Tired of the Bengals and Burrow hype...

If and when the Steelers win, yet again, will it be any surprise these same folks will be claiming the Jaguars will destroy us?

 

Not sure the Bengals need ALL that to win...They are MUCH better the the Boyz, And they could/ should have beat us!

 

I agree with everything except Bernard. He is far from a significant dropoff and has played well here in the past.

Nonetheless, I have completely changed my earlier take on the game.

Prior to the TEN game I replied to a thread asking who breaks the undefeated streak. I truly did not have any concerns about the Titans or Ravens and certainly not the Browns. I posted--

Bengals handled Tennessee handily today. 31-20

Jokingly last week I was saying the team I was worried about breaking the Steelers streak was the Bengals.

Their record now is 2-5-1 but ATS they are near perfect at 6-1-1. Their fans are probably not happy with the record but at least they are eating expensive steaks.

Good thing we have them at home. Everyone, especially Las Vegas , keeps overlooking them.

Fortunately, they have very little D and a suspect O-line, so that should do them in.

But, I know, one at a time so on to Dallas.

Edit: Actually I wasn't joking. Cinci's future looks very bright but they will probably bungle it up somehow. Good!
But meanwhile, some astute bettors/contest players ATS are having a picnic. If you are interested in that sort of stuff.

--Anyway, now I for sure do not expect any overlooking or taking lightly crap. First of all Ben is like 99% good to go.
Tomlin said in the Trib "this week has gone according to plan in terms of his place in the procedure,"

The Steelers will conduct what Tomlin termed an “extended walkthrough” in their final preparation before playing the game Sunday at Heinz Field.

Another bit of news possibly just as important--Nose tackle Tyson Alualu practiced fully Friday after missing the previous game against the Dallas Cowboys with a knee injury. Tomlin said Alualu is a “go.”

Also the team really needed a rest. That Cowboy game was a lot more physical and demanding than many think. Rewatch it!

Incidentally, I agree with the quite a few who think Burrow is the real deal. Heck, I have played them every week this season and have only lost once. BUT, they were not playing Pittsburgh!

 

Agreed! Both their starting D tackles are out, Atkins due to a family situation and Reader is out for the season. Conner should have a solid day.

 

Look for Fitchner to develop a pass heavy game plan

 

Don't agree that there's zero scenario where Bengals could win, but I do agree on the Burrow hype. How many quarterbacks have we seen come into the league where they are immediately anointed as the next great one? Most recently Carson Wentz comes to mind. Burrow is under no pressure to win at this point as it's not expected and everyone will just, mostly correctly, blame the team around him when he fails. There's also the matter that defensive coordinators still don't have a bead on exactly what he likes to do or what makes him uncomfortable. Let's see what he does when they have stacks of film on him. Why do you think so many quarterbacks have a sophomore slump? I don't think it's a coincidence. There's a reason NFL defensive coordinators get paid what they do.

The thing that really drives me nuts is how people read into his demeanor and say because he acts calm he's "unfazed", and therefore something special. So what? I can think of plenty of quarterbacks who are anything but calm like Phillip Rivers or Tom Brady who are going to the hall of fame. Calm schmalm! Here's to watching him calmly peel his butt off the turf multiple times, and calmly discuss why he just threw that interception on the sidelines Sunday.

 

It does happen though.

 

This year Mahommes counts $5.4 million against the salary cap. Next year $22.8, the year after $29.5. That $17.4 million is going to make some hard choices for the Chiefs next year, especially if the cap doesn't go up significantly. In 2023, he counts $40.5 million.
Young qb's on first contracts allow a team to put together a lot of parts. When that second contract comes up, choices have to be made.

 

I was referring to a young QB turning out to be the real deal. Sometimes they live up to the hype.

 

Someone tell Conner that when it third and one to pick an opening, put your head down and run straight ahead. Don't try to run around the edge because your too slow. I hate those delayed hand offs we do anymore. I like when we did those quick hitters and trap plays.

 

I am a true believer the Bengals got a future superstar QB. My hope is they re hire Marvin Lewis and then we won't have to worry about the Bengals winning any playoff games.

 

Every team has a bad game. I think the Dallas game was a brutal. So many mistakes and just all around terrible execution. That being said I think the Bengals while better still lose this one. We have Ben. He is amazing at pulling out close wins.

 

Dallas also were doing plays they don’t normally do and using a qb they never used lol

 

I’ve watched a few Bengals games and their record doesn’t reflect their potential.

I still expect/hope to win, but it would be wrong to write them off. The key is getting the pass rush on form early on.

 

The "calm" QB, lol. Two calm stiffs that come to mind are Jeff George and Jay Cutler.

 

Right.. The teams that have the least to lose can play a different game. A more loose type of game plan coupled with low percentage high risk plays.

 

I hope we blow them out and show we are really for real. Tired of butt clenching wins.

In second thought I’ll take the win

 

That should just about do it up by 22 going into the 4th. I said it all week the Bengals weren’t coming in here and winning this game

 

Burrow looked good at times, but he also looked like a deer in the headlights far too often. I also think he played with an ankle injury for over half the game.