Week 17 Preview: Silly Sundays

This one is tough to call. Who will play and for how long?

If it's all the starters all the time, then the Bengals win with little difficulty. The Ravens have been shoddy offensively for three or four weeks and Cincinnati has been straight up dominant at home this season. Joe Flacco's knee hurts, Art Jones hasn't practiced all week, and John Harbaugh simply will not stop complaining about everything under the sun.

This Baltimore team hasn't risen up to its Super Bowl self of last year. Their run game is in the toilet, their passing targets are limited and Flacco seems extra turnover prone at the moment. There was a lot of chest-thumping on their behalf once they outkicked the Lions in a field goal contest, but what was lost in the hoopla surrounding a 61-yard game-winning field goal was the fact that Baltimore couldn't score a touchdown.

The Ravens want to go deep as much as possible. They have fast receivers, and Flacco can hurl it downfield with the best of them, but the vertical passing focus can be quite a hindrance when a team is forced to rely on it. It becomes easy to defend. The 2010 Bengals became junkies of the deep pass and it cost them win after win after win. The 2013 Ravens haven't quite imploded the way Carson Palmer did in his last season in Cincinnati, but they are unable to gain moderate chunks of yardage once the opposing defense takes away anything deep and they quickly fall apart. Mike Zimmer teaches his men to drop deep and allow underneath catches, then rally to the ball carrier for short gains. Against some west-coast offenses, this approach can be problematic because they are able to patiently move the ball by nickel and diming the Bengals, but Baltimore wants the quick strike and they want it now.

If it comes down to preseason football where Tyrod Taylor takes on Josh Johnson for three quarters, your guess is as good as mine as to who wins. If it matters, I think the Bengals have some of the best backups in the league, so I guess I like their chances in a Backup Bowl too, but once football gets silly in this way, predictions go out the window.

This begs the question: why would Marvin not play his starters with a first-round bye at hand? I can't answer this. Maybe he will. But think of it this way, if you play your starters and the Bills are unable to win in New England, have you sacrificed a fresher team for a remote chance at a better seeding? Marvin Lewis typically plays it safe. That's why I don't think Andy Dalton plays all 60 minutes tomorrow.

If I were the Bengals, I would hand the ball to BenJarvus Green-Ellis 40 times and throw sparingly. The Law Firm can take the pounding and it would cut down on the wear to the more dynamic playmakers on the team. If the defense can hang in there, it could be a 14-12 kind of game where the Bengals win and still not tax anybody too much outside of Benny.

Chances are though, while the starters are in there, they will go about their offense as usual. Home games this season have been point explosions with lots and lots of touchdowns. If that continues Sunday, the Ravens don't stand a chance. Honestly, no one does.

Yet the good times can't last forever. Eventually a team will rise to the challenge and make it tough on the Stripes in the Jungle. I don't think it will be this week, Baltimore simply isn't that good. Nor do I think it will be the week after. All the wildcard contenders are beatable-especially Miami. That would effectively end the home games for Cincinnati with a perfect record. The road, though, is nasty in January, and plenty of problems are likely to crop up at that point, but for now, we will enjoy what we're given and that's playoff-caliber football from our favorite team. I am proud of these Bengals.  Who dey!

Bengals 31, Ravens 20

Mojokong-sick with it.

Week 16 Preview: The Answer

Originally, this piece was to be about the lack of respect the Bengals are experiencing right now but that's an old and tired play and since I respect them still, why indulge the opposition with the fight they seek?

Instead, we look ahead to a vital game against a beatable opponent, one that could serve as a healing win and bolster the team's confidence, but one that I don't think will be an easy stroll by any stretch.

The Vikings didn't like any of their quarterbacks earlier in the season, They spun the carousel a couple of times with Matt Cassel and Christian Ponder, brought in Josh Freeman for a go at it, and when no immediate answer surfaced, they settled on Cassel in the end for better or worse. Since the position has stabilized, the offense has improved and the significant talent that exists outside of the quarterback is beginning to come to light.

This is a classic bad-team tale. The 2002 Bengals come to mind with Gus Frerrote, Akili Smith and Jon Kitna battling for a job and costing the team wins in the process. They settled on Kitna and he gave Chad Johnson wings.

It makes sense that the worst teams would be better at the end of the year. If a team is bad because of injuries to key spots, or because their roster was composed with too much youth and inexperience, then at this point, the backups and rookies know the playbook and probably have had ample reps as well. The players and coaches better understand each other. These are eliminated from the playoffs, yes, but there is money to be made and that still matters in this game.

Minnesota has quality players even without Adrian Peterson. Toby Gerhart is a bruiser with field vision, the trio of Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson, and our boy, Jerome Simpson make for at least a speedy and athletic receiving corps, and Cassel himself has been a steady hand and looked particularly good last week.

Despite all of that, the Vikings are still a bad team.

Last week, they played in their comfortable dome and ran their offense like it was practice against Philadelphia. The week before that they played in a snow storm with the fury of planet Hoth and mightily struggled for 58 minutes (the last two were nuts!). This week, it won't be freezing but wet and windy, so I expect something in between in terms of production.

Obviously, the first thing anybody ever wants to do against Minnesota is contain Adrian Peterson who is widely considered the undisputed champ of running backs of his generation. Assuming everyone agrees with this approach, then one must decide how to take on the Vikings passing game. Philadelphia applied minimal pressure and dared Cassel to throw into coverage. The Ravens were far more aggressive with their blitz schemes and had more success.

Pressure on the quarterback has subsided over the past two weeks for the Bengals, and the expectations for the front four are high even without Geno Atkins, but perhaps Mike Zimmer has blitzed less often because of the type of quarterback he's faced. Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck are players who thrive when plans go awry. Both move around well and both keep their eyes downfield. Matt Cassel is not that kind of person.

