This is Marv's fourth 8-6 start...

[Shake n Blake]

Here's a look at how we fared after each 8-6 start:

2012: ?
2011: Win vs Cardinals, loss vs Ravens. Finished 9-7.
2006: Loss at Broncos, loss vs Steelers. Finished 8-8
2003: Loss at Rams, loss vs Browns. Finished 8-8.

The only other times we've started 8-6 was in 1970, '72 and '77, when that was our final record in each of those seasons.

The thing I find discouraging is that Marv is 0-3 in division games after these 8-6 starts. Hopefully he'll use these 10 days to get the team fired up and ready to face Pittsburgh.

[Going_Green]

o-line needs to pass protect, and we need another receiver besides AJ to get open. Usually I get let down on these big games, but I am HOPING we come out!

[740Bengal]

Yeah and probably the 4th one in which we have underachieved in route being 8-6....

[ODRAB14]

Originally Posted by Shake n Blake

Here's a look at how we fared after each 8-6 start:

2012: ?
2011: Win vs Cardinals, loss vs Ravens. Finished 9-7.
2006: Loss at Broncos, loss vs Steelers. Finished 8-8
2003: Loss at Rams, loss vs Browns. Finished 8-8.

The only other times we've started 8-6 was in 1970, '72 and '77, when that was our final record in each of those seasons.

The thing I find discouraging is that Marv is 0-3 in division games after these 8-6 starts. Hopefully he'll use these 10 days to get the team fired up and ready to face Pittsburgh.

I blame 2006 on two people not Marvin Lewis. Brad St Louis and Shayne Graham

[Shake n Blake]

Originally Posted by ODRAB14

I blame 2006 on two people not Marvin Lewis. Brad St Louis and Shayne Graham

Or maybe just Brad St Louis. Graham was possibly the best kicker in the NFL up to that point. Brad's snaps got into his head. Btw, how snake-bit do you have to be to have your normally reliable long snapper go Rick Ankiel on you during a playoff run? 2006 was such a bad year. Throw in the phantom roughing the passer game with those last 2, and we easily should've finished 11-5 that year.

[ODRAB14]

Originally Posted by Shake n Blake

Or maybe just Brad St Louis. Graham was possibly the best kicker in the NFL up to that point. Brad's snaps got into his head. Btw, how snake-bit do you have to be to have your normally reliable long snapper go Rick Ankiel on you during a playoff run? 2006 was such a bad year. Throw in the phantom roughing the passer game with those last 2, and we easily should've finished 11-5 that year.

St Louis gets blames for Denver, Graham missed the kick against the Steelers at home.. I blame Graham more for us not making the playoffs that season.

[momadance02]

Originally Posted by Shake n Blake

Or maybe just Brad St Louis. Graham was possibly the best kicker in the NFL up to that point. Brad's snaps got into his head. Btw, how snake-bit do you have to be to have your normally reliable long snapper go Rick Ankiel on you during a playoff run? 2006 was such a bad year. Throw in the phantom roughing the passer game with those last 2, and we easily should've finished 11-5 that year.

That roughing the passer call still haunts me... One of the worst calls I've ever seen..

[BengalRugby]

As I said to begin the season, had the Bengals at 8-8, plus or minus one game, so I hope they prove me wrong and go 10-6.Oddly, I can see the Bengals beating the Ravens and losing to the Steelers. GE was tearing up that defense, and as long as the o-line is strong and consistent, should be a W.


I don't see them losing both of these last two games, as the team has made a lot of great strides. The only thing that might get them is trying to work Cook back into a starting role this late. He needs to ride the bench until Robinson needs a breather, and forcing him back in does nothing but hurt the offense.

[khamla]

Its dissappointing but dude, we're in the same division as the Ravens and Steelers, two of the toughest teams in the league also most consistent. It's like almost saying you have two Patriot teams in your division.

[shaolinghost]

Originally Posted by khamla

Its dissappointing but dude, we're in the same division as the Ravens and Steelers, two of the toughest teams in the league also most consistent. It's like almost saying you have two Patriot teams in your division.

That's true, but we still had the potential to be 13-1 at this point. The Ravens game was the only one where we got handily beaten. Outside of that, our average loss was by 6 points, and only the Browns beat us by more than one score(10).

[BMATT]

Originally Posted by ODRAB14

St Louis gets blames for Denver, Graham missed the kick against the Steelers at home.. I blame Graham more for us not making the playoffs that season.

The loss in Denver in 2006 was a complete team failure, not just the special teams. Palmer throws a pick inside the Denver 10 yard line early in the game. Rudi Johnson's fumble turnover near the Denver 20 yard line early in the 4th quarter. Chad Johnson's penalty that wiped out a Chris Henry's 75 yard TD in the third quarter. The Bengal's defense giving up a 99 yard TD drive to rookie QB Jay Cutler in the third quarter.

