I like everything about Ray, love his attitude and the intensity he plays with...

 

I was at the game, and they were both terrible calls.

 

The guy is a beast, and a fierce, scary competitor. He's probably the best ILB to ever play, and I really admire the way he plays. You could tell that 85 and 81 were incredibly timid as they ran routes across the middle. Remember last year though that is was his Unsportsmanlike conduct hit against OC that directly led to the score that allowed the Bengals to win. He whined the same way after that game. The rules apply to Ray also.

So Crash, are you suggesting that tripping should never be called or it was a bad call because Lewis didn't mean to do it? Watch the replay, Lewis had one leg in the air, and the other foot was extended with his toe out; it was intentional. It doesn't matter that Lewis didn't know where the QB was or if it was intentional or not, it directly led to the 'tackle'.

 

It was a bad call. I never said anything about it being a stupid rule. Even if he swung one leg around, he whiffed. What led to the tackle was Carson Palmer being the least mobile QB in the NFL. For God's sake, he was sacked by a guy that had his hand on his heel.

A lot is being made of Carson's errant throw to #85 in the back of the end zone when the defender had slipped. What they're not saying is how Carson got rocked on the throw.

 

Carson was 34 for 50 with 345 yards in Week 1....

 

I stated in the NE update thread that Bengal fanatics would point to these numbers and say all is great. Fools gold at best.

Whether the trip on Ray Lewis was intentional or not, you gotta call it. I'm sure lineup never intentionally go offsides or have a false start. As for the late hit, bad call, but as others have mentioned so was the no-call on the pass interference in the endzone.

 

However, if drawn offsides it isn't a penalty. He was running full speed, was blocked and rolled due to his momentum carrying him.

 

IMO, the ONLY reason it was called is because his one leg was up in the air.

Good win for the Bengals. They couldn't afford to drop to 0-2. I expected the defense to bounce back and look more like the unit from last year. For whatever reason, they just didn't look ready in New England, against a good offense.

 

Hopefully some of the passing game woes can be cured by developing some chemistry...Palmer's #2, 3, and 4 options are all new...two rookies and a TO. But, still, the Bengals MO is pounding the rock with Cedric Benson, and he has looked very good early in the season.

 

The next three are winnable, and I think they need to get it done. It's the easiest stretch on the schedule.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I wasn't at all upset or disappointed in Carson's play yesterday. There were 3-4 balls that Chad should have had, that he dropped, and a couple balls that Carson was off target on. All in all, when you're facing the kind of pressure he was under all game long, to come out of there with no turnovers, and making no boneheaded decisions is all you can ask for.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I wasn't at all upset or disappointed in Carson's play yesterday. There were 3-4 balls that Chad should have had, that he dropped, and a couple balls that Carson was off target on. All in all, when you're facing the kind of pressure he was under all game long, to come out of there with no turnovers, and making no boneheaded decisions is all you can ask for.

 

Agreed. I just wish they would set Carson loose and let 85 and 81 run by people and throw it up to them. At least try it..

One of my complaints with Carson is on third down he tries to make a long throw instead of just getting the first down. Yesterday he did it trying to hit TO down the sideline when they only needed 3 or 4 yards for the first. The clock would have kept running,it was around 4 min. left, instead it's incomplete and stops. Sometimes it's a good idea depending what time of the game it is, but with 4 min. left and the lead just get the first down.

One of my complaints with Carson is on third down he tries to make a long throw instead of just getting the first down. Yesterday he did it trying to hit TO down the sideline when they only needed 3 or 4 yards for the first. The clock would have kept running,it was around 4 min. left, instead it's incomplete and stops. Sometimes it's a good idea depending what time of the game it is, but with 4 min. left and the lead just get the first down.

 

That was the one play I was scratching my head about....Of course, if no one underneath was open, he may have had no choice....

There is a BIG difference from being the most accurate and being a winner! Short little dump off passes and screens will help your accuracy, but let's face it in the NFL it is all about wins and Carson has led the Bengals to zero playoff wins.

 

Ken Anderson used to be very accurate too, because he threw screens every other play. The bottom line is I would rather have an accurate passer that can also complete some passes vertically too.

 

They aren't talking about him being a winner they are talking about him missing throws. The Bengals don't run to many screen passes and Ced doesn't get many dump off passes.

I like everything about Ray, love his attitude and the intensity he plays with...

 

I was at the game, and they were both terrible calls.

 

How in the world could you tell at the game? It's wasn't that easy to see.

One of my complaints with Carson is on third down he tries to make a long throw instead of just getting the first down. Yesterday he did it trying to hit TO down the sideline when they only needed 3 or 4 yards for the first. The clock would have kept running,it was around 4 min. left, instead it's incomplete and stops. Sometimes it's a good idea depending what time of the game it is, but with 4 min. left and the lead just get the first down.

Another that kind of gets under my skin is the taking a knee when they catch the D offside. Yes it did work yesterday. How about having a hot read on a play like that and take a shot. It's a free play. I also remember a couple of times where the knee down has backfired, a penalty wasn't called and the snap was a play.

How in the world could you tell at the game? It's wasn't that easy to see.

The trip call looked somewhat viable on the replay board. The roughing was very questionable. It looked like the ball was still in Palmers hand when contact began. Maybe they thought he drove him to the ground. Guy next to me called it a "Brady" call.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I wasn't at all upset or disappointed in Carson's play yesterday. There were 3-4 balls that Chad should have had, that he dropped, and a couple balls that Carson was off target on. All in all, when you're facing the kind of pressure he was under all game long, to come out of there with no turnovers, and making no boneheaded decisions is all you can ask for.

 

I agree I thought he managed the game pretty good. He made a few bad throws and I wasn't happy with them not punching any TD's in but overall I didn't think he did a terrible job.

The trip call looked somewhat viable on the replay board. The roughing was very questionable. It looked like the ball was still in Palmers hand when contact began. Maybe they thought he drove him to the ground. Guy next to me called it a "Brady" call.

 

I was a bit puzzled on that play as well.