Cassel seems like a very mechanical player. When he drops back five steps, plants his back foot, takes one hop and then fires, he is a quality player, but the process must be clean as a whistle or else his game breaks down rapidly. When he scrambles he either puts his head down and hopes for the best or looks to throw the ball out of bounds. Rattling him seems very achievable with the right mixture of blitzes.

His delivery is also noticeably mechanical and is therefore slow. When he drops his shoulder to throw, there is an extra hitch or two before the ball comes out allowing the defense an extra nanosecond of reaction, which can make all the difference. I could see corners wanting to take some risks against a player like that. If Cassel is not comfortable in the pocket, the secondary can become even more chancy. Look for a pick six, maybe two.

On defense, the Vikings aren't bad. Nick Foles ran on them well last week, but Andy Dalton is not the same threat with his legs. Their front four seems rather stout and their linebackers tackle well. Their linebackers also cover well, but in a reverse way, I think this is the element that will allow the Bengals to win.

The Vikings put a lot of trust in their linebackers covering people and for good reason, but a team like the Bengals are built for mismatches like this. They have the big, strong guy in Jermaine Gresham, the big, fast guy in Tyler Eifert, the little, strong guy in Gio Bernard, and the little, fast guy in Andrew Hawkins. All are dangerous in space and all bring different weaponry to the table. Finding sensible ways to get these men the ball against man coverage is the way to win. Simply checking off to underneath targets can allow for easy first downs. Exploit the overconfidence the Vikings may have in their linebackers by using the odd cast of complimentary players around A.J. Green and the Bengals offense should enjoy another nice day at home.

Everyone is a little tense right now about the very near future, but for a moment, let's zoom back a frame and look at a bigger picture. Here is a team with a 9-5 record, winners of three of their last four and scorers of over 40 points three home games in a row. Here is a team that lost last week to a divisional rival on the road thanks to two first-quarter punting snafus. Here is a team with signature wins over New England, Indianapolis, and Green Bay. Yet, despite all of their success, the world waits for the Bengals to fail and pounce on them every time they do.

This team is still a quality one made up of solid professionals; that didn't change from Sunday night to Monday morning. They have risen up from a bad team, to an average team, to a good one. The organization has built well for the last four years and it's paying off. What more must they do?

I know that answer and it begins on Sunday.

Bengals 30, Vikings, 24

Mojokong-find me in the cheap seats chanting "dome team!".

Week 15 Preview: The Stats Say Yes, the Gut Says No.

The Steelers may be in a bit of trouble. If they aren't careful in the next upcoming season or two, they could find themselves in a dark chapter of their storied history.

I realize that struck a nerve with the majority of the football universe. Here I am, a Bengals fan, warning Pittsburghabout their team. Many will think a hardy yet dismissive chortle is in order after such a sentiment. Yet, when one removes their superiority sunglasses, studded with six little jewel-encrusted trophy replicas on the sides, they might see a roster in transition and a staff in question. Or they might not.

First and foremost, the Pittsburgh Steelers still represent excellence. They have built their organization on a power foundation and have done their best to stick to it while adjusting to the current game.  Historically speaking, their selections of personnel, both players and coaches, have been phenomenal.

Right now, however, there are a lot of pieces in flux.

There are whispers about Mike Tomlin coaching the Texas Longhorns. I'm sure this is just gossip, but there is a lotof money in Texas; never underestimate what a rich Texan can buy. And at what point do the tables turn for Tomlin within his own fan base? If he carries on missing the playoffs and ending third or worse in his division, how soon is he accused of riding the coattails of winning a championship with someone else's team? When will he become Tubby Smith?

Dick LeBeau is truly the Yoda of the NFL, but even the little green guy had to hang it up eventually and so will Dick. It would be hard to count on the man for much longer. It's impossible to say he isn't among the greatest defensive minds of all time, probably the best, but he doesn't have the rottweilers he used to and his old gang ages right along with him. There are many rocking chairs awaiting this defense and it's showing up.

On offense, there is talent missing.  David Decastro and Mike Pouncey were good draft picks but both have missed significant stretches of time with injuries. Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams now seem drafted too high. Le'Veon Bell shows promise, and Antonio Brown has proven to be a gem, but there simply aren't many play-makers on this side of the ball. In the last three drafts, the Steelers have produced eight touchdowns from players they selected; the Bengals have 48 in that same span.

Whether or not Kevin Colbert fairly gets the blame or not is known to us schmoes outside of the building, but in the everyday world, it's the general managers who get the chop when multiple drafts go by without yielding big-time talent. Of course, that isn't the case in Cincinnati where the owner Mike Brown is the de facto general manager and should have fired himself every year in the 90's, but his organizational direction has dramatically improved in the recent past.

And that isn't even mentioning the increasingly murky waters of Ben Roethlisberger's future with the team. Sure, Ben says the right things to the media about his relationship with offensive coordinator, Todd Haley, but it seems clear that it's strained at best. Todd Haley yells at people, openly and a lot. He might be one of those tough love guys, but it may be hard to work for a person like that for Ben and for others. Of course if it came down to “him or me", the Rooneys would ship out Haley with that morning's recycling over disposing of Big Ben, but I expect one of these men to be gone in January either way.

Roethlisberger is expensive; hall-of-fame quarterbacks usually are. Today's economic model indicates that the best teams pay less for their young quarterbacks, but on the other hand, good quarterback play is still the most vital ingredient for success in the NFL. He has two more years on his current contract which will pay him over $17 million each season and his next signing day will likely exceed the $20 million a year mark. He has said he would rather retire than be traded, but we have seen crazier things happen before.

