it will take miracle to beat bengals

[Brownfan80]

I'm not really sold on the Bengals yet. Yeah, they're 3-0, but they've so far only played KC (in a game where Trent Green got hurt and they had to face the very threatening QB play of Damon Huard), the Browns (0-3), and a Pittsburgh team that is obviously not that good (1-2, won vs MIAMI, dominated by the Jags and lost to the Bengals after a fubar 51 seconds).

People can say the same thing about our schedule, sure, but I think that this Bengal team isn't a known quantity just yet. If we play mistake free football and force them to travel on long fields most of the day while containing the big play, then I think it'll be a good game.

If we start turning it over and making stupid plays all day long, then much as to be expected in the NFL, we'll probably have an L.

 

[SVN]

I agree that our D has been solid, except for the few big plays, the problem is that our offense can't back our D up after a few mental lapses. It's frustrating to see our D play so well, except sometimes giving up the big plays, and know that our offense can't reward them by getting 3's or 6's.

Our D has been average at best...we couldnt stop denver inside the 5 yard line 3-4 times on 3rd downs...1 of those stops wouldve given us better field position.sure the offense is not helping them but in such situations in the past the D has always stepped up.
This week its going against 6'2 receivers in johnson,tj housmazadeh,and henry. asante samuel and hobbs are going to face a lot problems than last week. only hope is if the bengals center is out again this week our pass rush generates something on palmer , otherwise look for many big plays this week..

 

[SVN]

I'm not really sold on the Bengals yet. Yeah, they're 3-0, but they've so far only played KC (in a game where Trent Green got hurt and they had to face the very threatening QB play of Damon Huard), the Browns (0-3), and a Pittsburgh team that is obviously not that good (1-2, won vs MIAMI, dominated by the Jags and lost to the Bengals after a fubar 51 seconds).

Everyone said the same things about the pats in the last 3-4 yrs.."they are not impressive, they struggled to beat x,y,z" etc etc. doesnt matter.they found a way to win...the pats didnt exactly come storming out of the gates against buffalo either.

 

[edgecy]

Our D has been average at best...we couldnt stop denver inside the 5 yard line 3-4 times on 3rd downs...1 of those stops wouldve given us better field position.sure the offense is not helping them but in such situations in the past the D has always stepped up.
This week its going against 6'2 receivers in johnson,tj housmazadeh,and henry. asante samuel and hobbs are going to face a lot problems than last week. only hope is if the bengals center is out again this week our pass rush generates something on palmer , otherwise look for many big plays this week..

I think our D has been above average, there are times when they gave up big plays, but on most occasions they stop them. I do agree that our D has their work cut out for them this coming week, even if we manage to hold the Bengals to low score, I just don't see our offense doing us any favor, not yet at least.

 

[SVN]

I think our D has been above average, there are times when they gave up big plays, but on most occasions they stop them. I do agree that our D has their work cut out for them this coming week, even if we manage to hold the Bengals to low score, I just don't see our offense doing us any favor, not yet at least.

we gave 130 odd rushing yards to denver..denver converted 7-16 on 3rd down to jake plummer...sure they allowed only 17 pts but if you cant get off the field on 3rd down inside the 5 yard line not once ,but 3 times then i dont think the D is anywhere near as it should be.. turnovers and 3rd downs are the most import stats...The offense should not have any bearing on the D and vice versa..Offense's job is to score pts regardless of how the D is playing and Defense's job is to get off on 3rd downs regardless if the offense s**ks
Right now not one unit O,D, ST is elite in the team ..hence the mediocre performances.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Our offense has to get in gear. This game is not going to be a defensive struggle, more like 31-24.

 

[edgecy]

we gave 130 odd rushing yards to denver..denver converted 7-16 on 3rd down to jake plummer...sure they allowed only 17 pts but if you cant get off the field on 3rd down inside the 5 yard line not once ,but 3 times then i dont think the D is anywhere near as it should be.. turnovers and 3rd downs are the most import stats...The offense should not have any bearing on the D and vice versa..Offense's job is to score pts regardless of how the D is playing and Defense's job is to get off on 3rd downs regardless if the offense s**ks
Right now not one unit O,D, ST is elite in the team ..hence the mediocre performances.

Yes, they did gash us for 130 yards, but that's Denver, they produce runningbacks like no others.

I do think that our offense and defense have bearing on each other, they feed off of each other, at least that's what I believe. Football is a team sports, do you think our D feels good seeing how inept the offense is? The D might give less effort seeing how bad our offense is, and our offense might also give less effort seeing our D giving up big plays.. it's a cycle.

I think when the WR issues are ironed out, we will be able to break out of the cycle.

