First, up, my most recent post where I ask (assuming the answer is basically "no"):
Do the Bengals have an edge in any area against Baltimore this week?
Well, yes, it turns out they do. They have in edge in every area (except the area where you have to snap a ball seven yards backwards so a Ginger Kid can kick it - in that area the Ravens RULE).
All due respect to my boy Competitiveness, but if luck played a role in this game, it was good luck for the Ravens that they weren't down and out of this game by the end of the 3rd quarter. The overthrow by Flacco on 3rd down and the convenient penalties on the game-winning drive merely allowed the final score to validate what anyone watching that game should have realized: the Bengals outplayed the Ravens in every facet of the game and were a better team.
Second, I revisited my season preview and concluded the following:
Bengals fans find out this team has a ceiling. And that ceiling is the wild card playoff round.
I even underlined it at the time for emphasis. Whoops! Instead we found out that the Bengals could beat a team previously thought to be among the class of the AFC (and for the past decade or so, by extension the entire NFL)...on the road. The defense is legit, I can only imagine the offense can get better from here on out, a team identity for once exists, and a good-karma snowball appears to be rolling downhill and gaining speed. All bets are off.
But, I remind everyone that the season is LONG and the Superbowl is all that matters. And with that I will bow out of the prediction business for this season...
Concluding Thoughts
We are fans first here at WDR. That's why La Revolucion exists. But it's difficult to see at the moment what another Project Mayhem task might do at this point besides be a wet blanket on a type of season that has been entirely too rare for Bengals fans since Mike Brown assumed full control.
While all out guerrilla war may not be the order of the day for now, we guarantee that at WDR we will continue to hold Bengals mgmt to the highest standards of professionalism. So while some may bristle at the tone and critical nature of Competitiveness' post-game analysis of the Bengals play ("we're 4-1!", "we won!", "just enjoy it!"...what up tony d), he is just holding the Bengals to a very high standard. It is my hope, and our goal at WDR, that one day we all hold the Bengals to the same standards that Competitiveness does.
The Bengals under Mike Brown are guilty until proven innocent. The verdict this season so far is overwhelmingly "innocent". However, the long term prognosis for consistent success remains unchanged and as Bengals fans we must keep pressure on the front office regardless of the potential for 2009.
New short term goals: keep the heat on Brat (the odds of him losing his job now are like a billion to 1, but whatever) and cut Brad St Louis.
Kudos on the self-deprecating humor. I have enjoyed the site for a long time now, and I agree that there is still a need for it. A second winning season doesn't offset the other 17 failed seasons under MFB's failed tenure as owner.
Your analysis of the Bengals was absolutely justified at the time because they had yet to put together a full 4 quarters of solid play. Now they have, and I'm glad to see it. We will start seeing respect for the Bengals in sports media because they have finally earned it.
Posted by: Major Payne | October 12, 2009 at 01:04 PM
I applaud your site for not yelling, screaming and kicking while the team is doing well. Let people enjoy the moment, it's been a painful 20 years. Sometimes for sanity's purpose, you need to look past all the flaws and just enjoy the success when it happens.
Enjoy this team, but keep the dream of change alive. I wonder if this season would even be possible if not for the fan rebellion that took place starting about this time last season.
Posted by: rymo | October 12, 2009 at 01:42 PM
Can you add to your goals? I propose - 3) Continue to mock Geoff Hobspin for his poor attempts at journalism at every turn.
Other than that, yeah, aside from the two goals already mentioned, very little to complain about as a Bengals fan this year. I don't live around the Cincy area, but I used to drive through there in 2005 and 2006 on alternating Sundays making my commute from western PA (home) to east Tennessee (work, at the time), and I remember whoever hosts (hosted?) the post-game wrap-up show would always say, "It's a great day for Bengals football!" That's been true more often than not this year, and it's hard not to enjoy it (unless you're an eternal pessimist, like WCH or the suddenly disappeared Kato).
Posted by: Wyatt | October 12, 2009 at 02:10 PM
Major, 4-1 doesn't equal a "winning season". Lets not count our chickens or we'll jinx this thing.
