The ScooterBlog

A couple of weeks ago, I lamented about the fact that the Bengals played a decent game, made mistakes at critical times, ended up with 7 points, and lost on a fluke play. Since then, we’ve seen two very different games, and especially this past Sunday against the Steelers, I saw something that gave me great confidence for the remainder of the season; The Bengals won a game that they didn’t play their best in by making plays at the right times, and overcoming. This is the kind of thing that makes an average team win 10 games instead of 6, and we haven’t seen that around here in a long time.

Some points of great optimism:

• The Bengals converted three fourth downs on the game winning drive. I think they have had seasons recently where they have not converted three critical fourth down plays.
• Cedric Benson has played excellent football so far. His 293 yards is the third most in the NFL right now, and is giving the Bengals their first power runner who can also break bigger plays since Corey Dillon (and we don’t miss him one bit).
• Mike Zimmer’s defense has really taken off, to the point where it can compete with the top units in the league. I don’t think they are there yet with the stats, but they are making plays, as evidenced by Jonathan Joseph’s pick six on Sunday. How nice is it to say cornerbacks are our strength!

Put all that together, and now my pessimistic predictions early are a thing of the past. The Bengals have beaten two opponents in the row that at the start of the season, you would not have called sure victories. With their success in mind, and seeing how the league is shaking out otherwise, I think 5-2 is reasonable now. They should beat the Browns, Texans, and the Bears, but I don’t think they are in the class of the Ravens just yet. Taking it out across the entire schedule, their current play would project to a 9-7 season, so they will still need to beat teams perceived to be better than them.

Other thoughts for the weekend.

• The Browns still suck. Nothing more to say here. I’d actually like to see them be kind of solvent. They’re not. 1-15, here we come. Okay, one more thought on them. Do you think Jamarcus Russell could start for the Browns right now?
• The Jim Zorn death watch is now officially in effect. I’m happy that the Lions won a game, and for a lot of teams, to give up that win is not a killer loss, it’s just the Lions rebuilding. But, the Redskins are proving to not be all that good, this isn’t helping that feeling out. The head coach seat might as well have a time bomb placed on it now.
• With one game winning pass, Brett Favre just paid for his entire Vikings salary, bar none.
• I’m sure the Buckeye fans locally are real happy that the two best rookies are guys from USC (Mark Sanchez) and from Florida (Percy Harvin).

Oh yeah, and a couple of college football thoughts.

• Never in a season have I seen more instances where a team has radically jumped up in the standings for a big win than this year. Yes, I understand that Iowa should probably be ranked being 4-0 and knocking off Penn State, but #13 in one of the polls?! Part of it might be explained by some of the vast differences between the AP and Coaches’ Poll this year too. Oregon is #16 in one, #25 in another. Does someone know something the other one doesn’t, or (more likely), does either poll have any clue who the Top 25 really is? I side with the last thought.
• Another Hands Down thought. I think UC could beat Ohio State this year. The rankings are rightfully close.
• I’m glad Tim Tebow is going to be fine, but like everything else, his concussion is getting seriously overplayed. Yes, he took quite the hit accidentally. Yes, concussions are a big deal. But, you’d think his career was over in one play. He will get better, even if he misses a game or two, and it sounds like their backup is pretty good anyways. Rest easy, entire freaking world, he will be fine, injuries happen.
• I am officially rooting for two things … every non-BCS school known to man, and for a split National Championship. Seriously, am I the only person who thinks a playoff system is worth at least $1 Billion and won’t kill the bowl system?

Oh yes, looks like it’s going to be a 3-0 week for me in Fantasy Football. Thank goodness for Free Agency!

I know it’s only Monday, but I think I can safely talk about the week that has been. I mean, the two games tonight are likely very predictable. The Pats will probably win their game, and Brady will be talked about ad nauseum (whatever), and the Chargers will annihilate the Raiders in the night game, the first of Oakland’s 16 mercy killings before the end of the year, allowing them to use the next #1 draft pick to pick the fourth best quarterback and overpay him.