Steelers 24 - Bengals 13

[Bengal Cat]

Congrats Steeler fans.

I thought the turning point in this game was Marvins lack of guts in the first half. Not going for it on 4th and short on the Steelers 40 was a borderline decision. You can make the case either way on that one. But towards the end of the first half to kick a FG when you are in the red zone on a 4th and less than 2 is crazy. With an average or better defense the move makes sense. But this defense is way below average. So they kick the FG and what happens? The Steelers drive right down the field and score a TD right before the half......nice call there Marv. A TD in that situation and it changes everything. Also....I don't want to hear how well the defense played in the second half and Pitt only scored 3. That was the gameplan of the Steelers. They wanted to shorten the game and take time off the clock. Wasn't anything the defense did other than the INT.

[TidesHoss32]

Im so proud of my Steelers...done exactly what they needed to do, when they needed to do it. They opened the game throwing, and ran the ball at will against the Bengal D..the entire second half was basically executed PERFECTLY...The only mistake was Big Ben throwing the INT after driving the ball down the field right after halftime. But all in all, I was thrilled. Its always a vicious game in Cincy, and Pittsburgh got a much needed and deserved win. I picked the score 24-13, and knew it would be somewhere in that area...but its a great day to be a Steeler!!!! WOO HOOOO!!!!!!!!

[Bengal Cat]

Every time the Bengals scored, they let Pitt go right back down the field and answer. Must be nice to play against a defense you know you can do what you want when you want.

[TidesHoss32]

your right though man...Marvin Lewis was scared to death to take chances..when he didnt go for it on 4th down, I think that ripped the confidence out of the offense..

[Bengal Cat]

your right though man...Marvin Lewis was scared to death to take chances..when he didnt go for it on 4th down, I think that ripped the confidence out of the offense..


I know he ripped it out of me......lol. Everybody with half a brain knows the strength of the Bengals is the offense. There comes a time when you have to make a stand and say ......we are going to impose our will and dictate to you instead of you dictating to us. If they score a TD there....its 14-10, Bengals have the mo, everybodys fired up and its a different game. But you know what they say about ifs.....if if ands and buts were candy and nuts, everyday would be Christmas.

Bottom line is though....if you can't get 1 yard at or about the 10 yardline, at home with basically your season on the line, then you don't deserve to win. As a coach, you have to have more confidence in your offense than that....just my opinion.

[Bengal Cat]

Heres Marvins quote after the game regarding the play I mentioned above.
____________________________________________
"In hindsight, we should have gone for it rather than take the points," Lewis said. "I didn't anticipate them driving down the field and getting a touchdown before halftime"
____________________________________________


Didn't anticipate it??????? What defense have you been watching all year Marv????

[TidesHoss32]

Heres Marvins quote after the game regarding the play I mentioned above.
____________________________________________
"In hindsight, we should have gone for it rather than take the points," Lewis said. "I didn't anticipate them driving down the field and getting a touchdown before halftime"
____________________________________________


Didn't anticipate it??????? What defense have you been watching all year Marv????lol, I read that on ESPN.com...I dont know what would have given him that idea, Pittsburgh ran AT WILL on Cincy the last two drives before that one..

[Bengal Cat]

lol, I read that on ESPN.com...I dont know what would have given him that idea, Pittsburgh ran AT WILL on Cincy the last two drives before that one..


When you hear your head coach make a statement like that it makes you wonder.

Also....it might help to have 11 players on the field. On Pittsburghs first touchdown (when Ward was wide open and tuned Hall around) the Bengals only had 10 players on the field. Can't blame that on injuries.....

[PLAYBOY5]

Cincy just isn't that good of a football team..Plain and Simple!

[bball fan]

Steelers played great! Big Ben was unbelievable! GO STEELERS!!

[BFritz]

Pathetic, but tell me this: what do NFL officials have against the Bengals? That play was challenged on the Steelers' second drive, you can see the ball hit the ground, clearly, and it's still called a catch. Not trying to blame it on the refs, but it's like this every game, how can we get any rhythm going because the refs keep giving the other team 37 yards just for running down the field and having a ball thrown in their area.

