KC just locked up the 5 seed. Now we play for the 2.

[kramer1]

The Colts stink, so I assume the 3 is a given after next week. Can we get the 2???

 

[futballiscool]

NE has a pretty weak schedule down the stretch

 

[flamingrey]

I think wherever the Bengals stand after next weeks game is where they'll be going into the playoffs. So, either we lose and play KC in the WC or we win and we play one of the plethora of teams that has no business making the playoffs.

The Bengals are just too inconsistent to win out and compete with NE for that #2 spot.

 

[bengaldoug]

NE has a pretty weak schedule down the stretch

They do, and they missed a good chance to stumble today.

 

[bengaldoug]

The Colts stink, so I assume the 3 is a given after next week. Can we get the 2???

The Colts played better today. Still, we should be okay against them at home. Just do it.

 

[kramer1]

The Colts played better today. Still, we should be okay against them at home. Just do it.

Their O-line is miserable. We may kill Andrew Luck next Sunday.

 

[bengaldoug]

I think wherever the Bengals stand after next weeks game is where they'll be going into the playoffs. So, either we lose and play KC in the WC or we win and we play one of the plethora of teams that has no business making the playoffs.

The Bengals are just too inconsistent to win out and compete with NE for that #2 spot.

They may not have to win out, as they hold the tiebreaker. But they don't have an unwinnable game left on the schedule. They just need to do it. There are no acceptable excuses.

 

[kramer1]

The only possible loss I see is at Pittsburgh. We have the 3 seed locked up regardless. I'd like the 2, though.

 

[cincygrad]

8 wins with 4 games left.... 3 of them at home. Anything less than 11 wins would be disappointing, but I don't see us any higher than a 3 seed. That NE/Denver weirdness is going to come back to haunt us.

It will be interesting to see how we play week 17 if we have already clinched the division. I can easily see a scenario where we could beat Baltimore and get the third seed or lose to them and put them in the playoffs.

 

[flamingrey]

They may not have to win out, as they hold the tiebreaker. But they don't have an unwinnable game left on the schedule. They just need to do it. There are no acceptable excuses.

Yes every game is winnable, but I just don't see them winning all 3 of next week against Indy for the tie-breaker and sole possession of the #3 spot, AND marching into Pittsburgh the following week who I'm sure still believes they can make the playoffs, AND then having a big game against a Baltimore team in Week 17 who likely will be playing for a spot in the playoffs.

Things would have to go perfectly. Just too inconsistent. Even tonight, the defense had to come up with some HUGE TO's just to win by 7 points.

 

[flamingrey]

8 wins with 4 games left.... 3 of them at home. Anything less than 11 wins would be disappointing, but I don't see us any higher than a 3 seed. That NE/Denver weirdness is going to come back to haunt us.

It will be interesting to see how we play week 17 if we have already clinched the division. I can easily see a scenario where we could beat Baltimore and get the third seed or lose to them and put them in the playoffs.

Remind you at all of the Jets 2 game series back in 2009? What a nightmare!

Bengals come out in Week 17 playing vanilla to scout the Jets team, but came out so vanilla that the Jets walked ALL over us and didn't show us a thing.

Marvin would botch it.

 

[alf8478]

Miami in still in the hunt somehow. I think we'd all like to give them a little payback.

 

[cincygrad]

Remind you at all of the Jets 2 game series back in 2009? What a nightmare!

Bengals come out in Week 17 playing vanilla to scout the Jets team, but came out so vanilla that the Jets walked ALL over us and didn't show us a thing.

Marvin would botch it.

This is EXACTLY what I was thinking about. We could easily let Flacco into the playoffs where he somehow morphs into a great qb.

 

[bengaldoug]

Yes every game is winnable, but I just don't see them winning all 3 of next week against Indy for the tie-breaker and sole possession of the #3 spot, AND marching into Pittsburgh the following week who I'm sure still believes they can make the playoffs, AND then having a big game against a Baltimore team in Week 17 who likely will be playing for a spot in the playoffs.

Things would have to go perfectly. Just too inconsistent. Even tonight, the defense had to come up with some HUGE TO's just to win by 7 points.

To be fair, we were taking knees at the end of the game from the San Diego two yard line after running the last five minutes off the clock, so another TD was on the table if we needed it.

 

[cincygrad]

To be fair, we were taking knees at the end of the game from the San Diego two yard line after running the last five minutes off the clock, so another TD was on the table if we needed it.

I think it should also be noted that SD absolutely shredded KC just a week earlier..... Everyone was talking about the 'great' KC D.

Big win against a good team.

 

[JBUCK66]

we must win out to have a chance at the 2

 

[bengaldoug]

I think it should also be noted that SD absolutely shredded KC just a week earlier..... Everyone was talking about the 'great' KC D.

Big win against a good team.

Nothing more than I expected. We are a good team, too. Better than the bolts. Sure we still probably need a quarterback to be a serious Super Bowl contender. But this is the perfect year for us. Nobody is great in the AFC. We already beat Brady and the Pats. Denver has a mediocre defense that may come back to haunt them somewhere in January. Everyone else besides us is mediocre or worse. It's all out there in front of us. We can determine our own destiny.

 

[JBUCK66]

other than the Marvin and Andy facter, I'm with ya about the compitition

 

[bengaldoug]

other than the Marvin and Andy facter, I'm with ya about the compitition

Andy is definitely a concern. I've never been a fan of Marvin either but he seems to actually have the pulse of this team. For whatever reason he seems to have their respect. And he has made visible improvements in a couple of areas, most notably he doesn't waste timeouts nearly as often, doesn't make so many bad challenges any more and makes the better ones he needs, and has shown a willingness to be a little more aggressive. Can't say I'm an unconditional believer in him yet, but he has been much worse. Maybe he just finally has been around long enough to start figuring some of it out.

 

[The Duke]

The only possible loss I see is at Pittsburgh. We have the 3 seed locked up regardless. I'd like the 2, though.

How many shots in are you? I'm not use to seeing Positive Kramer.