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Cincinnati Bengals Post-Draft, Preseason Picks 2018

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Now that the 2018 NFL Draft is in the rear view mirror and off-season moves have been made, the Cincinnati Bengals could make some noise in the AFC North this fall.

They picked up a handful of players who have more than a handful of promise. They will have OC Bill Lazor running the show on offense and he will go into the year having a full offseason to prepare and install his offense this time. He’s a guy who, let’s face it, would win every “Bitchin-est Name” contest if those things existed.

Those things, combined with a couple of very winnable early-season games and the fact that we play in the same division as the Cleveland Browns, means the playoffs could be within reach this year.

Here’s a game-by-game pick of how I think the Cincinnati Bengals’ 2018 season will go.

Cincinnati Bengals Game-by-Game Picks

Week 1 @ Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck has been out of action since being placed on injured reserve last November. The Colts’ 4-12 record shows how important he is to the team. A rusty shoulder combined with a long layoff leads one to think Cincy will start the season 1-0. Put me down as that one. 1-0

Week 2 vs Baltimore Ravens
Of all the picks, this is the one that has me running in slow-mo through a wheat field with my arms open. Cincinnati beat the Ravens 31-27 to end 2017. An early season win here means a one-game lead against a division contender. It also means momentum. That could be the difference between the playoffs or not. 2-0

Week 3 @ Carolina Panthers
The Carolina offense was very un-Cam Newton like in 2017. They were 28th in the league in passing offense. Fortunately, their rushing D only gave up 88 yards a game, and the team rode that stat to a 5th-seed playoff berth. Given the Cincinnati Bengals’s shaky ground game the last few years, we think the Panthers take this one. 2-1

Week 4 @ Atlanta Falcons
The last time there was an air attack this scary, Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds was in theaters. It starts with the 150 Million Dollar Man Matt Ryan and continues with Pro Bowler Julio Jones, 67-catch Mohamed Sanu and first-rounder Calvin Ridley. Sad to say, it looks like the Bengals won’t be able to keep up. 2-2.

Week 5 vs Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins either won small or lost big last year. Five of their fix wins were by one possession or less. Six of their 10 losses were by 14 points or more. They have a new weapon this year in Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki, but a non-quarterback expected to generate an extra two TDs per game is a tall order. Miami won’t be able to generate enough points to keep up with Dalton and Co. 3-2

Week 6 vs Pittsburgh Steelers
There, we said the name … blood boiling yet? If it weren’t for Le’veon Bell’s two-hand touch TD last year, the Bengals could have snapped their losing streak against the Steelers, which now stands at six. As much as we hate to say it, the Bengals will continue to play catch-up in this rivalry. We won’t pick ’em until they beat Pittsburgh. 3-3

Week 7 @ Kansas City Chiefs
KC took the AFC West last year, and lost to the Tennessee Titans in the wild-card by one point. They’ve had the whole off-season to stew on what might have been. That, plus home-field advantage, is enough to convince me. 3-4

Week 8 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers should’ve been called the Butt-aneers, what with their tail-end finishing in total defense in 2017. They allowed 378 yards per game and collected a paltry 22 sacks. The Bengals may not roll in this one, but they won’t lose. 4-4

Week 9 vs New Orleans Saints
Besides Pittsburgh, this is arguably our toughest opponent. QB Drew Brees is still churning out Pro-Bowl caliber stats. The defense, while middle of the road, doesn’t need to be special with the offense generating 391 yards a game. Will Cincinnati win? (shake magic 8 ball) Don’t count on it. 4-5

Week 10 @ Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens will have had time to gel by this point. I’m not feeling a second win for some reason. Don’t ask, just a hunch. 4-6

Week 11 vs Cleveland Browns
5-6

Week 12 vs Denver Broncos
Denver averaged just over two sacks a game in 2017, so they hope to shore up their pass rush with, among other players, first-round draft pick DE Bradley Chubb. He’ll have had some time to get his feet underneath him by Week 12, but he will need more than that. The Cincy O-line will hold up against the blitz, and the team will win. 6-6

Week 13 @ Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers possess the most lethal air attack since Alfred Hitchc …… oh, wait. You already heard that one. So you already know our prediction here. 6-7

Week 14 vs Oakland Raiders
The Oakland/Las Vegas Raid-uhs haven’t been that special since 2002, with only one playoff appearance since then. Jon Gruden’s return will pay dividends long-term, but in the meantime, the Bengals take this one. 7-7

Week 15 @ Cleveland Browns
8-7

Week 16 @ Pittsburgh Steelers
See my previous point about the team from up northeast.

Final record: 8-8. If we can get the wins against divisional opponents, then I say we got a shot at the postseason.

Early 2018 Bengals Game-By-Game Predictions

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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

Dalton and Green: Where They’ll Rank in Cincinnati Bengals History

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Andy Dalton and AJ Green are among the most talked-about members of this year’s Cincinnati Bengals. Each is entering his seventh season in the pros. Both already rank among the most productive Bengals in history at their respective positions.

So where will they be when their done? Hope we don’t shock the heck out of you, but it should be at the top. What should shock you, though, is how much faster they’ll achieve some records than the other guys did.

 

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton

Dalton ranks fourth in Cincinnati Bengals’ history in yards, completions, attempts, and touchdowns. In each category, the guys above him are Ken Anderson, Boomer Esiason and Carson Palmer (they are in that order, too, except for completions, where Palmer leads Esiason by a mere nine completions). That means this is a good apples-to-apples comparison of where Dalton is relative to the Big Three.

