receivers or just not having enough time, but Stafford has to learn that he doesn't have to make a play every time he has the ball. I like that mindset, but throwing the ball away or taking a sack isn't necessarily a bad thing. I think that as the Lions' offensive line gets better and gives Stafford more time to throw and as he gains more experience this will become less of an issue.

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Earlier this week I wrote that I feel a bit more confident about the Bengals playing the Baltimore Ravens than I did against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Obviously, it could be misplaced. The Ravens, after all, are in the top ten offensively and defensively. However, the Bengals have always matched up well against Baltimore. Before the 2008 season -- because not much good happened that season so it makes sense that we totally disregard it -- the Bengals had won six of the previous seven meetings. However, this isn't your same Ravens. Bruce Raffel, blogger at Baltimore Beatdown drops by quickly for a few questions -- including our mandatory situational questions.

Josh: What has been some of the biggest improvements in Joe Flacco’s game this year that’s made the Ravens the sixth best passing offense in the league?
Bruce: Head Coach John Harbaugh and Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron have taken the reins off of Joe and have him flinging the ball around to a bunch of receivers to use that rocket arm of his. His calm demeanor makes him virtually unflappable and the better o-line gives him time to find his open guys.

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