Bengals-Talk

All the latest news and talk about the Cincinnati Bengals

You are here: Home / Archives for Story

A Case for the Bengals Making the Playoffs Next Season

6 Comments

In case you haven’t heard, the 54th Super Bowl will be taking place this Sunday in Miami, Florida. On one side you have the Kansas City Chiefs, who have made the playoffs for the past five seasons and have been a staple of consistency under Andy Reid. On the other side of the field stand the San Francisco 49ers, who not too long ago endured a (2-14) season similar to the Bengals’ 2019 season. In looking at these two teams, Bengals fans can stand to be encouraged about the prospects of a playoff berth occurring sooner rather than later.

In general, the NFL Playoffs see fairly consistent turnover season to season. Over the past five seasons, an average of five of the 12 playoff teams are newcomers from the previous season, with only the Patriots, Chiefs, Seahawks, and Texans making more than three playoff appearances during that time. Remarkably, 29 of the 32 NFL teams have made at least one playoff appearance since the 2015 – 2016 season (pour one out for the Browns, Buccaneers, and Jets). We also have seen teams make rather
quick turnarounds, which we can see in looking at team win/loss records since 2015. Since 2015, there have been 14 different instances of teams adding at least six wins to their previous season total. Just this season, we saw the NFC representatives in the Super Bowl jump from four wins to 13. While predicting win/loss records for the upcoming season is a futile effort (especially in January), it would not be unheard of to see the Bengals make a major leap in 2020 and flirt with 8-9 wins. While that is not likely enough to enter the playoff picture, it would be a gigantic step forward in the right direction and lay the foundation for a potential 2021 playoff run.


When looking at the Kansas City Chiefs, we can simplify their blueprint as such: The Chiefs win with a masterful offensive scheme that gets their plethora of playmakers into space, relying on their elite quarterback and outstanding athletes on the outside to win. Their defense is opportunistic in forcing turnovers and creating sacks, even if they yield higher yardage amounts. It would behoove the Bengals to try to mirror the Chiefs blueprint as closely as possible, and I believe just a few moves could put them
on the right track.


On the offensive side of the ball, it starts with the quarterback position. Andy Dalton is a fine quarterback but by now we know he is not the guy that will lead us to the promised land. While Joe Burrow is a complete unknown at the professional level, there is reason to believe based on his most recent body of work along with the traits he displayed in full this past college season, that he can be a franchise quarterback. A quarterback that is able to make plays (that is, making things happen when plays begin to breakdown or do not go according to plan) frees up an entire offense and helps cover some of those warts that can creep up from time to time. Add in an offensive play-caller now entering his second season with a disposal of weapons on offense (Boyd, Mixon, Tate, and potentially A.J. Green)
to accompany his rookie quarterback and Zac Taylor should be able to unleash a little more firepower than what we saw last season with the likes of Ryan Finley, Alex Erickson, and CJ Uzomah all playing meaningful snaps. A free agent signing of a solid backend defender like Justin Simmons (90.8 PFF grade, four interceptions) or Anthony Harris (90.5 PFF grade, six interceptions) and continued growth of Carl Lawson and Sam Hubbard would potentially go a long way towards helping this defense force more
turnovers.


Now, is it likely that the Bengals become major spenders in free agency? Probably not, even if they do have $49 million in cap space with the potential of having $75+ million with the trade/release of Dalton and Cordy Glenn. But you can see that in just a few moves, they could very well become a formidable foe come next season. We know some team(s) is going to see a major increase in wins next season, and most likely nearly half of the playoff field will look different than it did this season. The Bengals can make that leap and return to the playoffs for the first time in half a decade.

Remembering Chris Henry

Leave a Comment

December 17th, 2009 is a day that stands out to a lot of Bengals fans. Today, December 17th, 2019 marks the 10th anniversary of former Bengals wide receiver Chris “Slim” Henry’s sudden death at the young age of 26.

In his sophomore season at West Virginia in 2003 Henry broke out and had 1,006 yards on 41 catches for 10 touchdowns, clearly showing how much of a deep threat he was with his speed. In his junior season in 2004, he finished with 872 yards on 52 catches and 12 touchdowns.

In the 2005 NFL Draft Henry was overlooked and avoided by many teams because of his reputation of being a headcase and getting into trouble off the field. In classic Bengals (and Marvin Lewis) fashion, they took a chance on Henry in the third round of the 2005 draft and he had an immediate impact and became a big play guy out of the slot. The Bengals offense was a juggernaut in 2005 with quarterback Carson Palmer leading the way with a supporting cast of running back Rudi Johnson, and fellow wide receivers Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh in addition to Henry. In 2005 Henry had 422 yards receiving on 31 receptions and 6 touchdowns, including a big 66-yard catch on the first play of the 2005 AFC Wild card game against the Steelers.

After that 2005 season, Henry got into trouble several times and was suspended by the NFL for 2 games in the 2006 regular season for violating the leagues Personal Conduct and Substance Abuse Policies. Once again in 2007 Henry was suspended, this time for the first 8 games of the season. And in March of 2008 Henry punched a man in the face and threw a beer bottle through his car window, Henry was waived by the Bengals the next day.