So while it may be an overstatement to say that the sky is falling in Pittsburgh, it is certainly a dip in their self-made standard and more than ever the torch feels passed.

On to the game.

The Bengals now fancy themselves a running team. The return of Andrew Whitworth to left guard has allowed Anthony Collins to finally get his shot at regularly starting at tackle, and together they maul. The double-barrel action of the old-reliable BenJarvus Green-Ellis complimented by the jitterbug Giovani Bernard, has created a facet the Bengals offense haven't enjoyed since the Sam Wyche days. The last two weeks, the duo has met expectations as they salt away second half leads and let the line bloody some noses on power runs up the gut. Last week against Indianapolis, Whitworth and Collins showed their athleticism as they consistently made downfield blocks on pitch plays to Bernard. The line also hasn't allowed a sack in three weeks. It's the best line play we've seen since 2005.

The Steelers must commit to stopping the run. Andy Dalton is not a great deep passer. Loading up the box against the Bengals and forcing them to win on long throws is a smart strategy. If Pittsburgh allows sustained drives created by rushing first downs, they will wear out and lose easily in the last quarter. Playing physical at the line of scrimmage against the Bengals receivers will force Dalton to improvise if they are adequately jammed, and Big Red is not a great improvisor. If they give A.J. Green and company cushion on the outside, the Bengals can win on underneath throws and check offs for first downs.

The Steelers aren't going to run well against Mike Zimmer's cew. Their best chance for success against this defense is to beat them over the top. The Bengals corners are not terribly fast, but the Steelers receivers are true burners. The way Zimmer counters this quandary is by dropping his coverage deep, allowing short throws and coming up to quickly make the tackle. It's his style. Last week, the defensive backs missed tackles that twice allowed touchdowns. Much was made about it and Zimmer himself said he will not tolerate missed tackles.

If Ben wants to throw for five to seven yards on first or second down, this defense will let him all day. He can drive his team to the Bengals' 40 yard line on a regular basis. Getting into the end zone though proves problematic when facing Cincinnati.

At this point, everyone knows how to defend Roethlisberger: Don't overpursue him in the pocket. Keep him in the pocket. When you get your hands on him, bring him down, and don't ever stop covering your receiver until you hear the whistle blow. The blue-prints are public information, it's actually doing it that's the problem.

Ben is a big bad ass who takes a thousand hits a season and laughs as he ices his joints every week. He's a throwback and a backyard legend. What he wants to do more than anything else, is run around and make a play out of nothing. He would rather invent football than go by the script. The Bengals know this and they have the players to make his day difficult, but there is no magic analysis to glean from. Stop him from making improvised plays and you win; it's that simple.

Therefore, all in all, I don't have a great feeling about this game for the Bengals. They have a much better roster, are playing well at the moment, need this game for prime playoff positioning, but don't play well in the division on the road. Andy Dalton was so good last week that I feel some balancing out is in order for Sunday night. It will be loud and cold and the two following games are in Cincinnati. If they were to let down their guard in the season's last quarter, it would be this game. Because the Bengals are so deep and talented this year, it's almost unfair to group them into historical trends of the dismal past, but this simply feels like a loss.

Steelers 24, Bengals 20

Mojokong—irregardless of what you've read.

Week 14 Preview: Full of Wonder

The last quarter is here. All in all, things have gone well for the Bengals. They sit atop their division and are now battling for a nice seed (aren't we all?). They enjoy a final stretch where they will play three of their last four games at home. Every player on the active roster practiced this week. Games are selling out. Football is fun in Cincinnati.

The Colts are so similar, and yet so different from that. They too have a comfortable lead in their division, are thinking of playoff position and get two easy remaining home games on the schedule. Yet the climate around the Indianapolis football team feels more worried than fun.

This team is in a funk. Their offensive identity is questionable. Andrew Luck scrambling is their best play at the moment. It seems they have not evolved past the Reggie Wayne injury and their power-run efforts have been stymied by Trent Richardson's inability to acclimate to his new scheme quickly enough. Last week, the Colts beat the Titans on the strength of Ryan Fitzpatrick making poor decisions and turning the ball over four times; it felt more like a Tennessee loss than an Indianapolis win. The week before that they were hammered by the Cardinals in the desert. Momentum has waned some on the Cots' season here in December which can be the death knell for Super Bowl hopefuls. If Indianapolis gets handled in this one against the Bengals, it might take great effort to rise from the proverbial mat.

All that being said, no 8-4 team is made up of bums. Andrew Luck consists of high-grade material. His instinct for the game is tremendous, he's more athletic than he looks, and his arm is just fine, thank you. This guy carries his team the way great ones do and shows a lot of passion and confidence in the huddle. The problem seems to be the lack of play-makers around him. After the Wayne injury, Coby Fleener now appears the most dangerous Colts receiver.

Another problem seems to be the offensive line, which has been porous the last two weeks. Luck has good pocket-presence but often hasn't had time to run. Poor pass-protection mixed with receivers not getting open against the Cincinnati front four-in the snow-makes for a scary day for Mr. Luck.

The Bengals defense is fierce even with missing stars. They allow short throws all day, allow mini drives to their own 40, and then tighten up like a straightjacket forcing punts and an occasional field goal. They delight their fans and frustrate the crap out of the opposition. They are the Zim Clan and we love them dearly. The Colts will need a few long plays to truly make a difference against them, and that ain't easy.

On the Cincinnati side, their offense is the opposite of Indianapolis. They have a tremendous assortment of weapons in their stockpile, but their quarterback is not of Andrew Luck ilk. The backups on this offense are better than many starters in the league. Talent drips from Jay Gruden's roster.