I don't know when Marvin lost his heart, but he's coached like this most of the season.

We can't win when our coaches have no heart, our players make stupid plays, and when the officials never let us get any momentum going and never let us have any confidence .

[Bengal Cat]

Pathetic, but tell me this: what do NFL officials have against the Bengals? That play was challenged on the Steelers' second drive, you can see the ball hit the ground, clearly, and it's still called a catch. Not trying to blame it on the refs, but it's like this every game, how can we get any rhythm going because the refs keep giving the other team 37 yards just for running down the field and having a ball thrown in their area.

I don't know when Marvin lost his heart, but he's coached like this most of the season.

We can't win when our coaches have no heart, our players make stupid plays, and when the officials never let us get any momentum going and never let us have any confidence .



Marvin obviously had more confidence that the defense could stop their offense with a little over 2 minutes than he had that the offense could get 1 yard. I don't claim to be a football expert, but where does all this confidence in the defense and lack of confidence in the offense come from? Wonder how that came across to Carson, TJ, Chad and crew?

BTW....whens the last time we won a challenge?

[Lake Chief]

Pathetic, but tell me this: what do NFL officials have against the Bengals? That play was challenged on the Steelers' second drive, you can see the ball hit the ground, clearly, and it's still called a catch. Not trying to blame it on the refs, but it's like this every game, how can we get any rhythm going because the refs keep giving the other team 37 yards just for running down the field and having a ball thrown in their area.

I don't know when Marvin lost his heart, but he's coached like this most of the season.

We can't win when our coaches have no heart, our players make stupid plays, and when the officials never let us get any momentum going and never let us have any confidence .
Don't blame the officials. Blame that Bengal defense everyone raved about how much improved they were from last year. Blame the coach. The Bengals will not reach the playoffs again as long as Marvin Lewis is their head coach. Write it down. I still say 8-8 because leave it to the Bengals to screw themselves out of a high draft pick and win a few meaningless games late in the season.

[BCF4L]

It doesn't matter about draft picks. They apparently pick the worst draft picks possible. I thought Jonathan Joseph was going to be a great pickup but he's just as worthless as Deltha O'neal. The corner we drafted this year from Michigan is worthless as well. I don't know if it's just the style of defense or what but its horrible.

[HAIL PIKEVILLE!]

Congrats to my Steelers on a job well done. Write this down Chad Johnson or Marvin Lewis will NOT be in Cincy this time next year. My gues is Ocho Cinco will be gone.

[DevilsWin]

But towards the end of the first half to kick a FG when you are in the red zone on a 4th and less than 2 is crazy. With an average or better defense the move makes sense. But this defense is way below average.

What are you talking about? The Steelers have the best Defense in the NFL.

And Cincy wouldn't have gotten in the end zone on that play.

[15thRegionCrazy]

Yahh!!! Way to go Steelers!!!

[Bengal Cat]

What are you talking about? The Steelers have the best Defense in the NFL.

And Cincy wouldn't have gotten in the end zone on that play.


I'm talking about the Bengals defense. Read the thread....would you please?

And you don't know if the Bengals would've scored or not. They ran the ball pretty well yesterday.

[DevilsWin]

I'm talking about the Bengals defense. Read the thread....would you please?

And you don't know if the Bengals would've scored or not. They ran the ball pretty well yesterday.
I read the thread Bengal Cat and it can be read either way. Maybe next time you should be more clear about which team your referring to..........please.

Bottom line is that the Bengals suck and the Steelers are gonna win the division.

[BFritz]

I read the thread Bengal Cat and it can be read either way. Maybe next time you should be more clear about which team your referring to..........please.

Bottom line is that the Bengals suck and the Steelers are gonna win the division.

It's funny that everytime the Steelers beat the Bengals, it's tainted. This time, on Pittsburg's first touchdown, the ball clearly hits the ground on that 42 yard pass, you can see it bounce.

[Bengal Cat]

I read the thread Bengal Cat and it can be read either way. Maybe next time you should be more clear about which team your referring to..........please.

Bottom line is that the Bengals suck and the Steelers are gonna win the division.

