Ravens vs. Steelers

[CrashDavisSports]

Game happened just like I had hoped. Baltimore squeaks by with a win and Justin Tucker earned me 15 fantasy points.

Now, the Bengals just have to create that two game spread with the rest of the division with a win on Sunday.

Steelers look vulnerable without Roethlisberger. Their defense looked okay, but did allow 150 to Forsett. Vick looks like complete dog crap (lots of pun intended). Which is good for us. He just looks like he has gotten old and he doesn't show any confidence anymore. He looks unsure, and Josh Scobee looks bad so far this year. They traded a pick for him, and they may have to release his ass before the season is over if they want a chance to win a close game. That dangerous offense of Pittsburgh's looks like crap without Roethlisberger.

As long as we can stay healthy *knock on wood* we appear to be the class of the division right now. Denver's defense looks really good, but their offense looks vulnerable depending on which Manning shows up from week to week. New England looks untouchable at this point. If they get home field throughout, I don't see anyone stopping them from making it to the SB.

 

[Cincyfan78]

That entire game was brutal.

A better team would have smacked either team around last night. The steeler defense allowed the Ravens to move the ball consistently even after they lost their only WR.

I think the Ravens win is what most Bengals would hope for. The steelers can reel off wins once Ben returns. There's little doubt about that. As a Bengal, you'd want them to lose as many games while he's out as they can. As for the ravens...there is nothing on that team that makes me say they are capable of reeling off enough wins to become relevant in the division race.

That is, of course, assuming the Bengals can take care of business.

 

[cincygrad]

I think the Bengals are clearly the best team. We will easily win this division if we 1) stay healthy and 2) don't have (m)any dud games - Games that we should clearly win and yet we don't show up (like Cleveland last year). We have some tough games on our schedule and we'll lose to some good teams. That will be okay. We just need to win a few of them against the good teams and clean up on the mediocre teams that are on the schedule. I figure that if we stay healthy and play to capability, we shouldn't lose more than 5 games.

The Ravens seem to have less playmakers than I can ever remember. Steve Smith IS their passing game and his durability could become an issue as the season moves on. His production dropped last year.... Hard to blame the dude - Lots of tread on the tires. They don't have a good secondary and their pass rush is average.

The Steelers are going to be tough at the end of the season. That pass defense looked better than I had expected and I bet their young guys get better as the season goes on. Their schedule is tough though..... Especially over the next few weeks when they're without Ben.

 

[DanBengalfan]

someone has to stop New England if there's going to be any change in superbowl scenery. they make the rest of the NFL look like disorganized cluster-fracks of preschoolers trying to play tag with a ball.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

someone has to stop New England if there's going to be any change in superbowl scenery. they make the rest of the NFL look like disorganized cluster-fracks of preschoolers trying to play tag with a ball.

Their secondary is vulnerable. What needs to happen, a team will need a guy who is going to be able to cover Gronk and Edelman, along with playing decent pass rush. If you can give Brady less time in the pocket while blanketing his only two credible outlets, that offense will struggle a little.

I know we have the offense to beat the Patriots defense.

The probem is mostly covering Gronk. I think we could take Edelman out of the game plan pretty well with our secondary, and the run for NE would struggle a bit, and we have the ability to put some pressure on Brady again. Question is, who would cover Gronk? My first thought is Iloka because of his height and speed, but he is not a coverage guy, he is a hitter. Nelson would be a good option, but he is shorter so higher balls that he has to fight for would go to Gronk. Now, our tall corner Kirkpatrick, he has the height and speed, but he doesn't play over the middle too much and he is a twig so competition for a ball in the air would always go to Gronk. Almost need to double Gronk with maybe a Iloka and Hall.

I think we have the talent on defense to put some pressure on the Patriots, but I don't think we can win a shootout if the defense decides to take a nap like they did against the Ravens on Sunday.

 

[Tubbs1518]

Their secondary is vulnerable. What needs to happen, a team will need a guy who is going to be able to cover Gronk and Edelman, along with playing decent pass rush. If you can give Brady less time in the pocket while blanketing his only two credible outlets, that offense will struggle a little.

I know we have the offense to beat the Patriots defense.

The probem is mostly covering Gronk. I think we could take Edelman out of the game plan pretty well with our secondary, and the run for NE would struggle a bit, and we have the ability to put some pressure on Brady again. Question is, who would cover Gronk? My first thought is Iloka because of his height and speed, but he is not a coverage guy, he is a hitter. Nelson would be a good option, but he is shorter so higher balls that he has to fight for would go to Gronk. Now, our tall corner Kirkpatrick, he has the height and speed, but he doesn't play over the middle too much and he is a twig so competition for a ball in the air would always go to Gronk. Almost need to double Gronk with maybe a Iloka and Hall.

I think we have the talent on defense to put some pressure on the Patriots, but I don't think we can win a shootout if the defense decides to take a nap like they did against the Ravens on Sunday.

You know Iloka was one of the best coverage safeties in the league last year right?

 

[CrashDavisSports]

You know Iloka was one of the best coverage safeties in the league last year right?

Nope. I didn't know that. Doesn't seem like he is a coverage guy, but then again, they are not showing Iloka in coverage the whole game just when it comes in his area. He is a good player, I just didn't know he was solid in coverage.

 

[Tubbs1518]

Nope. I didn't know that. Doesn't seem like he is a coverage guy, but then again, they are not showing Iloka in coverage the whole game just when it comes in his area. He is a good player, I just didn't know he was solid in coverage.

He had the lowest completion % against him of any safety in the league I'm pretty sure.