Bengals Continue the Little Sisters of the Poor Part of the Schedule

Just a couple quick notes:
1. Correction by Jags fan Patrick from last Friday:  I stated David Garrard had a 10-6 record last year, when in fact he was 8-6 and the Jags thus finished 8-8. (I told you I need fact checkers, I simply do not have time to check facts!) Which is a perfect segue into note 2:

2. I don't have time to blog twice a week, not with a family and job and extra hustle on the side and a play I think I still have a part in at my church and the treasurer position in an organization (that I just resigned from). Going forward I will post up on Thursdays and combine the Recap and Powerless Rankings with the upcoming Keys to Defeat for the Bengals...ok let's get it!

3. Recent update: I think NFL.com has banned me from posting my link to their discussion boards...Wow! I will follow up on this story.
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Bengals Recap:
Defeat continues to elude the Bengals as they struggle to find ways to lose games late. The defense has not been giving up enough yards to be ineffective and the offense is too balanced in their attack. They are not losing the turnover battle and are not making enough mental mistakes. If the Bengals don't find a way to turn this thing around fast, they may not even see a top 20 pick. This just goes to show us that losing in this League is not guaranteed. Missing the playoffs every year is not to be taken for granted because one season you look up and the run may be over.

Against Jax, I called it a Mission Impossible, but the loss was unexpectedly within reach. Gabbert outplayed Dalton, the Jags outrushed the Bengals, and played better defense overall. Here is what caused the Bengals victory:
-not losing the turnover battle
-even though the gains in the ground game was paltry, by committing to it the Bengals could not forfeit time of possession, ran 66 plays, and held on to the rock for over 32 mins...
-not finding a way to leave the job undone (esp. in the 4th qtr.)

I don't know what has gotten into them, but finding ways to win late in games and overcoming obstacles on the road is not what Bengals football is all about! They better pull their act apart and soon before the season slides into complete disaster and they make the playoffs...
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Lions and Tigers (and Bears), OH MY!

Detroit's D line gets close and personal with QBs

Running joke: 5-0 and Green Bay are out on a date together, but seated at the other side of the restaurant is Detroit making google eyes at 5-0 as 5-0 begins to flirt back a little. What's this!? Detroit is sending a drink and a note over to 5-0...Do you think anyone in Detroit is paying attention to the Tigers in the MLB playoffs? (Fact checkers I need Detroit local ratings for the Lions Monday night game and the Tigers getting trounced!) Seriously, who do you think won that ratings match up in D Rock City on Monday night? Megatron is not only the coolest football nickname ever, but he lives up to the nickname which is rare in sports these days. Just as impressive, Detroit's front 7 get after the passer like Pepe le Pu gets after the cat he thinks is a skunk.
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The new age D lineman

Which brings me to a separate but equal question: Are today's NFL offensive linemen athletic, stong and nimble enough to hang with D linemen who have seemingly gotten bigger, faster and more explosive over the last several years. Gone are the days of many a big men in the trenches with guts hanging over their pants...There is a new breed, and I am wondering what the answer at offensive lineman will be, if there ever is an answer...Maybe this makes up for how receivers got bigger, faster and more athletic over the years while DB's seem to remain the same. Perhaps these 2 factors cancel each other out...

Anyway, with the Lions front 7 putting on that type of pressure, is it ok yet to ask, WHO IS THE BEST TEAM IN THE NFL?
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Remember last week when I said Philly will right the ship with the leadership of Andy Reid, I am starting to look like a fool for saying that. Thanks, Eagles! Now on to the Powerless Rankings (which the Eagles are one blowout loss away from cracking).
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Powerless Rankings:

In a hectic week, there was quite a bit of shuffling around within and around the Powerless.

Is it time to break out the bags?

1. St. Louis (moved up a spot to take #1 from KC who is showing signs of life, no wait they beat Indy)
2. Indy (lost to KC and rightfully moves up a notch, but not quite weak enough to overtake the Rams in their off week)
3. Miami (moves up 2 spots on a week they did not strap it up, wow, that's bad)
4. Jax (with all the movement up and down this week, one thing remains the same...the Jags suck)
5. Denver (makes their debut in the top 5 Powerless Rankings. With Tebow at the helm, will they continue their meteoric rise to the top of the league doormats?)

Dishonorable mention: KC (even with 2 Ws, just a terrible team), Arizona

There may be some controversy over the top spot, but in my objective system (with a touch of judgment), but the reason St.Louis edges out Indy is because Indy has been more competitive at points this season.
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Keys to Defeat:

This schedule will just not let up as the Bengals are in the midst of a murderers' row of  creampuffs. The weakness is relentless as the Bengals face off against the Painter led (and another organization I suspect of tanking purposely by not jumping on Garrard. Now I hear Jim Irsay float out there that Indy drafting a QB is not out of the question...You don't say.) Indianapolis Colts. You know a team is bad when I scratch my head to find ways for the Bengals to lose to them...

On Offense:

1. Wow...what do I say here? No seriously, what do I say?! The Colts have one of the most awful defenses in the League. The only thing the Bengals O can do to contribute to a loss would be to turn the ball over a bunch of times (5 to be exact). Big Red will need at least a 3 pick game while Bengals RBs and return men will have to fumble at least 3 times just to keep it close. If the Bengals net 5 turnovers, they lose (I think).

On Defense:

1. The Bengals will have to focus on the Colts ground game, esp. since Addai may be out. At least 8 should be in the box all afternoon.

2. In the defensive backfield play zone coverage, however isolate "Coma-toast" on Pierre Garcon.


3. Take the pressure off of Painter. They have to allow him time to go through his reads/progressions. The Bengals cannot afford to harass and collapse the pocket if they expect to lose this game.
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Close to Final Words:

Protesters of the Occupy Wall St. movement...GO HOME. You are siphoning police and other resources including but not limited to tax $$$. I mean, you have got a lot of nerve coming to my city and protesting hard working folks (not stating whether they are under or over paid) who contribute greatly to the economy of NYC. Really, go do something productive and potentially income earning instead of complaining and being bitter about what your neighbor earns. I am sure many of you went to college and you could have majored in economics, finance, business if you so chose, but instead you majored in pet grooming, art, drama theory, protesting etc. So suck it up and continue or adjust your course. My mom was a single mom and raised me and my sister on limited resources in a tough environment and never once complained about anybody making more money. This is America so go get your hustle on and stop the extended camping trip and whining!
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Mike Brown on trading Palmer (according to espn.com's NFL Nation blog): “It would be an option to trade any player, but we have not looked that far ahead,” Brown said. “I’m not focused on it.”  Yep, that sounds about right. And that is why I write this blog...
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Joe Namath alert: Joe Namath appeared on the Michael Kay radio show yesterday and lambasted Rex Ryan once again (I love this stuff). Broadway thinks Ryan is too nice to these guys and that is why the Jets have been making so many mental errors. Broadway also commented that if not for Tony Romo, the Jets could be staring down the barrel of 1-4. Now this is classic Namath...he believes the players should ignore criticism of the fans and media, but wait, Mr. Namath, you have been one of the biggest critics in the media of the team. Anyway, I guess he has the right to since he led the franchise to its only SB win.


Remember, join me again next Thursday for the Bengals recap, Powerless Rankings, the Keys to Defeat, and oh so much more!

As always, thanks for reading the:

God Bless America!