Anderson and Boomer played 15 and 13 years in the NFL, respectively. Palmer was only here for six seasons. Dalton has also played six, and he’s hot on everyone’s cleats. The short tenure is to Dalton’s advantage. He has several years to go in a pass-happy NFL era; an opportunity that Anderson and Boomer did not enjoy.

Dalton needs only 105 completions to jump to second place in that category, and only 481 yards and 13 TDs to get to third place on those two lists. Both should happen in the first half of this season. From there, the sky – and Ken Anderson – are the limits. Put another way, by 2018, this Dalton will own more passing records than Patrick Swayze’s Dalton owned all those mullet drunks in Road House.

 

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver AJ Green

Of the two of them, Green is higher up on the charts than Dalton. Most of that is because of his skill, physical tools, and work ethic. The other part is being the No. 1 receiver on a team that hasn’t otherwise seen a standout WR since Chad Johnson/Ochocinco/Johnson/WTF-his-name-is. Green has thrived in the role, amassing 7,135 yards in six years to rank 2nd all-time. It took J/O/J/WTF a decade to pile up 10,783 yards. So don’t be surprised if Green, who is averaging 1,189 yards per season, moves into first place sometime during 2020 – less than 10 years into the league (with a few more to go after that).

Green currently ranks fourth in team history in receptions (481) and touchdowns (49). But he’s ahead of the curve, as it took Carl Pickens (530) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (507) seven years to accumulate their reception totals. Even with a subpar 60-catch season, Green will take over the No. 2 spot this year – which means he’ll get there sooner than that if he puts up his typical numbers.

Green best scoring years were in 2012 and 2013 when he hauled in 11 TD catches each. It might be asking a little much for him to record 18 scoring receptions this season. But if he pulls it off, he’ll snatch the all-time team record from Ochocinco in three fewer years … which includes his injury-shortened 2016 campaign.

So sit back and get excited, Cincinnati Bengals’ fans. You’re about to witness history.

Who Stays and Who Goes for Who Dey – Part V

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We just finished Valentine’s Day, and love is still in the air. When your favorite pro football team has free agents who may be staying or leaving, the question invariably comes up … how much do you love them?

That’s the question the Cincinnati Bengals organization is asking itself. We’ve already discussed names like Andrew Whitworth and Dre Kirkpatrick and how we think Cincinnati will try to hold onto them tightly. Others on the free agent list, though, may get the ‘just-friend’ treatment come contract time.

Here are the next two guys on the Cincinnati Bengals’ free agency block. Is Cincy ever gonna give them up, or ever gonna let them down?

10. Rex Burkhead (running back) – Burkhead was a 2013 6th-round draft choice out of Nebraska. He logged, by far, the most activity of his 3-year Cincinnati career in 2016 with 74 rushes for 344 yards and 2 rushing TDs. Add to that 17 receptions for 145 yards. Burkhead runs hard and plays hard. The question isn’t whether he’s capable (he is), but whether the Cincinnati Bengals have someone better, or can get them in a running-back rich NFL draft. Since the team still has Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill under contract (and more money invested there), we doubt they bring Rex back. But he’ll land somewhere, get a nice raise, and make the most of the opportunity. Re-sign (yep or nope): Nope

11. Chykie Brown (cornerback) – Brown spent his first 3.5 seasons in Baltimore and had a cameo appearance for the New York Giants before suiting up for Cincinnati in 2016. This 5th-round pick out of Texas was only active for 5 games for the Bengals and made 2 tackles. Not head-turning numbers, but with the possibility of losing Dre Kirkpatrick to another team and Adam Jones to the prison shower room (don’t drop the soap), the Bengals might want to have some depth on their roster, at least for this year.  Re-sign (yep or nope): Yep

Who Stays and Who Goes for Who Dey – Part IV

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It’s the weekend that every true NFL fan waits for. The first weekend in February. Two weeks after the conference championship games. It’s a given what people are talking about today … Cincinnati Bengals free agency!

We’ve spent the last month analyzing the Bengals who may or may not return to the team this fall. We’ve had a ball doing it, too, so let’s keep it rolling! Here is our call on the next 2 Cincinnati Bengals players on our list – will dey be back?

8. Margus Hunt (defensive end) – The good news for Hunt is that he was a 2nd round draft pick in 2013. The bad news is that he hasn’t shown enough production on the field to justify keeping him around – certainly not long-term. In 4 years, Hunt has tallied 29 tackles and only 1.5 sacks. Granted, the Cincinnati Bengals thought of him as a project pick when they took him. But eventually, projects must pay off – and Hunt hasn’t done much when given the chance aside from using his 6’8″ frame to block some extra points. Don’t expect to see more than a 1-year deal. In fact, with 11 draft picks in 2017 for the Bengals, 1 year seems too generous to us. Re-sign (yep or nope): Nope

9. Wallace Gilberry (defensive end) – Gilberry has been a solid contributor as a rotational backup on the defensive line (20.5 sacks over the last 5 years). What’s better, he can play both end and tackle. That kind of versatility is great when you want to get maximum production from a 53-man roster. He’s liked and respected on the team and in the community. At 32 years old, he may not have a whole lot of gas left in the tank, but he’s an NFL veteran who has proven himself … which is why we say give him another year. Re-sign (yep or nope): Yep