Indianapolis Colts Archives

Cincinnati Bengals Post-Draft, Preseason Picks 2018

May 21, 2018 Chris Russell Leave a Comment

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.

Game 7 Recap: Indianapolis Colts @ Cincinnati Bengals

October 29, 2017 Chris Russell 1 Comment

The Cincinnati Bengals made this one a nailbiter. Well, they played the Indianapolis Colts, soooo … let’s say a photo finish. It was a back-and-forth battle in which Cincinnati got the final punch – scoring a defensive touchdown with seven minutes left in the game to eke out a 24-23 victory.

The teams matched each other almost stride for stride. Touchdowns were answered by touchdowns on two occasions and neither team led by more than seven points. The tight contests always went against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2016. But this year, they’ve won their last two one-possession games. Let’s hope that trend continues.

How Things Went

The Colts might as well have put a stamp on the line of scrimmage that said ‘Property of Indy.’ They only allowed Cincinnati to rush for 58 yards on 21 carries and put tons of pressure on Andy Dalton.

But here’s the shocker: Even though Dalton had more nose-to-nose meetings than an 80’s rogue cop with his screaming, the-mayor’s-on-my-ass captain, he didn’t throw a pick or have any major screwups. He took three sacks but ended up with very respectable numbers (17-29, 243 yards, 2 TDs). Rookie Cincy receiver Josh Malone nabbed his first pro touchdown reception. Joe Mixon had a sweet 67-yard catch that features more bobs and weaves than Ali in his prime.

But the Cincinnati Bengals’s offense had some less-than-rosy moments. Six of their possessions lasted six plays or less. They didn’t bag a touchdown until late in the second quarter and fumbled four times (losing two). When you’re handling the ball like wet soap in a game this close, it’s more dangerous than in the prison shower room.

Cincinnati Bengals Player of the Game

Carlos Dunlap takes the honors today with his 16-yard pick-six midway through the fourth quarter. That score (which gave Cincinnati the 24-23 lead), along with a sack, a TFL and three stops, capped off a fine performance.

What This Means Going Forward

It was a much-needed win for the Cincinnati Bengals. It kept them within spitting distance of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North race. With four winnable games coming up in November (Jaguars, Titans, Broncos and Browns), Cincinnati can put themselves back into having a shot at postseason play.

Preseason Game 4 Recap: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Indianapolis Colts

September 2, 2017 Chris Russell Leave a Comment

We’re not sure which was harder to come by in the Cincinnati Bengals’s final preseason game – starters or points.

But either way, Cincy’s 7-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts was just the Bengals’ final warm-up act before the week 1 match-up with Baltimore.

The first teamers sat on both sides. Bengal backup QB AJ McCarron took the reigns and went 20/30 for 216 yards. The defense was pitching a shutout until Colts quarterback Phillip Walker lobbed a 29-yard TD pass to Justice Liggins in the fourth quarter to give the horsies the win.

It wouldn’t have been a win, though, if the Cincinnati Bengals’ kickers hadn’t done their best Mike Nugent impression. Jake Elliott and Randy Bullock each made field goals (50 and 31 yards, respectively), but combined to miss three. Any one of which would have won the game. That may get a hall pass in the preseason, but against a divisional rival with a playoff spot on the line? Mmmm, not so much.

The Cincinnati Bengals did have bright spots. Jordan Willis notched his fourth sack in four games. Jordan Evans played with a Danielle-Steel-book-collection level of passion. Rookie jet engine John Ross took a sweep 25 yards, although he left with a non-serious knee injury. Running back Jarveon Williams rushed for 117 yards and added 42 more on five receptions.

Cincinnati Bengals Player of the Game

We’ll split this one between Williams and Evans. The final preseason game is where the rookies have to make their last good impression, and both of them did. Williams can provide good depth at running back, while Evans (six total tackles, two passes defended, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit) would be great to have while Vontaze “Category 4” Burfict is serving a three-game suspension.

