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Why the Bengals can still make the playoffs in 2018

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After a 4-1 start to the season, the Bengals found themselves in first place in the AFC North. Now a few short weeks later, they sit at 5-4 in second place behind the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals can still make the playoffs, in fact if the season ended today they would be the number six seed. But the Bengals are trending in the wrong direction, and many people are beginning to write them off. Here is how and why the Bengals will still make the playoffs in 2018.

Defense

Their major problem right now is the defense. They are ranked 30th in total yards allowed and 31st in points allowed. This makes it very hard for a team to win even with their offense ranked 11th in total points scored, averaging 26.1 points per game. The defense as a whole has to improve, but how? For starters, they fired defensive coordinator Teryl Austin following last Sunday’s embarrassing loss to the New Orleans Saints. Austin’s defense got off to an okay start through the first few weeks, coming up big with turnovers that led to multiple wins. The defense took a turn against the Steelers and seemingly never got back on track. On the final defensive drive of the game, the Bengals defense allowed the Steelers to march down to field goal range after letting them convert on a long third down and a costly defensive holding penalty by Dre Kirkpatrick. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Austin called an all out blitz a few plays later where Ben Roethlisberger connected with Antonio Brown to give the Steelers the win. After the game, Vontaze Burfict was on tape asking why they called a play they had never even practiced.

From here things continued to get worse for the defense, with multiple players beginning to question Teryl Austin’s methods. This continued to snowball, the Bengals would go on to give up 500+ yards on defense in three straight games, an NFL record. This led to the Bengals making an usual move, and firing a coach midseason. This now puts Marvin Lewis in total control of the defense, a move that could ignite a late season spark that this defense desperately needs. Lewis was known as a defensive guru before taking the head coaching job in Cincinnati. Lewis is the man behind some of the best defenses in the Super Bowl era. It is now all eyes on Lewis who appears to already be working first hand with the defense on the basics of football. A good sign for Bengals fans.

Hue is back!

Hue Jackson! I know that Bengals fans have very mixed feelings on bringing Hue back in the fold, and if the end goal is to eventually promote him to head coach I dislike the move. However, bringing in someone the Bengals players all trust and someone who had great success in Cincinnati, its not a terrible idea. Marvin will get to focus on the defense and have someone he trusts on the sidelines on game day in case he needs to spend more time with the defense. It is almost as if they want him to serve more like the coach and Marvin as the defensive coordinator without the official titles. It will be interesting to see how this hire plays out and the effects that it will have but the bottom line is that Hue had great success in Cincinnati, why not try to find that spark this team needs.

Remaining Schedule

The biggest reason the Bengals could still make the playoffs is their schedule. Right now it looks like the Chiefs, Patriots, Chargers, Steelers, and Texans are all sitting in pretty good for spots 1-5 in the AFC playoff picture. Which means there is one wild card spot up for grabs. In my opinion there are four teams including the Bengals that will be fighting for the last wild card spot. Those teams are the Bengals, the Ravens, the Titans, and the Colts. The Bengals and Colts both have much easier schedules remaining compared to the Titans and Ravens. The Ravens still have games against the Chiefs, Falcons, and Chargers. The Titans will still face the Redskins, Jaguars, Texans, and a red hot Colts team twice. Indianapolis has a chance to go 5-2 to close out the year which would leave them with a 9-7 record. Their two toughest games will be at the Texans, who they almost beat earlier in the year, and at the Jaguars, who they beat last week. Then we have the Bengals, who could also finish the year 5-2 to end up at 10-6 on the year.

Week 11: @ Ravens – A winnable game for Cincinnati. They have a history of doing very well against the Ravens, and it is a Ravens team that could see either a rookie or Robert Griffin III starting at quarterback. Baltimore has a tough defense but I think Cincinnati wins this game.

Week 12: Browns – At home against the Browns with their old head coach on the Bengals sideline, the Browns will make it tough but the Bengals should walk away with the win.

Week 13: Broncos – The Broncos have a tough defense but a weak quarterback to lead their offense. As long as the Bengals keep Von Miller off of Andy Dalton this is another game the Bengals should win.

Week 14: @ Chargers – A possible three game win streak will see its end in LA. The Chargers are red hot right now with only two losses. I think the Bengals will fly home with a loss.

Week 15: Raiders – The Raiders look like the favorites to finish the season with the first overall pick in next years draft and are clearly building for the future. The Bengals get back in the win column.

Week 16: @ Browns – Winning on the road in Cleveland will be tougher than in Cincinnati but the Bengals still have experience on their side. The Bengals should sneak out with a close win.