The quarterback issue has been worn to bits by fans and observers and is always summed up by saying that Andy Dalton is "okay". Now, though, the thinking is that perhaps Dalton's arm will become less important down the wintery stretch to the playoffs. Last week in sunny San Diego, the Bengals pounded their way to a tough-guy win and performed the victory formation on the Chargers three yard line. The offensive line has been shuffled in a manner that I believe will show improved results from their previous line up. Andrew Whitworth was a terrific guard early in his pro career. Anthony Collins is an exceptional backup tackle. Kevin Zeitler is battling some injuries at the moment but was out last week too and the line carried on nicely without him.

Perhaps now with the line adjustments, the Bengals may turn to power running more often, but I also think that may have been the idea since training camp irregardless of injury. Remember last season when the Bengals enjoyed their best stretch of games in November by pounding the rock, allowing BenJarvus Green-Ellis to display something like explosiveness, especially at home. Now with Benny complimented by the electric Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati can both wear out defenses and gash them in the process.

The Colts are a decent team to try a new identity on. Their man-to-man defense allows for big runs if the runner can reach their second tier. They also allow a lot of underneath stuff on the pass. Last week, Fitzpatrick chose the deeper crossing route instead of the check offs and short out routes that looked to be there all day. I know it's a term many football fans hate to hear, but if Dalton simply manages the game and minimizes the risks, I think the Bengals can nickle-and-dime the Colts to a win. The last team to play a lot of man coverage against Cincinnati were the Jets and they were roasted for 49 points. Look for the Bengals to throw short but run long for big yards after the catch thanks to broken tackles and superior matchups.

If the Bengals earn a victory, they will position themselves closer to a first-round bye and apply that pressure on New England. If the new line rolls over the Colts and the running game keeps the offense in a comfort zone, the team will grow even stronger for the long haul. This last quarter is vital for momentum purposes heading into January. Marvin Lewis cannot have his team trickle into the playoffs the way it has the last two years. This should be a great win.

Bengals 20, Colts 10

Mojokong-standing in the end zones for this one.

Week 13 Preview: The Shocker

The San Diego Chargers are another prime example of a quality quarterback keeping the franchise afloat. This team is not terribly talented, no longer built to compete for championships. The have a hall-of-fame tight end in Antonio Gates, but he is getting closer to that yellow jacket with each passing game and is beyond his prime. Phillip Rivers himself is clearly in the second half of his career as well. With so many youngsters around the sparse yet aged veterans, the team appears pulled in two different directions.

Yet, thanks to Rivers, they can score points. That fiery southerner can still throw the most accurate lob pass in the league. Because of his experience, he can extend plays into huge gains if given time and opposing secondaries must maintain tight discipline throughout every play.

Rivers likes to dump it off to his backs no matter who it is. Danny Woodhead provides all kinds of match up problems for the Bengals. Ryan Mathews was getting into the grove before hurting himself against Kansas City and even Ronnie Brown sees action with the Bolts. All of these guys are expected to play a significant part of the San Diego passing game and are used with regularity.

The Chargers also like to line up with three wide on one side and a lone receiver on the other and run inside slant routes to the middle of the field. Keenan Allen killed the Chiefs last week with inside slants and crossing routes, and Rivers looked his way seemingly the whole first half. He has quick feet and nice field vision after the catch. He may be an emerging go-to guy for this offense.

Ladarius Green is another matchup nightmare. Despite his impressive size, he can run away from corners and safeties with relative ease. He has a sprinter's stride and of his 14 catches this year, 7 have gone for over 20 yards. Mike Zimmer will have to keep a very close eye on Green when he's in the game due to his explosive play ability.

The way to stop all of these guys seems like a Cover-2 approach. Keep the corners in the flats to protect against the running back dump-offs. Keep linebackers in the middle to stop the inside slants. That leaves the deep sidelines open which puts the onus on the safeties to get over there on time. It's a bit of a gamble in one sense, but the Bengals pass rush remains the team's strongest suit and the front four alone can often disrupt the timing needed to effectively execute the deep sideline throw. Zimmer knows when to blitz, the defense is solid against the run, two major contributors return this week in Devon Still and Rey Maualuga, and even though Vontaze Burfict is questionable, the Chargers aren't scoring 40 points on this defense.

On offense, the Bengals are poised for a big day. The thing I can say the Chargers do best on defense is recognize the screen pass. Other than that, I wasn't too impressed. Their corners are susceptible in man coverage and because of their lack of physical tools, they rack up a lot of defensive hold and pass interference penalties. Against the Dolphins, this team was flagged for offside four times. They are okay against the run, but they overpursue and allow shifty backs like Jamaal Charles and possibly Giovani Bernard, to really hurt them on cutback runs.

The Bengals would be smart to run eight yard comeback routes all day from the looks of things. The corners are easily beaten out of the breaks by double moves and effective shakes. Assuming A.J. Green gets primary safety help, the likes of Andrew Hawkins and Marvin Jones could get comfortable against the limited coverage they see. It seems sheer speed is the key ingredient to roasting this defense and it may come as a surprise to some that Cincinnati quietly has a plenty of quickness on their roster. This has the makings of a game where Dalton gets back in the groove.

Another crack in the Charger facade is that of their kick and punt coverage teams. Last week, Kansas City started their drive past the 35-yard line on what seemed like every kickoff. Dexter McCluster on punts, and Quinton Demps on kickoffs, found open running lanes on every occasion. My guess is that the Bengals enjoy at least two scores that are directly related to their return game. The special teams for Cincinnati has been a bright spot so far in 2013 and this is a matchup that could significantly add to that dimension.

