Over at ESPN, James Walker buys into the emerging conventional wisdom about the 2009 Cincinnati Bengals. He believes they’ve improved — but questions whether they can overcome division rivals Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
It is well-documented that Cincinnati added a lot of talented players via the draft and free agency. But I still question if this team is good enough and tough enough to beat Pittsburgh and Baltimore four times a year, which ultimately will determine how far the 2009 Bengals go.
I’m not really sure why Walker thinks it necessary that the Bengals win all four games against the Steelers and Ravens. They went 3-1 against them in the regular season in 2005 (dropping one to Pittsburgh) and made the playoffs, after all. Just splitting with each club would level the playing field.
But how likely is even that modest goal? Based on last season, in which the Bengals won fewer than five games while both the Steelers and Ravens went to the playoffs, it might seem far-fetched. But I’m not sure. Last season was an injury train wreck for Cincinnati that doesn’t really provide a fair measuring stick. The year before, 2007, the Bengals beat the Ravens twice while dropping both games against the Steelers. In 2006, Cincinnati split with both teams.
Overall, the Carson Palmer-led Bengals have actually dominated Baltimore, winning six of nine games from 2004 through the opener in 2008. Palmer & Co. have had less luck with Pittsburgh, which has taken six of their eight meetings with Palmer.
All reports have Palmer coming back at 100%. If so, and if the team can stay relatively injury-free, I expect their games against the Steelers and Ravens to more closely resemble the pattern of 2004-2007 than ’08. That doesn’t bode well for their games against Pittsburgh, but I think folks like Walker will be surprised at how quickly they bounce back against Baltimore.
Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers
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It was helpful to see the stats prepared for the four seasons between 2004 and 2007. It was my instinct as well that we had done a lot better over recent years competing in this division than we were maybe getting credit for - not that it was that impressive. What it does show, is that teams like the Steelers, Ravens and Browns do take the Bengals serious when they are up against them - and they should! Baltimore will not have at its disposal any so-called new found success that will enable them to embarrass the Bengals again this year (as in 2008) - even with the Flacman. Pittsburg also knows they have their hands full with a healthy Cincinnati Bengals team. The fact that we are contenders in the AFC North should speak to the rest of the league - and it does. The record is not always what it shows, and 2009 is a whole new season.
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