Seems like I was very clear to everyone but you. Let me try this again.......The Bengals should have gone for the TD because their (the Bengals) defense is not capable of stopping anyone. Thus....they need to score TDs not FGs.

[BCFan]

Pathetic, but tell me this: what do NFL officials have against the Bengals? That play was challenged on the Steelers' second drive, you can see the ball hit the ground, clearly, and it's still called a catch. Not trying to blame it on the refs, but it's like this every game, how can we get any rhythm going because the refs keep giving the other team 37 yards just for running down the field and having a ball thrown in their area.

I don't know when Marvin lost his heart, but he's coached like this most of the season.

We can't win when our coaches have no heart, our players make stupid plays, and when the officials never let us get any momentum going and never let us have any confidence .

Whos to say his left hand wasn't still wrapped around the ball when it hit? You can't overturn a call like that, there definitely wasn't evidence saying he didn't catch it, especially saying the original ruling was a completion.

It's funny that everytime the Steelers beat the Bengals, it's tainted. This time, on Pittsburg's first touchdown, the ball clearly hits the ground on that 42 yard pass, you can see it bounce.

It's not tainted in anyway, you just fail to believe your Bungals can lose. Your not going win many games kicking Field Goals and having one of the worst defenses, if not the worst in the NFL. Please show me without a doubt that ball was incomplete, because who is to say his left hand was not on the ball when he fell with it? Regardless, we won by 11, not 7.

[TidesHoss32]

I dont care how the game went, Im just glad to get out of Cincy with a HUGE win..this is one of those games that scare the daylights out of me, but I thought the Steelers played pretty well on both sides of the ball...and I have no gripes about the playcalling, which I was afraid of..but it was a huge win, I'll take it..

[BFritz]

Whos to say his left hand wasn't still wrapped around the ball when it hit? You can't overturn a call like that, there definitely wasn't evidence saying he didn't catch it, especially saying the original ruling was a completion.



It's not tainted in anyway, you just fail to believe your Bungals can lose. Your not going win many games kicking Field Goals and having one of the worst defenses, if not the worst in the NFL. Please show me without a doubt that ball was incomplete, because who is to say his left hand was not on the ball when he fell with it? Regardless, we won by 11, not 7.

It's funny how I get told I have no football knowledge when I make comments people can view as incorrect, but when someone makes a comment like that that's obviously incorrect, it's ok and they have plenty of football knowledge.

Where do I start? The incomplete pass? Good idea. You can see half of the ball on the replay, his other hand's not under it, so he trapped it if anything, because the ball was moving around, and neither hand was under it, so he didn't have control. So, WITHOUT EVEN A REASONABLE DOUBT, it was incomplete.

Now the biggest flaw in football knowledge: that was the Steelers first score, and if you take that away, nothing in that game would have gone the same way, and I mean NOTHING. How could you even think the game would have gone the exact same way? Please explain that to me.

[More Cowbell]

Pathetic, but tell me this: what do NFL officials have against the Bengals? That play was challenged on the Steelers' second drive, you can see the ball hit the ground, clearly, and it's still called a catch. Not trying to blame it on the refs, but it's like this every game, how can we get any rhythm going because the refs keep giving the other team 37 yards just for running down the field and having a ball thrown in their area.

I don't know when Marvin lost his heart, but he's coached like this most of the season.

We can't win when our coaches have no heart, our players make stupid plays, and when the officials never let us get any momentum going and never let us have any confidence .

Exactly. This isn't the first time Marvin has made questionable decisions this year. I remember he did the same thing in the Cleveland loss, kicking a field goal on fourth down from the 2 instead of going for it on the first drive of the second half. I know I threw something at the TV that day out of sheer shock, but this Sunday it didn't surprise me at all. Marvin has simply quit coaching to win, he's coaching not to lose (and it's not working).

And Bengal Cat, you're right about the decision making no sense at all considering the strengths and weaknesses of the team. If you have a strong defense and a weak offense, you probably do kick the FG, take your points, and put it on the defense to do their job. On a team like the Bengals, though, you have to let the playmakers (Carson, Chad, T.J.) do their jobs and punch it in. I'd take my chances with them getting the TD over hoping that the defense holds the other team anyday.

