OT: Bengals-Ravens

[mayoclinic]

The NE-Miami game wasn't broadcast in my area because of the Bengals-Ravens game, which I watched in its entirety.

I have to say, I was very impressed with the Bengals. They outmuscled the Ravens and dominated both sides of the line, and were more physical than the Ravens. Their defense was very physical and aggressive, repeatedly pressuring Flacco and doing a really outstanding job of containing Ray Rice from breaking the kind of big plays he has made all season. Their DBs are excellent and shut down Flacco's long passing game, and their LBs were great in pursuit and in preventing the Ravens from turning short passes into big gains. I was particularly impressed with Rey Maualuga (who I've never particularly admired), who didn't show up on the stat sheed but was a dominant physical presence, and made a superb play on special teams downing a punt inside the 1 yard line. First time I've ever thought I might have been mistaken about the Pats passing on Maualuga at #34.

In 2 games the Bengals have held Baltimore to an average of 10.5 points. The Ravens are averaging over 30 PPG in their other 6 games (including 21 against the Pats).

Offensively, the Bengals showed nice balance with Palmer having the ability to go deep on the weak Ravens secondary and Cedric Benson pounding the football. Benson has now racked up consecutive 100+ yard games against the Ravens.

I'll be curious to see how the Bengals do next time they play the Steelers. Having already beaten the Ravens twice and the Steelers once, a win would certainly give them an edge in the division. The Bengals are one Denver fluke play from being 7-1, and will be one of at most 8 teams with 6-2 or better records at the mid-way point (Indy, NO, Minny, Denver, NE, Cincy, the winner of Philly-Dallas, and possibly Pittsburgh). Right now the Bengals look like one of the more complete teams in the AFC, with a solid defense (great secondary and good front 7) and a diverse offense (big play QB and passing game and solid running game). Not many teams in the division can boast of that kind of balance - not Indy or Denver, and possibly not even Pittsburgh or the Patriots at this point.

This is a team to look out for. I could see them flying under the radar and upsetting a few front runners come playoff time, if they continue to play at this level. That's a big if, but right now they are an impressive team.

 

[Marqui]

And their team is relatively young too. They could be around for a while.

 

[luvbrain]

I am just happy they beat the Ravens convincingly. The Ravens is one team that I dislike a lot. Too much whining. I like them a lot better when they were still the Browns though

 

[maverick4]

Carson Palmer is back, Benson has grown up into a top 10 back, and they have two great young linebackers, not to mention a strong secondary.

Both the Ravens and Bengals will be tough playoff opponents.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Is it a stretch to start taking credit for the downfall of the Ravens?? They were looking like an elite team before we beat them and they started crying like *****es. They haven't recovered since

 

[SidelineSid]

You may be onto something. Let's hope that team falters in the stretch like they always do. This Bengals season kinda reminds me of '05. If the Bengals beat the Steelers, good. If they don't, no biggie.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I'd be thrilled if they got into the playoffs while taking down Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the process. Two less threats to worry about, and one more joke franchise that will choke in the big game.

 

[Pats171]

The Ravens is one team that I dislike a lot. Too much whining.

Every week, their radio announcers say the NFL should investigate the officiating of the game. They're like Johnny Most without the charm.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'd also be thrilled to see Cincinnati take the division away from Pittsburgh and Baltimore. I think they may just possibly have the talent on both sides of the ball to do it. If Pittsburgh loses to Denver tomorrow and to Cincy next week (two very big "ifs", admittedly) then Cincy would have a clear stranglehood on the AFC North was a 7-2 record and 2 wins over both 5-4 Pittsburgh and 5-4 or 4-5 Baltimore. If Pittsburgh wins its next 2 games then the Steelers will probably win the division, with creampuff games coming up against Kansas City, Cleveland and Oakland.

