Cincinnati Bengals: Power Rankings Roundup Week 11
Nov 16, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (12) takes the field during player introductions prior to the game against the Houston Texans at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
The Cincinnati Bengals lost on Monday night and it wasn’t in the best of situations, but how did they do in the power rankings? Here is this weeks, power rankings round up.
Connor Howe of Stripe Hype: #3
"Andy Dalton is going to get a ton of the blame, but Monday night’s loss was a team loss. Tyler Eifert dropped a couple of huge passes, A.J. Green lost a key fumble on the game’s final drive and supporting players just couldn’t make a big enough impact on offense to score points, specifically in the running game. Cincinnati needs to start focusing on the run, which Hue Jackson has for some reason ignored through the past three games. If Cincinnati’s running game can take off in the second half of the season like it did in 2014, the Bengals could be a serious Super Bowl contender."
"The undefeated season is over thanks to Andy Dalton’s kryptonite. Dalton is now 1-4 in his career against the Texans (including playoffs), his worst record against a team he has played more than twice."
I have news for you ESPN, Andy Dalton didn’t loss this game, the offense around him did. He made the throws, and he put them in position to win. His teammates let him down.
Peter King of MMQB and SI.com: #4
"Call it a trap game if you want to—a lackluster Bengals team failed to score a touchdown and fell to the Texans, 10-6, at home on Monday night—and yet if Tyler Eifert catches a couple of those passes he dropped, Cincinnati might still rank among the unbeatens. One thing’s for sure: Arizona, this Sunday night, will be even tougher than the Texans."
Fansided Staff Power Rankings: #4
"The Bengals sustained their first loss of the 2015 season on Monday Night Football against the Houston Texans, only able to score six points at home. Ultimately, this loss will raise eyebrows because it is the Bengals, and it happened in primetime. The reality is this is a very good team that lost and played poorly. It happens. The scary thing for the Bengals is the upcoming game, which features a road contest on Sunday Night Football against Carson Palmer and the Arizona Cardinals. Cincinnati does lead the AFC North by 2.5 games, but nobody wants to see a losing streak at this time of year."
Elliot Harrison of NFL.com: #3
"Hey, there’s no shame in losing your perfect season to T.J. Yates and the Texans, right?What an ugly loss. Tyler Eifert’s Barry Bonds elbow armor finally stopped him from catching perfectly thrown balls. Did A.J. Green look like he was jogging on a route that was broken up on that last drive? Or show any sense of urgency to recover his fumble at the end? Upon further review, maybe he just couldn’t locate the ball. Thoughts, Who Dey Nation? (@HarrisonNFL)Overall, the offense appeared to disappear. Just a grotesque first blemish — on the national stage, to boot."
Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com: #3
"That was a terrible loss at home to the Texans. Now they face a tough road test at Arizona."
The Bengals will now head to Arizona to take on the Cardnials and former Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer. If the Bengals can get past them on Sunday Night Football, they will set themselves up for a run to the finish and possibly that first round bye in the playoffs. The loss may dampen some spirits but not all is lost, it is one game. They just need to make sure it doesn’t tumble like it did for the Broncos and Packers.