Bengal Billy

The AFC South may give us a reason to finally consider seeding the top 6 teams by wins and not divisions. Looking at the entire AFC South remaining schedule, we could have a 5 - 6 win division winner.

I've been thinking similar to this for a while. It's becoming more frequent that a team gets into the playoffs with a poor record due to winning a dumpster division.

NFL is cyclical, so it seems that there will often be a division that is very poor. In just the past few years, AFCS,NFCS,NFCW has been awful (we're getting to "back to back" seasons now with the NFCS and AFCS).

I'm for re-seeding the playoffs. But, I think they should still keep the playoff qualifications intact. Keeping divisions and division rivalries is important. However, they could change the "automatic home playoff game" for a poor division winner and make them go on the road.

Example:

- Division winners still automatically qualify

- 2 non-division winning WC teams still qualify

Options:

- Seed the 6 qualifying playoff teams by record (naturally, the good division winners will still seed over the WC teams, most likely)

- OR,, if a WC team has better record than their division winning opponent (ex. Colts 8-8 vs NYJ 10-6),, switch venues of the game. Make the Colts go on the road to NYJ,, I don't think that would be a very big deal.

Seriously,, any given year the AFCN could have an 11-5 / 10-6 team as a wildcard. That is still a very good season. Just because the Colts won their division, doesn't mean they performed better or had the better season. Reward the better team with home field advantage for that matchup. I don't think that would be too much to ask. It wouldn't even change the playoff format greatly.

It is getting "sickly" watching a division winning team get an automatic home playoff game after they have been a mediocre/poor team most of the year. Give them their playoff spot,, just make em go on the road.

Sry guys,, rant over lol.

Still won't see them with everyone for at least another week. I don't think they rush Ben back against the Cardinals. No clue what happened with Bryant but he didn't even play tonight.

Only thing looking up is that they should have their complete offense against Cinncy at home for a Sunday night game. Hopefully knock the Bengals down to earth.

Right now, Bengals schedule says that their game @Pitt in a couple weeks is scheduled for a 1:00pm kickoff. Has that been flexed by NBC? IDK.

Don't worry about the Bengals coming back down to earth guys. It'll for sure happen,, it always does with them without fail each season. They will be in the playoffs though. After this string of victories, Cincy really can finish the remaining games going 5-6 (which would give them a 10-6 record) and make it in.

The Steelers are a monster thorn in the Bengals' sides. They struggle with the Steelers no matter how each team is playing. I expect Cincy to lose at Pitt in 2 weeks,, although I certainly don't want that to happen!

If Pitt continues to hang around the playoff mix while Ben is out,, they'll probably be very difficult to deal with later in the season and in the playoffs. They're only 2 games behind Cincy. I can definitely see them still winning the AFCN, and then making a playoff run. I hope not,,, cannot stand them.

Anyway, chin up guys. There's still alot of games left to play. Most of the AFC is very weak. All of the Wildcard contending teams are within 2 games of each other right now, with 11 games left to play. Even with all the decimating injuries for the Ravens right now,, there's still a decent chance to make it considering all the other AFC teams currently look like doodoo.

Do you think the Jets and Bills will continue to play solid? Idk. We'll have to wait and see.

KC @ CIN = Ugh. Can both teams lose? Maybe tie? Too early to write off the division, so I think we have to root against CIN. I do worry though that KC is a primary WC threat, so wishing wins for them is hard to do.

The Chiefs are almost in a "desperation" mode for this week. A loss to Cincy would put them at 1-3. Admittedly, they are going through a very tough stretch of schedule these past 3 weeks (Denver, @GB, @Cincy).

I expect a good effort from the Chiefs today. I think it'll be another tight game for the Bengals, as their goofy coaching decisions and inevitable Dalton "gaffe" once or twice a game always keeps opponets right in the game instead of the Bengals taking control. That stuff will bite the Bengals in the rear end a few times this year, and I suspect today may be one of those days.

This one could go either way.

The Good:

The Steelers look absolutely terrible without Ben,, and showcasing a kicker in a terrible slump with no confidence.

Hope their terrible play continues a while.

As an official "Steeler-Hater," it's a beautiful sight to see!!

Congrats on the win last night guys.

Objectively I think you exaggerate in some areas. I'll tell you where I think each team is stronger, weaker, and equal. You can tell me if and how you disagree.

QB, ST, & LB favors the Ravens.

WR, OL, RB, & edge defenders favor the Bengals.

Interior DL, safety, & TE are in my opinion equal.

Your interior DL is good but I think the Ravens have a damn fine DL as well that played bad last game but is typically very good. Your safeties are good but so the Ravens'. I'd give you TE if I didn't find your depth not as strong as the Ravens' and that's not including Pitta. Gillmore is looking like the real deal at TE for me and this is before this last game. I've liked him since early last year. That's to say it's not a sudden opinion inflated by a good performance against questionable talent.

I would've also had our edge defenders equal if Suggs wasn't hurt but he is. I'd also put our OL as equal to yours if not for our shaky start. You have great depth at T while our depth is strong inside.

