The view from Cinci...

[YardRat]

Who's got the edge? (http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071104/SPT02/711040413/1078/COL02)

The numbers don't stack up well for the Bengals today at Buffalo. The Bills are winners of three of their last four and playing with swagger on defense. The Bengals have lost five of six.

Furthermore, the Bills have won eight in a row in the series, three consecutive against Marvin Lewis as Cincinnati coach.

Buffalo has a lot to play for. The Bills can win three games in a row for the first time since Weeks 11-16 in 2004 and reach the .500 mark for the first time since 2003.

Oh, and the Bengals are winless in their last five road games.

But more significant than numbers and infinitely more difficult to quantify is the Bengals' collective attitude. High expectations are not being met. A season is slipping away quickly, and the team might have lost some of its self-confidence in the loss to Pittsburgh.

And, yes, to revisit it once more, Lewis' decision and subsequent flip-flopping on the fourth-and-1 field goal before halftime against the Steelers has served only to create more doubt in the locker room - regardless of the brave face and self-assured words from his players.

Gameday: First Down (http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071104/SPT02/711040410/1066/SPT)

TALE OF THE TAPE
<TABLE class=enqtable cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=enqtdhead><TD align=left>NFL rankings</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left></TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>BENGALS</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>BILLS</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>(Per game average points or yards)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Points scored</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>6 (25.2)</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>29 (13.9)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Points allowed</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>31 (30.1)</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>13 (19.3)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Total offense</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>5 (360.9)</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>31 (246.0)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Rush offense</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>21 (97.0)</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>20 (100.3)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Pass offense</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>5 (263.9)</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>31 (145.7)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Total defense</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>31 (385.4)</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>30 (381.3)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Rush defense</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>28 (139.0)</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>24 (127.9)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Pass defense</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>28 (246.4)</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>29 (253.4)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Turnover differential</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>T-20 (-1)</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>T-4 (+7)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Meathead]

ive always wondered, why does past record of one team against another matter

in the very short term, like one season, it might might indicate a matchup problem. but what difference does a game ten or even two years ago matter

yeah i realize it seems one team sometimes has anothers 'number', but couldnt that just be the randomness of sporting events hitting a streak to make it appear that way

[Mitchy moo]

ive always wondered, why does past record of one team against another matter

in the very short term, like one season, it might might indicate a matchup problem. but what difference does a game ten or even two years ago matter

yeah i realize it seems one team sometimes has anothers 'number', but couldnt that just be the randomness of sporting events hitting a streak to make it appear that way

It's Stat fodder that's for sure. Ask Notre Dame about their 43 game winning streak against Navy.

[MTBillsFan]

Maybe we have the Beengals number right now. Who knows? Hopefully we can continue our winning ways! I think Marvin Lewis is coaching for his job now and we could be the final nail in the coffin!

[Cntrygal]

I was happy when we finally broke that 70s curse we had going with the fishies.

That was disgusting.