What does Cincinnati WR Chad Johnson think will happen this Sunday when the Bengals meet the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis? “We’re going over there and getting our asses kicked.”
Well…that’s probably true. Still, if that’s really how Ocho Debbie Downer feels, I would suggest that Marvin Lewis tell him to take the weekend off and catch up on Rock Band 2. Probably a better use of everyone’s time.
As for the game itself, while a Bengals victory would be a huge surprise, it may not be the blowout many expect. The Colts have been a sort of junior version of the Bengals this season. Like Cincy, whose offense has dropped from top 10 to worst in the league, the Colts’ usually stellar O is ranked an anemic 22nd this year. Their running game is only marginally better than that of the Bengals, generating an average of 3.5 yards per attempt, versus 3.4 for Cincy. And their run defense has actually been worse, allowing 4.2 yards a rush compared to 4.0 for the Bengals.
The Colts have recorded just one blowout win this season, a 31-3 romp over the Ravens in which Baltimore turned the ball over five times. Their other seven victories have come by 3, 4, 3, 4, 6, 3 and 4. Statistically, QB Peyton Manning is on course for his worst year since 2001. A lot of the problems in Indianapolis can be traced to troubles on the offensive line (sound familiar, Bengals fans?), particularly a lingering calf injury to starting C Jeff Saturday.
If the Bengals were less banged-up, I might actually like their chances in this game, but as it is, they are going in undermanned at defensive back — of the season’s starting DBs, only Leon Hall looks to go, and backup David Jones is going the wrong way on the injury report with a bum knee — and are starting DTs and street free agents at defensive end. As for the Bengals offense…shrug. If they can take advantage of the Colts’ weak run D, Cincy might keep things close. But Indy will no doubt stack the box and force Ryan Fitzpatrick to beat the league’s No. 6 pass defense, a dubious proposition at best.
Still, it would be nice to see a surprise Bengals victory, if only to make Chad eat his words.
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I’d love to see a repeat of the coaching disaster from a trip to Indy a few years back.
Brat – in an effort to out think Indy, decided he’d run the ball exclusively – single handedly taking the receivers (i.e. our offense) out of the game.
D-Coordinator du year – allow Indy to have ANYTHING they wanted under 10 yds so long as they didn’t make any plays over 10 yds.
An absolute CLASSIC!
I can’t believe he actually said that. Wow, Ocho.
Well, he was right.
He may have been right, but that’s not the point. You don’t hear Lions players talking about how they are going to get their asses kicked. You wonder why the Bengals have been circling the drain this season, it’s because of that sort of mindset. It all starts with the coach, Marvin Lewis has to go.
It may all start with the coach elsewhere, but not in Cincy. Lewis leaving will change absolutely nothing. Smarter would be to get rid of Chad, but the guy who calls the shots, Mike Brown, won’t do that either.