I think that is pretty much "spot on".

QB - Lol! Yeah that's a definite favor to the Ravens.

LB - Bengals are really weak there,, especially with Burfict out.

TE - Even. Eifert looks like a complete stud. So does Crockett Gilmore (sp?).

WR,OL,RB - Bengals favor (WR by a big margin, RB by a big margin, OL by a slimmer margin).

DL - right now I'd give it to the Bengals, but it's close.

I'll add that I don't think much of the Bengals Defensive backfield. Kirkpatrick gets burned alot. Well, actually all of them do. Really, the Bengals defense is not very good IMO. It all depends in how the DL plays.

I've seen alot of Ravens fans hard on your guys' secondary. But I think they're better than Cincy's.

Well I for one welcome fans of different teams so long as they're not trolls. So with that said, welcome to our site and good luck you guys as well. I don't really think any here really doubts how much talent you guys have. My biggest thing to watch for the game is our defense. Jimmy Smith vs. AJ Green should be a good one, but the pass rush (like you said) needs to get to Dalton or it'll be more of what happened last year in our home opener against you guys.

Thanks McRaven.

I don't ever troll (can't stand that personally). I've actually been a member here for quite a while. I enjoy popping in and checking out what you guys are discussing.

I think it'll be a good game. But, I expect the Bengals to "Bungle" a couple times. And, I expect the Ravens to have a strong sense of urgency for a win, especially in their home opener.

Anyway, good luck this week.

I agree that the Ravens will win on Sunday and there are many reasons why they will win. I'm sure John Harbaugh and his staff will take your analytical reasoning to heart. We will win because our team is better than yours and our QB is better than your QB.

Just my predictions as to what I think would happen,, why the animosity for the John Harbaugh comment? Idk. Not trying to troll, man.

Anyway,

I agree your team will win,

I definitely agree your QB is much better,

I don't agree you have the better team.

Cincy's roster is absolutely loaded, except for the QB position. Doesn't matter how stacked the roster is, as long as Dalton is the QB.

Analogy:

It's like having the absolute fastest race-car in the field,, but a 95 year old lady is driving it. It's not gonna matter.

As a Bengals fan, I honestly think the Ravens will take this game.

On defense:

The Bengals LBs are very susceptible to the pass and run. I think if the Ravens mostly stick to utilizing RBs and TEs, those guys will have monster games.

On Offense:

1. The Bengals O-line is very solid (I'm so glad they've drafted with a strong focus there). That being said,, the Ravens really need to pressure Dalton alot. He's a terrible choker when pressure gets to him. So far this year, Dalton has looked very good when he's had time and great protection.

2. The Bengals can be counted on to make a very bone-headed mistake on offense (they do this every week religiously). Jeremy Hill is a fumbling machine. If the Bengals primarily use him, count on him putting the ball on the turf at least once. Last week, he finally got benched after fumbling. Gio Bernard got fed the rock, and he put up 123 yards in in a shortened game for him (as good as Hill is,,, I really wish Cincy would use Bernard as the primary guy. He's a "home-run" just waiting to be hit, but he has to have the chances).

3. Dalton,, we'll you know. He's going to make a very bone-headed mistake at least once too (He got extreme lucky last week with that pitiful "tuck rule" call that should've been a fumble). The Ravens need to capitalize when Dalton serves then up a "softball".

The Ravens should win this one.

Home Opener + Urgency = Victory

Feed the RBS and TEs.

Capitalize on Dalton/Hill Int and fumbling.

To the OP:

As a lifelong Bengals fan, I appreciate your optimism for Cincy winning the division. However, I just don't see it.

Yes, the Bengals roster is stacked (particularly on offense). But, the most important position in football, the QB, is definitely the Bengals weakest link. Dalton: yeah, he can make plays when needed. But, he'll blow more plays during a game than anyone I've ever seen. He is a true choke artist. If the Bengals running game with Hill/Bernard shows up big and consistent, they'll be okay. Those guys, particularly Hill, have trouble fumbling the ball at very critical points of a game. So, we'll see.

The D-Line is still solid. Geno Atkins looks like he's recovered to pre-injury form (so far). The LBs aren't that great, and the backfield is getting long in the tooth except for Kirkpatrick, who I don't think is all that great anyway.

Anyway, Bengals are gonna "Bengal". They're frustrating. You can see how awesome that team could really be, but it never materializes. It's a tall order to ask them to make the playoffs for a 5th straight season, in a division that also houses the Ravens and Steelers, with Dalton and Marvin at the helm.

Dalton is 0-4 in the playoffs.

Marvin is 0-6 in the playoffs.

I think their time in Cincy is nearing the end if things don't turn around this season. Personally, I don't think it will.

My prediction for final AFCN standings:

1. Ravens

2. Steelers

3. Bengals

4. Browns

Hope I'm wrong about my team.

Anyway,,

Good Luck this season Raven fans! (except against Cincy of course, lol)