There is no getting around the fact that this game is to take place in California and that the Bengals have had a shoddy history of West Coast contests. They will perform in a different time zone and face a decent team on the road. I know these factors make it harder to win, and I have been far too dismissive in the past of such ethereal elements of the game, but the Bengals are a better team than the Chargers. At some point this organization needs to belong. The doubt must subside and the statements must be made. Winning this game would call for a worthy chest thump and would create a wave of optimism heading into an even bigger showdown the following week against Indy, but it's a game Cincinnati should win. If they are really gonna do something this year, it starts tomorrow.

Bengals 31, Chargers 26

Mojokong-California soul.

The Big Picture: A Striped Surprise

In the AFC, there is only one team truly qualified to win the Super Bowl.  No others appear to have the firepower to hang with the Denver Broncos.  To beat them, a team must score at least 30 points and hope for the best from their defense.  As it is, only the Colts have showed the appropriate shootout ability to topple the Rocky Mountain titans and that feat seems too unlikely to ever repeat.

So there you have it; the season might as well be over.

We as a football nation are so thorough and so quick to dismiss every other possible contender that it seems Denver could just remove their starters for the remainder of the regular season, lose all five games, and still maintain their unbeatable status heading into January.  Indianapolis and New England are good, but not good enough.  The Chiefs had a fun go of things early on in the season, but despite a perfect record before falling at Mile High Stadium in Week 11, they were not really taken seriously by the football wizards at any point of the 2013 season.

That, of course, leaves the Cincinnati Bengals-a team so offensively inconsistent that those who follow the game don't even feel comfortable calling them decent.  Forget the ghosts of the past that shackled the organization from legitimacy for so long-those days have now been mercifully shoved to the darkened corners of history books thanks to multiple postseason appearances.  This team is being judged for this year and has so far earned  something of a B- for the season.

A B- isn't bad for a lot of teams in the league.  Whoever winds up gaining the last wild-card slot in the AFC is currently well below such a mark and isn't likely to end with that kind of respectable grade come playoff time.   To be fifth best in a conference means that many things went well.  In some years, it may mean a championship is attainable and within grasp, but many consider this year's Lamar Hunt trophy spoken for by Mr. Peyton Manning performing his best John Elway impression by retiring as a champion. The script is written; we are all expected to sit and watch it unfold as planned.

Yet, these are events acted out by human beings and we all know how badly things get screwed up when people get involved.  As a species, humans are the party-crashers of expectation.  They are unable to even sniff perfection; some would say they are born to fail.  And even the greatest of our kind fail in spectacular fashion.   Michael Jordan, the most epic of all the athletes, withered into an old mortal and one day met an end to his domination.  Manning too has let us down time and time and time again.  Every year, we are collectively mystified by his regular-season greatness.  Every year, from September to December, we are washed over by the waves of praise directed at Peyton Manning.  And then, ever so quickly, once his team loses in the playoffs, we are reminded that he is a human too, and we diminish his legacy until the following year.

So, just as humans are able to fail when they are expected to succeed, they also often pleasantly surprise us.  Andy Dalton winning playoff games at this point would come as a surprise to most of us.  He is mercurial, first up then down then up then down again.  Against the Jets he looked problem-free, gliding the offense along like a schooner enjoying a steady wind.  Since then, he has crumbled to bits and looks like a very average person trying to play quarterback in the NFL.  It only takes a handful of bad throws to utterly ruin a game in such a position.  Last weekend he threw a terrific pass to Jermaine Gresham for the team's first touchdown.  It lofted perfectly into Gresham's hands while surrounded by three approaching Cleveland Browns.  He had a few other throws of note, but it was the misses that tarnished the afternoon and left us all with a lingering off-putting taste in our mouths.

He cannot be only average to placate our desire to see the team win meaningful playoff games.  Those around him-his teammates-are better than him.  This is a Super Bowl defense, a Super Bowl offensive line and a Super Bowl coaching staff.  The organization, the players and the city are ready.  This season, this team, has reached a high-water mark of relevancy compared to the last two decades. Yet its most important cog is performing adequately at best.   The point has been belabored, I will lightly remove myself from such a worn-out soapbox, but the point has been made: he must be better or they lose again. Can he do it? He is a human being with tremendous untapped potential.  Has he shown that he can do it?  No.

But he is not completely alone with his shortcomings.  In the recent dismal stretch for the offense, it seems the wide receivers have had a whale of a time getting open.  Too many passes are too heavily contested and consequently Dalton's targets are asked to haul in tough-guy passes on a regular basis.  A lot of these men are fairly tough individuals, but catching a football while an athletic person is draped upon one's back is simply a hard thing to do.

There are a lot of factors that are involved with this.  Scheme and play design are first.  Jay Gruden has done some impressive things with this offense.  He has developed the likes of Marvin Jones, Mohamed Sanu and even A.J. Green nicely.  Andy Dalton is likely a better QB for playing under Gruden than he would under other coordinators.  All in all, Gruden has been a success in Cincinnati.  Now, though, it seems defenses are on to him.

The Jets played the Bengals with straight up man-to-man coverage and were roasted as a result.  Since then, teams have gone zone, dropping linebackers back in coverage and daring Dalton to locate the open pockets.  Perhaps the biggest criticism on Dalton is his inability to stay cool in the pocket and go through his proper reads.  He panics easily, often flushes himself out of the pocket, or forces throws to his primary receiver.  Sometimes, Gruden schemes to the point where it looks easy.  At those times, Dalton plays the game as if it has been simplified for him.  Gruden's brain allows this to happen.

When it's not as straight forward, however, things rapidly fall apart for the passing game, and eventually for the team as a whole.  Once defenses adjust to the current scheme, there seems to be an extended lag before the Bengals can get back on track.  The current lag of this kind is now into its third game and San Diego hopes it continues.

