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[ATL96Steeler]

The Bengals were about as aggressive as Marvin gets.... He even went for it on his own 37 at one point. But unfortunatley, they are also stupid.... A false start ruined a 4th and goal from the 1 while an offsides allowed SD to kick a 59 yard field goal before the half. They missed a first half 2 point conversion making the last ditch 2 point conversion necessary. They didn't get that one either. In fact, they haven't made one since 2015.

This is why they're the Bengals.... Even with a roster decimated by injury, they have some talent on the team. Yesterday was decided by about 5 or 6 plays -- All mistakes or missed opportunities by the Bengals. Typical Marvin Lewis type of day.

Even though Mixon was having success most of the day, the playcall he went for it was a dumb call imo...needed what 8-10" maybe, I thought handing that ball off 3 yds in the backfield was not the right play a sneak or boot off a fake handoff inside and QB RPO.

 

[cincygrad]

They definitely should have suck it.... Driskel is a big kid. And he's very athletic. I can't imagine any circumstance where he can't pick up a half yard.

On the other hand, I thought they should have handed it to Mixon on the 2 point. You have one shot at forcing overtime - You should find a way to get it in the hands of your best player.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

They definitely should have suck it.... Driskel is a big kid. And he's very athletic. I can't imagine any circumstance where he can't pick up a half yard.

On the other hand, I thought they should have handed it to Mixon on the 2 point. You have one shot at forcing overtime - You should find a way to get it in the hands of your best player.

I've said it a few times already, but Cincy really needs to make the decision to give Mixon a bigger workload and stick with it. I'd be very frustrated to be a fan and see them keep putting him on the sidelines after he dominates a defense.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Week 15 AFCN Recap.

Ws All Around!

PIT...8-5-1, W vs NE, 17-10. In a game that PIT did mostly what they wanted to do on OFC, but it didn't all show up on the scoreboard. In a one possession game, Boswell picks himself up off the turf and nails a 48 yd FG after missing earlier from 32 yds. That made the margin 7, and left no question as to what Brady needed to do. The stage was set...2:30 to go and no TOs...the PIT DEF finally accomplished what they have not been able to do in many years...stop Tom Brady on a drive that really mattered. With the win PIT hangs on to the DIV lead and the 4 seed by a slim half game margin.

Week 16...@ NO

BAL...8-6-, W vs TB, 20-12. A gritty, hard hat, low scoring type game, typical of the Ravens. Not the greatest weather day, at least from a field perspective. In the end, the rookie Lamar Jackson again does just enough on OFC, getting the Ravens in the endzone twice and the DEF made it stick, shutting out the Bucs OFC. The Ravens continue to keep the pressure on PIT for the DIV, and their hold on the 6 seed.

Week 16...@ LAC

CLE...6-7-1, W, @ DEN, 17-16. Say what you will about Greg Williams, the Browns are playing some of the best football the last month of the season. 4-1 since week 10. I don't know if he will land the permanent job, but he should be in the conversation at least. His decision to try and salt the game away is fairly easy to do when you're you haven't had a winning season in quite some time. Good his DEF made it stick.

Week 16...vs CIN

CIN...6-8, W, vs OAK, 30-16. A mere 130 yds passing by Driskel, but coupled with 120+ on the ground by Mixon and the Bengals were finally able to stop the skid. The DEF sacked Carr 5 times and held the OAK running game to roughly nil. Hard to imagine this game being very entertaining even for a Bengals fan, but a win is a win.

Week 16...@ CLE

AFC At Large...KC (11-3) hold the DIV record tie breaker over the also (11-3) Chargers. This gives KC the one seed, and drops the Chargers all the way down to the 5th seed. HOU (10-4) jumps into the HFA chair as the 2 seed with their win @ NYJ and NE losing @ PIT. The Patriots drop out of the HFA spot and into the 3 seed...IND, TN both won to keep the pressure on BAL for the 6 seed. All are tied at 8-6, but yielding to BAL on tie breakers.

 

[cincygrad]

It will be interesting to watch the Bengals effort over the next 2 weeks.... Looks like Tyler Boyd is going to join the rest of the injured Bengals. Along with Mixon, Boyd is probably the only reason for any optimism in Cincinnati. That leaves John Ross as the primary receiver with Alex Ericson and Cody Core. Road games against the resurgent Browns and the Steelers. This could get ugly - And that's probably what most Bengals fans want.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

It will be interesting to watch the Bengals effort over the next 2 weeks.... Looks like Tyler Boyd is going to join the rest of the injured Bengals. Along with Mixon, Boyd is probably the only reason for any optimism in Cincinnati. That leaves John Ross as the primary receiver with Alex Ericson and Cody Core. Road games against the resurgent Browns and the Steelers. This could get ugly - And that's probably what most Bengals fans want.

Agreed...almost nothing to play for aside from a job, pride.

The vets will not want to be swept by the Browns, so I expect a spirited effort this week.

 

[Wamu]

Agreed...almost nothing to play for aside from a job, pride.

The vets will not want to be swept by the Browns, so I expect a spirited effort this week.

The Bengals now have Hue 'the genius' Jackson. Which means they're screwed.