Week 17: @ Steelers – The Bengals aren’t beating the Steelers on the road. They can’t even beat them at home. The Bengals end the year with a loss.

This would put the Bengals at 10-6 and in a prime spot to sneak into the playoffs. Based off of my projections I have the four teams projected to finish as so…

Bengals 10-6

Colts 9-7 (Colts hold tiebreaker in this scenario)

Titans 9-7

Ravens 7-9

As I mentioned the Ravens have a tough second half schedule and I think their final record will suffer for it. The Bengals can’t afford anything less than a 10 win season with how close this wild card race could be. With Cincinnati’s remaining schedule, a 10-6 finish is still on the table.

No one is saying it will be easy, but the sky is not quite falling just yet for this team. With a good blend of veterans and youth, and a fresh coaching change, the Bengals still have the talent to be a playoff team. I would love to hear your thoughts on the Bengals playoff outlook. Be sure to follow me on twitter @Pierson242FF. Who dey!

Bengals Week 2 Preview – Baltimore at Cincinnati

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Baltimore Ravens (1-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)

Wow, was it nice to have football back, not just for the Bengals but for the NFL as a whole. It was of course especially good for Bengals fans as they not only won but they also saw the Steelers not win. They of course tied with the Browns which ties the Bengals for first place in the AFC North and a chance to take it over against the team they are tied with, the Baltimore Ravens.

Before we move on to week 2, there’s a few things I want to mention from what I saw at the game Sunday. First things first, Joe Mixon is good at football. After a disappointing rookie year, Joe Mixon looks as good as advertised, tallying nearly 150 total yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. Mixon was the difference maker in Sunday’s game. Next, is the offensive line, while they were not perfect they were MUCH better than last year. Mixon saw more success running, and Dalton got more time to throw. It is still early in the year and they should continue to develop. A.J. Green had a case of the fumbles on Sunday, fumbling twice. It was not good to see from the veteran but not something to worry about. Green has been in the game long enough, he will fix it and move on. Overall it was a great performance for the Bengals who started slow, going into halftime down 10-16. However, in the second half they clicked and played like a much better team, outscoring the Colts 24-7.

Now onto week 2, where the Bengals host the Ravens on Thursday Night Football. The Ravens are fresh off of a blowout win against the Bills, and as I mentioned, both teams will be playing for the AFC North division lead.

Matchups to watch for…

Joe Mixon vs. Baltimore’s front seven – Baltimore held the Bills to just 83 yards rushing as a team, with no one exceeding 31 yards total. They played well, however the Bills offensive line is significantly worse than the Bengals. The Bengals were able to rush for over 100 yards as a team, with Mixon going for 95 himself. Mixon was a difference maker in the game Sunday, without him they don’t win. Mixon will be a huge piece if the Bengals want to win Thursday night. They need to get him going early and often so he can find his rhythm and repeat his week 1 performance.

John Ross vs. Brandon Carr – Carr gets his second start due to the suspension of Jimmy Smith. Carr had an exceptional week one allowing two catches for 24 yards on seven targets. However, the competition Carr faced last week is not quit what he will get in week 2. Carr should be lined up against John Ross most the game and it will be interesting to see what Ross can do. With Marlon Humphrey and either Eric Weddle or Tony Jefferson on Green. Ross should see man coverage. Aside from a short touchdown reception, Ross was quiet in week 1. If the Bengals are to win this, they will need some big plays from Ross. He has the skill to win this matchup, all eyes will be on the speedy second year man vs. this Baltimore defense.

Geno Atkins vs. Marshall Yanda – Geno made his presence known on Sunday sacking Andrew Luck once and recording 4 tackles. He did it against their rookie first round pick.  This week he will not be as lucky. He faces one of the league’s best in Marshall Yanda. In week 1, Yando received a 87.9 Pass Block grade and allowed no pressures. It’s the league’s best versus the leagues best. Hopefully Geno can out muscle him in the trenches and put Flacco in the dirt.

Other things to watch for…

Based on last Sunday’s game in Indy it appears that many think the Bengals defensive line underperformed because of their lack of sacks, to which I disagree. They may not have recorded many sacks but it was because of Andrew Luck’s elite sense of pressure. Multiple times it looked as if the Bengals would drag him down and he would step up and avoid it. He also was getting the ball away very quickly to avoid the pass rush. I don’t think Joe Flacco will be able to escape the way Luck did.

