[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Red Dawg

They are finally cooked. They needed to win the 3 against Balt, LAC and Pitt to stay in it and lost them all. It's done. 9-8 best they can do but they lose every tie breaker. Season is washed. Chase contract gonna ruin the defense even more. Joe climbing up hill battle to get a ring.

They've been cooked for 8 weeks. For the same reasons that were obvious by the end of September.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

So could Carolina - each are equally likely.

The Bengals are done.

They're probably not far from a complete melt-down. That defense isn't good enough to win games in the North. They're still gonna lose a game to Pittsburgh and maybe even Cleveland. They're going to lose another one to Baltimore.

Honestly, I'm not sure why I should even expect them to beat the Giants, let alone the Cowboys or Eagles.

They'll probably end up at/near .500 but that's not gonna get the job done.

They're cooked.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

9-8 is pretty much their ceiling at this point.

They have 6 games against the AFC North left and they have no defense to speak of.

AFC North games are built on uglying it up and winning late with defensive stands. The Bengals ain't winning those. If they're lucky they manage to go 3-3 in those games.

So they need to find 6 other wins? Not impossible, but not easy. Giants, Panthers, Faid, Broncos, Titans and then hope to steal 1 of the three against Dallas/Philly/LAC?

Does 9-8 get them into the playoffs? No, i don't think it does.

But hey, maybe they'll get to take advantage of that cake last place schedule again next season. So they've got that going for them....which is nice.

They're just not a good football team.