 

[PATSNUTme]

The way the patriots are playing football this season, i think it will take a miracle to beat the bengals this week. Even in the two games the patriots won, they looked very unimpressive. The patriots just got by on the jets and bills, and the way they played against denver, i dont see the patriots losing by anything less than 21 points this week. Tom brady has to get his head out of his ass, and stop being such a cry baby about branch not being around. Hes a professional, and im sick of hearing these cry ass excuses, get over it TOM. I can see being upset about him being gone, but to walk around the feild with his head down, like your mourning the death of your father is pathetic. On top of everything else, this years play calling is the worst i ever seen. Unless the patriots and tom brady really do some preping for this weeks game, i dont see nothing but a total blow out.

You are so right.

If I were you, I would bet my mommy's house, my daddy's car, and my college savings bond on the Bengals and give the points. You will be a rich person.

The Bengals are the greatest team the NFL has ever seen so therefore only devine intervention will be able to save us.

 

[rabthepat]

I would give Cinci the edge because they are at home and are playing better than the Pats to date. Yet, I think we have a chance based on how poorly the Bengals played against the Steelers, at times, last week. Cinci could not stop the run and they did not pass protect Palmer well at times. We need to play mistake free Patriot football and keep them under 17 points IMO to win. A win in Cinci will cool off my anger over the debacle Sunday night.

 

[patpatriot]

The Pats don't need a miracle to beat the Bengals. All they need is a healthy Dillon and a commitment to run, then run, and lastly to run some more. Drives don't even have to end in points as long as they chew up the clock. This is the tactic the old Pats used to use against Marino and the Marks brothers. If the pats dominate the TOP by playing "small ball", they have a pretty good shot given Cinci's poor run defense. If they try to get into a shootout with the Bengals, they are dead meat.

 

[Rudy]

I think you have an excellent shot at beating us. The Bengals played a very emotional game last week and are ready for a let down. Our LB's did not stay at home against the run in the first half of last weeks game but our D has played well against the run the rest of the time. You coach has the ability to confuse QB's and that definately could be a factor.

 

[DarMan]

Wow...I wish I could be as positive as you. To me Brady doesn't seem to be pouting, I see a serious errosion of skill, he was never the best player on our team and it wouldn't take much of a drop off in skill level before it really started to show. I think maybe the Pats should shop him in the off season while he still has some trade value, if he doesn't kill that with sub par play!!

I am assuming you are being sarcastic. Otherwise, you are seriously intelligence deprived

 

[BionicPatriot]

Wow. You guys are pitiful . Some of you*. This team ahs not lost 2 in a row since 2002 for a reason. They know how to rebound. Now is this week big? Oh, it's gonna be hard. And no way do we win unless we shoot these guys out. Not that that means our defense sucks, because thats how we beat them in 2004 when Jon Kitna played half the friggin game. The bengals have the edge, but it can be done folks. If Dillon and Maroney are ready to go, let Brady work outta his funk, I think we have a 50/50 shot at this.

We're friggin 2-1. Not 0-3, not 1-2. Some of you who say Brady eneds to stop whining, you guys need to stop crying over one freaking game, pick yourselves up and support your damn team. If you think they have no chance, so be it. Don't watch the damn game!

 

[qbert]

This is a very winnable game for the Patriots. Way too much panic here over a Bengals team that is overrated given the quality of their victories.

1. Run Maroney & Dillon all day. Parker was gashing the run D for 8 yards a pop up the middle and off the tackles. The Bengals LBs are lightweights. Play action and go over the top on their backup SS. The Steelers did not even attempt this once all game... plain stupid.

2. On defense, run blitz all day and keep the pressure on Palmer. He loses composure quickly when he is smacked around. Stack 8-9 the box to stop Rudi and give up the short completions and 3 step drops, they won't kill you. If the backup center plays again, Warren/Wilfork will be pushing the pocket backwards all game.

3. Don't turn the ball over.

This all seems pretty obvious, but it really doesn't take some magical gameplan to beat the Bengals -- their weaknesses are clear and easily attackable. In fact the Steelers have always had the blueprint for beating the Bengals. Pitt just can't seem to avoid idiotic mistakes (10 turnovers in their last 2 losses).

 

[RoughingthePasser]

It would not take a miracle to beat Cincy.
I agree with the many points on the previous thread.

Offense:
We need to run the hurry up/no huddle with Brady calling the shots. We can throw different packages to try and confuse-we need to remember that we do have plenty of love to around for "recievers". Thomas, Watson< Graham<Evans , Faulk etc. and WR's.

Let Tom and the boys play fast so that he can get into rythym, create mismatches (find what works and the softspots) and not allow Cincy's Defense to make adjustments etc. We can move the ball well with the "dink and dunk" passes.

We need an angry/healthy Dillon and Maroney to pound the pigskin.
Attitude and inspiration are very important in rushing.
I'm hoping we amass some decent rushing yardage in this game.