[Crossbones]

It's funny how I get told I have no football knowledge when I make comments people can view as incorrect, but when someone makes a comment like that that's obviously incorrect, it's ok and they have plenty of football knowledge.

Where do I start? The incomplete pass? Good idea. You can see half of the ball on the replay, his other hand's not under it, so he trapped it if anything, because the ball was moving around, and neither hand was under it, so he didn't have control. So, WITHOUT EVEN A REASONABLE DOUBT, it was incomplete.

Now the biggest flaw in football knowledge: that was the Steelers first score, and if you take that away, nothing in that game would have gone the same way, and I mean NOTHING. How could you even think the game would have gone the exact same way? Please explain that to me.
:confused: :rolleyes: :)

[BFritz]

It's funny how I get told I have no football knowledge when I make comments people can view as incorrect, but when someone makes a comment like that that's obviously incorrect, it's ok and they have plenty of football knowledge.

Where do I start? The incomplete pass? Good idea. You can see half of the ball on the replay, his other hand's not under it, so he trapped it if anything, because the ball was moving around, and neither hand was under it, so he didn't have control. So, WITHOUT EVEN A REASONABLE DOUBT, it was incomplete.

Now the biggest flaw in football knowledge: that was the Steelers first score, and if you take that away, nothing in that game would have gone the same way, and I mean NOTHING. How could you even think the game would have gone the exact same way? Please explain that to me.
BCFan??

alfus??

[Bengal Cat]

It's funny how I get told I have no football knowledge when I make comments people can view as incorrect, but when someone makes a comment like that that's obviously incorrect, it's ok and they have plenty of football knowledge.

Where do I start? The incomplete pass? Good idea. You can see half of the ball on the replay, his other hand's not under it, so he trapped it if anything, because the ball was moving around, and neither hand was under it, so he didn't have control. So, WITHOUT EVEN A REASONABLE DOUBT, it was incomplete.

Now the biggest flaw in football knowledge: that was the Steelers first score, and if you take that away, nothing in that game would have gone the same way, and I mean NOTHING. How could you even think the game would have gone the exact same way? Please explain that to me.



Let me chime in here on your behalf Fritz....if I may. Regarding the play that was challenged and not overturned on the complete/incomplete pass......after watching several replays during the commercial break, one of the announcers (Randy Cross) was sure it would be reversed as you could clearly see the ball moving and hit the ground. Now I assure you Randy Cross is no Bengals fan. So BFritz and the other 66,000 at PBS were not the only ones that saw it that way.

[5timechamp]

Let me chime in here on your behalf Fritz....if I may. Regarding the play that was challenged and not overturned on the complete/incomplete pass......after watching several replays during the commercial break, one of the announcers (Randy Cross) was sure it would be reversed as you could clearly see the ball moving and hit the ground. Now I assure you Randy Cross is no Bengals fan. So BFritz and the other 66,000 at PBS were not the only ones that saw it that way.


The replay where you could see the ball on the ground....you could not see his hands and the ball was not clearly moving!

Who Dey?

WE DEY!

[Midee1]

BCFan??

alfus??

Are you trying to start an argument. Obviously whom ever you are trying to call out are failing to take the bait.

Please quit trolling for arguments. It is starting to be very unbecoming of you. If someone wants to comment on a thread the so be it but if not do not try to get them to.

[BCFan]

It's funny how I get told I have no football knowledge when I make comments people can view as incorrect, but when someone makes a comment like that that's obviously incorrect, it's ok and they have plenty of football knowledge.

Where do I start? The incomplete pass? Good idea. You can see half of the ball on the replay, his other hand's not under it, so he trapped it if anything, because the ball was moving around, and neither hand was under it, so he didn't have control. So, WITHOUT EVEN A REASONABLE DOUBT, it was incomplete.

Now the biggest flaw in football knowledge: that was the Steelers first score, and if you take that away, nothing in that game would have gone the same way, and I mean NOTHING. How could you even think the game would have gone the exact same way? Please explain that to me.

Without a reasonable doubt it was incomplete? I really would love to see your evidence, that your so confident that without a reasonable doubt it was "incomplete". They didn't have the angle from the other side to see whether his left hand was on the ball, and considering the original calling was a complete catch, chances are it is not going to be overturned.

