@mddawg said:

...six dreaded words...

@hoorta said:

Watched this game and said to myself we're better than both teams on the field. I don't think I've ever thought that since the return. I think if we beat Cincy we're in barring the five dreaded words: " Here comes Weeden for injured Campbell".

@hoorta said:

I think going into the season we were underdogs for every game this season, I could be wrong. Nothing new with being an underdog.

Cincinnati is hurt all around. Geno Atkins and Leon Hall are both out for the season which is going to soften the middle of the line. Dalton is a streaky player and is not on a good streak right now. He has thrown 6 ints the last two games with only 1 TD (I don't count the hail mary at the end of the Baltimore game). Haden has always done well against AJ so I think the next big thing is making sure that Benard doesn't burn us.

If the team can get 21-24 points a game from any combination of the offense, defense and special teams then I say we can win every game except maybe NE and Chicago. We are going to have to get into the 30s to beat them.

@shep said:

For sure tonight- root for Tampa, the Fish own the tiebreaker over us. With 2\5 of their o-line missing the Bucs have a real shot at a win playing at home.

The Bengals are a must win for both teams- and the bookies don't like the Browns chances, early line has Cleveland 6 point dogs.

Regarding the Ravens- they'll go as far as Flacco takes them- zero running game.

I'm glad to be excited this far into the season, but the pesimistic Browns fan in me thinks we will lose this week, and struggle down the stretch... God, I hope not...

For what VERY little it's worth, I think 9-7 puts us in the playoffs, either as AFCN champs or 2nd Wild Card.

The biggest game for us right now besides our division games is the NYJ matchup. We need to beat them to ensure we have the tiebreaker. I think the biggest threats to the #2 wildcard spot is Miami, NYJ, SD and Baltimore. I would say Tennessee but I have no faith in Fitzpatrick as their QB.

Miami (4-4) Remaining Schedule; Tampa (tonight), SD, Carolina, NYJ, Pittsburgh, NE, Buffalo, NYJ.

• Hopefully they finish 2-6 over their last 8 with wins against NYJ x2.
• Finish season 6-10.

NYJ (5-4) Remaining Schedule; Buffalo, Baltimore, Miami, Oakland, Carolina, Cleveland, Miami.

• Hopefully they finish 3-4 over their last 7 with their only wins against Carolina, Baltimore and Oakland.
• Finish season 8-8.

SD (4-5) Remaining Schedule; Miami, KC, Cincinnati, NYG, Denver, Oakland, KC.

• They could easily go 3-4 over their last 7 with their only wins against Miami, Cincinnati and Oakland.
• Finish season 7-9.

Baltimore (4-5) Remaining Schedule; Chicago, NYJ, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Detroit, NE, Cincinnati.

• They go 3-4 over their last 7 with their only wins against Cincinnati, Minnesota and Pittsburgh.
• Finish 7-9.

Here is looking forward to an exciting last 7 weeks of the NFL season.

@lbc-mike said:

That is cool. It's also a nice cheat sheet on who to root for for those that don't follow that closely.

Bucs get off the o-fer schneid tonight.

Zombo

@hoorta said:

At the risk of doing it all to death, we've got:

Cincy

Steelers x 2

Jags

Bears

Jets

Patriots

in some order. Cincy looks winnable. Steelers look winnable games, though I'm concerned by the recent 'resurgence'. Jags - hopefully they've got their win out of the way now. Bears and Jets could go either way and Patriots we'll lose. So probably somewhere between 7 and 9 wins. 9 wins *might* put us top of the division. It's unlikely to get us the one remaining wildcard (after Kansas/Denver takes one).

@the-gipper said:

Nope, I was rooting like hell for the Ratbirds, all the way. Here's why. Dalton has played like shit the last couple games- let's hope the streak continues this coming Sunday against the Browns. They needed a freaking miracle to send the game into Overtime against the Rats. Yup, watched the whole game and tell ya what- nothing to fear from the Rats- they have ZERO running game- either their o-line blows at run blocking, or Ray Rice has suddenly turned into Willis McGahee. 18 runs for 30 yards.

We ARE as of today in the Playoff hunt- beat the Bungles. All things considering- we have to win the division- a Wildcard is unlikely.

@the-gipper said:

Miami and Tampa Bay

Cincinnati's Remaining Schedule; @Baltimore, Cleveland, @SD, Indy, @Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Baltimore.

• Ideally at best Cincinnati will go 3-4 with losses to Baltimore twice, Pittsburgh and whoever else. If we can end with the same record at 9-7 then we will win the tiebreaker with a better division record. I see us beating Cincinnati again and sweeping Pittsburgh hopefully.

Baltimore's Remaining Schedule; Cincinnati, @Chicago, NYJ, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, @Detriot, NE, @Cincinnati.

• Again, at best hopefully Baltimore goes 2-6 with their only wins against Cincinnati. That would finish them at 5-11 and we wouldn't have to worry about them.

Pittsburgh, I don't think we need to worry about them. They would have to basically run the table to have a chance or go 7-1 over the final 8 games to have a chance. They still need to play us twice, Detriot and GB, right there is at least 3 losses.

Going back to why we don't need a tie. If we finish 9-7 and Cincinnati finishes 9-6-1 then they win the division because they have a better winning percentage. A half a win is awarded for a tie game so Cincinnati would have 9.5 wins over 16 games while we would have only 9 wins over 16 games.

I love the rest of our schedule except for the New England and Chicago games, those are the only two that I am not a 100% confident that we can win.

First time ever rooting for them, they owe us one.

Go Ravens...

@richiswhere said:

Isn't that Washington vs. Minnesota?

@the-gipper said:

Hey you forget the Dysfunctional Organization Bowl on Monday night

Bengals.....

Browns 4-5

Ravens 3-6

Steelers 2-7

I mean, it would be really good to see them kicked when they are down.

Maybe the game can end in a tie?

Zombo

@mark-o said:

A Ravens win would put the standings at:

Bengals 6-4

Browns 4-5

Ravens 4-5

Steelers sucking hind tit at 2-7 or 3-6 depending on how they do in Buffalo.

It is arguable that Browns fans should root for the Bengals if: A. you choose to concede the division to them and B. But in doing so, you get Baltimore ass kicked out as competition for a Wildcard spot...making them 3-6.

There IS a certain attraction to seeing that happen, wouldn't you say?

Bengals vs. Ravens. So? Who should Browns fans "root" for in this game?

Lions vs. Bears Oh MY! This game is for NFCN supremacy, what with Rodgers of the Pack being out.

Panthers vs. 49ers Ps can prove they belong with the big boys if they win here....and Cam can show that HE and not the Kaep is the king of the read option

Denver vs. San Diego Can the Chargers insert themselves firmly into the playoff race with a win over the team that is supposed to be the 8 foot gorrilla? Will they hand that gorilla a banana? Either way, KC has a bye and can sit back and watch these teams go at it, no matter what happens, they are still in first place.

Cowboys at Saints Game between division leaders, in the Superdome where Drew Brees rarely loses.

Bye week teams: Chiefs, Jets, Pats, Browns

A bye week is nice. One can sit back and watch the other teams play without worrying about how the Browns will perform