With some Tom Brady hurry -ups and a fair dose of running game-we will score. We need to get the TD's not FG's and ZERO TO's.

Defensively:
I'm not worried.
Blitz alot/put pressure on Palmer
We need our secondary to be more aggressive in their coverage. This doesn't mean fouling but hustling more and tighter coverage. We've been getting busted everytime we blow coverage....the opposing QB's have been exploiting us effectively with some big plays that we need to put an end to.

We all have alot of respect for Cincy-they had a rotten hand dealt last year and we all know what that's like ourselves.

I honestly think Tom should bang out some plays...he's a smart dude-hopefully practice this week went well and we'll all see a great performance.

 

[captain stone]

we gave 130 odd rushing yards to denver..denver converted 7-16 on 3rd down to jake plummer...sure they allowed only 17 pts but if you cant get off the field on 3rd down inside the 5 yard line not once ,but 3 times then i dont think the D is anywhere near as it should be.. turnovers and 3rd downs are the most import stats...The offense should not have any bearing on the D and vice versa..Offense's job is to score pts regardless of how the D is playing and Defense's job is to get off on 3rd downs regardless if the offense s**ks
Right now not one unit O,D, ST is elite in the team ..hence the mediocre performances.

Finally, some Voices of Reason...

If my mom still owned her house, if my dad were still alive, if I had a college fund, I would bet them all and give the points.

Divine Intervention would be one manner by which the pats could win; but since there is obviously no God, some other manner of miracle will be needed.

 

[ATippett56]

It's back to basics for the New England Patriots. Run the ball on offense and stop the run on defense. Those two keys will determine whether the New England Patriots will beat the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday.

 

[Kdo5]

The way the patriots are playing football this season, i think it will take a miracle to beat the bengals this week. Even in the two games the patriots won, they looked very unimpressive. The patriots just got by on the jets and bills, and the way they played against denver, i dont see the patriots losing by anything less than 21 points this week. Tom brady has to get his head out of his ass, and stop being such a cry baby about branch not being around. Hes a professional, and im sick of hearing these cry ass excuses, get over it TOM. I can see being upset about him being gone, but to walk around the feild with his head down, like your mourning the death of your father is pathetic. On top of everything else, this years play calling is the worst i ever seen. Unless the patriots and tom brady really do some preping for this weeks game, i dont see nothing but a total blow out.

Well I actually agree when you think about it, it seems like we are at a huge mismatch. How are Hobbs and Samuel capable of covering such great recievers. Even if we did shut down Johnson you'd have Houshmanzadeh and Henry, two tall recievers for our CBs to cover. Last week Housh looked like a pro bowler out there. Our CB's are very undersized compared to these recievers. After Tatum Bell tearing us up on the groun how can that get better with Rudi Johnson? Face it our defense isnt playing well at all right now. You'd think a team with so much leaders could lead this defense but no, they cant. Very close to the same defense from 2004, but they didnt look like it. Dillon and aroney can both do well against Cinci but that will mean nothing if Brady performs like he has again. If we even want it to be a shoot out Brady needs to get his **** together and have an outstanding game.

It seemed like Denver would be easy enough if Brady played well. But without Dillon our offense crumbled and our defense stumbled again.

 

[Kdo5]

This is a very winnable game for the Patriots. Way too much panic here over a Bengals team that is overrated given the quality of their victories.

1. Run Maroney & Dillon all day. Parker was gashing the run D for 8 yards a pop up the middle and off the tackles. The Bengals LBs are lightweights. Play action and go over the top on their backup SS. The Steelers did not even attempt this once all game... plain stupid.

2. On defense, run blitz all day and keep the pressure on Palmer. He loses composure quickly when he is smacked around. Stack 8-9 the box to stop Rudi and give up the short completions and 3 step drops, they won't kill you. If the backup center plays again, Warren/Wilfork will be pushing the pocket backwards all game.

3. Don't turn the ball over.

This all seems pretty obvious, but it really doesn't take some magical gameplan to beat the Bengals -- their weaknesses are clear and easily attackable. In fact the Steelers have always had the blueprint for beating the Bengals. Pitt just can't seem to avoid idiotic mistakes (10 turnovers in their last 2 losses).

Overrated, you cant honestly call that team overrated with the offense they have. Belichick said they were definitley one of the best offenses in the league, maybe even better than the Colts.

The defense isnt very good but they create turnovers, especially interceptions, so watch out for that.

 

[BionicPatriot]

You guys expect our defense to hold them? No way in hell. It couldn't in 2004, it damn sure wont sunday. What we ened to do is pound the rock, keep Palmer away from the field, and have Brady make the throws we need him to. We're not winning this one 13-10 folks. If we win, expect atleast 20+ from both sides.