 

[brandonk989]

Ravens are in a tough spot. While it's nice to control your own destiny, they have to fly across the country on a short week while the Chargers have extra rest coming off their best win of the season. If the Ravens are unable to beat the Chargers AND Browns they need help. They either need the Steelers to lose out, or have the Colts and Titans both lose a game down the stretch. The Dolphins actually hold the tiebreaker over the Ravens if the Dolphins win out.

Way too much hoping and praying if the Ravens don't win out, so needless to say let's just take care of our own business.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Ravens are in a tough spot. While it's nice to control your own destiny, they have to fly across the country on a short week while the Chargers have extra rest coming off their best win of the season. If the Ravens are unable to beat the Chargers AND Browns they need help. They either need the Steelers to lose out, or have the Colts and Titans both lose a game down the stretch. The Dolphins actually hold the tiebreaker over the Ravens if the Dolphins win out.

Way too much hoping and praying if the Ravens don't win out, so needless to say let's just take care of our own business.

You're right, LAC might be playing better than anyone in the league right now and CLE is no longer an automatic W.

10 wins takes the north...just a matter of who posts it...PIT or BAL...if both post 9 wins, PIT takes the DIV but it might still be good enough for the 5 assuming IND does not win out.

The 6th seed is going down to the last week.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

The Bengals now have Hue 'the genius' Jackson. Which means they're screwed.

IDT many people ever called Hue a genius, but he sure wrecked whatever OC cred he had left.

 

[cincygrad]

I have to tell you, I'm really looking forward to the Gregg Williams era in Cleveland. Watching that young nucleus of players on television the other night, I thought to myself that there would be very few things that could fuck up the direction of this team.... They have some serious talent and some premium positions. One of those few things would be to hire Gregg Williams.

He's one of those guys that give you a lot in the short term - But his shit will grow old and that team will be back in the dumpster in no-time if they give him the full time gig. I for one, am rooting for it.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

So help me out here... Got some scenarios rattling through my head in regards to the playoffs.

If the Steelers lose next week, and all 3 of BAL, TEN & IND win then the Steelers' chances drop to almost zero. They would need to win against CIN in W17 as well as needing CLE to defeat BAL.... Pretty sure that's correct, but YIKES. Or maybe a tie in the TENvIND game would help the Steelers?

Also, correct me if I'm wrong here, but if PIT wins this week and BAL loses, then PIT takes the division crown and lets W17 dictate their seed?

What happens if both PIT & BAL lose in W16, and TEN & IND win? Does the take BAL out of the playoff picture? The TENvIND game in W17 is shaping up to be a big one regardless.

 

[SteelersPride]

I have to tell you, I'm really looking forward to the Gregg Williams era in Cleveland. Watching that young nucleus of players on television the other night, I thought to myself that there would be very few things that could fuck up the direction of this team.... They have some serious talent and some premium positions. One of those few things would be to hire Gregg Williams.

He's one of those guys that give you a lot in the short term - But his shit will grow old and that team will be back in the dumpster in no-time if they give him the full time gig. I for one, am rooting for it.

It would be the Browns thing to do

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[cincygrad]

I was wrong about the Ravens. Happy to eat some crow. I thought they were limited on offense and would get beat by playoff teams. They look a little dangerous right now.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I was wrong about the Ravens. Happy to eat some crow. I thought they were limited on offense and would get beat by playoff teams. They look a little dangerous right now.

Definitely. They have the look of a team that could grind you into submission. Good luck winning the TOP battle against them.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I have to tell you, I'm really looking forward to the Gregg Williams era in Cleveland. Watching that young nucleus of players on television the other night, I thought to myself that there would be very few things that could fuck up the direction of this team.... They have some serious talent and some premium positions. One of those few things would be to hire Gregg Williams.

He's one of those guys that give you a lot in the short term - But his shit will grow old and that team will be back in the dumpster in no-time if they give him the full time gig. I for one, am rooting for it.

IDK if CLE goes back to being top 5 pick CLE every year, but I think they will peak around 9 wins...then the schedule gets a little tougher and I'm not feeling that he's the guy to get them over the hump.

They should be hitching that wagon to McCarthy...Williams best fit in the NFL has been DC and it probably still is.

 

[thedddd]

Rooting for the Browns this week:

 

[thedddd]

IDK if CLE goes back to being top 5 pick CLE every year, but I think they will peak around 9 wins...then the schedule gets a little tougher and I'm not feeling that he's the guy to get them over the hump.

They should be hitching that wagon to McCarthy...Williams best fit in the NFL has been DC and it probably still is.

Yeah Williams shouldn't be their HC choice. McCarthy would do well with Mayfield and definitely pay Williams to stay as the DC.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Yeah Williams shouldn't be their HC choice. McCarthy would do well with Mayfield and definitely pay Williams to stay as the DC.

Yeah, as we know...the more success you have on the field, the more challenging it gets to sustain it....FA, Draft, Waiver Wire.. all designed with the intent to help the weaker teams the most.

When CLE starts picking in the late teens to the 20s for 3 or 4 yr in a row, and contract renewals come along for a lot of those high draft picks...they have about a 3 yr window to max out on their past failures (benefits of being a losing team) before things get a lot harder.