[b]Alex from Lexington, Ky., writes: [/b]Is it impossible to think that a wild card berth is in my Bengals' future this year? I know this is a loaded question having only played one divisional opponent -- and it was the Browns.

[b]Danny from Cincinnati writes:[/b] If the Bengals were to win their next three games will they get even a little bit of respect?

[b]Jamison Hensley responds:[/b] Danny, the Bengals won't gain much respect if they win the next two games, which are home against Indianapolis and at Seattle. It's kind of a no-win situation for Cincinnati because the Bengals can't gain respect by beating bottom-tier teams but they can certainly lose some if they fall to those teams. Where the Bengals can prove themselves again is that third game, a Nov. 6 trip at Tennessee. A victory over the Titans would establish themselves more than combined wins over the Colts and Seahawks.

Alex, it isn't impossible to think the Bengals can go to the playoffs this year, but it certainly is improbable. Of course, the Bengals can prove me wrong. Cincinnati can pile up victories with winnable out-of-division games against the likes of the Colts, Seahawks, Rams and Cardinals. In order to put themselves in line for a playoff spot (and a winning record), Cincinnati can't get swept by the Ravens and Steelers. The Bengals have four games remaining against those AFC North teams.




[url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/33412/afc-north-mailbag-91"]http://espn.go.com/b...orth-mailbag-91[/url]

one game at a time.... just keep winning and make everyone respect them...

The defense is the reason we've beat the Ravens, as long as they healthy and keep improving they have a chance against both teams. But yeah one game at a time. But shutting down a top 3 Offense and hanging them their only loss isn't a reason to give them respect?

[quote name='cincity' timestamp='1318690950' post='1045268']
But shutting down a top 3 Offense and hanging them their only loss isn't a reason to give them respect?
[/quote]
They need to win a few more of those games consistently to get respect. Winning one game against a good team isn't enough yet. Additionally, they likely took a knock for the Den game. So one good one and one bad loss even it out to average results. They haven't blown anyone out either which tends to get you noticed.

I see no reason this team, if they stay healthy, can't split with the ravens and steelers this season

So the Bengals won't gain much respect if they win their next 2 games? According to many of the talking heads, we were the worst team in football going into the season. So he's saying surpassing last years win total after 7 games with a 5-2 record isn't worthy of a little respect? BS.

Right now, we're in a playoff spot:

East: 4-1 NEP 4-2 BUF 2-3 NYJ 0-5 MIA
North: 3-1 BAL 4-2 CIN 4-2 PIT 2-2 CLE
South: 3-2 HOU 3-2 TEN 1-5 JAX 0-6 IND
West: 4-1 SDC 3-2 OAK 2-3 KCC 1-4 DEN

Tiebreakers:

AFC North:
Baltimore in 1st place on .750 winning percentage (CIN = PIT = .667)
Cincinnati in 2nd place on 1-0 division record (vs PIT 0-1)

Wild Card:
Cincinnati takes 1st wild card over Buffalo based on Head-to-head win
Buffalo takes 2nd wild card over Pittsburgh based on 3-1 AFC record (vs PIT 3-2)

Seeds:
New England takes #1 seed over San Diego based on better combined conference ranking in points scored and points against. NE is #2 in points scored (165) and #9 in points allowed (119). SD is #7 in points scored (120) and #6 in points allowed (109). NE's combined ranking is 11, SD's is 13. NE wins tiebreak.

1 - NEP (4-1)
2 - SDC (4-1)
3 - BAL (3-1)
4 - HOU (3-2)
5 - CIN (4-2)
6 - BUF (4-2)

If the season ended today, that is.

yea, we were in last week too as a wild card over the titans/raiders/stealers.

But we're up a spot now. And if the Texans knock off Baltimore, our 4-2 1st place record moves us up to the #3 seed.

We get a lot of "respect" in Columbus...right now I'm watching the Brownies get their asses handed to them by Oakland. We were bumped from local TV today, so I would have the pleasure of viewing Ohio's team (at least according to WBNS).

playoff seedings if they started today:


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Respect is a weapon. It's lack motivates the Bengals and lulls opponents. I don't care if we ever get respect.