Interesting bye week for the Bengals. The good news is that the Colts lost (and are looking extremely vulnerable) and the Patriots are down 24-0 at half. The Bengals already have the tie breaker over the Patriots and still get the Colts at home. It appears all 3 will be 7-4 after this week.

The other side is that the Steelers crushed the Browns and have been playing well recently and the Ravens won. They are both 5-6 and 2 games behind the Bengals and play each other next week. If the Bengals lose to the Chargers, who had an impressive win in KC this week, they will only have a 1 game cushion on second place after next week.

So not only are we playing for the 2 seed right now. But the division could come back into play. As of now the Bengals are +1 at San Diego next week.

I think I'd prefer the Ravens to win on Thursday since we have a home game with them left as opposed to a road game against the Steelers. Also the Steelers have been playing pretty well recently. They are a 1 point dog next week at Baltimore.

Or maybe the Broncos will blow a 24 point halftime lead.

Brady is locked in

manning! great game.

Peyton made some incredible throws on that drive after being bailed out by a legitimate holding call on I believe the first pass of the drive. The pass interference toward the end of the drive was blatant. Nice to see him step up after a pretty terrible game from him.

Belichick elects to kick off in overtime so that he can have the wind at his back. Given the new rules, where a field goal on the first possession doesn't end the game, I find this decision extremely interesting. Most will call him an idiot who got lucky if he wins, but there is some serious merit to this decision.

Of course as a Bengal fan, I hope he loses.

(11-24-2013 11:51 PM)Overrated Wrote:  Belichick elects to kick off in overtime so that he can have the wind at his back. Given the new rules, where a field goal on the first possession doesn't end the game, I find this decision extremely interesting. Most will call him an idiot who got lucky if he wins, but there is some serious merit to this decision.

Of course as a Bengal fan, I hope he loses.

I wish Marvin would have had the stones to do it against the Ravens.

(11-24-2013 11:53 PM)HoopsJunky Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 11:51 PM)Overrated Wrote:  Belichick elects to kick off in overtime so that he can have the wind at his back. Given the new rules, where a field goal on the first possession doesn't end the game, I find this decision extremely interesting. Most will call him an idiot who got lucky if he wins, but there is some serious merit to this decision.

Of course as a Bengal fan, I hope he loses.

I wish Marvin would have had the stones to do it against the Ravens.

Not sure I agree (although I'd have to think about it given how much our defense dominated that game). Just read on twitter from Brian Burke (@Adv_NFL_Stats) that the new overtime rules in general favor the team receiving first 55/45. So there have to be some extenuating circumstances to make you kick first.

And Marvin was willing to go for it on 4th and short, and has shown a willingness to do that consistently more so than any other NFL coach. 4th and short is said to be a down where coaches are way too conservative.

(11-25-2013 12:06 AM)Overrated Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 11:53 PM)HoopsJunky Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 11:51 PM)Overrated Wrote:  Belichick elects to kick off in overtime so that he can have the wind at his back. Given the new rules, where a field goal on the first possession doesn't end the game, I find this decision extremely interesting. Most will call him an idiot who got lucky if he wins, but there is some serious merit to this decision.

Of course as a Bengal fan, I hope he loses.

I wish Marvin would have had the stones to do it against the Ravens.

Not sure I agree (although I'd have to think about it given how much our defense dominated that game). Just read on twitter from Brian Burke (@Adv_NFL_Stats) that the new overtime rules in general favor the team receiving first 55/45. So there have to be some extenuating circumstances to make you kick first.

And Marvin was willing to go for it on 4th and short, and has shown a willingness to do that consistently more so than any other NFL coach. 4th and short is said to be a down where coaches are way too conservative.

We will have to agree to disagree

Bengals Defense is much better than Patriots Defense.
Broncos offense is much better than the Ravens Offense.

Ravens had 170 yards total offense going into OT
Broncos had scored 31 points in regulation

Bellicheck is a HOF coach who isn't afraid to go against the grain

Pats win

Pats winning means Bengals will most likely have to win out to get that #2 seed as the Pats schedule becomes mega easy.

(11-25-2013 12:33 AM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  Pats winning means Bengals will most likely have to win out to get that #2 seed as the Pats schedule becomes mega easy.

Yep tonight was a brutal loss for the Bengals. The Indy game now becomes huge for the 3 seed. That way they avoid the 5 seed (likely the Chiefs but possibly the Broncos) and then likely avoid traveling to the 1 seed should they win their first game.