This could be Haley's finest hour coming up

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

What is the best way to get the Bungles to bite on the play action if DW is out? We have to do something to keep them from just sitting deep daring Ben to throw.

This is his final exam ... till the next game!

[SS Laser]

The bungles will watch that ratturd game and try to do that on defense IMO. I hope Ben can find his A+ game again by next weekend! Hope AB's wrist is good also! Bryant needs to be on point also. One thing I wonder this season is if the pass plays are running out? Lots of pass plays run this season and on tape now. Lots of formations also. Also can Butler still bring it enough to keeps the points low?

[feltdizz]

It's time for Haley and Ben to put together a classic.

Butler and Tomlin need to have this D ready to play as well. If we keep the Bungles under 20 we should win and I definitely it felt think it's possible.

[RuthlessBurgher]

It's time for Haley and Ben to put together a classic.

Butler and Tomlin need to have this D ready to play as well. If we keep the Bungles under 20 we should win and I definitely it felt think it's possible.

Any updates as to whether Dalton will be ready to return by Saturday night or will it be McCarron again?

[Slapstick]

My understanding is that Dalton will not be available until the divisional round...we'll have to see...

[RuthlessBurgher]

My understanding is that Dalton will not be available until the divisional round...we'll have to see...

So...after we eliminate Cincy this weekend, Dalton will once again be able to golf during the divisional round.

Excellent...(in my best Mr. Burns voice).

[flippy]

I think we should go with a lot of 4/5 wide sets outta of the no huddle. Push the pace of the game. Let em know we're throwing it from the start and put Ben in the best position to succeed.

[Sword]

I think we should go with a lot of 4/5 wide sets outta of the no huddle. Push the pace of the game. Let em know we're throwing it from the start and put Ben in the best position to succeed.

agreed...be very aggressive in the pass but smart routes. I like a lot of no huddle.....

[papillon]

IMO, the game plan will hinge on Deangelo's availability, if he's out then we're going to throw it a lot, if he's healthy, they'll run their normal offense.

Pappy

[Oviedo]

It's time for Haley and Ben to put together a classic.

Butler and Tomlin need to have this D ready to play as well. If we keep the Bungles under 20 we should win and I definitely it felt think it's possible.

Having this D "ready to play" is no indication as to whether the players will actually successfully execute the plan in front of them. Keeping Blake off the field would be a good start.

[Oviedo]

I think we should go with a lot of 4/5 wide sets outta of the no huddle. Push the pace of the game. Let em know we're throwing it from the start and put Ben in the best position to succeed.

Lots of crossing routes (pick plays) and bunch formations if I were Haley. I'd also have a heavy dose of passes to TEs

[Oviedo]

My understanding is that Dalton will not be available until the divisional round...we'll have to see...

However, our defense has shown a propensity for making unheralded QBs look like stars. Just look back to how we made Mallet look better than Flacco ever did against us.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Lotsof crossing routes (pick plays) and bunch formations if I were Haley. I'd alsohave a heavy dose of passes to TEs

Because it's the Bengals, and Heath's caught 10 passes in each of those games against Cincy earlier this season, I can get on board with using the TE more this weekend (when your TE gets one third of his 60 catches this season in 2 games against the same team, that's a trend you should probably follow). But in non-Bengal games this season, Heath is averaging a paltry 3 catches for 28 yards per game. So in general, I'm more inclined to go WR heavy with Brown, Wheaton, Bryant, and Heyward-Bey...but based on opponent I'll accept your suggestion to go TE heavy this week in particular.

[RuthlessBurgher]

My understanding is that Dalton will not be available until the divisional round...we'll have to see...

Andy Dalton gets cast off, Bengals prepping McCarron to start

Posted by Josh Alper on January 5, 2016, 10:13 AM EST


Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton’s recovery from a fractured right thumb took a step forward on Monday.


Bob Holtzman of ESPN reports that Dalton had the cast protecting the injury removed after visiting with doctors, but that doesn’t clear him to return to the lineup against the Steelers on Saturday night. Dalton will now have to see how well he can grip and throw the ball, which leaves coach Marvin Lewis prepping AJ McCarron to make another start this weekend.


“We have to go into the week, obviously, regardless of Andy’s status, right now we’re going to into at least the early part of the week preparing with AJ,” Lewis said, via the Cincinnati Enquirer. “It’s important for the football team.”


If the Bengals are going to keep the door open for Dalton to start this weekend, they will likely go deep into the week before making any pronouncement about who will be in the lineup. Based on the reports out of Cincinnati over the last couple of weeks, that pronouncement will likely be that McCarron will start.


[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/01/05/andy-dalton-gets-cast-off-bengals-prepping-mccarron-to-start/[/URL]

[K Train]

@ScottBROrazi: Of all the #AFC playoff teams, the @steelers have punted the least (59), least 3-and-outs (31), and most passing/total yards (4822, 6327)