I think the receivers themselves have to take some blame as well for the recent struggles.  A.J. Green pulling up a yard short on his comeback route on third down is not okay.  Gresham dropping passes to the point that it makes him look stupid is not okay.  No one able to run a decent screen pass is not okay.  Pass catchers have a job to do too.  Not every pass by even the greatest quarterback is guaranteed to always be on target; route running, blocking, and especially catching the ball have to be in sequence for good things to happen.

The running game has not blown anyone away so far this year, but it's hard to call it a major problem.  I was most impressed last week when, in the second half and with a sizable lead, the Bengals showed their power formations, faced nine-man defensive fronts and still managed to drive down the field and score a touchdown by running the ball.  I think the group as a whole drifts away from the ground game and becomes overly smitten with the west-coast passing game, but short runs when the defense knows it's coming has proven to be senseless as well, so who knows.  Nonetheless, the passing game sets up the run for this team when maybe it should be the other way around.

The team has five games to show it can play with the big dogs.  The last two years, the offense has lost a lot of steam in the stretch run and was easily bounced from the playoffs in the wild-card game.  The late bye-week can only help this cause.  Not only is it a chance for bruises to heal and pain to subside, it's a pause from the daily grind to allow the brain trust to zoom out and see the big picture.  The trends and patterns, positive and negative, known and unknown, should hopefully come into focus for these men and they will make the appropriate adjustments.  The current product shown off on Sundays has had impressive elements to it, but if the offense remains riddled by mistakes the same end result will rear its ugly head once more.

A little spark, a little optimism in San Diego a week from tomorrow will go a long way to make everyone feel more confident.  Getting special teams and defensive touchdowns are terrific, but are rare and not to be relied on.  The Bengals offense must stop killing itself and put more pressure on opposing defenses if it wants to even show up for a match against the Broncos this winter.   A surprise of this nature would be most welcomed, but remains a surprise nonetheless.

Mojokong-the hectic skeptic.

Week 11 Preview: Three More Hours

In Cleveland, quarterbacks come a dime a dozen. Ever since the Browns returned to existence, there have been a dross of failed QB experiments to find themselves under center. There have been old ones (Jake Delhomme), young ones (Tim Couch), old young ones (Brandon Weeden), squirrelly ones (Jeff Garcia), and stoic ones (Trent Dilfer). Even this year we've already seen three.

The newest variation is not new in many regards. Jason Campbell knows a thing or two about the NFL and has played under a litany of offensive coordinators. He has tasted some success but mostly failure in his three stops in Washington, Oakland and now Cleveland. He has some mobility and can be fairly slippery in the pocket, but, to me, he is very much a pocket passer.

In fact, Campbell is most comfortable with long drop backs, especially in the play-action game. Quick deliveries are possible but not his thing. To make the big plays Cleveland is looking for, he needs ample time to let Josh Gordonand Greg Little separate from defenders and find open bubbles, typically deep across the middle of the field.

Mike Zimmer knows this. His defensive gameplan doesn't need to be so different from last week against Baltimore. Flacco is another deep-dropper, and even though the team lost the game, the Bengals defense kept Delaware Joe firmly in check. Vinnie Rey blitzing up the gut was perfect. I would expect the Browns to keep backs in to block as a counter to the middle linebackers shooting the A-gap. Besides, I've seen Campbell roll right on play-action bootlegs too often to expect a linebacker to seek and destroy him out in the flats. Instead, I would think safety and corner blitzes coming from the right side would do the trick and force Campbell to step back into a collapsing pocket for the sack.

The Cleveland ground game is non-threatening. Willis McGahee is running on fumes these days and never really scared me much to begin with. Fozzie Whittaker is a scrappy speed back with a name like a jazz guitarist and is honestly more threatening than McGahee in regards to explosive runs, but at the end of the day, he too is just whacka whacka.

Their line is anchored by the iron brute at left tackle, Joe Thomas. The man has never missed a snap in his career and his play is as reliable as tomorrow's sunrise. The other parts have improved around him, particularly the right side that had so much trouble for so many years. Coordinator and coach Rob Chudzinski has the Browns playing with more competence and confidence than most of his predecessors and they are certainly capable of putting up enough points to win the game.

Yet for them, enough points can be 17 thanks to a revamped and tremendous gameplan from new defensive coordinator Ray Horton week in and week out. These men have grown into a considerable force and are getting after opposing quarterbacks at an alarming rate. They are strong up front with stuffy tackles and speed rushing ends. They bring a delayed linebacker blitz nearly every down with Craig Robertson, something Giovani Bernardand BenJarvus Green-Ellis must take note of, and generally don't give quarterbacks much comfort to hang out and look downfield.

To make matters more difficult, their secondary is a sterling bunch of players who have grown up together to be one of the best in the league. Joe Hayden is a consistent technician who seems up for any challenge. When people discuss the best corners in the league he is still notably absent from the conversation and that just doesn't seem fair. The man does what he is asked and then some; he closes down large sections of the field as if they were under construction.

The man opposite of Hayden has also developed nicely. Buster Skrine plays with tremendous energy. He is not the all-pro Hayden is, but from what I've watched this year, he has stepped up his game and demands attention for the plays he makes. Even Chris Owens deserves praise for his play so far in 2013.

