2025 Opponents Set

[cdumler7]

That 2015 team wasn't lucky they were just plain tough. If the Refs in SB50 called holding on the Panthers every time they should have I don't know that Carolina would have ever crossed mid-field in that game. It was a slaughter as it was, but it could have been much worse.

Tough and lucky don't have to be on opposite sides of things. What I mean by luck is that there were a lot of fumbles that bounced our way that year. Such as to start the Super Bowl. Now some of that is you have guys that are relentless to the ball so more times than not they are going to come up with it, but there are still those times that a bounce happens that just doesn't usually happen and it cost you.

I think every Super Bowl team can look back at some point during the season and say "wow we got fortunate this happened and it went our way." I was just listening to Tom Brady talk about their Super Bowl win over Atlanta. He said that was one of those games that literally an inch here and an inch there made all the difference and it was so close to that game going the opposite direction. He wasn't sure how they came back like they did.

 

[cdumler7]

We are not top 10 in market size. We are a very small market, probably in the mid to higher 20's. However, the primetime ratings show the Bengals to be one of the most popular games in the prime time slots. They average in the top 5 of games during those slots, which is why they have been getting 4-6 prime time games a year.

You don't think the NFL will put a ratings killer in the prime time slots 4-6 times a year do you? I'm just saying.

Well usually prime time games go to winning organizations or at least the ones that get the max number you can have. So figured that was part of it for the Bengals. The Bengals are definitely proving to be must watch football. Even when they lose it is something to behold. Should be a fun game next year between our two teams. My guess is that one will be slotted for prime time.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Well usually prime time games go to winning organizations or at least the ones that get the max number you can have. So figured that was part of it for the Bengals. The Bengals are definitely proving to be must watch football. Even when they lose it is something to behold. Should be a fun game next year between our two teams. My guess is that one will be slotted for prime time.

That would be fun. As bad as it was this year, I can't imagine too many other games that rivaled the Bengals vs Ravens match ups, and as you said, even in the losses, they were exciting. Heart attack inducing for Bengals fans. The Commanders game, Burrow's only prime time loss at home, he is like 6-1 or 8-1 or something like that during prime time at home. The Broncos game was exciting as hell, the Steelees of course made it an exciting game. The crazy ass pass interference against KC that setup the game winning FG with no time left on the clock for KC to win by 1. That was not prime time game, but all of their losses were by 7 or less except the Philly game where they just kicked our asses.

Oh well, on to bigger and better things, like how the Broncos are going to navigate this guantlet and make it to their 9th Superbowl!

 

[cdumler7]

That would be fun. As bad as it was this year, I can't imagine too many other games that rivaled the Bengals vs Ravens match ups, and as you said, even in the losses, they were exciting. Heart attack inducing for Bengals fans. The Commanders game, Burrow's only prime time loss at home, he is like 6-1 or 8-1 or something like that during prime time at home. The Broncos game was exciting as hell, the Steelees of course made it an exciting game. The crazy ass pass interference against KC that setup the game winning FG with no time left on the clock for KC to win by 1. That was not prime time game, but all of their losses were by 7 or less except the Philly game where they just kicked our asses.

Oh well, on to bigger and better things, like how the Broncos are going to navigate this guantlet and make it to their 9th Superbowl!

I would be the most incomprehensible Super Bowl runs in history. Maybe only rivaled by the Giants that eventually ended the Patriot perfect season.

The odds are not 0, but tough to see how the Broncos can knock off the Bills on the road, Chiefs on the road, and then most likely either the Chargers or Ravens on the road for the AFC Championship game. Bills and Chiefs have some of the best home field records around. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the ride. If it ends in something good then I will celebrate. If our season ends on Sunday I'll look very fondly upon this season and all the good that it brought.

 

[iknowftbll]

Tough and lucky don't have to be on opposite sides of things. What I mean by luck is that there were a lot of fumbles that bounced our way that year. Such as to start the Super Bowl. Now some of that is you have guys that are relentless to the ball so more times than not they are going to come up with it, but there are still those times that a bounce happens that just doesn't usually happen and it cost you.

