2008: Week 3 look ahead

I hate to look ahead to the next block of games, because we have to focus only on the next game coming up. You know what they say: one game at a time. That goes for the players as well as their fans. Maybe not. Our next 4 games are Bengals at home, Seahawks at home, Browns in Cleveland and 49ers at home. Like I said, you can't overlook your next opponent - on any given Sunday and all that stuff - but we have a good shot to be 6-0. The Browns in Cleveland could be somewhat difficult and Seattle at least did make the playoffs last year so they must have some talent. But if we are less than 5-1 after those 6 games I will be verrrry disappointed.

The true test will come in a difficult stretch in games 7,8,9. We play Steelers on the road, Cowboys at home and the Eagles in Philly. That stretch will determine if we are a good team, a very good team or f-ing great.

Now let's take a look at the Bengals. I think this team has some chemistry problems. The coach, Marvin lewis, has lost control of the team. He's been fighting with the best player on the team (Chad Johnson). Then he makes a bold statement that they have to get rid of the difficult players and raise the character of the team; so they cut WR C Henry, who is then rehired 3 weeks later by the owner/GM. I think the players are not playing for the coach.

The OL is not good and they do not have a good running game. They have two talented WRs in TJ Houshmendzadeh and Chad Johnson. They have a great passer in Carson Palmer, but something is not working. How else can you explain that Carson Palmer has a qb rating of 37, lowest in the entire league. Maybe his qb rating is a little deflated because weather conditions were misearbly windy in their last game in Cincinatti. But still: the Bengals have socred 1 offensive TD in 2 games. The main problem is in their OL which is not good and banged up. Look for a big game from our DL.

Their defense is not too good either. Marvin Lewis is supposed to be a defensive wizard because of the great success he had coaching the great Ravens defenses of a few years ago. However, I could have coached those defenses led by Ray Lewis, those great CBs and an overwhelming pass rush. It's kind of like praising Joe Torre as a brilliant tactician because he filled out the lineup card with Derek Jeter every day and signaled for Mo Rivera to save the games. Real genius.

We should win easily, but somehow I think this game will be closer than the 13 1/2 points we are giving. Bengals have some talent on offense and at some point they're going to put a good effort together. Furthermore, I don't like this Earth Wind and Fire nonsense and I hope the Giants are not getting too full of themselves; and will focus and come to play. A heavy dose of our running game and we should be able to control the game and win by a comfortable 10 points.