This one stung. Optimistically, I believed the Bengals still
had a shot at the playoffs. After Sunday, I believe that shot is gone, and it
has taken me awhile to get my hands around that idea… and even longer to write
anything about the game I believe killed any chance that remained for the
Bengals. Therefore this wrap up, like the Bengals season, will be cut a bit
short.
What I Did Like
Life in the Offense
It was not the offense we saw in weeks 2-4, but it seemed to
have some life again. 366 yards and 23 points isn’t outstanding, but it ain’t
bad either. The offense we saw on Sunday would have beaten the Dolphins,
Browns, and Steelers, but doesn’t beat Peyton Manning. Had that offense shown
up against the Dolphins, Browns, and Steelers, the Bengals would be 6-2 even
with the loss to the Broncos, and 6-2 would be a whole lot different than 3-5.
Jermaine Gresham
I harp on him when he sucks, but on Sunday, he showed what
Bengals fans (and coaches) have been waiting on for so long. He did still have
a head scratching drop that hit his facemask, but 6 catches for 108 is the type
of performance that can pull coverage from AJ Green. It is a shame that it took
till week 9 for things to seemingly click for Gresham.
Terrance Newman
He had some bad plays as well, but his 2 picks and 4 passes
defensed kept the Bengals in the game and gave them a chance. The Bengals CBs
had exactly 0 picks against Flacco, Weeden (2x), RG3, Gabbert, Tannehill, and
Roethlisberger combined, and then pick Peyton Manning twice in one game. The
same Manning who the Bengals had picked off just 3 times in the previous 7
games. Go figure. Credit Newman for making plays the Bengals defense has been
sorely missing in 2012.
AJ Green
Green did what Green does. 7 catches, 99 yards, 1 TD. What
the Bengals need is more players in the locker room that play with the
consistency and drive that Green shows.
Emmanuel Lamur
Who you say? Lamur. The undrafted, backup, rookie LB who in
very limited time, had 2 tackles and was 1 of only 4 Bengals with a pass
defense. The former safety showed some life and cover skills not seen often out
of the Bengals LB corp.
What I Didn’t Like
The Inability to Come Through in the Clutch
Much like the Dolphins, Browns, and Steelers games, the
Bengals had the lead, and had opportunities to win this game. And, just like
those games, they didn’t come through when it mattered. The frustrating part is
how it is a plethora of different players screwing up. This game: it was
Maualuga, Newman, and Crocker not being able to tackle Decker on a 3rd
and 3. Decker went for 30 yards, extending the drive which ultimately led to
the game winning TD; it was Dalton throwing another ill-advised pass leading to
an INT and the game clinching TD (an INT in each game so far); it was Whitworth
getting a holding wiping out an 8 yard run, then 4 plays later committing a
false start; it was Jeff Faine called for holding wiping out a 19 yard 3rd
down conversion – next play Dalton throws a pick, Denver scores, 31-20, game
over; it was Nugent missing another FG at the end of the half; and it was the
offense getting starting field position at the 44 (thanks to Tate) and getting
-17 yards on the drive. Last year, when this team needed to make plays, they
seemed to always come through. This year, it is the exact opposite.
QB Pressure
0 sacks, 1 QB hit. Tough to win when you don’t hit the QB.
Impossible to win when that QB is Peyton Manning.
OL
Costly penalties by Whitworth and Faine killing drives and
wiping out big plays, and Andre Smith getting beat for at least 3 sacks. Poor effort
by the OL. Most disappointing was the key mistakes were made by the veterans,
not the young guys.
Middle of the Defense
The Bengals defense is worst in the league, allowing 80%
completion percentage on passes over the middle. Hello Rey!
3rd Down Conversions
Converting on 3rd downs and stopping the
opponents on 3rd downs has plagued this team all year. It plagued
them again on Sunday. Converting just 5-14 on 3rd down and allowing
the Broncos to convert 9-14 on 3rd downs. That won’t get it done.
Discipline
The Bengals beat the Broncos in the following categories:
first downs (22-20), yards (366-359), turnovers (1-2), plays run (72-61), and
were within 1 minute in the time of possession. So, how did they lose? Failure
on 3rd downs and penalties. The Bengals had 83 penalty yards to 29
for the Broncos. As discussed above, the Bengals had big penalties killing
their own drives and extending the Broncos drives.
Nugent
Speaking of clutch, when was the last pressure kick Nugent
made? He is automatic when there is no pressure, but when there is pressure, he
looks an awful lot like Shayne Graham.
Coaching
I feel like I harp on this every week, but until Marvin
Lewis shows the ability to win the tough game, the “must win” game, the game
where his team’s “back is against the wall,” I will continue to harp on it.
Another must win game in the Lewis era, and another loss. Another disturbing
stat that will be lost on Mike Brown? Marvin is 8-12 in his last 20 home games.
You can’t have success in the NFL if you can’t win at home. Oh yeah, and since
the Bengals went to 6-2 last year after beating the Titans, they are 6-11. Is
Marvin on the hot seat? No, he works for Mike Brown. Should he be? Yes.
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