SportsNation Blog Archives
Cincinnati Bengals
It's no surprise that the Ravens, fresh off a comeback against the Cardinals, and the Steelers, having dispatched the Patriots, meet with AFC North lead on the line. It's considerably more surprising that the winner might have to share those bragging rights with the Bengals. After a 34-12 win against the Seahawks, the Bengals are making it a three-way race in the division.
- "The next three weeks will determine how the Bengals do this year. Murderer's row. At Tennessee, vs. Pittsburgh, at Baltimore. I've been pulling for them just because they've been underdogs all these years, but this is bringing back painful memories of 2009, when no one took them seriously and they ransacked the division. Andy Dalton's got to be in serious consideration to beat out Cam Newton for ROY." -- SN commenter RavensSuperbowl44
- "Look out, NFL. The Cincinnati Bengals are for real. One of the top defenses in the league and an underrated offense led by the best rookie combo ever!" -- SN commenter BengalNation365
What is the playoff picture?
With just two wild cards available for the conference, it's not easy for one division to send three teams to the playoffs.
Will the division make or break Bengals?
The Bengals are off to a strong start, but they play half of their final eight games against the Steelers and Ravens.
Andy Dalton or Joe Flacco?
Dalton threw two touchdowns and two picks against the Seahawks, while Flacco totaled 336 yards but no touchdowns against the Cardinals.
Is there a race for rookie honors?
Cam Newton keeps piling up statistics but isn't getting many wins. Does either half of a rookie combo in Cincinnati deserve the nod as top newcomer?
Most of the attention in the Carson Palmer trade seems to be going to Oakland with the quarterback, and we asked you about that side of that deal yesterday. But what about the team Palmer leaves behind in Cincinnati? The Bengals are quietly off to a 4-2 start and find themselves flush with first-round picks. Is this a team of the future?
- "So what happened to "We will not trade him," Mr. Brown? Oh right, it wasn't a moral issue at all, was it? It wasn't that you wouldn't trade him, it was that you wouldn't trade him unless you had a decent QB of your own and the other team over paid. Good move for Cincy, but it still makes Brown look like a jerk." -- SN commenter Mojo_bones
- "I'm very impressed with how the team is being managed. Brown did a great job getting those draft picks for Palmer (who wasn't going to play with the Bengals anyway)." -- SN commenter Football_Junky2007
The genius of Mike Brown?
Bengals owner Mike Brown certainly takes plenty of shots for how he runs the team, but does the haul he got for Carson Palmer validate him on at least this topic?
Are you sold on Andy Dalton?
Brown also said Andy Dalton can be a "cornerstone" of the team. Dalton is off to a better statistical start than even Cam Newton, but are you sold?
Next year's Detroit Lions?
With Dalton, A.J. Green and the NFL's No. 2 defense, are the Bengals the next down-and-out franchise to emerge as contenders?
Remember when Carson Palmer used to play for the Bengals? Before the pseudo-holdout and the emergence of Andy Dalton, Palmer was actually a pretty good quarterback at times in Cincinnati. Could he be a pretty good QB in Oakland? The Bengals reportedly are on the verge of trading him to the Raiders for a first-round pick in 2012 and a conditional first-round pick in 2013. That sounds like a pretty good haul for a guy who wasn't even playing for the Bengals, don't you think? Or are the Raiders finally getting a potential franchise quarterback out of a bad situation?
More: Would you start Jason Campbell over Palmer if both are healthy?
Are the Raiders overpaying?
In most years, a first-round pick from the Raiders could be an amazing haul. This year, it might result in a pick very late in the round.
The first game of the NFL season kicks off in a little more than 24 hours, and we'd be lying if we said we weren't at least a little excited. Pro football can be a messy affair at times -- see the entire labor battle during the offseason -- but it's a glorious sport at its heart. Most every team's fan base has something to look forward to this weekend, although Colts fans may be dreading a future without Peyton Manning after the news that he'll miss at least his first game with a neck injury.
- Rank: Is Peyton Manning still in the MVP race? | Which are football's best teams?
- Vote: Which teams are the favorite to win each division?
Best game?
There are a lot of good matchups in Week 1 of the NFL's 2011 regular season. Steelers-Ravens, for example, could be a preview of a future AFC playoff game.
Colts without Manning?
Peyton Manning is out for an undetermined amount of time. This could be a prime opportunity for other teams to break Indianapolis' stranglehold on the AFC South.
Wouldn't it have been fun to see Cam Newton's undefeated Auburn Tigers play Andy Dalton's undefeated TCU Horned Frogs last season? Oh well, an NFL preseason game is almost as good, right? Right? While Thursday's game between the Panthers and Bengals was meaningless, what did it tell you about the rookie quarterbacks?
- "I find it hilarious how Dalton looked AWFUL the last two games, but somehow he is great after ONE game. The bengals are still terrible. Their O-line still can't protect the rookie long enough for him to read the field. At least Cam has his feet. Granted, he hasnt WOWED anyone. He still has a much higher upside than Dalton." -- SN commenter packtosh
Better short-term future?
Dalton competed 11-of-17 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown, while Newton completed 6-of-19 passes for 75 yards and no touchdowns (he did run for a score and gained 49 yards on four carries).
Better long-term future?
