Today I did my first simulated mock draft for the Bengals through Fanspeak. Not sure if the O-line improved enough with this. I like the 3 linebackers I got here though.
Bengals 2018 Regular Season Win/Loss Predictions
It’s that time! And boy am I glad! The preseason is over and the Bengals came out of it with a 3-1 record and with more reasons for optimism than pessimism in my opinion. The most important thing is that they did not suffer any major injuries to key players.
Back in April I posted my early 2018 Bengals game-by-game predictions and had them finishing with 10 wins and 6 losses. I decided to give it another go now that training camp and the preseason games are complete.
2018 Regular Season Win/Loss Predictions
Week 1 – 9/9, at Indianapolis Colts, 1pm ET
I’m sticking with my original feeling from back in April on this one. I think Andrew Luck will have some rust he needs to shake off still in his first regular season game in a year and a half. I think the Bengals will win more battles in 2 areas: the Bengals defensive line vs the Colts offensive line and also the Bengals receivers vs the Colts secondary, and that will be enough in the end.
Result: WIN Record: 1-0
Week 2 – 9/13, vs Baltimore Ravens, 8:20pm ET
Andy Dalton played much better last season against “common” opponents. The Athletic’s Joe Goodberry recently did a nice job of breaking down Dalton’s progress against teams the Bengals face in back-to-back seasons and against divisional opponents since Bill Lazor has taken over as coordinator. I think that trend continues in the home opener against Flacco and the Ravens.
Result: WIN Record: 2-0
Week 3 – 9/23, at Carolina Panthers, 1pm ET
The Panthers offensive line has suffered several losses due to injury during the preseason including starting LT Matt Kalil for at least 8 games. I think this will be a close game but I believe the Bengals defensive line will own the line of scrimmage and get after Cam Newton in this one.
Result: WIN Record: 3-0
Week 4 – 9/30, at Atlanta Falcons, 1pm ET
I have a hard time seeing this one go in the Bengals favor. Atlanta could be in the Super Bowl conversation come seasons end and this will be a hostile environment on the road. Like the Bengals, the Falcons have a ton of weapons and this could turn into a shootout but I’ll predict the Bengals lose their first game here.
Result: Loss Record: 3-1
Week 5 – 10/7, vs Miami Dolphins, 1pm ET
The Dolphins could have a decent defense this year and I can’t forget how Cameron Wake has made life miserable for Dalton in the past, but I also think Cincy’s defense will make life extremely difficult for Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins offense in this one.
Result: WIN Record: 4-1
Week 6 – 10/14, vs Pittsburgh Steelers, 1pm ET
Based on the Bengals poor track record against Pittsburgh during the Marvin Lewis era, especially at home, I still do not feel confident when we play the Steelers. The Bengals just can’t play well enough to win for 4 quarters.
Result: Loss Record: 4-2
Week 7 – 10/21, at Kansas City Chiefs, 1pm ET
I think the Chiefs will have a great offense this year and this game will be a high scoring affair. The Bengals have not been able to consistently stop tight ends and the Chiefs have one of the best in Travis Kelce. I think KC wins a close one at home.
Result: Loss Record: 4-3
Week 8 – 10/28, vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1pm ET
I believe Tampa will be a “bottom of the barrel” team this season. I think the Bengals win convincingly at home.
Result: WIN Record: 5-3
Week 9 – BYE
Week 10 – 11/11, vs New Orleans Saints, 1pm ET
Like the Falcons I think the Saints will have a high powered offense and also be a Super Bowl contender this season. This will be another big test for the Bengals at home and I think they pull off the upset in this one.
Result: WIN Record: 6-3
Week 11 – 11/18, at Baltimore Ravens, 1pm ET
These games are usually close and often come down to the wire (see 2014, 2015, and 2017 in Baltimore), but I think the Bengals win another close one in the 4th quarter and sweep the series with the Ravens this season.
Result: WIN Record: 7-3
Week 12 – 11/25, vs Cleveland Browns, 1pm ET
Joe Mixon gets going in this game and rushes for over 100 yards and 2 TD’s. I predict a close game unlike the last several meetings but the Bengals still get the win.
