NFL Playoffs: Cincinnati Bengals ( 10 - 6 ) @ Houston Texans ( 12 - 4 )

• Ironman92

  

  It was a step in the right direction but the Bengals, coaches, players and fans need playoff wins....not appearances.
  
  Very similar to the Reds.
  
  I would be very frustrated with Lewis.
• friendfromlowry

  Well, that was probably a worst-case scenario game for the Bengals. Not a lot of bright spots. No encouragement that hints they're going in the right direction. The Bengals are literally a team good enough to beat the lesser opponents and narrowly make the playoffs, only to be stomped by the first superior team they meet.
  For the record, I always love the kneejerk reactions of firing Marvin Lewis, firing Gruden, benching Dalton, etc. I was listening to 700WLW out of Cincinnati on the way to work tonight and there were plenty of those callers. The problem is, who out there is better right now? I'm usually as anti-Marvin Lewis as they come, but for once I don't think you can put a whole lot of the blame on him. He didn't overthrow Green, throw a lousy eight yard pass when they needed eleven, fail to get ANY pressure on Schuab, etc.
  
  As far as the offseason goes...
  1. The defense needs to be maintained, especially the defensive line.
  2. Rey Maualuga is the exception to rule #1. He is the one guy they could have left behind in Texas and I'd be okay with. When did he get so fat and slow? He can't cover anyone and running backs dart right by him. Don't resign him, please.
  3. Dalton has plateaued. They need to figure out why. Unless significant improvements are made with him, the Bengals will never win in the playoffs.
  4. The offense needs another playmaker. Aside from AJ Green, there's no one that worries defensive coordinators.
• justincredible

  

  hasbeen;1358635 wrote:***** is irrelevant. Especially in this thread. No reason to even utter his name

  Who?
• gerb131

  

  All I can say is I'm shocked. 20 points is benchmark to win playoff games and we didn't make it.
  Need a linemen and LB who can cover. I knew Daniels and the te would hurt us and they did. Offense took too long to get in gear. Didn't throw a slant til halfway thru 3rd. Wish Andy would have hit AJ just a few steps away. Oh well.
• hasbeen

  

  justincredible;1358777 wrote:Who?

  
  Well played, loving and merciful master.
• sportchampps

  How do you not see hope? They were one Andy dalton overthrow from winning that game.
  
  The really good new is teams are interviewing Jay Gruden but, I haven't heard of Zimmer interviewing anywhere yet.
• thavoice

  I know bengal fans are frustrated. I would be, too, but for one main reason......they came out and openly said that the game plan wasnt to get their best player, a game changer, the ball but to get the lesser players involved. To me that was jus toverthinking the situation
  
  WHen you have a guy like AJ Green, you target him early, and you target him alot. THEN you play off of that and start going other places to spread it around.
  
  Last year they bengals didnt beat anyone who was any good, and stumbled coming into the playoffs. This year they finised 7-1, won a HUGE game in pittsburgh and had a chance to win the game at the end. As an outsider I do see progress and I think next year, barring big injuries, they make that next step and win playoff games. They have drafted well and I think have 3 picks in the first 50 I think. If they just make solid picks, dont even need to be homerun picks like the Ginga Ninja and AJ Green.
  
  Dalton is putting up some TD numbers in his first two seasons that are some of the better in history for guys in the first two seasons. Green and Dalton combo is second behind Marina and Clayton or DUper..forget which one.
  
  As a steelers fan, an outsider...I can see how bengal fans are frustrated. I would be as well to a point....but in the grand scheme of things I think the best is yet to come for the bengals.
• se-alum

  

  If I were a Bengals fan, my biggest worry would be Dalton becoming the next Mark Sanchez. He didn't seem to be much better than he was as a rookie. This is a time in the NFL where mediocre QB's don't win championships.
• sportchampps

  I do think Dalton is a career middle of the road Quarterback (Sanchez was never middle of the road IMO.). I think the Bengals can still win with him though as long as they keep good offensive pieces around him and keep the defense playing as stellar as it has been. There are definitely hole that need filled but the young core of this team is damn good.