This trio promises to frustrate the mercurial Andy Dalton on Sunday. As frustrating as it's been lately to see the Bengals wide receivers struggle to separate from their defenders, this week's matchup seemingly provides no such relief in that category. A lot has been placed upon the striped shoulders of Mr. Dalton this season and his production has been anything but a straight line of consistency, but the struggles in the quick, short passing game have a lot to do with receivers not getting space on their routes. Even the great quarterbacks can't fit it in perfectly when defenders are blanketed on the backs of their targets. Marvin Jones has terrific straight-line speed but his lateral quickness on slant routes may now be in question. Mohamed Sanu, Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eiferttypically rely on simply being big and catching passes in traffic, only to learn that size alone does not promise results under duress.

The Bengals offensive line needs to play one of its best games of the season this week. If the Dalton Gang can't find a rhythm on the ground and can't get the intermediate passing game in order, the big play will become their only hope and to do that, Big Red needs time to let his guys finally get free in space.

The good news is that the Cleveland defense is not good at stopping third down. Killing the clock and gaining first downs are sometimes more important than scoring touchdowns in a defensive battle. Time of possession becomes magnified in such a struggle and kicking field goals on sustained drives can win ugly games.

Turnovers, penalties, missed field goals and an inability to convert short-yardage pickups have frustrated an otherwise immensely talented offensive group. In short, they are killing themselves. All teams hit these bumps in the road. Negative trends have surfaced and been identified, now it's up to the group-including Jay Gruden-to adjust and overcome these issues before it spirals out of control. Scoring 20 points shouldn't be so hard for a divisional favorite but has sadly become a mountain of a task-especially against a top-5 defense.

This game has the makings of an old-school slug-fest of sacks, hand-offs and punts. Any touchdowns scored from special teams or defense is almost certainly to be the deathblow for the other team. Simply avoiding turnovers and penalties alone can win a game like this.

The Bengals don't need a statement game, just a win. The bye week awaits afterward and is sorely needed to give this battered team some rest and recovery time before the stretch run to the postseason. They must man-up for three hours and take care of business before they are permitted to exhale though. A loss would make for a needlessly close race for the division. Cleveland is a team on the rise, to be sure, but they are not built as soundly as Cincinnati. The Bengals were already bitten once in the dog-pound and simply cannot let a now serious divisional foe take them out twice. Not only would it close the standings gap to an uncomfortable margin, it would sap the confidence of this young but powerful Marvin Lewis team. If they don't believe they belong, then they don't belong. Simple as that.

Bengals 21, Browns 20

Mojokong-gleaming the cube.

Week 10 Preview: No Empathy

In 2010, the Bengals began the year with much hoopla. They swept the division the year before, signed Terrell Owens and looked primed for success. Their style of offense consisted of deep routes, seven-step drops and gobs of Cedric Benson. Carson Palmer was coming off of a nice season and finally looked ready to elevate his game back to an elite level, especially with all those weapons around him. They were anointed as a contender right from the gate and the city was excited.

Didn't happen.

The 2013 Ravens are feeling some similarities to that unfortunate Bengals season. Joe Flacco is another big-armed, less-mobile quarterback that needs good blocking to take deep drops. This season, though, the protection has looked bad and Flacco has been on his back too often for the passing game to get comfortable.

Their running game has been worse. Ray Rice is supposed to be the straw that stirs the purple drink, but instead he's been more of an umbrella. His 37 yards-per-game are embarrassing. If they can't run the ball better, they will become easier and easier to beat and until they eventually become the Steelers.

Now, for the purposes of jinx removal, it must be stated here that Ray Rice is very capable of becoming his old terrifying, bowling-ball self against the Stripes on Sunday. Too many of us have seen him run roughshod over the Bengals in crucial moments in the past. Lame season or not, we fear him.

This also is the sensible time to include the life-without-Geno element of the game. The entire city of Baltimore likely felt a bit lighter in their step once news reached them of the big man's damaged knee. "We've got them now," they may have all said in unison as they rubbed their hands and curled their eyebrows. Ray Rice himself had to have paused and thought hard about it. All he needs is one big game to get back to the way it is supposed to be. Without Geno Atkins....

There are others to stop you.

Vontaze Burfict is this team's new commander and certified wild man. He wants to tackle Ray Rice, on every play if he can. He loves the contact of football, loves being physical as hell for three hours. He is a man who relishes his reptilian brain-the area responsible for routine and violent impulses in all of us. He's actually allowed to hurt people doing what he does, which might occasionally surprise him when he stops and thinks about it. I'm not saying Burfict is trying to injure other players; I'm saying he's trying to hurt them and that it's okay.

I know Atkins helped him collect all those tackles by occupying blockers that would otherwise find their way to him, but I might go as far to say that the Bengals defense needs Burfict more than Atkins. This team is not remiss of pass-rushers; not even remiss of decent depth at the tackle spot. Linebacker, however, is already thin and Burfict's presence is like having two linebackers. Not only has he proven to be a leader with his zooming all over the place on every play and mixing it up with the other team, but he also appears extremely confident lining up the defense and relaying plays the plays that transmit into his helmet. I think he is becoming a potentially all-pro player and seems ready to go supernova.

Carlos Dunlap is another player capable of elevating his status with the absence of Geno. Dunlap has been a tremendous draft-pick and is well worth his fresh big contract. His improvement against the run truly makes him an upper-tier end and the effect he has on games is consistently palpable. If he continues to show up large on game days without the pressure in the middle that Atkins provided, his rep will grow bigger, our hearts will grow fonder, and the Zim Clan will carry on hammering.

Hitting Flacco remains the key to the game. The weaponry around him is minimal and without experience or general success. Torrey Smith is fast and potentially dangerous against the aged Bengals secondary, but if Flacco has no time, Smith can't go deep as easily. One would suspect that Margus Hunt's snap count will increase and I hope to see him make some plays. It will also be interesting to see if and how James Harrison's role will adjust in the second half of the season. Hunt, Harrison and Wallace Gilberry form a scary trio of "extra" pass-rushers. Reggie Nelson, and even Chris Crocker, are used very well by Mike Zimmer on blitzes as well. This team knows how to get to the quarterback and it is essential they play a big part in tomorrow's game.