Result: WIN Record: 8-3
Week 13 – 12/2, vs Denver Broncos, 1pm ET
Denver will have a strong defense this season and it will be interesting to see former Bengals CB Adam Jones line up across from his old team. I think the Bengals offense will struggle this week and lose a low scoring game at home.
Result: Loss Record: 8-4
Week 14 – 12/9, at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05pm ET
The Chargers defense looks strong on paper. Philip Rivers may lead the league in passing yards if he and his receivers stay healthy. The Bengals might struggle on the west coast. I predict they drop this one in LA.
Result: Loss Record: 8-5
Week 15 – 12/16, vs Oakland Raiders, 1pm ET
A lot of former Bengals (Brandon LaFell, A.J. McCarron, Leon Hall, Reggie Nelson, Emmanuel Lamur, Mike Nugent, DC Paul Guenther) come to town but I think the Raiders will be a mess this season. The Bengals blow out the Raiders in The Jungle.
Result: WIN Record: 9-5
Week 16 – 12/23, at Cleveland Browns, 1pm ET
Even though I believe the Browns will be a lot better this year I think the Bengals pull off a sweep in the Battle of Ohio once again and win convincingly as they push towards the postseason.
Result: WIN Record: 10-5
Week 17 – 12/30, at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1pm ET
I think the Bengals will clinch a playoff spot regardless of whether they win this game but I think this could be a game that decides who wins the AFC North. The AFC North still goes through Pittsburgh so I hesitate to pick a very young Bengals team to beat the Steelers until I see more mental toughness.
Result: Loss Record: 10-6
The Bengals make it to the playoffs via a Wild Card berth at 10-6.
There you have it, I predict the Bengals to win 10 games just like I did back in April and the only differences now are that I pick them to win in Carolina and at home again the Saints and to lose at home to the Broncos and in the season finale against the Steelers.
Early 2018 Bengals Game-By-Game Predictions
The NFL released the complete regular season schedule this past Thursday. Only two teams have an easier strength of schedule than the Bengals (the Texans and Titans). The Bengals will not play in a prime time game on Monday night or Sunday night in 2018 and only have 1 prime time game during the season, a Thursday night home game against the Baltimore Ravens on September 13th.
Week 1 – 9/9, at Indianapolis Colts, 1pm ET
I predict that Andrew Luck will have some rust to shake off if this is his first game back since 2016. Result: WIN Record: 1-0
Week 2 – 9/13, vs Baltimore Ravens, 8:20pm ET
The Bengals home opener is their only prime time game of the season. Given that fact and how badly the Bengals played in their home opener last season against the Ravens (they were shutout 20-0) I think the Bengals find a way to win. Result: WIN Record: 2-0
Week 3 – 9/23, at Carolina Panthers, 1pm ET
The last time these two teams played it ended in a 37-37 tie. I predict a close game but give the Panthers the edge at home. Result: Loss Record: 2-1
Week 4 – 9/30, at Atlanta Falcons, 1pm ET
I think the Falcons will be a playoff caliber team in 2018 and the Bengals will struggle against Matty Ice and his weapons on the road. Result: Loss Record: 2-2
Week 5 – 10/7, vs Miami Dolphins, 1pm ET
I think the Dolpins will deal with inconsistencies at the quarterback position again in 2018 and I think the Bengals will be the better team. Result: WIN Record: 3-2
Week 6 – 10/14, vs Pittsburgh Steelers, 1pm ET
It’ll be a dog fight but Marvin Lewis’ team does not usually come out on top in these games. Result: Loss Record: 3-3
Week 7 – 10/21, at Kansas City Chiefs, 1pm ET
The Bengals do not catch any breaks after Steelers week and face a tough Chiefs team on the road. Result: Loss Record: 3-4
Week 8 – 10/28, vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1pm ET
I like the Bengals in this matchup at home against an uncommon opponent. Result: WIN Record: 4-4
Week 9 – BYE
Week 10 – 11/11, vs New Orleans Saints, 1pm ET
Another home game against another uncommon opponent but I predict the Bengals to lose in OT against Brees and Kamara. Result: Loss Record: 4-5
Week 11 – 11/18, at Baltimore Ravens, 1pm ET
