Playoff Football

[bengaldoug]

After watching the Pats/Ravens yesterday, it was plain to see the game was played on a level with which the Bengals can not compete. Both quarterbacks elevated their play to a point Andy Dalton can only dream of. We are going to have to become much more sophisticated offensively if we are to ever hope to truly be competitive in the playoffs, much less hope to go to a Super Bowl. I'm not a fan of Joe Flacco, but I have to see beyond my natural hatred of him and the Ravens that he is capable of rising to the occasion. All that said and admitted, how in the hell did we manage to beat the Ravens twice? They are clearly on a higher level than us.

 

[kramer1]

Andy Dalton is terrible. I don't care if he was ranked 22nd or 23rd or whatever...I'd say he's around 29 or 30. He's really that bad. I'd take any of the first round rookies other than Manziel over him in a heartbeat.

 

[bengaldoug]

Andy Dalton is terrible. I don't care if he was ranked 22nd or 23rd or whatever...I'd say he's around 29 or 30. He's really that bad. I'd take any of the first round rookies other than Manziel over him in a heartbeat.

You're only exaggerating very slightly I ranked him ahead of only Ryan Lindley amongst quarterbacks in the playoffs, and the Arizona situation was a complete joke.

 

[futballiscool]

I have to politely disagree on Flacco. He had an awful second half. If Peyton Manning threw those 2nd half ints he'd be getting killed for being a "choker" right now. The second one was one of the worst decisions I've seen made by a veteran QB in a big moment.

My biggest take away on the game in regards to the Bengals..

Justin Forsett, Steve Smith, Darrelle Revis, Danny Amendola, Owen Daniels, Elvis Dumervill... all huge contributors picked up in FA the past two seasons that played in that game last night. You need to supplement the roster through FA

 

[bengaldoug]

Sure, Flacco made mistakes in the second half, but his overall level of play was at the highest level, and he saw where and how to attack the Pats' defense. Do you have any confidence that Andy Dalton can attack a playoff level defense that way? And just for clarity, I would consider a four touchdown two pick playoff performance by Dalton nirvana.

 

[cincygrad]

Those teams were playing a different game.

Can you imagine what would happen if we lucked our way into a 2 seed? If you think playing in the wild card round has been embarrassing, what do you think the division round would look like?

 

[bengaldoug]

Those teams were playing a different game.

Can you imagine what would happen if we lucked our way into a 2 seed? If you think playing in the wild card round has been embarrassing, what do you think the division round would look like?

Exactly my point. And we weren't far at all from that exact embarrassing scenario.

 

[bengaldoug]

For those who thought we would do better this year in the playoffs because of our running game, if you're no threat throwing it your running game can be easily taken away.

 

[futballiscool]

Sure, Flacco made mistakes in the second half, but his overall level of play was at the highest level, and he saw where and how to attack the Pats' defense. Do you have any confidence that Andy Dalton can attack a playoff level defense that way? And just for clarity, I would consider a four touchdown two pick playoff performance by Dalton nirvana.

I'll take Flacco over Dalton, agreed. He has the big arm to make tight window throws against tough playoff caliber defenses. But to be fair to Dalton, Flacco performed poorly in the playoff earlier on his career (his passer rating in his first 5 starts was 59, 89, 18, 10 and 48) so there's room for improvement from Dalton as he gets more experience

 

[bengaldoug]

I'll take Flacco over Dalton, agreed. He has the big arm to make tight window throws against tough playoff caliber defenses. But to be fair to Dalton, Flacco performed poorly in the playoff earlier on his career (his passer rating in his first 5 starts was 59, 89, 18, 10 and 48) so there's room for improvement from Dalton as he gets more experience

Flacco was also on a run of five consecutive passer ratings over 100 in playoff games. He only fell under 100 yesterday because of the two second half picks, and he still with those picks came in at 92.1. I'm not going to say you can't possibly be right about Dalton, but after four years I'm not sure what more experience is going to do for him. Is he suddenly going to see and exploit defensive weaknesses he was previously clueless of? Is he suddenly going to be on the money 15 yards down the middle instead of high, asking for an interception? I think he is what he is and that's all he's going to be. Hope I am wrong, though.....

 

[futballiscool]

Flacco was also on a run of five consecutive passer ratings over 100 in playoff games. He only fell under 100 yesterday because of the two second half picks, and he still with those picks came in at 92.1. I'm not going to say you can't possibly be right about Dalton, but after four years I'm not sure what more experience is going to do for him. Is he suddenly going to see and exploit defensive weaknesses he was previously clueless of? Is he suddenly going to be on the money 15 yards down the middle instead of high, asking for an interception? I think he is what he is and that's all he's going to be. Hope I am wrong, though.....

Flacco was on a great stretch in the playoffs. I was ready to give him as due as a clutch QB, but that last INT was a headscratcher. It was 2nd and 5 deep in NE territory with close to 2 mins left. there are times to gamble, but that wasn't one of them. that was inexcusable imo. that doesn't take entirely away from his great playoff run, but it does put a little dent in it for me.

Dalton has limitations Flacco doesn't as far as arm talent. i don't think he has Flacco's celing for topnotch QB play, but he can get better imo

 

[alf8478]

It doesn't matter who our qb, if Marvin is the coach we are beaten before the game starts. You think Marvin would've gone for those two 4th downs that Baltimore did? Marvin still wouldn't have figured out what the Pats did with their eligible/in eligible receivers.

 

[kramer1]

Dalton doesn't have the physical ability. Period. There's no discussion here. He's a bum.

 

[DanBengalfan]

I have to politely disagree on Flacco. He had an awful second half. If Peyton Manning threw those 2nd half ints he'd be getting killed for being a "choker" right now. The second one was one of the worst decisions I've seen made by a veteran QB in a big moment.

My biggest take away on the game in regards to the Bengals..

Justin Forsett, Steve Smith, Darrelle Revis, Danny Amendola, Owen Daniels, Elvis Dumervill... all huge contributors picked up in FA the past two seasons that played in that game last night. You need to supplement the roster through FA

Bengals free agency robot says

we can't afford player A because we will be spending over the cap if we do and we don't have enough money to sign our draft picks and fill in after injuries.

we can't afford player B because we already have depth at that position when everyone has an offseason to heal and we would best invest our money in another player.

flip a coin, if heads answer is A, if tails, answer is B

 

[DanBengalfan]

Dalton doesn't have the physical ability. Period. There's no discussion here. He's a bum.

I was hoping he'd improve, but he's obviously peaked.

 

[alf8478]

AJ Green is never making that catch that Dez just made.

 

[bengaldoug]

Apparently Dez didn't make it, either......

 

[alf8478]

touche

 

[futballiscool]

I don't get why Demarco Murray isn't on the field on 4th and 2

 

[bengaldoug]

QUOTE=alf8478;6183216]touche[/QUOTE]

Your point is still valid. AJ never makes that catch.