[zaga_fan]

Well, allow me to do a run down on my thoughts....

1. Cincinnati's offensive scheme is terrible. You can't honestly look at me and tell me that the Patriots have that much better of an offensive team than the Bengals. Carson Palmer was a heisman winning QB, you have Ocho and TO split out wide, Shipley in the slot, Gresham at TE, and a combo of Benson and Bernard Scott in the backfield. Yet, with a team like that, and that strong of a receiving core, you would expect the Bengals to come out throwing it all over the field. Nope, not with Bratkowski as the OC. The Bengals try to run on 1st and 2nd down, then have to try and convert on 3rd down. When the play calling is this predictable, it is easy for a defense to stop you. Point #1, fire Bratkowski cuz he doesn't have a clue.

2. Carson Palmer is starting to take a lot of criticism from fans, and myself being one of them. But after watching the Bengals the past couple of years, I've come to realize that Palmer doesn't stand a chance as long at Brat is calling the plays. Like I mentioned in point #1, the offense is so predictable, it's hard for Carson to complete passes when the defense knows exactly when the Bengals are going to throw the ball. If they would allow their offense to do what it does best, which is pass the ball, the Bengals would be hard to stop. Once you get Carson comfortable, he's arguably one of the best QB's in the league. Then, once you get the defense thinking pass, you can slip in a run to Ced or Bernard and watch them reel off huge chunks of yardage. If you watch the Colts play, there is no reason why the Bengals shouldn't try to replicate that type of offense because you have the fire power to do so.

3. The pass rush from Cincy was terrible. Brady never got hit one time by any Bengals defender. I can only think of a couple of times that they even tried to blitz. If you give a QB like Brady time to stand in the pocket, he will pick you apart at will, just like he did the Bengals yesterday. ****, as much time as Brady had, I could stand in their and pick apart the defense. People want to blame the secondary, LB's, etc. for terrible coverage, but when a QB has 10 seconds to stand in the pocket, coverages are going to break down and players will get open, especially in a man defense. The front four of the Bengals absolutely have to get into the backfield for the Bengals to win games this year. Now, whether it's defensive personnel or Mike Zimmer is yet to be determined, but seeing as to how the Bengals had the 5th ranked D in the league last year, I will give Zimmer a pass and blame it on the personnel.

4. The special teams unit was atrocious. Nothing more to say about that.

The Bengals second half showed a lot of promise. Brat opened up his playbook and allowed the Bengals to do what they do the best, put the ball in Carson's hands to make a play. 324 passing yards later, the Bengals offense looked like the offense of old. I will say it again, there is no excuse for Brat to not let Carson be your play maker.

Matt Leinart was a Heisman winning QB and he got cut during the preseason.
Carson touches the ball on every offensive snap and he simply hasn't come back from his knee injury.
This is a Patriots offense that still has the key players from when they were the highest scoring team to every set foot on an NFL team.
So I can honestly look at you and tell you....
the Patriots are that much better of an offensive team.