Posted by: ChapelHillWHODEY | October 12, 2009 at 02:32 PM
Alan Cutler was the coiner of that term "It's a great day to be a Bengals fan!" Or at least he was the first guy I heard say it. Thank goodness that prick is gone, worst post game radio host we have ever had, never let fans speak, was rude and talked over everyone, even Bengals fans. Only person that compares is P Doc, who writes a freat column, but is a prick of a radio host, kiss guests ass, berate, insult and generally dump on callers. Sorry, Culter brought back some animosity and BTW, I've never called in to either of those shows (Benglas post game or extra innings)
ChapelHill - I agree not counting chickens, but let's be real, The D is stifling, Run game is running on all cylinders, and this team is the opposite of the past four years, they refuse to fold down the stretch, hope the same holds true in December, or perhaps I hope it's not even an issue, maybe we come into December with AFC north all but locked up? Hahaha, just kidding, a guy can hope though.
Posted by: CurseofBoJackson | October 12, 2009 at 03:07 PM
great, not freat, got excited
Posted by: CurseofBoJackson | October 12, 2009 at 03:09 PM
Ya know, back in 06 we were said to have a great defense when really, it was an opportunistic defense. The offense jumped out to a lead, and the defense took advantage of the other team having to throw the ball and had so many interceptions. But if we weren't ahead early, we usually didn't win.
This year, I see a big difference...WE ARE STOPPING THE RUN! Another big difference is that we are winning close games, coming back from behind in each game so far. These differences make me think this season won't be 'magical,' like the 06 season. This success CAN BE SUSTAINED. And I (and probably everyone else here) hope it continues through the rest of this season and beyond.
Posted by: Bengal in Browns Territory | October 12, 2009 at 03:23 PM
I like that they are playing all the way to the end of the game.
No sitting around dejected and pouting halfway through the 3rd like last year.
Good teams win close games, the Steelers have been doing it for years, now its the Bengals turn for a change.
Posted by: 5chw4r7z.blogspot.com | October 12, 2009 at 03:43 PM
They need to find replacements for St. Louis and Dan Coats immediately. Both are terrible. The biggest difference in 2009 as opposed to other years? The botched snaps would cause this team to fold and they'd find a way to lose. This year, they sack up and find ways to win, even if it is always at the end. I'm going to need open heart surgery after this season if this trend keeps up.
Posted by: TheCarlPickensClause | October 12, 2009 at 03:55 PM
I can say though that the show Ken Broo does after the game is crazy boring. That man doesn't have the voice for radio unless you're trying desperately to fall asleep. I can't stand listening to his show. Man it's bad.
Yes BSL needs to be gone asap and if he isn't gone tomorrow then something really is wrong. I really thought they were showing a replay of the last snap that went over Huber's head (i looked away from the tv a split second before they snapped). But then I realized he had done it again. I'm blown away. I hate for anyone to lose their jobs but he has ONE JOB TO DO. If I had one job to do and farbed it up as much as he does, I would have been in the unemployment line weeks ago. Just terrible.
Yeah the situation with Coats is bad too. That guy has the hands of an armadillo. Seriously he's terrible. Great blocker, just can't catch for $hit. And did you see how pissed Carson was over it? I bet he won't get many more looks from Carson this year. At least I hope not.
Posted by: Randy | October 12, 2009 at 04:30 PM
CurseofBoJackson,
It was "the Cutman" I was thinking of, and I do in fact remember him being a huge douche to most of his callers, especially if they had a good point that was counter to what he was espousing. I called in one time and spent about 40 minutes on hold, being assured repeatedly that I was going to be on in the next segment. Cutler kept getting douchier and douchier so I just hung up. But that doesn't change the fact that right now, every day is a GREAT DAY TO BE A BENGALS FAN!
Posted by: Wyatt | October 12, 2009 at 04:52 PM
Thanks, ChapelHill. I didn't realize that the season isn't over yet.
