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In case you missed it or your brain tucked it away to never be found again, the score for the opening game of the season, on Monday Night Football, in front of a national audience was:
Baltimore 44
Cincinnati 13
But don't fret Bengals fans, not only was it as bad as it looks, it broke some records for the team. Here we go: The Defense gave up the most amount of yards since December 2010 when the Saints got 436 on the Orange and Black, The Defense gave up the most points since November 2010 when the Bills hit the boys with 49, The defeat was the worst ever for Marvin Lewis as head coach of the Bengals on opening day, Oh, yeah, and one more. Here's a good one, Ed Reed became the NFL's All Time Leading Interception Return Yard Leader!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!!
So, let's start with the positives of the game. I know, after an ass whoopin like that in front of God and all creation it doesn't seem that there would be positives. But there are always positives my friends. So positive #1) The Offensive Line, filled with rookies, inexperienced players, and a man that was just selling insurance last month, held up well. This is definitely a surprise for people. Everyone thought if we struggled it would be here. However, Faine, didn't miss a beat and looked like he had Andy Dalton under Center his whole career. Zeitler got beat one time, when the game was already out of reach. Andy, for all of the inexperience really stayed safe in the pocket. Sure we were pressured here and there, but we were playing the number one D in the league. Positive #2) Andrew "Baby Hawk" Hawkins really stepped his game up. He was targeted often and was able to get some good, effective yards after the catch. I think his size might be an upside because he is so elusive and hard to get to. Positive #3) BenJarvus Green-Ellis got 91 yards rushing off of just 18 carries and a TD. This is very encouraging. He put out a lot of effort and made the tough yards, carrying guys if he had to. He didn't put the ball on the ground and he scraped for more and more every down. In two showings against this unrunnable Ravens D last year, Benson only rushed for 92 yards with 29 carries. People keep wondering if we upgraded and why we didn't pick up Bush. Well here is your answer. The Law Firm is quick, just as tough, has a nose for the endzone and hasn't fumbled ever in his NFL career. Well, that, and Bush was overweight when they worked him out. So the Law Firm also does not eat fast food. Positive #4) It is only week one. I know it left an ugly taste in our mouths, but there are still 15 more games to play. We lost week one last year and probably will again, so let's just dust ourselves off, get back on the horse and pray Leon Hall learns to cover!
See there were positives, I didn't disappoint did I? So now for the negatives. I am not going to number these. Mainly because it is depressing, but also because the D is to blame for 99%. Okay, so before blaming the D, let's start with Dalton. He was over throwing guys the whole game! These guys are tall and their arms are long, but we aren't dealing the Green Giant here man! I didn't even count his over throws because I was too angry. There is no reason for this. He needs to settle down and try to be more accurate. Also, if Green is double teamed...he isn't your guy. I am going to chuck it up to first game of the season jitters, but if this continues the next couple of games, Bengals fans should definitely be concerned. He seems like a nice a guy, but Palmer did too. Last year, more than a few of his completions were because the receivers went and got the ball for him, not because he made it easy with accuracy. I like him, but I would also really like to win. So, again, let's just chalk it up to jitters for now, but let's get to work on it. Now for the rest of the rest of the 500 negatives: Defense, Defense, Defense...We were supposed to be so awesome here. Everyone thought we would be in the top 5 talk this season. At least up front. Nope, I am not even sure if we can be included in the top 32 discussion at this point. I played the Bengals D last night in Fantasy Football and got -1 points. Really guys?!? Leon Hall got beat all night. He even dropped what should have been an interception. I don't know if he isn't really fully recovered from his injury last season or if he just can't keep up anymore. It was not pretty, though, and he should take a lot of the blame. Taylor Mays...let our offense get yards, don't help their offense get yards. This guys likes to hit and he likes to hit hard, just ask Maualuga and Burfict. He, however, still needs to keep his head up and not knock people out with helmet to helmet. This is exactly what he did in the Green Bay preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium and it can't keep happening. Fifteen yards is fifteen yards, that they didn't have to earn. And the line, well, Ray Rice didn't seem to have a problem with that.
Now, hopefully, the highly touted D can see you still have to work. It is not going to come easy. There is a goal line to protect if we are ever going to win or get anywhere. I don't know what the mental breakdown was this game. Maybe it was the coaching, maybe it was the players, probably it was both, but it has to get better. I am sure Zimmer is going to beat these guys up this week, which is obviously necessary. If I am this upset, I can only imagine how embarrassed he is.
But, it does get better Cincinnati. Next week we have those beloved Brownies from up north. Hopefully we bottle up this embarrassment and frustration and unleash the fury on them. However, I don't want to get too high if we do beat them. They are still just the Browns. We have a tough schedule this year, so from this game I am looking for confidence, not gloating. Not to mention, it may not be as easy as we think. Their Defense played Mike Vick and that Philadelphia Eagle offense really tight and should have come away with the win if it wasn't for their offense being so bad. Weeden had a horrible first showing at QB, right down to getting stuck under a giant flag! I will post the video below because watching this flag debacle never gets old:
Oh Brownies how your silliness makes my heart chuckle with delight. Who Dey!!
One more thing before I go tonight...Carson Palmer Lost!! Not only did he lose, he was booed at home in Oakland! Sorry, Suckers! Who Dey!!!!!
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