I really think the Ravens will be just an average team in 2018, great defense but subpar on the offensive side. The Bengals usually play the Ravens close in Baltimore. Result: WIN Record: 5-5
Week 12 – 11/25, vs Cleveland Browns, 1pm ET
The Browns will improve in 2018 but I think they finish with 3-4 wins but one of those will not be in The Jungle. Result: WIN Record: 6-5
Week 13 – 12/2, vs Denver Broncos, 1pm ET
I think this game could be a low scoring affair with two QBs trying to conservatively manage the game against two solid defenses. I give the edge to Cincy at home by a field goal. Result: WIN Record: 7-5
Week 14 – 12/9, at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05pm ET
The Bengals used to really struggle playing on the west coast. Although they have had better success in recent years I think the Chargers are an improving team and pull this one out at home in LA. Result: Loss Record: 7-6
Week 15 – 12/16, vs Oakland Raiders, 1pm ET
The Bengals will have something to prove at home against the Raiders with DC Paul Guenther coming to Cincy to coach against his former team. I think the Bengals will show well. Result: WIN Record: 8-6
Week 16 – 12/23, at Cleveland Browns, 1pm ET
It will be a close game in Cleveland but I still like the Bengals to edge the Browns. Result: WIN Record: 9-6
Week 17 – 12/30, at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1pm ET
With a potential playoff berth on the line, this game is huge. The Bengals find a way to win by a field goal to sneak into the post-season. Result: WIN Record: 10-6
Pacing Bengals Stats After 4 Games
The Bengals have finished the first quarter of the regular season with a 1-3 record after struggling offensively during the first few games against the Ravens and Texans, but after making a change at offensive coordinator from Ken Zampese to Bill Lazor, the offense has played much better the past 2 games against the Packers and Browns.
Below are player stats after 4 games and the pace they are currently on for the season.
Andy Dalton has currently thrown for 892 yards, 6 TD’s and 4 INT’s while completing over 66% of his passes, he has also been sacked 14 times through 4 games. Dalton is currently on pace to finish the season with 3,568 yards, 24 TD’s and 16 INT’s. Let’s hope the Bengals offensive line shows improvement with regards to pass protection as they are on pace to give up 56 sacks this season, that would be 15 more than they allowed in 2016.
The Bengals have 3 running backs with more than 80 yards rushing. Joe Mixon leads the team with 136 yards rushing on 52 carries, Giovani Bernard has 89 yards on 18 carries and Jeremy Hill rounds out the trio with 82 yards on 25 attempts. Mixon is on pace to finish the season with 544 yards rushing on 208 carries but I expect to see improvement on his current average of 2.6 yards per carry. Bernard is on pace to finish with 356 yards on 72 carries and Hill is on pace to finish with 332 yards on 100 attempts. Bernard also has 8 receptions for 134 yards along with 2 receiving TD’s and Mixon has 11 receptions for another 78 yards.
The best offensive player on the team is without a doubt WR A.J. Green. Green currently leads the team 25 receptions for 315 yards receiving and 2 TD’s which would put him on pace to finish the season with 100 receptions, 1,260 yards and 8 TD’s. Bernard and Mixon are the 2nd and 4th leading receivers on the team at the moment but TE Tyler Kroft has displayed a Tyler Eifert-like presence at times and has 10 receptions, 101 yards and 2 TD’s. Brandon Lafell has also had 10 catches for 76 yards.
When it comes to the defense 2nd year LB Nick Vigil is currently leading the Bengals with 34 tackles, he also has 1 sack and 1 INT. The Bengals pass rush has shown improvement this season so far and veteran DT Geno Atkins has 3 of the teams 12 sacks so far. Rookie LB Carl Lawson has 2.5 sacks and has shown the ability to provide consistent pressure on opposing QB’s when on the field. CB Darqueze Dennard also has 2 sacks and backup DE Chris Smith who the Bengals traded for in the offseason from the Jacksonville Jaguars has 1.5 QB sacks.
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