(12-04-2024, 05:05 PM)Mickeypoo Wrote: I also understand what you are saying.  

I will also elaborate on my "broke my spirit" feeling.  I will always be a Bengals fan.  I will always want them to win.  I never want to see them lose, even for better draft position.  I am a fierce competitor in sports, games, etc.  The one and only time I ever wanted to see a loss was the Miami game to get Burrow if I am remembering that correctly.  I will still watch every game, I will still put on my jersey, I will still make some kind of dip for the game.  It's that I just don't feel any excitement really.  Hopefully it comes back next year, but after that Patriots game it just disappeared this year.   

The sudden swing from 31 years of being a laughing stock and losing in new and horrific ways to the insane excitement and hope after getting Burrow, Chase, Higgins, etc and almost winning a SB and then barely missing again the next year to almost instantly back to horrific crap again the last 2 years was just too much for my brain to overcome.  Best I can describe it is that I went numb.  Just unwilling to go through the excitement/hope and then ultimate outcome of losing again.  A subconscious mental defense mechanism. I don't know.  I just sit and watch pretty much emotionless expecting some disaster.  

I used to be crazy insane.  Jumping all around every touchdown, screaming, yelling, completely full of excitement and hope.  It's just gone man and it sucks.  I watch no other sports.  And even if I did it would be the Reds and well....................they are not going to help the lack of excitement and numbness.  Ha ha!   I am not saying it makes my life sad.  I am a very happy person, but when it comes to Bengals football I am just numb now. 

Oh well.  Hopefully the FO does make some changes that give me and others hope and next year this is just a distant bad memory as we destroy everyone on the way to the SB.  

(12-04-2024, 08:53 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: That was the point of me comparing the PFF scores from this year and last between Trey Smith and Alex Cappa. I'm saying that I'd like the Bengals "major" free agent acquisition to be Trey Smith.

(12-04-2024, 07:39 PM)pulses Wrote: He would be a nice signing but I don't see KC letting him go. I think they'll get rid of their RT who is making big money and who sucks and keep Smith.

(12-04-2024, 05:54 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Nice post man. Guess I am not there yet, still am excited to watch my Bengals even now. Just expecting poor Defense now and no turnaround.

The time for the Defense to turn it around was against the stealers after the bye. Had a week and a half for Lou to get the Defense ready for that
game and it was a complete embarrassment. I will be really excited once the season is over and we start firing Lou and whoever else and talking 
about who we can bring in to resurrect this Defense. Just sucks later in the season already looking forward to the Offseason as far as the Bengals 
goes, but I am still excited to watch the Playoffs and hopefully we don't have to see those Chiefs get the 3 peat.

Go Bills and go Lions in the NFC.

(12-02-2024, 01:42 PM)Bengalion Wrote: Andy Reid and Zac Taylor. Make your choice.

(12-05-2024, 11:40 AM)ERIC1 Wrote: agree...mahomes runs for his life on almost every play..difference between Bengals and teams like KC....teams like  KC..on both sides of the ball, make plays when they have to..we don't..Bengals entire organization was still in the mindset that with Burrow, Chase Higgins ..that they were unbeatable...WRONG....this team needs significant changes from top to bottom..scouting, coaches, players etc....

The highest-graded QB in each quarter this season ? pic.twitter.com/nn5oVIom4z

— PFF (@PFF) December 4, 2024

(12-03-2024, 05:52 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I think with how bad this Defense is we are asking Burrow to be Super Man. It isn't like Mahomes where he gets help from his Defense.

He has had no help from his Defense this year. That can take a toll on your clutch play.

(12-02-2024, 01:42 PM)Bengalion Wrote: Andy Reid and Zac Taylor. Make your choice.

(12-03-2024, 05:52 PM)FormerlyBengalRugby Wrote: I would disagree with him not being clutch.

He answers back, but the defense keeps crapping the bed and he has to answer back again, and again, and again...

(12-05-2024, 02:47 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Ehhhhhhhh, i don't know about that. 

I'm not blaming, just stating cold, hard, undeniable facts. 

Has Joe put his team in a position to win, late in games all year long? Without a doubt.
Has Joe played at an MVP level this year, arguably the best at his position right now? Without a doubt.
Has Joe had the ball in his hands 5 times this year with a chance to extend the lead or win a game late--and failed every time? Without a doubt. 

You can laud his MVP play, overall. You can say he's doing as much or more than anyone to put his team in position to win. 

You also can't deny that when they put the ball in his hands, against NE, KC, Balt x 2 and LAC, with a chance to ice or win the game, he has failed each time to close it out. You can minimize it, excuse it, do whatever you want with it, but it can't be denied that when the game was there to be won, when he had the ball and an opportunity to run or throw the team to a dub, he failed each time.

(12-03-2024, 05:52 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I think with how bad this Defense is we are asking Burrow to be Super Man. It isn't like Mahomes where he gets help from his Defense.

He has had no help from his Defense this year. That can take a toll on your clutch play.

(12-03-2024, 05:52 PM)FormerlyBengalRugby Wrote: I would disagree with him not being clutch.

He answers back, but the defense keeps crapping the bed and he has to answer back again, and again, and again...

(12-05-2024, 12:11 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: I think you like ellipsis almost as much as Brad likes exclamation points.

(12-05-2024, 03:05 PM)ERIC1 Wrote: for whatever reason..and it may well be the plays that are called..and fully acknowledging our bad defense..there have been many times this year that Burrow has messed up on a necessary third down play...and his vision of the field has seemed to taken a step backwards this year

(12-05-2024, 03:15 PM)ERIC1 Wrote: thanks teach

(12-05-2024, 03:27 PM)FormerlyBengalRugby Wrote: I guess you are missing the MVP level season Burrow is having and how many times he answered the bell only to have the defense or kicker leave him hanging. 

Not to mention the shell of an o-line blocking for him, and Burrow just keeps delivering at  that MVP level

Burrow is a clutch QB, but football is a team sport. 

If the Bengals had a slightly below average defense, the Bengals would have half a dozen dominant wins this season.

(12-05-2024, 11:40 AM)ERIC1 Wrote: agree...mahomes runs for his life on almost every play..difference between Bengals and teams like KC....teams like  KC..on both sides of the ball, make plays when they have to..we don't..Bengals entire organization was still in the mindset that with Burrow, Chase Higgins ..that they were unbeatable...WRONG....this team needs significant changes from top to bottom..scouting, coaches, players etc....

(12-05-2024, 02:47 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Ehhhhhhhh, i don't know about that. 

I'm not blaming, just stating cold, hard, undeniable facts. 

Has Joe put his team in a position to win, late in games all year long? Without a doubt.
Has Joe played at an MVP level this year, arguably the best at his position right now? Without a doubt.
Has Joe had the ball in his hands 5 times this year with a chance to extend the lead or win a game late--and failed every time? Without a doubt. 

You can laud his MVP play, overall. You can say he's doing as much or more than anyone to put his team in position to win. 

You also can't deny that when they put the ball in his hands, against NE, KC, Balt x 2 and LAC, with a chance to ice or win the game, he has failed each time to close it out. You can minimize it, excuse it, do whatever you want with it, but it can't be denied that when the game was there to be won, when he had the ball and an opportunity to run or throw the team to a dub, he failed each time.