I think every Super Bowl team can look back at some point during the season and say "wow we got fortunate this happened and it went our way." I was just listening to Tom Brady talk about their Super Bowl win over Atlanta. He said that was one of those games that literally an inch here and an inch there made all the difference and it was so close to that game going the opposite direction. He wasn't sure how they came back like they did.

That makes perfect sense. I was reading "lucky" to mean on the beneficial side of a lot of calls. Reading again I'm not sure why I interpreted it that way.

 

[iknowftbll]

Well usually prime time games go to winning organizations or at least the ones that get the max number you can have. So figured that was part of it for the Bengals. The Bengals are definitely proving to be must watch football. Even when they lose it is something to behold. Should be a fun game next year between our two teams. My guess is that one will be slotted for prime time.

I actually have a profound respect and appreciation for the Bengals. Ever since the 2021 Bengals knocked both the Raiders and the Chiefs out of the playoffs I've appreciated them. This year I appreciate that their slow start was too much for that late run to overcome.

 

[cdumler7]

That makes perfect sense. I was reading "lucky" to mean on the beneficial side of a lot of calls. Reading again I'm not sure why I interpreted it that way.

Even with Manning we didn't get the calls you would see Brady and the Patriots would get. It seems like they lock on to 1 or 2 QB's as officials and help them out big time. Could also be the ownership they are trying ot make happy since they are the ones that pay their salary and certain owners have more power than others. Maybe some day our owners will get into that position considering they can wield a lot of power with their money.

 

[cdumler7]

I actually have a profound respect and appreciation for the Bengals. Ever since the 2021 Bengals knocked both the Raiders and the Chiefs out of the playoffs I've appreciated them. This year I appreciate that their slow start was too much for that late run to overcome.

Oh any time they are not playing the Broncos I will cheer for the Bengals. Just like this year if the Broncos do lose this week I will be cheering for some of the smaller market teams like the Bills and Vikings to win it all. Something about those fans that have stuck with their teams through some dark times and the NFL ignoring them for many years tugs at my heart.

 

[iknowftbll]

Oh any time they are not playing the Broncos I will cheer for the Bengals. Just like this year if the Broncos do lose this week I will be cheering for some of the smaller market teams like the Bills and Vikings to win it all. Something about those fans that have stuck with their teams through some dark times and the NFL ignoring them for many years tugs at my heart.

Yeah, and the winner of this weekend's game between the Broncos and Bills is who I am rooting for to reach the Super Bowl. Obviously I would never root for the Chargers or Chiefs. I can't bring myself to root for the Steelers or Ravens either. I don't mind the Texans but I think they (not the Broncos) are the weakest playoff team. Maybe they'll prove me wrong. If it came down to the Texans or Bills I wouldn't hate it, but would have a preference for the Bills given their history. Still, how cool would it be to see a team playing in its first Super Bowl?

Not as cool as seeing a team play in its ninth, that's for sure!

 

[cdumler7]

Yeah, and the winner of this weekend's game between the Broncos and Bills is who I am rooting for to reach the Super Bowl. Obviously I would never root for the Chargers or Chiefs. I can't bring myself to root for the Steelers or Ravens either. I don't mind the Texans but I think they (not the Broncos) are the weakest playoff team. Maybe they'll prove me wrong. If it came down to the Texans or Bills I wouldn't hate it, but would have a preference for the Bills given their history. Still, how cool would it be to see a team playing in its first Super Bowl?

Not as cool as seeing a team play in its ninth, that's for sure!

Haha If I were to rank the AFC teams right now in quality of team I think I would have Steelers as last in the AFC. They closed out the season in terrible fashion and it seems like everyone has figured out the Wilson offense of chuck it deep. They are an easy offense to stop and defensively they have fallen off some as the season has progressed.