JEEEZ, USA TODAY thinks the crappy Cincy sports season will continue right on thru to Bengals season.

 

Not buying that.

I'll take 12-4.

 

The Bengals will be better than 5-11. By several games.

 

The Pats won't go 16-0.

The Titans? come on man.

I'll gladly take the over on 5 wins. People seem to have lost some faith in the Bengals, but I think they're poised to have a decent year.

Schedule:

 

Ravens

Texans (short week)

@ Packers

@ Browns

Bills

Week 6 Bye

@ Steelers

Colts

@ Jaguars

@ Titans

@ Broncos

Browns

Steelers (Monday Night Week 13)

Bears (short week)

@ Vikings

Lions

@ Ravens

It seems like November is always a big month in the NFL

 

11/5: @ Jaguars

11/12: @ Titans

11/19: @ Broncos

11/26: Browns

 

If the Bengals can win 2 of these 3 road games, they should be in pretty good shape.

I love it! The Bengals lately seem to be much better when people think they will be horrible.

 

The defense should be even better this year. Especially having Burfict to start year. The defense is so much better with him in. He had over 101 tackles in just 11 games last year.

 

Offensively they should be better as long as they stay healthy. It comes down to the play of the young tackles. However while they may not be great, I think the tackles will do better than expected. Plus it does seem the Bengals are gearing more to being a spread it out type team. Which is better suited for these athletic type tackles they have.

That's hilarious... barring anything like a rediculous number of injuries, this Bengal team wins at least 8 games this season.

And 8 wins would be a colossal failure imo, because I see 10 or 11 wins in all likelihood.

Overall that looks to be a rather lazy set of predictions by someone at USAToday

Start with Baltimore without Pacman. Short week then the #1 defense in the league. Then off to GreenBay. I can see why some prognosticators got to that conclusion. Frankly, if that start is 0-3, I still can't see how they only win 5 barring some injuries there. That schedule after the start isn't that daunting, IMO.

They could be right, its unknown if Andy will make it past week two without getting hurt.

I'll take the over as well.

 

Ironic that Bengals fans are defending our team against a 5 win season.

Start with Baltimore without Pacman. Short week then the #1 defense in the league. Then off to GreenBay. I can see why some prognosticators got to that conclusion. Frankly, if that start is 0-3, I still can't see how they only win 5 barring some injuries there. That schedule after the start isn't that daunting, IMO.

 

I agree about the schedule. No New England and the NFC North doesn't scare me outside of Green Bay. AFC South is arguably the worst division in football. Colts could be good but Bengals get them in Cincinnati. If Cincinnati can take care of business at home then Cincinnati is a playoff team in my opinion.

Here is how I see it. If we get great O line play: 12-4/ Win Division. Average O line play: 10-6/ Wild Card. Bad O line play: 7-9. No O line play: 5-11.