What This Means Going Forward

We were having some PTSD flashbacks to last season while watching the kickers perform. They could (and most likely did) just have an off night. But Cincinnati must find a reliable kicker. Coach Marvin Lewis likely won’t keep two of them on the roster, which is about to be trimmed to 53 men. Will the person who is picked be consistent throughout the season? Time will tell.

Curtain’s about to go up on the 2017 season, ladies and germs. We’re ready. Are you?

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Indianapolis Colts – Preaseason Game 4 Recap

September 2, 2016 Chris Russell Leave a Comment

Last night’s game may not have ended the way Bengals’ fans wanted (a 25-yard game-winning Colts’ TD pass with 40 seconds left), but given that it was just a preseason game whose biggest impact was determining who makes the final 53-man roster, nobody is sweating it.

The starters had the night off, which was a welcome sign to fans who had their fingers crossed that there would be no more injuries to key players. The only tradeoff to that? The first half had about as much action as a Barbara Walters-James Lipton buddy cop movie. The score was tied at 0 at halftime, and even with the exciting final two minutes – which saw a 15-yard touchdown pass from Cincy QB Keith Wenning to wide receiver Alonzo Russell followed by Colts’ signal-caller Stephen Morris’ toss to Tevaun Smith for the clinching TD – it wasn’t a game you needed to set the DVR for.

Here’s the Good and the Bad from Thursday night:

The Good
* Preseason’s over. The next time Cincinnati takes the field, it will be at MetLife Stadium against the Jets on Sunday, September 11 – and it will be for real.
* No big injuries. The worst thing that happened was cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris leaving the game with a stinger.
* Backup DT DeShawn Williams played well, with three tackles (one for a loss) and three QB hits.
* Rookie linebacker Nick Vigil didn’t look like a rookie when he snagged an interception inside the Bengals’ 5-yard line in the second quarter.
* Not to be outdone by those other defenders, LB Trevor Roach made 11 tackles, including five on the Colts’ opening drive.
* Wide receiver Alex Erickson had a good game with three receptions for 44 yards and a couple of punt returns for 18 yards.
* Fellow WR Jake Kumerow also had three catches, for 60 yards. He has a shot to make the practice squad.

The Bad
* The backup offensive line didn’t show up last week. Thursday night was an encore.
* That previous point was evident in Wenning taking a few shots that didn’t need to happen.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Indianapolis Colts – 3 Things to Watch

August 31, 2016 Chris Russell Leave a Comment

The final preseason game may just seem like a formality at this point (c’mon, we’re all ready for the REAL games to start!), but there are a few things to observe as the Cincinnati Bengals host the Indianapolis Colts Thursday night. Here are some.

On-the-bubble players. Wide receiver/kick returner Alex Erickson isn’t guaranteed a roster spot, but he has a golden chance to claim one with veteran return man Brandon Tate being released on Tuesday. Linebackers Trevor Roach and Marquis Flowers are players to keep an eye on as they fight to be part of the final 53. Tre Carson and Bronson Hill are running backs trying to show why they each deserve to be on the roster, but the practice squad might be a more likely destination. If the Bengals keep 6 DBs, cornerback Chykie Brown could be one of them.

Injuries. At one point last week, Cincinnati players were dropping faster than horny teens in an 80s slasher flick. While Cedric Peerman‘s fractured forearm was the only injury that was serious, you wince any time one of your players leaves the field with the team doctor by their side – especially in the preseason. Watch for relatively easy play against the Colts. Get through this game and get to Week 1.

Line woes. In the second half of the Jacksonville game, once the starters were out, the Bengals O had six – count ’em, SIX – drives that went for zero or negative yardage. The reserves on the offensive line certainly aren’t the only reason for that, but they played a big part in not helping to move the chains. Marvin Lewis and line coach Paul Alexander have some work to do to get the backup big guys ready.