Looking back, if the defense had held a 28-7 halftime lead earlier that year against the Chargers we would have been in the playoffs that year, despite the Denver/Pitt games. Instead we get outscored 42-13 in the second half and lose 49-41.

[shaolinghost]

Originally Posted by BMATT

The loss in Denver in 2006 was a complete team failure, not just the special teams. Palmer throws a pick inside the Denver 10 yard line early in the game. Rudi Johnson's fumble turnover near the Denver 20 yard line early in the 4th quarter. Chad Johnson's penalty that wiped out a Chris Henry's 75 yard TD in the third quarter. The Bengal's defense giving up a 99 yard TD drive to rookie QB Jay Cutler in the third quarter.

Looking back, if the defense had held a 28-7 halftime lead earlier that year against the Chargers we would have been in the playoffs that year, despite the Denver/Pitt games. Instead we get outscored 42-13 in the second half and lose 49-41.

There's that famous Marvin half-time adjustment we all love so much.

[D.Boon]

Marvin Lewis led teams **** during the last quarter of the season if there is something to play for. Every time we've made it to the playoffs we've limped in. This year we have the opportunity to buck that trend and enter the playoffs with momentum...but they need to play much better than they did on TH. That did not look like a playoff team. That looked like a bad football team that beat a horrible team. I'll take the win, but they have to step up. Dalton in particular needs to rise to the occasion.

[Shake n Blake]

Originally Posted by BMATT

The loss in Denver in 2006 was a complete team failure, not just the special teams. Palmer throws a pick inside the Denver 10 yard line early in the game. Rudi Johnson's fumble turnover near the Denver 20 yard line early in the 4th quarter. Chad Johnson's penalty that wiped out a Chris Henry's 75 yard TD in the third quarter. The Bengal's defense giving up a 99 yard TD drive to rookie QB Jay Cutler in the third quarter.

Looking back, if the defense had held a 28-7 halftime lead earlier that year against the Chargers we would have been in the playoffs that year, despite the Denver/Pitt games. Instead we get outscored 42-13 in the second half and lose 49-41.

So much heartbreak in that game (and season). Sadly, that's not the only complete meltdown I've seen. In '95 we held a 31-13 lead midway through the 3rd quarter against the Steelers. Neil O'Donnell winds up leading the Steelers on 5 consecutive touchdown drives and we lost 49-31.

[TigerJ@w]

That is why he is Mediocre. What about his other 6? because they out number his 4.

[mars304]

Originally Posted by TigerJ@w

That is why he is Mediocre. What about his other 6? because they out number his 4.

Well I know 2 of those other 6 he was better at this point in the season seeing how we made the playoffs.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[BoomerFan]

1-5 in this situation and we tried hard to lose that Arizona game (Benson's back to back fumbles, then a wide open WR in the endzone drops a pass in the Cardinals game).

[PApinhead]

I'm not a Giggles fan by any stretch of the imagination, but we did just win in primetime, so maybe the worm has turned and things will be different from here on out.

[Jwmann2]

If the Cowboys take down the Steelers tomorrow and then we beat either the Steelers or Ravens, I think we are in. The Ravens have been banged up and may sit their starters unlike last year when they were playing for the first round bye. Of course, nothing would satisfy me more than knocking the Squellers out of playoff contention. If we're going to slowly climb out of their shadow, we've got to win next weekend.

[fumetti]

2003 infuriated me. The loss to Cleveland was inexcusable. After waiting over a decade for a shot at a winning season, and then lose to a terrible team, I was ready to fire Lewis for just that loss (despite the gusty win over undefeated KC in week 10). In retrospect, that game was telling... that's basically how every year would be under Lewis...underperforming.

[Shake n Blake]

Originally Posted by fumetti

2003 infuriated me. The loss to Cleveland was inexcusable. After waiting over a decade for a shot at a winning season, and then lose to a terrible team, I was ready to fire Lewis for just that loss (despite the gusty win over undefeated KC in week 10). In retrospect, that game was telling... that's basically how every year would be under Lewis...underperforming.

The memories actually started to come back to me as I typed out those losses.

I don't think anything can top the frustration from 2006, but that loss vs Cleveland to end 2003 comes pretty close.

I knew we would lose in St Louis to the "Greatest Show on Turf", but I fully expected to beat the Browns to get that coveted winning season.

[hidalgo]

the Bengals will finish 8-8, no doubt in my mind. they never step up in huge situations, it's just the mike brown/marvin lewis loser way

[Helldog]

Originally Posted by hidalgo

the Bengals will finish 8-8, no doubt in my mind. they never step up in huge situations, it's just the mike brown/marvin lewis loser way

guess there's no point in watching the last two games then, thanks.

[Joelist]

I'm thinking we lose to the Steelers and beat the Rats, thus getting our back to back winning seasons but missing the playoffs.

I just don't see how we can beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh with only one reliable receiver and the spotty blocking we've seen the last couple of games.

[Bengal4ever68]

No playoff birth= Fire Marvin Lewis