Posted by: Major Payne | October 12, 2009 at 05:01 PM
Not to be a buzzkill, but I want to see this team finish drives. Too many points left out of the field, especailly in the first half yesterday. Obviously, special teams leaves a lot of room for improvement, but what needs to be done there is obvious.
These next 3 weeks in my opinion are huge. H-town, Chi-town, and B-less. We need to to win 2/3 with one being the Ratbirds again at home. Sitting 6-2 with a 4-0 division record would be a dream, whereas 7-1 would be even more fantastic.
We need to make it our priority to shut down Andre Johnson and get in Schaub's face this week. The Texans smacked us pretty hard last year, so maybe that can be our rallying point this year, but we need to learn to step on team's necks and this week would sure be a good one to start.
Posted by: BruceyBruce | October 12, 2009 at 05:47 PM
Damn. I saw that Hob had posted a story called "Tough Goodbye" and thought/hoped it would be about finally cutting Brad St. Louis after years with the franchise. It was instead about the upcoming funeral for Mrs. Zimmer.
Double-whammy there.
Let's hit the Texans even harder, boys.
Posted by: Mockenrue | October 12, 2009 at 07:04 PM
Props to the site for this honest assessment. Hey, no one expected us to win under Mike Brown, but things are working if only for a very short time thus far. Credit where credit is due. Incredible stuff, just hope it can keep going.
Posted by: Artrell Hawkins | October 12, 2009 at 08:21 PM
innocent? So a 4-1 start and Mike Brown is off the hook. You guys are so weak. I didn't know the season ended after 5 games this year? Please save everyone the time and just shut the website down.
Posted by: DD | October 12, 2009 at 08:32 PM
This and deadspin are the best sports related blogs on the Internet. Keep up the kick ass work.
Posted by: Counting_Saturn | October 12, 2009 at 09:02 PM
From now on we should just say the fluke Denver loss was appeasement.
http://i37.tinypic.com/px4xw.jpg
Posted by: Mockenrue | October 12, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Mockenrue, that was the best comment I've seen in a long time. When you think about it, though, Mike Brown is to winning Super Bowls as Neville Chamberlain is to preventing WWII.
Posted by: WhoDeyFSU | October 13, 2009 at 09:51 AM
Yeah, I mean fine, who dey and all of that, but I REMAIN committed to our thoughts that we NOT give Mike Brown any disposable income this season. MFB still runs this team, and as long as he does that translates into my ass being OUT of a PBS seat. Oh and I loved (sarcasm) one of the stories on the news last night-- "Bengals merchandise is once again flying off the shelves!" That's great, but not opening my wallet for it. I will cheer on TV, but my loyalty stops there and remains with WDR. Viva!
Posted by: ConnieKolita | October 13, 2009 at 12:45 PM
I agree fully with rymo above. We can all enjoy the current winning AND desire front office changes at the same time! (Shocking thought, I know). The current winning is great, but don't we all want the winning to last beyond just "current"?
Yes we do.
WDR, we are with you.
Posted by: The Slushovsky in NYC | October 13, 2009 at 01:18 PM
As for "Bengals merchandise flying off the shelves," I just bought two WDR t-shirts. One for me, and one for my 3-year old son. We may wear orange and love the Bengals, but MFB isn't getting a dime out of us. WHODEY!
Posted by: Fuzzy Dunlop | October 13, 2009 at 03:07 PM
I feel bad for the players but the only way to make this team a good team that lasts is to hurt Mike Brown's wallet and hope that thick skull of his doesn't cause the message to bounce off.
Posted by: MikeBrownMustGo | October 13, 2009 at 03:22 PM
Fuzzy - Do you think Ed Reed is the real life Omar Little?
Posted by: Sly Vramavomovich | October 13, 2009 at 03:49 PM
I'm a terrible procrastinator too, it makes for a lot of half finished and not started projects. I hope you finish your dress top half - the colours go so well together. Have a productive weekend!
Posted by: Cheap NFL Jersey | August 17, 2011 at 03:48 AM
Make your own life easier take the loans and all you want.
Posted by: VazquezKendra22 | September 20, 2011 at 10:34 PM