Bengals Let the Loss Slip through Their Fingertips

Last week it was noted by a great author and thinker of modern times that, "Going into this week, the Bengals will have to overcome one of the most dangerous obstacles to defeat they will have to face this season, and that is, suffering victory at the hands of a team who has a letdown." So here we are with the Bengals staring at 2-2, completely out of the running for the #1 draft pick. Well, we've been here before, and it is a very tough spot, but the Bengals can pull through this if they just get back to the basics: missing blocks and tackles. Where is that can't do spirit that normally would propel the Bengals to defeat on Sunday? Where was that crucial false start or offsides or holding call? Where is the apathy? Where is the, "Hey, look at me!"? Where is the bickering and complaining? Where is Lewis' trademark clock mismanagement? The Bengals better figure it out quick before this season becomes a complete success.

NFL Ramblings


Comeback Kids (And You Thought the NFL No Longer Needed the Run Game):

"Don't call it a comeback..."

"You're up 14, I got you right where I want you!" Have there ever been more comebacks in a 2 week span in the NFL...I won't even get into last week, but this week the comebacks were many and close between:


Bengals down 14 at the half comeback for win
Lions down 17 at the half, comeback for a win
49ers down 17 at the half, comeback for a win
Giants down 10 headed into the 4th qtr, comeback for a win

Enough said!

These type of comebacks rarely used to happen in the NFL. The number and magnitude of the comebacks this week has to be an NFL record. (This is where I need fact checkers, anybody up for this, I don't have time to check the facts). How can you have teams allowing such turnarounds you ask? Well, I've seen it written that running the rock and stopping the run are dead. I come to tell you today that the reason teams are losing in this fashion is because the League is too dang pass happy!! Coaches, listen up! GET YOUR RUN GAMES IN ORDER and you can avoid a lot of this heart ache and stress and media pounding. The NFL used to have closers just like MLB...they were the guys you called on in the trenches who relished the opportunity to shove the ball down the throat of opposing defenses to finish a game off. Running Backs who thrived and padded stats while punishing would be tacklers and beating Defenses into submission. If you don't have a run game, you too will fall victim to the Comeback...


Lions, 4 Wins, and No Losses...Oh My!

Fiercer logo, fiercer team?

Running joke: 4-0 and Green Bay are on a date and the Lions are just tagging along with palpable awkwardness, but they won't leave and let 4-0 and the Pack get it on. Have the words, "I sure do look forward to that Monday night game next week at Detroit" ever been uttered in the entire history of any human language? Well, get ready to hear it all week!  I mean, seriously, is this foreal? This latest win in Dallas was impressive, and they have handled their business against inferior teams. (I can't believe I am talking in terms of teams being inferior to the Lions). The Lions have been automatic wins for the Bears for so many years, I wonder if on Monday they don't come out and open a massive can and take out years of frustration on the Bears like a battered wife who is simply not going to take any more abuse from her husband and snaps. Wow, this game should be interesting to say the least. Lions, meet "must see NFL matchup."


Other Notes:


Philly is not as bad as their record indicates. Andy Reid will right the ship because he is a great coach and they will start winning. NFC East don't throw dirt on em just yet. You heard it here first.


Denver fans should boycott the Broncs until Tebow is named starter. 


Is it me, or is quality QB play on the rise, even from the Rooks? Used to be a time where rookies simply did not come in to the NFL and have great success their rookie season. Now, look at many of today's young QB's and this year's rookies. I still think teams need to run more to secure victory, but these young guns are bringing some quality play to the position.


foxsports.com, it is in poor taste that you have a pic of a man with his ankle hanging off the wrong way as a lead pic for week 4 NFL action. I hope since late this afternoon when I saw it, you took it down. Can Bengals fans of age imagine such a picture of Tim Krumrie's broken leg from SB XXIII being on the front page of the Cincinnati Enquirer's sports page at that time? Maybe I am getting old or squeamish, but it just doesn't seem right.


Bengals Analysis:

-The Bengals failed miserably in surrendering the ball and not utilizing clock. They ran a whopping 68 plays from scrimmage with Big Red tossing 36 times and the backs carrying 32 times. It is hard to overcome such balance when trying to drop a game. In my Keys, when I discuss Dalton throwing over 35 times, that has to be balanced with a lack of run. If Big Red throws it 35 and they run 30, then all bets are off!


-The Bengals D cooled off the hot hand of Fitz. The D just does not seem to be on board to help the this organization reach their goal of a #1 draft pick. 


-They didn't necessarily win at the line of scrimmage but they didn't completely relinquish it either.


-There was one bright spot, they lost the turnover battle, but it was just not enough to overcome the Bills sleepwalking and get an L.
_____________________________________


Coming into this season, I think we all knew that the weakness of the Bengals schedule would be a hindrance to them securing the #1 pick, but now it looks like they will not even make the top 10 draft position with the League being so deep at the bottom. The NFL is built for parity (or for me parody!), by matching opponents based on how they placed in the division, awarding of higher draft picks...this league is all about improving everybody's chances to win. After perennial #1 draft picker, the Lions had enough picks and finished last enough, they were finally able to make good on one of their 12 1st round WR picks and a QB and now they are the toast of the town. (I'm not one for the "jinx" but if Stafford goes down-I think there's odds on this in Vegas-the Lions will go Lions). 


Insert Mike Brown rant here...(I deleted mine)


I for one am not giving up hope yet on a losing season, and who knows, maybe with a little of that old Bengal Magic, perhaps they will re-enter the fray for a top 5 draft pick. Crazier things have happened (like that one time when they made the playoffs).




And now, here are your Powerless Rankings:


1. Kansas City (unbelievable they won a game...oh, they beat Minnesota)
2. St. Louis (The Cards could probably beat them in a game of football right now).
3. Indy (Sad day in Indy when you hear the words, "Painter drops back to pass...")
4. Jacksonville (You can't tell me they are not trying to tank by cutting Garrard)
5. Miami (The Dolphins had been at least somewhat competitive in recent seasons...who did it and ran?)


Honorable mention: Seattle, Denver, Minnesota 


I realize that any one of these teams could be exchanged with the current 3,4,5 teams in our Powerless Rankings. You may be asking yourself, if KC beat Minnesota, how did Minnesota not crack the top 5? The short answer, Minnesota has been in some tighter games than KC and they have more potential to escape the bottom. Hopefully this all starts to clear up in the next couple weeks, or I may have to expand the ranks to 10 teams.


Check back in on Friday to see what the Bengals must do in Jacksonville to avoid falling above .500 (one of the toughest challenges for the Stripes to date)

As usual thanks for reading the...

GOD BLESS YALL!