In August of 2008 Henry was allowed back in the NFL and the Bengals resigned him and he stayed out of trouble for the entire 2008 season. According to multiple teammates, Henry was headed in the right direction. He did not get into any trouble through the first 14 weeks of the 2009 season, as the Bengals themselves seemed to turn their season around and were making a playoff push. Henry and his then-wife got into an altercation and he fell out of her truck while she was driving and suffered a severe head injury and he ended up passing away.

Rip Slim #15

Finley Finally Gets His Shot

Leave a Comment

On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 30th, just three hours before the trade deadline, the Bengals made a big announcement. It was not a trade, but a benching of 9-year veteran quarterback Andy Dalton in favor of rookie quarterback Ryan Finley (a 4th round pick out of NC State). With the Bengals’ record at 0-8 there is seemingly nothing to lose. Starting Finley will give management the opportunity to see what they have and ultimately decide if they should draft a quarterback with their potential first-round pick.

Andy Dalton has struggled the last few weeks, especially against the Jaguars in week 7 when he threw 3 interceptions in the 4th quarter alone, one of those being a pick 6. This season Dalton has a 60% completion percentage with 9 touchdowns and 8 interceptions and 2,252 passing yards.

Ryan Finley will be making his NFL debut on Sunday against the Bengals AFC North rival the Baltimore Ravens. Finley began his college career at Boise State where he played in just three games his freshmen year (2014) and four games his sophomore year (2015).  After a 2016 transfer to North Carolina State, he finished his senior season with a 67% completion percentage, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for 3,298 yards. 

Finley looked impressive during the preseason when playing against backups. He had a 73% completion percentage for 3 touchdowns and 1 interception and 414 yards.


A Bengals Legend: Cedric Benson

Leave a Comment

Cedric Benson, the number 4 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft passed away on the night of Saturday, August 17th from a motorcycle accident. He was only 36 years old. 

Benson was drafted by the Chicago Bears after an incredible senior season at Texas where he rushed for 1,834 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. But things did not start out as planned in the NFL, in his rookie year he only rushed for 272 yards in 9 games and the next two seasons less than 700 yards per season. Benson came to the Bengals in the 2008 offseason and was considered a head case and a distraction, but in Marvin Lewis fashion he took a chance on Benson and boy did it pay off.

Benson’s 2008 campaign was not very productive, only 747 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns, while the Bengals finished 4-11-1 with starting QB Carson Palmer out for the majority of the season with a right elbow injury. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick said how great of a locker room guy and teammate Benson was.

In 2009 Benson really broke out and displayed what everyone thought he would be when he was drafted. Benson put up 1,251 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns while helping the Bengals get to the playoffs and an AFC North title for the first time since 2005. In that 2009 season Benson had a huge game against his former team the Chicago Bears. He put on a show in a 45-10 Bengals blow out win where he rushed for 189 yards and a touchdown. 

 In 2010 Benson rushed for 1,111 yards and 7 touchdowns and in 2011 1,067 yards and 6 touchdowns while once again helping the Bengals get back to the playoffs with rookie QB Andy Dalton and rookie WR AJ Green. 

The Bengals cut Benson after the 2011 season after he had some fumbling issues and replaced him with Benjarvus Green-Ellis in 2012. Benson last played in the NFL in 2012 for the Green Bay Packers but suffered a Lisfranc injury in his foot and ended up retiring. Rest in peace 32.



Vontaze Burfict’s Fine Money Could Buy You Many Things

Leave a Comment

Vontaze Burfict likes to play football. A lot. Vontaze Burfict seems to get fined. A lot.

His latest run-in, 2 separate hits in the last Pittsburgh Steelers game, cost him $112,000. Considering the opponent, it was almost worth it.

His career list of offenses, which reads like that list from season 2 of The Simpsons where Marge was documenting the ways Itchy and Scratchy were slaughtering each other, includes unsportsmanlike penalties, late hits, spearing, stepping on LeGarrette Blount, and the incident that makes us hope Ryan Taylor was wearing his jock.

Burfict’s total fines since 2013 clocks in at $415,637.

So, if you’ve ever wondered how much you could buy with the total of VB’s bad-boy money, the answer is … a lot.

What You Could Buy With Vontaze Burfict’s Fine Money

For 415,000 smackers, you could afford:

  • All cost-of-living expenses for 9 out-of-state students to attend Arizona State University (Burfict’s alma mater) for a year. Plus some beer money. But you didn’t hear us say that.
  • Burfict’s rookie salary as an undrafted free agent in 2012 ($390,000).
  • This beautiful 3BR, 4BA house on Berwyn Place in Cincinnati, with enough left over for home furnishings.
  • 415 Bengal kittens. Think $1000 for one of those critters is expensive? Mike Tyson spent about $4000 per month to care for his three white Bengal tigers back in the day.
  • 24,755 copies of The Simpsons (season 2) on DVD.

And FYI, these numbers don’t reflect the $4+ million in forfeited pay that Burfict has been docked because of his suspensions. Don’t get us started.