The rest of your post is just garbage, you keep trying to start arguments. You lost, it is what it is.

[Bengal Cat]

The replay where you could see the ball on the ground....you could not see his hands and the ball was not clearly moving!

Who Dey?

WE DEY!

Well....I suggest you contact CBS and possibly they can get a message to Randy Cross for you. Because those were his comments. As a Bengals fan, sure I saw it moving and hit the ground. As a Steeler fan obviously you saw something else. As an unbiased commentator, Randy Cross thought the call should've been reversed.

Now this call was obviously a factor in Pittsburghs first touchdown. But on the touchdown play to Ward on that same drive....the Bengals only had 10 players on the field. Whos fault was that? Not yours, not mine and not the Refs.....it was the coaches fault & theres no excuse for it.

[BCFan]

Well....I suggest you contact CBS and possibly they can get a message to Randy Cross for you. Because those were his comments. As a Bengals fan, sure I saw it moving and hit the ground. As a Steeler fan obviously you saw something else. As an unbiased commentator, Randy Cross thought the call should've been reversed.

Now this call was obviously a factor in Pittsburghs first touchdown. But on the touchdown play to Ward on that same drive....the Bengals only had 10 players on the field. Whos fault was that? Not yours, not mine and not the Refs.....it was the coaches fault & theres no excuse for it.

See, the only problem with that is, Randy Cross doesn't get to decide. The Refs reviewed the play and came out with what they thought. There was NO PROOF suggesting he didn't catch it.

[Bengal Cat]

See, the only problem with that is, Randy Cross doesn't get to decide. The Refs reviewed the play and came out with what they thought. There was NO PROOF suggesting he didn't catch it.

Randy Cross doesn't get to decide???? OMG and all this time I thought his decision was final.

Seriously.....you missed the whole point of what I was saying. In the end....the only opinion that matters is the officials. What I was trying to point out was that someone other than Bengal fans thought it should be reversed. But once again.......I can't sit here and say that call was the reason Pitt scored when we didn't have enough sense to have 11 players on the field. Plus Im still ticked off about Marvin "wimping out" on the decision not to go for it on 4th and 1 from the 2.

[BCFan]

Randy Cross doesn't get to decide???? OMG and all this time I thought his decision was final.

Seriously.....you missed the whole point of what I was saying. In the end....the only opinion that matters is the officials. What I was trying to point out was that someone other than Bengal fans thought it should be reversed. But once again.......I can't sit here and say that call was the reason Pitt scored when we didn't have enough sense to have 11 players on the field. Plus Im still ticked off about Marvin "wimping out" on the decision not to go for it on 4th and 1 from the 2.

In the end...you basically just restated what I've been saying the whole time in your paragraph. Someone else besides a Bengals fan? That doesn't mean anything, different people take things differently, but I will trust the professionals that were chosen by the NFL for that exact purpose.

Sure, you can say there were only 10 players on the field. But who's fault is that? The Teams. If the team doesn't have enough sense to have the correct number of players, they probably aren't going to do much anyway...

[BFritz]

Are you trying to start an argument. Obviously whom ever you are trying to call out are failing to take the bait.

Please quit trolling for arguments. It is starting to be very unbecoming of you. If someone wants to comment on a thread the so be it but if not do not try to get them to.

Not trying to start an argument, but this is a forum for debate, and I was simply asking him to make sense of his comments and wondering when alfus was going to comment since he was so quick to judge my football knowledge.

[BFritz]

Without a reasonable doubt it was incomplete? I really would love to see your evidence, that your so confident that without a reasonable doubt it was "incomplete". They didn't have the angle from the other side to see whether his left hand was on the ball, and considering the original calling was a complete catch, chances are it is not going to be overturned.

The rest of your post is just garbage, you keep trying to start arguments. You lost, it is what it is.

Yes, without a reasonable doubt it was incomplete, because his hand wasn't under the ball, and that was the argument that you originally made. Now you're saying that his left hand might have had control, which then the ball wouldn't have been moving around so much, and I believe that your hands have to be under it or show visible control before the ball hits the ground, which neither hand was under it and it was moving around too much to have ever showed control.

