Picking Up the Pieces

Back in the early 90's, every ABC family sitcom made the trip to Disney World as part of a huge cross-promotional effort.  Full House, Step by Step, Family Matters.  They all went. 

You didn't know exactly when it was coming, but eventually, the entire clan was heading to Orlando.

That's kind of how I felt yesterday...you didn't know exactly when or how, but you knew the Bengals would find a way snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

The problem is this:  no way this game should have ever come down to one desperation pass.  The lack of consistency on the offensive line, the mind numbing penalties that killed drives, key drops by veteran receivers that stalled drives, and the lack of vision by the offensive coaches all preceded Brandon Stokley's catch. 

The offensive ineptness took away from an inspired effort from the defense.  Not a ridiculous, fantasy match-up winning performance like the Eagles turned in on Sunday...but a solid effort that held the Broncos without a TD for 59:30 and held the Broncos to just 75 yards on the ground and 140 yards through the air (prior to the 87-yard touchdown). 

If the Broncos had two safeties that were "25 yards deep and backpedaling" the entire game...then where was Bernard Scott in the flat to make them pay? 

Why couldn't Bratkowski and Co. adjust and find ways to get Chris Henry more than one catch during the first drive of the game?

While we will always remember this game for the freak ending, it's a shame that will overshadow how well the defense played, how poorly the offense executed, and the lack of ingenuity from Bob Bratkowski. 

If you don't think 2-5 or worse by the bye isn't a possibility, think again.  Next week @ Green Bay, then home against Pittsburgh.  Possibly a win in Cleveland, then on the road to play Baltimore, before coming home to Houston and Chicago. 

The mental mistakes and the lack of an cohesive offensive line are going to kill this team.  Not one play in the first game of the season.

Comments

[fuzwuz]

I think MB is going to use the "Hard Knocks Curse" excuse this year for losing more games than we did last year.

[Leo deTrotskyo]

From DJ Gallo in today's ESPN Page 2:

The Music City Miracle. The Immaculate Reception. Plays like Brandon Stokley's touchdown usually get special names. I submit this one for Denver's winning touchdown: A Play Not Entirely Unexpected Against The Cincinnati Bengals. Catchy, no? And then with all future such plays, we can just tack on Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, etc.

[CurseofBoJackson]

Fuck DJ Gallo. Just chalk it up to the curse, call it Bo's revenge part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X.

[Ben]

Ah yes, Leo, if I recall correctly that was from "DJ Gallo Column That Did Not Make Me Laugh, Part 3,587"

[mike_brown_is_an_assclown]

The Mike Brown still gets his money play.

[kotw65]

The Bob Brat legacy: 1st drive typically effective due to practice of scripted plays, rest of game when adjustments are required no where to be seen

[Wyatt]

I'll say this now - if, and it's a huge IF, the Bengals are going to beat the Steelers this season, it'll be in Week 3. Not only is it a home game (with more Steelers fans in attendance than Bengals fans, I'd wager), but Polamalu is going to be out, and their secondary otherwise sucks at coverage. Of course, so did Denver's, and Brat thought it would be a good idea to run the ball when passing was so much more effective, so I doubt we'll win that one.

[tbruns2002]

We have to get rid of Brat and let the dogs loose. I know lets do a run play on second and eight over and over again. I find Brat to be unimaginative, can't adjust and seems to not be able to put his foot down on the opponent's throat to exploit whatever weakness they show. I have joined the revolution, I am not renewing my season tickets next year...I'm done lifes to short

[Leo deTrotskyo]

Dan Fouts kept asking what I've been wondering all through the Brat-worst years: On 3rd down, why doesn't the receiver get past the 1st down marker on his route, rather than hope to make a few yds after the catch? And before you tell me he's throwing to the RB as a last resort, I started asking this while watching Peter Warrick. Smallest guy on the field, often asked to catch a five-yd pass on 3rd-and-8 in the middle of the field, with his back turned to the LB!

[mike_brown_is_an_assclown]

@Leo deTrotskyo: Dan Fouts and you both have some basic knowledge of football. Your mistake is assuming Bratkowski and Mike Brown have same.

[WHIT]

The first week is nothing to judge a season on. I will wait till week 3 before I make a judgment call. However three dropped balls by Coles is nerve racking.