Why the Bengals love? And over the Pats, too? I don’t get it. Please allow me to argue in favor of swapping the two teams…..
Here are the Bengals’s impressive wins:
(1) Week 1 at KC.
(2) The win at New Orleans.
(3) The home win against Baltimore.
Bear in mind that along the way they lost to Tampa Bay, and were smoked by the Pats and the Colts (in Cincy by the Pats, too).
Yes, they just barely lost to the Chargers in a shootout, and the Chargers are by far the best team in the AFC right now. But the Pats lost by a touchdown to Indy when Indy was undefeated and rolling — so I’d say the “close losses against superior competition” category is a push between the two teams.
The Pats got bushwhacked by the Dolphins, true. But again — the Bengals lost to Tampa Bay. TAMPA BAY!!!! The Pats played shitty against Detroit, but still found a way to win. The Bengals played shitty against TB, and lost. Champion teams find ways to win when they’re not at their best.
Both teams have taken care of bidness against the weak (for Cincy, Cleveland x 2; for the Pats, Green Bay, Minny, and Houston), so that’s a push.
But most importantly, the Pats beat the Bengals badly head to head, and at Cincy. That has to count for something, even if it was several weeks ago. Also, after losing badly at home and getting the bye week, how did Cincy respond? You guessed it — by playing shitty and losing to Tampa Bay. After losing badly (it was a bad loss, even though the score was relatively close) to the Broncos at home, how did the Pats respond? You guessed it — by going into Cincy and pounding the Bengals.
Also, how can you discount the Colts loss by saying the Colts “really needed it” and the Bengals didn’t? Last time I checked, the Colts — recent losses notwithstanding — were pretty much guaranteed the AFC Central title regardless of how they played against Cincy, while Cincy was (and still is) locked in a 4-team battle for two wild card spots, only holding one now because of a one-game conference record advantage over the Jets. Don’t the BENGALS need every game right now? Shouldn’t they have approached the Indy game as a “statement” game, besides being important for qualifying for the playoffs? That was a bad loss for Cincy any way you slice it: a loss to a possible playoff opponent, a loss in-conference that hurts them in the wild card hunt, a loss on national TV, a loss where they looked befuddled for the entire second half while Manning passed at will. THIS is the seventh-best team in the NFL right now?
Yo, settle down, Tolstoy. Both teams in your dissertation range from mediocre to good, depending on which games you watch. MJD’s rankings don’t have to make sense - they just gotta entertain.
How bout them Eagles? Think they can take out the Cowboys one mo’ time?
The short answer is that I just don’t care. I mean, there’s no right or wrong, people argue about every single team every week. I don’t feel like the Patriots are very good, because they can’t keep anyone out of Brady’s face at the moment. I thought the Bengals had been playing better ball as of late.
But if you want me to say I’m wrong… that’s OK with me. Your points are perfectly valid, and… well, again, I just don’t care. I just try to make it an entertaining read. Thanks for caring, though.
Fear not, you still rule, MJD. But I have to do SOMETHING at work other than working, right? Why not trash the Bengals? Surely you see the logic in that….
As long as I’m complaining: I demand more letters from sports figures’ pets!
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Dave Ryan Says:
December 21st, 2006 at 1:10 pm
MJD–
Why the Bengals love? And over the Pats, too? I don’t get it. Please allow me to argue in favor of swapping the two teams…..
Here are the Bengals’s impressive wins:
(1) Week 1 at KC.
(2) The win at New Orleans.
(3) The home win against Baltimore.
Bear in mind that along the way they lost to Tampa Bay, and were smoked by the Pats and the Colts (in Cincy by the Pats, too).
Yes, they just barely lost to the Chargers in a shootout, and the Chargers are by far the best team in the AFC right now. But the Pats lost by a touchdown to Indy when Indy was undefeated and rolling — so I’d say the “close losses against superior competition” category is a push between the two teams.
The Pats got bushwhacked by the Dolphins, true. But again — the Bengals lost to Tampa Bay. TAMPA BAY!!!! The Pats played shitty against Detroit, but still found a way to win. The Bengals played shitty against TB, and lost. Champion teams find ways to win when they’re not at their best.
Both teams have taken care of bidness against the weak (for Cincy, Cleveland x 2; for the Pats, Green Bay, Minny, and Houston), so that’s a push.
But most importantly, the Pats beat the Bengals badly head to head, and at Cincy. That has to count for something, even if it was several weeks ago. Also, after losing badly at home and getting the bye week, how did Cincy respond? You guessed it — by playing shitty and losing to Tampa Bay. After losing badly (it was a bad loss, even though the score was relatively close) to the Broncos at home, how did the Pats respond? You guessed it — by going into Cincy and pounding the Bengals.
Also, how can you discount the Colts loss by saying the Colts “really needed it” and the Bengals didn’t? Last time I checked, the Colts — recent losses notwithstanding — were pretty much guaranteed the AFC Central title regardless of how they played against Cincy, while Cincy was (and still is) locked in a 4-team battle for two wild card spots, only holding one now because of a one-game conference record advantage over the Jets. Don’t the BENGALS need every game right now? Shouldn’t they have approached the Indy game as a “statement” game, besides being important for qualifying for the playoffs? That was a bad loss for Cincy any way you slice it: a loss to a possible playoff opponent, a loss in-conference that hurts them in the wild card hunt, a loss on national TV, a loss where they looked befuddled for the entire second half while Manning passed at will. THIS is the seventh-best team in the NFL right now?
I call shenaningans.
Mr. Bojangles Says:
December 21st, 2006 at 5:42 pm
Yo, settle down, Tolstoy. Both teams in your dissertation range from mediocre to good, depending on which games you watch. MJD’s rankings don’t have to make sense - they just gotta entertain.
How bout them Eagles? Think they can take out the Cowboys one mo’ time?
the mighty mjd Says:
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:48 am
Dave -
The short answer is that I just don’t care. I mean, there’s no right or wrong, people argue about every single team every week. I don’t feel like the Patriots are very good, because they can’t keep anyone out of Brady’s face at the moment. I thought the Bengals had been playing better ball as of late.
But if you want me to say I’m wrong… that’s OK with me. Your points are perfectly valid, and… well, again, I just don’t care. I just try to make it an entertaining read. Thanks for caring, though.
WBRS Sports Blog Says:
December 22nd, 2006 at 11:24 am
Dallas at 3? I love it MJD!
Dave Ryan Says:
December 22nd, 2006 at 12:25 pm
Fear not, you still rule, MJD. But I have to do SOMETHING at work other than working, right? Why not trash the Bengals? Surely you see the logic in that….
As long as I’m complaining: I demand more letters from sports figures’ pets!