[More Cowbell]

I agree that the refs definitely missed the call on that pass. It obviously hit the ground on the replay, I don't see how anyone can say differently. They must have been watching another game.

However, that is not the only reason they lost. Marvin Lewis has to take some of the blame for losing his...ah...guts. :(

[5timechamp]

Watch enough Steeler Games and you know that Randy Cross rarely ever says anything postive about the Steelers until they have the game in hand and he has no choice.

[TidesHoss32]

Watch enough Steeler Games and you know that Randy Cross rarely ever says anything postive about the Steelers until they have the game in hand and he has no choice.Randy Cross sucks..its almost as bad as when Bill Walsh called games.."when I was at San Fran this, and when I was at San Fran that"..crap got old after about 4 seasons worth of 49er stories, lol..

[BFritz]

In the end...you basically just restated what I've been saying the whole time in your paragraph. Someone else besides a Bengals fan? That doesn't mean anything, different people take things differently, but I will trust the professionals that were chosen by the NFL for that exact purpose.

Sure, you can say there were only 10 players on the field. But who's fault is that? The Teams. If the team doesn't have enough sense to have the correct number of players, they probably aren't going to do much anyway...
Trust the professionals in the NFL, and I will trust my common sense and football knowledge: the ball was moving so much and you can clearly see it BOUNCE, so, even in the slight possibility that his other hand was gripping it, he couldn't have caught the ball and had control of it.

The replay clearly shows that, but you trust the professionals??

[BCFan]

Yes, without a reasonable doubt it was incomplete, because his hand wasn't under the ball, and that was the argument that you originally made. Now you're saying that his left hand might have had control, which then the ball wouldn't have been moving around so much, and I believe that your hands have to be under it or show visible control before the ball hits the ground, which neither hand was under it and it was moving around too much to have ever showed control.


Say what you want, but I'm going to stick with the experienced professionals. It's definitely an arguable call, but theres going to be one of those every game and if your a good enough team, you can overcome it. Just look at the interception call against Pittsburgh in 05 against Indy, and you will understand what I'm saying.

When the original ruling is a completed pass, they look for evidence saying it's not. And they had no evidence to say his left hand was not on the ball. And everyone knows Randy Cross hates Pittsburgh.

[Midee1]

Not trying to start an argument, but this is a forum for debate, and I was simply asking him to make sense of his comments and wondering when alfus was going to comment since he was so quick to judge my football knowledge.


and you cannot see that this was an inflammatory comment? He has moved on from that bickering. I would suggest you do the same.

[5timechamp]

Because you can see the ball does not mean its moving......

[Bengal Cat]

Sure, you can say there were only 10 players on the field. But who's fault is that? The Teams. If the team doesn't have enough sense to have the correct number of players, they probably aren't going to do much anyway...

I have come to the conclusion that its absolutely impossible to try to state your case. BCFan.....if you would take the time to read my posts in this thread you would see that the quote above from you is exactly what I said. I blamed the Bengals coaches for only having 10 players on the field. Read the last paragraph in post #32 of this thread. Geeeesh

As for Randy Cross liking or disliking Pittsburgh....I have no idea. But his dislike for Cincy goes all the way back to when he played for the '9ers against the Bengals in the Super Bowl.

[BFritz]

Because you can see the ball does not mean its moving......
You could see the ball dropping, his hand wasn't under it, his one hand was nowhere near it, so the only possible way that he caught it was if he somehow got a good enough grip on the ball to palm it, and then he would have had to keep palming the ball as it bounced, and if you saw how fast it bounced, it's physically impossible.

I take it you didn't see the play, you could see it bounce.

[Lake Chief]

Incredible. A week after the game and we're still bickering over a questionable call. The call didn't decide the game. Poor coaching and poor defense lost this game. Not a call. I tried to tell you in the preseason BFritz that the Bengal defense wasn't good. You said they were dramatically improved. You disagreed. I said they were an 8-8 team at best. You disagreed. This call didn't lose the game. I'm sure you will disagree with that too.

[BlackcatAlum]

Game has been over for nearly a week, time to get on with your lives. So Closed!