In the first half of the season, the Benglals offense proved committed to the pass. They showed some shootout ability which can be crucial down the stretch and highlighted a wide variety of targets. Jay Gruden was successful in maximizing the participation of all the players he had to work with and deserves as lot of credit as a result. He made Andy Dalton a statistical top-10 passer and may have unveiled a superstar in Giovani Bernard. His scheme is relatively flexible and his players seem to have a good grip on their roles.

History says that in the second half of the season, teams run the ball more. When it gets cold, you run. Last year, about this time, the Bengals rolled through November thanks to BenJarvus Green-Ellis shedding the reputation that he couldn't run for big gains. The line then looked dominant in the run game and the offense as a whole hummed along without much problem.

Andy Dalton currently throws the ball 36 times a game and is sixth in the league in attempts. Point production rests squarely on his shoulders now more than ever. Perhaps it's my old-school nature, but I think the Bengals need a big, powerful rushing day to prove that they can win that way and force defenses to worry about it. The Ravens are good against the run-better than Cincinnati. Haloti Ngata takes care of running backs the way a wood-chipper takes care of wood. If somehow the Bengals can find a successful ground game in Baltimore, a statement would be made. Chances are though, Dalton will need to get touchdowns through the air and score over 20 points.

Jermaine Gresham's ability to play is in doubt. If he isn't able to go, look to see if the Bengals continue to go with two tight-end sets with Tyler Eifert and Orson Charles or Alex Smith, or go with one tight end and get more slot receivers on the field. Andrew Hawkins is ready to contribute more to the offense and Mohamed Sanu and Dane Sanzenbacher offer unique slot-receiver abilities. Shaking things up with different formations and increased roles with more complimentary players may be good for this team. I know Gresham does a lot of good for the Bengals, but it's impossible not to get frustrated with the abundance of penalties and drops that stem from his lack of focus. If Tyler Eifert catches more balls when Gresham is sidelined, life may turn out to be even better.

This game is a major challenge. The Ravens are grumpy and surly from so much recent losing and are desperate for a win. Often times, desperation can be scary, but I see shadows of that 2010 Bengals team with this Ravens flock, and remember that awful losing streak that shook Carson Palmer out of town and ruined the remaining credibility of Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson. The Baltimore offensive line will continue to be a mystery and a letdown, Flacco will be sacked often again, and they will lose the turnover battle, the game and the division in one fell swoop.

Bengals 27, Ravens 23

Mojokong-And so blew in the northern winds.

The Sun Also Rises: Life Without Geno

What you won't read in the following is how much the Bengals will miss Geno Atkins. That phrase is sure to be repeated in every conversation about Cincinnati for the next few weeks. Rather, life moves on no matter how crushing the blow, and we faithful must scramble in our brains for solutions.

The first thought I had was getting Devon Still back in a hurry, out with a hurt elbow. I haven't heard a very firm time line on his situation, but the team was already working out other big men to add to the tackle rotation before the Atkins catastrophe even took place. Still was beginning to show up, making plays and increasing his presence on the game. Like Mike Zimmer told the youngster in his office on Hard Knocks, he can be a very good player in the NFL if he thinks of himself that way.

If Still remains sidelined, however, they still have some decent tackles to plug in, but it certainly won't be the same.Brandon Thompson has also become marginally more noticeable so far in 2013 and suddenly his development has become critical. Same goes for Margus Hunt who is not a tackle by trade—he's throws shot-put by trade—but is simply large enough to put on the interior and tell him to tackle the guy with the ball. That may be discrediting to the guy. He seems sharp and has been less of a hopeless project than I had feared. If he is to be used more at tackle, perhaps the same way Wallace Gilberry is mixed in at the position, he will have to likely sharpen his technique and footwork as it would surely have different finer points than playing defensive end. He may not be a run-stuffer, but his pass-rush skills, and general strength and endurance, could play enough of a part to make a difference on Sundays.

Domata Peko does his job well, but has become a bit of a run specialist. He is rotated out regularly on seemingly most passing downs. That, though, may be thanks to the talented crop of defensive linemen the Bengals began the season with, rather than an inability of Peko staying on the field more often. It isn't like he is a lousy pass-rusher either. His disciplined about not going for fakes and is simply another strong S.O.B..

The last likelihood, already on the team, is seeing more of Gilberry on the inside. His ability to shift over from end on passing downs has been very positive for the team and has added to the multiple fresh bodies that Zimmer can mix in. Gilberry has been a major value in Cincinnati and seems to fit perfectly within the Zim Clan as a complimentary addition.

I would think the team will sign a free-agent as a contingency plan; an organizational plus that they have effectively demonstrated in the past many times. The minds that make the personnel decisions for the Bengals have been terrific in the past four years at identifying quality contributors for their specific schemes. I feel optimistic about their selections to provide more depth.

Of course, there will be a drop off—it's Geno friggin Atkins—but it is not doomsday the way some want to make the situation. The comparisons to New England's defense and their missing stars is not quite a fair one. The Bengals have a notable depth advantage over most NFL teams and you hear the talking heads of the sport say it all the time. The injuries are piling up precariously on the defensive side of the ball, but they began the season—and probably still remain—the team's strong suit. Mike Zimmer gets his men to play hard and smart no matter who they are (for the most part). They are fiercely loyal to him and are terrified to let him down. Getting Still back is important for the playoffs, but losing their best player does not turn this defense into garbage over night. If anything, the shoulder chip just got bigger.

Mojokong—grounded.