Cincinati Bengals Report
The Bengals are riding high at the moment, sitting atop the AY's toughest division, with two of the league's best coaches with him in their sights. Come with us as we explore the Bengals journey this season and speculate on what the future might hold for this franchise.
Cincinati's offence is one of the league's best, and perhaps the most balanced. Led by star QB Jon Kitna, the raw talent of young HB Johnson and a deep stable of deep recieving threats Cinci use the passing threat to spread the defence out across the field and are very effective at then either running or passing with equal efficiency. One key to their success is their strong Offensive line, led by 3 star veterans 12th year Braham and 11th year Jones. With these guys opening holes for him 4 star HB Johnson averages 4.6 a carry and is on pace for a 1,000 yard season, needing only 32 yards in week 12 to surpass that milestone.
Opening up their account this year scoring 37 points against one of the league's most respected defences the Bengals beat Oakland in week 1, then proceeded to slaughter long time friend and rival Stormin Norman in a shocking 30-0 whitewash in week 2.
A close loss to the AFC favourite Patriots in week 3 and another to former champions Chargers in overtime in week 4 saw the Bengals at 2-2, despite a for/against of 109/75. A crutial match in week 5 saw Cinci defeat the Texans by only 1 point, thanks to their defence limiting the Texans to two last quater fieldgoals rather than allowing a TD that would have given Houston the game. On the confidence of this win Cinci hosted the NFC's newest power team the Falcons, and surprised most tipsters when they dominated Atlanta, winning 36-17, shutting out the Falcons in the second half of the game.
A loss to the Chiefs followed, the bengals scoring only 1 TD for the only time all year, loosing by 13 points.
In the next two games Cinci bounced back with 4 straight wins, a huge offensive performance against Pittsburgh and a 24-10 win over denver set the striped cats atop the Division of Death, where they remain despite a one point scare in week 10 against the DOD Steelers, and an overtime escape last week against Indy.
Despite some close games, 2 in overtime and 5 decided by less than a TD the bengals have won 6 of their last 7, and 4 in a row.
After 11 games the NFLAY coaches forum Efficiency Rankings show Cinci having the 10th best passing offence, and 11th best run offence, a great pass defence, and a run defence that allows only 3.3 per carry. Based on yardage rather than efficiency the bengals defence is ranked 6th overall. The strength of the defence is in the front seven, led by MLB demon Khalid Abdullah and his veteran defensive line, with 4 3 pointers of 13, 9 7 and 5 years of experience respectively. Rookie NCB Burris and young SS Beckett fit well into a very experienced secondary, featuring a 10th year RCB, 11th year FS and 9th year LCB, probably the oldest set of corners in the league.
The offence features lots of deep passing to the speedy wideouts, but just as often checking the ball down to the HB, often utilising the muscle of the veteral line on screens, infact Johnson has caught just as many passes as each of the 4 wideouts. Though he shoulders almost all of the runs from the backfield a key component of the Bengal gameplan is the use of their WRs speed on gadgets, and this is another reason why the running game of the Bengals is so productive and potentially volatile. Indeed misdirection is a big part of the gameplan in Cinci, they have been known to feature counters, traps, gadgets, weakside runs and draws to great success this season, giving them the 6th most rushing yards of any AY team this year.
Overall the Bengals are one of the most well balanced of all AY teams, featuring in the top 10 rankings for passing offence, rushing offence pass defence, rush defence possession and in the middle of the ranks for kicking and turnovers.
Another strength of the bengals is their defensive performance in the second half of their games, having allowed 127 points in the first halves of their games they have allowed only 35 points in the 3rd quaters and only 18 points in the 4th quaters of their games. At times this has allowed the Bengals to put up big wins at times, and rest safely in the second half.
The Bengals travel to Philly this week to take on the unbeaten eagles in the match of the round, knowing that a loss this week could hand over the throne atop the Division of Death to the Titans or Texans.
A week 13 game hosting the Jets will also be difficult, as NY will also be fighting for a playoff spot, and will know a win over Cinci will also mean a loss for playoff spot competitor, coach Gick is well known to take games like this right down to the wire out east in 'the Overtime' division, and this game is likely to go right down to the final minutes too.
Without resptite week 14 sees Cinci travel to play the Titans in Tennessee, a game that is likely to open up old wounds, coach Goetz has likely be planning for this game for since week 2 or earlier and the Bengals will have to get up pretty early to pull one over on the Titans again.
The only easy game remaining this season for Cinci is against the new giant killers in Miami, and if the Bengals take this game lightly it may end up costing them the division, a wildcard and the season. The fins have a +10 turnover ranking, which could cause troubles for the Cats, who are at -4- turnovers in this game could make it closer than expected.
In week 16, most likely with the entire playoff picture balancing on this game, the Bengals travel to houston to take on the Texans infront of an already sold out crowd of very worked up and very loud fans. This game will not only be the match of the week, it is probably going to be the most important game of the entire regular season for half the teams in teh AFC.
Though the road ahead is very bumpy the Bengals are starting to show that they are capable of achiving great heights and perhaps even living up to their own coaches' hype. If they can carve out a division title for themselves they will win enormous respect around the league, and the undying animosity of their division rivals.
A strong playoff campaign from the Bengals is a strong possibilty and as long as some of the key veterans on defence remain into the future the Bengals are likely to contend year after year and gain nationwide respect as one of the most dangerous, balanced teams around.
--Last edited by alex on 2007-05-23 02:43:36 -- 
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