My Prediction: It will be fun to watch and to see what Bill Lazor’s offense can do in week 2 against a very good Ravens defense. The Ravens do not have big tight end threats which the Bengals tend to struggle against, like the Colts do. This will leave more pressure on the secondary than the linebackers, which is a better place to depend on for this defense. All eyes will be on the defensive line to see if they can turn there pressures into sacks on Joe Flacco. I am excited for the first home game of the year. With the confidence of a week 1 victory, the Bengals have the talent to show this Ravens team what they are made of. The last time Dalton faced the Ravens he threw for three touchdowns and knocked them out of the playoffs. The Bengals are 7-2 in their last nine meetings with Baltimore. With confidence, and a new found run game, the Bengals win this one 27-24.

My Bengals Predictions on the year: 1-0

Be sure to follow me on twitter @Pierson242FF, and if you are at the game, be sure to tweet at me as I will also be in attendance on Thursday. Who Dey!

Game: Baltimore Ravens (1-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)

Date/Time: September 13, 2018 at 8:20 p.m. EST

Location: Paul Brown Stadium Stadium

Uniforms: Black Jersey

Last Matchup: 12/31/17 – Bengals 31, Ravens 27

Odds: Bengals, +1.5

Bengals Week 1 Preview – Cincinnati at Indianapolis

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Cincinnati Bengals (0-0) at Indianapolis Colts (0-0)

In what can almost be considered a home game for the Bengals, they travel to Indianapolis on Sunday to take on the Colts in Andrew Luck’s return to football. Both teams will be looking to bounce back from poor 2017 seasons.

For the Colts it will be Andrew Luck showing he is still capable of playing football and that he can do it at a high level. The Colts defense looks like it may be one of the worst in the league, so they will need everything they can get from Luck. For the Bengals it will be all eyes on Andy Dalton. Loaded with talent around him it depends on what Dalton can do against a poor Indy defense to prove he is still a guy capable of winning a championship with.

Matchups to watch for…

Geno Atkins vs. Quenton Nelson – Nelson was the highest picked offensive lineman in the 2018 NFL Draft, and it was no surprise to see the Colts take him. The Colts have one of the worst lines in the league and need everything they can to help protect Andrew Luck. Nelson gets no time to adjust to the NFL as his first career start will be against all-pro defensive tackle Geno Atkins. Geno is one of the best interior lineman in the league, Bengals fans are hoping he can use his experience to make easy work of the rookie.

A.J. Green vs. Quincy Wilson – In what could be the biggest mismatch of the game, A.J. Green will go up against Colts corner Quincy Nelson. Nelson was a second round pick in the 2017 draft and did not see a lot of playing time last year, this year he starts out guarding an all-pro in A.J. Green. Green should be able to take advantage of this matchup, which should also open up John Ross to one-on-one coverage on the opposite side. The Bengals should be able to capitalize on this Colts secondary.

William Jackson III vs. T.Y. Hilton – Green and Wilson will not be the only WR/CB matchup to watch. On the flip side we will see what could be one of the toughest matchups for both players on the day. T.Y. Hilton is one of the best deep threat receivers in the league, who struggled last year with no Luck. William Jackson is one of the league’s elite up and coming young corners. Jackson held Antonio Brown (ever heard of him?) without a reception last year. William Jackson will look to continue his success from last year against Indy.

Other things to watch for…

The Bengals entire defensive line –  The Bengals should have a strong outing this week against a bad Colts line. There is also rumor that Colts starter Anthony Castonzo is questionable for this game. Expect the Bengals ferocious d-line to carry their preseason momentum into Lucas Oil.

Bengals offensive weapons not named AJ Green – As mentioned before, the Colts have one of the league’s worst secondaries on paper. Outside of Malik Hooker, who is returning from injury, the Bengals have several favorable matchups. With Green lined up drawing Hooker’s attention, Ross, Boyd, and Eifert should feast with one-on-one coverage opportunities.

My Prediction: It should be an exciting games for Bengal fans to see what Lazor’s offense can do after a full offseason. A weak Colts defense should be the perfect game to display his creativity with his weapons all healthy. I am very optimistic about this Bengals team in 2018 and I think they go in and win in convincing fashion to open the year. With a fierce pass rush, and a deadly air attack, the Bengals win this one 35-17.

Be sure to follow me on twitter @Pierson242FF, and if you are at the game, be sure to tweet at me as I will also be in attendance on Sunday. Who Dey!

Game: Bengals (0-0) at Indianapolis Colts (0-0)

Date/Time: September 9, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. EST

Location: Lucas Oil Stadium

Uniforms: Color Rush

Last Matchup: 10/29/17 – Bengals 24, Colts 23

Odds: Bengals, +3

Bengals 2018 Regular Season Win/Loss Predictions

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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.

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.