Bengals Lose 5th Straight, Mike Brown Gets to 200 Career Losses

Almost.  They almost came back down 27-7 and made us believers again.  Almost.   Marvin's statement in his press conference will likely focus on something like "we had a chance but we just need to execute a few more plays."  False.  The Bengals have troubles up and down the roster (and on the sidelines). Chad Johnson seemingly walking off the field after whining and getting in a confronation with Whitworth on the field.  Hippapotsmith with more mental errors.  Huge mistakes on special teams.  More entirely predictable playcalling.

But there were highlights.  TO is a boss.  Peko with a great game at DT and one of the best blocks ever on the Head & Sholders spokesperson on the goal line.  The defense played great considering their field position challenges, putting pressure on "Ben" and making some big plays. 

But in the end, again, it wasn't enough.  At 2-6, the playoffs are out of treach with the Bengals 4 games back in the North, and its time to start thinking about how to move forward. 

And with the loss, Mike Brown gets his 200th loss as Owner/GM!

Also, our friend Joe Reedy notes that this is the 3rd time in 4 years the team has started 2-6 or worse, and discusses how this was Mike Brown's 200th loss in 311 games as owner.

Next week at Indy - the road doesn't get any easier from here.

Comments

[Hofbraunow]

Where is the accountability?

I'm not even talking about anyone getting fired:

Where is the incentive, to get better, mentally, physically, athletically, to not let these losses happen?

There is none. There is a sweet stadium deal, corporate sponsors, and douche-ey, lemming-like, routine-loving bible-belters

[Hofbraunow]

Throwing to Shipley in double coverage, with half (or more) of that coverage being Jerome Harrison...could have just as easily gone the Bengals way...but Shipley would have paid for it

[BMN]

"T.O. is a boss..." and the person described as a "boss" in this effort is a soon-to-be-37 years old prone to bitching. Anyone see no problem here?

But in all seriousness, while it didn't work, trusting Shipley with a play that big...this guy's got potential, it was a worth a chance to give him a trial-by-fire.

[Mockenrue]

To quote Gruden, "Potential just means you haven't done anything yet."

[BMN]

I get that, Mockenrue, but let's be real: winning this game would have only meant the satisfaction of beating the Steelers (no small prize, I admit) but the season was shot a long time ago (as in the moment the ball went through the uprights at the end of the TB game). I'd rather see the team try to make some clutch moments happen with fresh blood than just completely rely on a guy who's not likely to be in football, let alone on the Bengals, five years from now.

That said, I think if the team had flipped the playbook (in other words, try what they did on 4th down on 3rd and if that didn't work, vice-versa), they could have succeeded......no way of knowing for sure, though.

[Wyatt]

@Brosef:

Fuck that whole "mental errors" line of thought. I'd rather see Smith get called for a hold or two (one of which was bullshit, as even the Steeler-loving commentators called out) and keep Carson clean than have Dennis "Black Eric Ghiachuc" Roland let Palmer get BLOWN UP the following play. Smith's going to continue to make those mistakes unless he gets the time to play and to play with the confidence of not being benched every time he has a hold. Fuck, Whit wouldn't have played 3/4ths of the season last year if he got benched every time he held. Did you see the job he did blocking the vast majority of the time? Dennis Roland can't do that, absolutely CAN'T, so I'll take the fat man any day of the week.

@BMN:

I can see where you're coming from, but do you remember who caught the game-winning pass in the first game against the Steelers last year? Andre Caldwell, that promising youngster who's now on the bench.

[Wyatt]

Re: my argument to Brosef - I was incorrect in my assessment that A. Smith was incorrectly charged with a hold. That was actually Whit. However, my feelings do not change - I'd rather see Smith given the time to grow and make mistakes and, most of all, build his confidence than see "Revolving Door" Roland allow Palmer to get nailed time after time. Do you honestly think LeBeau didn't start drooling when he saw *that* particular substitution?

[CurseofBoJackson]

Roland is white #1, and #2, Hell yes Dickie was drooling about Smith getting yanked. What the fuck kind of ricky retardo move was that? Guy was shutting Woodley down almost every down, and looked pretty god damned good to me (even aside from the footage that ESPN showed while verbally fellating him), so the guy gives up a hold and you yakn him for dennis roland? That sacks on Marv, tha was stupid.
I'm surprised that no one noticed the striking similarity between the game ending play last night and Andre Caldwell's game winning catch from last year? Was I the only one that thought to myself "Did he just call the same play that won a game last year?" I think Caldwell came from the other side slot, but the route was the same, seven yard hook slant. Thrown into triple coverage. Shipley almost got murdered again.
Lastly, Chad is either compeltely checked out or he's gonna get an earful from TO and come out right, I hope for the latter but half expect the former.