As well as McDaniels has done at turning Denver around, Cincinnati has one huge advantage over the Broncos - a true franchise quarterback in Carson Palmer, and a bona fide deep passing game. And unlike the Ravens, the Bengals have a strong secondary with two very good CBs capable of taking away the opposing team's deep passing game. Add to that the ability to pound the ball and a swarming, aggressive defense, and they are a legitimate threat to knock some people off.

Being Cincinnati, I keep waiting for them to self-destruct. And Marvin Lewis has never inspired much confidence as a head coach. But they may have what it takes to shake up some folks. I could see them being a difficult playoff matchup for a team like Indy given their offensive balance and strong secondary.

 

[ALP]

I'd also be thrilled to see Cincinnati take the division away from Pittsburgh and Baltimore. I think they may just possibly have the talent on both sides of the ball to do it. If Pittsburgh loses to Denver tomorrow and to Cincy next week (two very big "ifs", admittedly) then Cincy would have a clear stranglehood on the AFC North was a 7-2 record and 2 wins over both 5-4 Pittsburgh and 5-4 or 4-5 Baltimore. If Pittsburgh wins its next 2 games then the Steelers will probably win the division, with creampuff games coming up against Kansas City, Cleveland and Oakland.

As well as McDaniels has done at turning Denver around, Cincinnati has one huge advantage over the Broncos - a true franchise quarterback in Carson Palmer, and a bona fide deep passing game. And unlike the Ravens, the Bengals have a strong secondary with two very good CBs capable of taking away the opposing team's deep passing game. Add to that the ability to pound the ball and a swarming, aggressive defense, and they are a legitimate threat to knock some people off.

Being Cincinnati, I keep waiting for them to self-destruct. And Marvin Lewis has never inspired much confidence as a head coach. But they may have what it takes to shake up some folks. I could see them being a difficult playoff matchup for a team like Indy given their offensive balance and strong secondary.

i disagree on the differences u mentioned between the broncons and cincy

the donkies have some really really good corners....also the rest of their defense aint too shabby, and can rush the qb better than cincy

they also have royal as their deep threat, but also have another very good wr in marshall

the donkies running game isnt too shabby either

the only differce is at QB, where kyle orton is a journeyman and carson is top 5 in the league

but that might be evened out somewhat by the coaches

to me both these teams seem very much alike

 

[mayoclinic]

i disagree on the differences u mentioned between the broncons and cincy

the donkies have some really really good corners....also the rest of their defense aint too shabby, and can rush the qb better than cincy

they also have royal as their deep threat, but also have another very good wr in marshall

the donkies running game isnt too shabby either

the only differce is at QB, where kyle orton is a journeyman and carson is top 5 in the league

but that might be evened out somewhat by the coaches

to me both these teams seem very much alike

To clarify, the only place I was contrasting Cincy with Denver was in terms of their QB and vertical passing game, which Denver doesn't have. I agree Denvers compares well in most other aspects, though Cincy's running game is better right now. The Broncos clearly have a terrific secondary. I think that the Broncos will be limited against the top teams by their offense's lack of vertical passing threat, as was the case against the Ravens. This week's game against Pittsburgh will be an interesting test. Their defense is very good, but not 2000 Ravens good enough to win games by itself all the way to the championship.

The other comparisons (such as the secondary) were with other competitors such as the Ravens, who are distinctinctly weak in that area.

 

[Delicate Genius]

Ochocinco got a dollar bill from one of his coaches and jokingly tried slipping it to an official during a Ravens challenge as a bribe.

Photo included:

Chad Ochocinco tries to 'bribe' official on replay ruling - Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

The Bengals are for REAL

That defense is the difference this year.

With that being said,I would welcome playing the Bengals in the playoffs more than any other team because we would matchup with them pretty well

 

[wilfork is beastin']

the ravens are still traumatized from the mean refs who officiated the pats game

 

[mayoclinic]

Bengals lose Chris Henry for the year with a broken arm. That's got to hurt their vertical passing game. Coles and Caldwell are reasonable, but Henry was a big play threat who had to be accounted for on every play.

Bengals' Henry out for season after surgery on broken arm