How did Cinci take out David Nelson?

[ghz in pittsburgh]

I don't think he was even targeted that many times.

Did he stay in helping to block? Or did Cinci has someone who can match up to Nelson?

This might be the trend how defenses will play us - stop Nelson = stop us on 3rd downs.

[justasportsfan]

Everyone disappeared except Freddie. When the Amish riffle becomes an Amish slingshot, everyone else disappears.

[trapezeus]

it also seemed like the bills were trying to run more than pass. as a result, they just didn't get number of plays. i didn't check the stats to verify. but that was the feel of the game.

and justa is right, he wasn't very accurate when he threw, so no one really benefited from it.

[don137]

When you only get 12 first downs a lot players don't get to touch the ball much.

[Homegrown]

The Bengals jammed all the underneath routes, disrupting (sp?) the timing of the short inside passing game, rendering it useless.

Bengals basically said "We're taking away all your underneath routes - if you want throw it, then you're going have to throw it further then 10 yards"

Bengals dared the Bills to throw it long ...the Bills don't have a WR/TE with speed to get separation deep; nor do the Bills have a QB who can throw an accurate deep ball.

[NOT THE DUDE...]

it was frustrating because we kept throwing for big plays early instead of just taking the intermediate stuff... it was just a bad day for the o, give cincy credit.

[stuckincincy]

The Bengals jammed all the underneath routes, disrupting (sp?) the timing of the short inside passing game, rendering it useless.

Bengals basically said "We're taking away all your underneath routes - if you want throw it, then you're going have to throw it further then 10 yards"

Bengals dared the Bills to throw it long ...the Bills don't have a WR/TE with speed to get separation deep; nor do the Bills have a QB who can throw an accurate deep ball.

Yep. IIRC, BUF had that lucky deflection that popped 10 feet or so in the air to Roosevelt for 28, and that 44 yard one to S. Johnson. Other than that, they were stuffed.

CINs LB Howard put a lid on F. Jackson's receptions, for the most part. Howard has 4.4 speed.

BUF should have gone to a 4 -3. More bodies. CIN's OL is coached by one of the best in the business - Paul Alexander. He's their asst. HC, because that status means that he can't be tampered with. He won the battle.

BUF should can their DC and install Wanny.

[Jan Reimers]

Bengals dared the Bills to throw it long ...the Bills don't have a WR/TE with speed to get separation deep; nor do the Bills have a QB who can throw an accurate deep ball.
The lack of a deep receiving threat, along with a so-so O-line, no pass rush, and a very pedestrian secondary, are our biggest problems.

Of course, we did have a deep threat, but he was a one trick poney that didn't fit our schemes. Now we have several one trick ponies who make it really easy for the opposition to defend our schemes.

[NOT THE DUDE...]

The lack of a deep receiving threat, along with a so-so O-line, no pass rush, and a very pedestrian secondary, are our biggest problems.

Of course, we did have a deep threat, but he was a one trick poney that didn't fit our schemes. Now we have several one trick ponies who make it really easy for the opposition to defend our schemes.

johnson and jones can get deep, blink blink......

[Ickybaluky]

CIN's OL is coached by one of the best in the business - Paul Alexander. He's their asst. HC, because that status means that he can't be tampered with.

The Asst. HC designation may be a way to pay him his value, but has nothing to do with his being "tampered with".

All NFL assistants are classified with the same status by the league. An assistant can be hired away to be a HC while under contract, but any assistant can be blocked from interviewing for another assistant job, even if it involves a promotion to coordinator. There is nothing to keep the Bengals from blocking a team from interviewing any assistant for another job while under contract, unless it is for a HC position.

[TigerJ]

I think Homegrown's explanation is pretty close to the mark, but the situation was aggravated by Fitzpatrick's struggles with accuracy last Sunday. There were lots of times when he just flat missfired.

[Mad Max]

Agree with those who said Fitz. Although the Bengals did harass him, he had enough time most of the time to get the ball out...he was just off.

With the D as it is, when Fitz is off we aren't likely to win many/any games.

[kscdogbillsfan1221]

The lack of a deep receiving threat, along with a so-so O-line, no pass rush, and a very pedestrian secondary, are our biggest problems.

Of course, we did have a deep threat, but he was a one trick poney that didn't fit our schemes. Now we have several one trick ponies who make it really easy for the opposition to defend our schemes.

not that i disagree with the point you're making, but our 'deep threat' from last year isn't exactly lighting it up this year. but yes, we do need one for sure.

[DraftBoy]

not that i disagree with the point you're making, but our 'deep threat' from last year isn't exactly lighting it up this year. but yes, we do need one for sure.

The numbers are deceiving for Evans (not this year but previous) and the reason I say that is because is far more valuable as a decoy who takes the top off the coverage than as an actual WR for now. His ability to get vertical and take the S's 5-10 yards deeper open up the intermediate zone between the LB and S. Which is perfect for Fitz.

[OpIv37]

How did they take out David Nelson?

He's David Nelson, not Calvin Johnson. 3 good games does not make one a star. It's not surprising that a D like Cincy's was able to neutralize a WR like Nelson.

[psubills62]

We have guys who can go deep. Not as well as Evans could, but Jones and Johnson have both shown ability to catch deep passes. Fact of the matter is that the deep passing game isn't going to be on target every week and unfortunately, this was one of those weeks where it was just off. That doesn't erase the previous three weeks when it worked pretty well.

[ghz in pittsburgh]

The Bengals jammed all the underneath routes, disrupting (sp?) the timing of the short inside passing game, rendering it useless.

Bengals basically said "We're taking away all your underneath routes - if you want throw it, then you're going have to throw it further then 10 yards"

Bengals dared the Bills to throw it long ...the Bills don't have a WR/TE with speed to get separation deep; nor do the Bills have a QB who can throw an accurate deep ball.

Whoa! Here is the formula to beat Gailey's offense @Bills: control the underneath routes (jamming, flooding, whatever fits your defense personnel); generate pressure with your front 4 to make Fitz uncomfortable so he has to get rid of the ball quicker (preventing deep routes developing), exposing his inaccurate arm. With so many people closer to the scrimmage line, it helps to control the Jackson's running game, too.

To beat this strategy, we need to have either a dominating receiver who can be thrown to even if he's covered like Calvin Johnson and a QB who is accurate, and/or a strong O-Line (like the Pats) who can give the QB time. Unfortunately, the Bills have neither right now.

Conversely for the defense to make this work, they need a strong front 7 who can generate pressure with good athletes at linebacker positions who can cover as well as stopping runners. Cinci has it. The Giants have it. Phily may not.

[WeAreArthurMoates]

Whoa! Here is the formula to beat Gailey's offense @Bills: control the underneath routes (jamming, flooding, whatever fits your defense personnel); generate pressure with your front 4 to make Fitz uncomfortable so he has to get rid of the ball quicker (preventing deep routes developing), exposing his inaccurate arm. With so many people closer to the scrimmage line, it helps to control the Jackson's running game, too.

To beat this strategy, we need to have either a dominating receiver who can be thrown to even if he's covered like Calvin Johnson and a QB who is accurate, and/or a strong O-Line (like the Pats) who can give the QB time. Unfortunately, the Bills have neither right now.

Conversely for the defense to make this work, they need a strong front 7 who can generate pressure with good athletes at linebacker positions who can cover as well as stopping runners. Cinci has it. The Giants have it. Phily may not.

Exactly, it's a tough defense for everyone to use cause you need the exact pieces, Philly does not have it.

[Forward_Lateral]

People forget that Cincy has a very good secondary. Let's give them a bit of credit.