Overrated Bengals won't make playoffs

A quarter of the way through the NFL season and the Cincinnati Bengals are a surprising 3-1 with wins against the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. But, are the Bengals actually a good team?

While I was grocery shopping Sunday night, I overheard a couple of guys talking about the Bengals. “We would be 4-0 if it wasn’t for the Stokley touchdown at the end of the Broncos game,” one of them said.

That’s true, but Cincinnati could easily be 2-2 if not for a late, overtime victory against the winless Cleveland Browns.

I like to stay away from “would have, could have” statements and at the end of day, a win is a win. But the question still remains: Will the Bengals make the playoffs?

I’m not ready to go there just yet.

Yes, Cincinnati should have beat the undefeated Broncos (4-0), but I’m not sure Denver is a playoff team either.

The Broncos’ wins have come against the Bengals, Browns (0-4), Raiders (1-3) and Cowboys (2-2). The Browns and Raiders are two of the worst teams in the league and the overrated Cowboys have had their fair share of injuries.

Cincinnati’s home opener against Denver was one of the worst played games I’d ever seen, both teams deserved to lose the game. When it was over, I was certain it was going to be another painstaking season for both franchises.

In week two, the Bengals went on the road and escaped with a win against the Packers (2-2).

An injury to left tackle Chad Clifton with 11:45 remaining in the third quarter, forced three players on the Packers’ offensive line to switch positions.

As a result of the injury, Bengals defensive end, Antwan Odom, was able to record several drive-stopping sacks late in the game. Of Odom’s five sacks, four of them happened after Clifton’s injury. If Clifton doesn’t get hurt, Cincinnati most likely loses the game. 

In week three, the Bengals needed 14 fourth-quarter points to pull off a 23-20 upset over a Troy Polamalu-less Steelers team. This was an ugly game for both teams, but in the end Johnathan Joseph’s pick six was the difference in the game.

And, in week four, Cincinnati escaped with a last minute 23-20 victory against Cleveland in another game both teams deserved to lose.

The fact is, the Bengals aren’t looking like a playoff team and a lot needs to happen before Cincinnati fans can start thinking about the postseason.

Carson Palmer looks like a shell of the quarterback he once was and doesn’t look comfortable under center (sacked nine times this season, seventh most in the NFL). Palmer has yet to find a rhythm with his receivers and I still can’t figure out why Chris Henry isn’t in the game more.

Palmer ranks 20th in the league in quarterback rating (75.2), 25th in completion percentage (57.7), 17th in yards (845) and is tied for the fourth most interceptions with five.

Cincinnati’s special teams are also a huge concern.

The Bengals have allowed one blocked field goal, one blocked extra point and Shane Graham is 3-of-5 on the season.

Cincinnati is 25th in the league in kick return yards (21.4) and has no returns more than 40 yards.

The Bengals defense is much improved from last season, but they are still far away from becoming a top-10 defense in the league.

Cincinnati ranks 17th in the league in total yards allowed per game (345.2), 26th in passing yards allowed (242.2), 14th in rushing yards allowed (103) and is tied for 19th in interceptions with two.

With all that said, the Bengals are sitting pretty at the top of the AFC North standings tied for first place with the Baltimore Ravens.

This Sunday, Cincinnati has its first true test of the season when it travels to Baltimore. With sole possession of the AFC North on the line, we can finally see what kind of team the Bengals really are.

Do you think the Bengals will make the playoffs this season? E-mail Peter Marx at marxpc@email.uc.edu.