AFC North Cincinnati Bengals
Finished 2004 season 8-8, 3rd place in the AFC North behind Pittsburgh and Baltimore
Key returning starters:
Carson Palmer – QB
Rudi Johnson – RB
Chad Johnson – WR
T.J. Houshmandzadeh – WR
Justin Smith - DE
The Bengals coming off a .500 season, have completed two seasons back-to-back @ .500, the first time in a while that NFL fans are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. Can Marvin Lewis take this team to the next level? Carson Palmer is looking promising, Chad Johnson is an exciting receiver and a great draft defensively; the Bengals can turn some heads!
2004 Stats:
Ranked 18st overall in offense, #10 ranked in AFC
Ranked 19th overall in defense, #11 ranked in AFC
Your thoughts on the Cincinnati Bengals this upcoming 2005 season...strengths/weaknesses and your prediction on where they will finish in the division.
posted by Steve at 7:31 AM
4 Comments:
I actually have some high hopes for this team, it's been a long time since we've seen the Bengals as successful as they have been the past couple of years. I think Carson Palmer is going to be a decent NFL quarterback and will eventually lead this team into the playoffs. Marvin Lewis has done some wonderful things in Cincinnati and I look for that to continue.
However, it won't happen this season. Unfortunately for the Bengals they play in a division with two of the best defenses in the NFL (Ravens and Steelers) so I don't think Palmer, Chad Johnson and company will be too successful year after year.
I believe in a couple of years the Bengals will be a playoff caliber type team, but I just can't see them finishing above 3rd place in the AFC North this season.
Rudi Johnson is coming off a very successful season, close to 1,500 yards rushing and 12 TD, makes himself a very solid fantasy candidate. Chad Johnson also had a tremendous year, 95 receptions, 1,200+ yards and 9 TD - the Bengals even had a solid draft, getting David Pollack from UGA. A favorable schedule this season and I could see the Bengals finishing 9-7, though missing the playoffs again.
I'm strangely with Steve on this one... 9-7 is doable, 10-6 is a stretch, and the rest of the division is too deep for these guys to get very far this year... THIS year, that is... they're on the cusp of becoming a strong contender, and another season to gel with this lineup should produce a strong playoff team in '06...
---OTG---
The Bungles are looking a whole hell of a lot better then they did 5 years ago. I think that Marvin Lewis has really taken this team far and now it’s time for his players to come through with there side of the bargain. Carson Palmer is setup in a good situation with Chad Johnson as his receiver and a hell of a running back in Rudi Tooty Johnson. Palmer and Johnson can be one of the better 1,2 punches of the future as far as QB WR connections go.
The Bengals unfortunately will not just overcome that hump this season but they should make steady strides. I’m saying they will finish 9-7 which might just give them a playoff birth if the AFFC North beats up on each other but the Bengals will only be just another mediocre team unless Palmer and Johnson can light up the skies for a good 100 catch 1500 yard season along with Rudi having a bust out 1500 yard season. The defense is tough but they will give up[ many points as they did past season.
Tough team is it time maybe..... you have to be on the next level this year or next year!!
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