Can a second-round pick ever outplay a No. 1 overall pick like Newton? Well, the debate seems to rage on when it comes to Drew Brees and Michael Vick as products of the 2001 draft.
What about that other guy?
Carson Palmer didn't throw any passes Thursday night, mostly because he wasn't in the stadium. Will we see Palmer in any uniform this season?
As if Bills and Bengals fans don't have enough reasons to be depressed, now they can go to sleep at night knowing they might have had quarterback Michael Vick if not for some nudging from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Vick says he viewed both teams as better options than the Eagles but was convinced otherwise by the NFL. Whether Vick would have flourished in either location the same way he did in Philadelphia is unknown, but we're sure fans of both teams would have liked to find out. That aside, do you believe the NFL did something wrong?
- "If I was a Bengal or Bill fan, I'd be upset the commish had a hand in pushing a potential starting QB away from my team. Sounds like tampering to me." -- SN commenter jodya2229
- "Interesting that Goodell is steering superstar athletes away from small market teams and handing them over to the NFL's more beloved franchises. I thought this league prided itself on its parity. Apparently not. Who punishes Goodell for tampering?" -- SN commenter Stephen02120
- "He made the right choice in going 2 Philly he would of went crazy if he went 2 the Bills or Bengals." -- SN commenter Super_Thursday203
Is this what "collusion" means?
Michael Vick says the NFL played a role in getting him to sign with the Eagles. Was it a shrewd move by the NFL or something much less sinister?
Revisionist history?
Michael Vick says in 2009 he saw the Bengals and Bills as better landing spots than the Donovan McNabb-led Eagles. Would you have agreed?
Vick's approval rating?
Michael Vick understands some people still hold a grudge. "There may still be masses of people who feel that way. Just don't put it in my face. Because I will take the initiative to put it back in your face."
AFC East
The Patriots responded to their 14-2 record last season by signing or trading for several marquee names. Are they good enough to beat the Jets?
AFC North
The Steelers fell just short of winning the Super Bowl last season, as their vaunted defense wasn't able to stop Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
AFC South
Peyton Manning took a pay cut in order for the Colts to keep some of their key players, but is it enough for Indianapolis to win the AFC South?
AFC West
There's a brewing quarterback controversy in Denver, with Kyle Orton delaying the seemingly inevitable succession of Tim Tebow to the starting job. Can the Broncos compete with Orton?
NFC East
The Eagles made a number of humongous moves this offseason, including trading Kevin Kolb and signing Nnamdi Asomugha. Are they the team to beat in the NFC East?
NFC North
Aaron Rodgers led the Packers on an incredible run to a Super Bowl title last year. Are they the favorites in the NFC North once again?
NFC South
The Saints looked to make another deep run at a Super Bowl, but were stunned by the lowly Seahawks. Are they still an elite team?
NFC West
Speaking of the Seahawks, they won the NFC West despite a 7-9 record. Will they sneak into the playoffs once more?
We can understand if you don't want to take the time to grade your tech-support help on the other end of the telephone, but when we're talking about the dollars and emotion you've invested in sports, we think it's worth the effort. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.
Take part in the 2011 MLB survey
2010 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 3)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 6)
3. Colorado Rockies (Overall: No. 13)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 14)
5. Atlanta Braves (Overall: No. 15)
Take part in the 2011 NFL survey
2010 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. New Orleans Saints (Overall: No. 1)
2. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 4)
3. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 9)
4. Arizona Cardinals (Overall: No. 19)
5. Baltimore Ravens (Overall: No. 20)
Take part in the 2011 NBA survey
2010 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 2)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 7)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 10)
4. Dallas Mavericks (Overall: No. 24)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (Overall: No. 25)
Take part in the 2011 NHL survey
2010 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 5)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 8)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 11)
4. San Jose Sharks (Overall: No. 12)
5. Chicago Blackhawks (Overall: No. 16)
The AFC North sent the Steelers and the Ravens to the playoffs, both owners of 12-4 records and generally considered excellent all-around teams. The Browns and Bengals, on the other hand, continue to wallow in a swampland of below-.500 seasons. What grade would you give each team in the AFC North for the 2010 season? Cast your vote now!
AFC Grades: East | South | West | NFC Grades: East | North | South | West
Cincinnati Bengals
Carson Palmer had both Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco to throw to this season, but the Bengals couldn't take advantage of that combination.
Cleveland Browns
Even with the breakout performance of Peyton Hillis and the emergence of Colt McCoy as a potential star, the Browns were mired in awfulness.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens fell short in their four losses by a combined total of 16 points -- four more TDs and we'd be talking about Baltimore's quest to go 19-0.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers went 3-1 without Ben Roethlisberger, losing only one close game to the Ravens during Big Ben's suspension.
1. Would you rather have Randy Moss or Terrell Owens?
Randy Moss is heading to Tennessee to prove the third team is the charm this season. Meanwhile, a few hours to the northeast, Terrell Owens is quietly putting together a Pro Bowl season. Yes, we said quietly. Aside from the occasional tweet,, T.O. hasn't made waves with the Bengals, but do you trust him more than Moss?
- "We all know he's still got some juice, but it's running out fast and Revis and Cromartie were right about him being a slouch. To me, it seems like he's just an average receiver now ... getting old. I wish there was a fountain of youth ... bring back '98 Randy." -- SN commenter l33yang
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