2011 Cincinnati Bengals Predictions
Last season was a tough one to stomach in Cincinnati.
After winning the division in 2009, the Bengals found the AFC North basement with a 4-12 record.
It could be difficult for them to show much improvement in the win column in 2011 after saying goodbye to Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco.
Offense: The Bengals ranked 20th in the NFL in total offense last season with 330.6 yards per game. They ranked 22nd in scoring offense with 20.1 points per contest.
The Bengals did most of their damage through the air a season ago with Palmer completing nearly 62.0 percent of his passes for 3,970 yards with 26 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. They finished 13th in the league with 235.4 passing yards per game.
Whether Palmer retires or not, I think it’s safe to say his days as Cincinnati’s signal caller are done. The team is now prepared to move forward with 35th overall draft pick Andy Dalton.
Dalton had looked pretty shaky in the team’s first two preseason games but showed promise in a win over the Carolina Panthers, completing 11 of 17 passes for 130 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.
Bruce Gradkowski has been brought in from Oakland to take the snaps if Dalton’s growing pains become too severe.
Cedric Benson and the running game was the story in 2009 when the Bengals ranked ninth in the league with 128.5 yards per game on the ground. It was not the story last season.
Benson managed to rush for 1,111 yards and seven touchdowns but the Bengals only averaged 95.1 rushing yards per game (27th in the NFL). Expect Cincinnati to lean on Benson and the running game more this season to take the pressure off its rookie quarterback.
Long time Bengal Chad Ochocinco has also moved on. Now, the team is counting on first-round pick A.J. Green to be the next star wideout.
Up front, the Bengals have a good one in left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who only gave up two sacks last season. The rest of the unit needs to step up this season in order for the Bengals to claw their way out of the cellar.
Defense: Cincinnati’s stop unit ranked 15th in the league in total defense last season with 332.0 yards allowed per contest. It ranked 24th in scoring defense with 24.7 points allowed per game. The defense took a big step back after allowing 301.4 yards and 18.2 points per game in 2009.
The line disappointed in the first half of the season but turned it on over the last nine game to record 21 sacks in that span. Carlos Dunlap led the team with 9.5 sacks as a rookie.
With Dhani Jones, who has led the team in tackles the last three seasons, out, Rey Maualuga is being asked to step up. He finished third on the team with 81 stops. Keith Rivers is the team’s top returning tackler, notching 95 stops from his weak-side post.
The Bengals lost cornerback Jonathan Joseph, who finished second on the team with three interceptions in 2010, but they still have Leon Hall, who led the team with four picks. Cincy is counting on Nate Clements to fill Joseph’s shoes.
Prediction: 4th Place AFC North – The Bengals took a big step back in 2010 on both sides of the football, and I don’t foresee a major turnaround this year with a rookie under center. NFL odds makers have listed the Bengals at 125/1 to win the Super Bowl. Only the Buffalo Bills currently have longer odds.
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