I would like to see the Bengals throw deep in this game about 3 times as much as their season average. I think McCarron is at his best throwing deep and the Steelers are at their worst in the backend.

 

Agreed, however has to have time to throw it. IMO McCarron has shown when he has time he is a very accurate passer and as I mentioned in the post above does a very good job at throwing receivers open. Which I think he is better than Dalton when it comes to doing that. The problem is McCarron doesn't have that quick release like Dalton, so the offensive line problems has really shown with McCarron being the QB.

AJ has played well enough to win this game. His big game experience has translated to the pro game pretty well so far. He can make the throws. As a first year starter he obviously lacks experience but sure doesn't lack confidence. Waking up with Katherine Webb every morning will do that to a guy I guess. Regardless, the defense, special teams and running game will have to win this game. Oh yeah, and coaching. :sssh:

 

I hope she threatens to cut him off unless he wins Saturday night! That would motivate him...well, it would motivate me.

 

Its no wonder why he doesn't seem to get nervous in these types of games. It because no matter what happens in the game, he is still winning in life going home to that every night!

He holds the ball way too long.

He struggles mightily when a team plays zone coverage.

He has almost zero NFL experience.

He struggles to get guys in the right spots and is always up against the play clock.

 

It's not so much that McCarron isn't good, he's been fine, it's that he's not Dalton. The past seasons are irrelevant to the discussion as far as I'm concerned. Andy Dalton was on the short list of legit MVP candidates prior to getting injured. Forgive me for thinking that McCarron, because he hasn't been terrible, isn't nearly as formidable to opposing defenses.

 

I agree with this 100% percent. The same thing they said about Brock Osweiler in Denver when they put Peyton in yesterday. Brock has done decent but he has trouble audibling to right play, has trouble reading the defenses, and doesn't have the experience. I think Mccarron is decent but he is not Andy. He may at some point, but it's not this game. Some stats I just read:

 

Dalton is sacked once every 19.3 passes, AJ once in every 9.9

3rd down conversions yesterday: AJ 1 for 5, -1 yards and a sack. (not exactly a great team we played either.)

Agreed, however has to have time to throw it. IMO McCarron has shown when he has time he is a very accurate passer and as I mentioned in the post above does a very good job at throwing receivers open. Which I think he is better than Dalton when it comes to doing that. The problem is McCarron doesn't have that quick release like Dalton, so the offensive line problems has really shown with McCarron being the QB.

 

I would use the whole extra offensive lineman, we want to run, play action, block with six actual offensive linemen and send four out with at least two of the four going deep routine.

Something about him doesn't look right to me. Almost looks out of place in the NFL at times.

Agreed. I wouldn't worry, one more drug offense and he'll be out of the league for a year anyway.

Same here! You see all the time in sports people be very high on a team entering the post season and then that team lays an egg. Basically everyone is picking Pittsburgh, shoot even Vegas has Pittsburgh as the favorite even though they are on the road.

 

This game is an example in my opinion of Vegas betting lines often not being about who they are picking to win the game but about how the public views the game. The Steelers are favored because if the Bengals were favored by even 1point all the action would be on the Steelers. Vegas doesn't want all the betting action on one side of the ledger. That is why you see betting lines move. They don't move because the person setting the line changed his opinion. It moves because they want to split the betting action. My point is I don't consider Pittsburgh being favored by three points to be a statement that Vegas thinks Pittsburgh is 4 points better than Cincinnati at Cincinnati

This is why you want to be the QB of your team.

 

This game is an example in my opinion of Vegas betting lines often not being about who they are picking to win the game but about how the public views the game. The Steelers are favored because if the Bengals were favored by even 1point all the action would be on the Steelers. Vegas doesn't want all the betting action on one side of the ledger. that is why you see betting lines move. They don't move because the person setting the line changed his opinion. It moves because they want to split the betting action

 

I agree with you but check out this link:

 

What is the percentage chance a team wins the game based on the closing point spread? - BettingTalk

 

In short, the spread gets it right more often than not if our only concern is wins and losses.

This is why you want to be the QB of your team.

 

[ATTACH]54126[/ATTACH]

 

They look like a match to me.

fivethirtyeight has the Bengals with a 58% win probability for the game.

 

Interestingly enough, they are the only home team with the odds in their favor. The largest win probability is with the Chiefs at 61%.

 

Looking at the entirety of the season, they were only wrong 3 times about the Bengals. Week 3 @ Baltimore, Week 10 vs. Houston, and Week 14 vs. Pittsburgh, which assumed Dalton plays the entire game.

 

I'm actually really surprised the numbers say Bengals.

This will be the one of easiest playoff game for me to watch as a Bengals fan yet... Because I only expected the Bengals to win 2 of LEWIS' Playoff games in the past... First one against Pitt in '05 and the recent San Diego game...

Both Houston games and the Indy game were games I expected to lose... And this Steeler match up is similar... I don't expect a win, but I think it will be close and if the Bengals pull it out, sweet!

It just sucks that Dalton got hurt, because I thought he really came in this year and earned a shot at a playoff victory... Even if he somehow plays, no way he's at 100%... So, I'm just glad that had a historically great season... Bad luck seems to have stopped them short again...

Maybe next season, they have better luck. Who knows?

 

Got nothing to lose IMO... The pressure is actually on the Steelers in this one... Maybe that will play into the Bengals' favor.

I agree with you but check out this link:

 

What is the percentage chance a team wins the game based on the closing point spread? - BettingTalk

 

In short, the spread gets it right more often than not if our only concern is wins and losses.

 

fivethirtyeight has the Bengals with a 58% win probability for the game.

 

Interestingly enough, they are the only home team with the odds in their favor. The largest win probability is with the Chiefs at 61%.

 

These two posts help prove the point I made above about the betting line in this particular game. The stats and analytics favor the Bengals but the public is not buying it at all.

Got nothing to lose IMO... The pressure is actually on the Steelers in this one... Maybe that will play into the Bengals' favor.

 

Bengals fans at their best here. No logic, just hope pressure on the Steelers will lead them to victory! lol

 

Playing a backup QB will be the excuse next week. If only Dalton had played, the same Bengals fans who have been calling for him to be benched will say. No one will give the Steelers their proper due that they are just a much better franchise with a much better QB. Steelers roll, 37-14, and we will again know WE DEY! Maybe Bill Cowher can come back to lead the Steelers in a post-game chant again. lol!

This thread is gross, this game is gross, everything about it stinks. Losing to our rivals is gonna make it sting just a little more. Can't wait to hear Marvin's press conference. :irked:

These two posts help prove the point I made above about the betting line in this particular game. The stats and analytics favor the Bengals but the public is not buying it at all.

 

 

The only stat that matters is who is ready to play, not affected by pressure and their own comical history of 1st round el folds. That means Steelers roll. Betting lines are for complete losers to look at.