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If hadn't just crested the hill we likely would have. As bad as Dalton was he still had 75 more yards and a 70 vs 48 passer rating along wity 67 vs 55 completion percentage

I believe that might have been a different story if we were forced to pass. That game and the conditions allowed us to play to their strengths. OL love run blocking. We had a top 5 running back behind them, a lead, and horrible weather for throwing the ball around. It just all came together to not put them in a position to face a ton of pressure on the pass protection.

Ayup. No argument here. See above.

Oh I agree. I don't think we see the same QB room next season as we have this season. Dalton has reached the end of the line it appears. He's just not even got the staying power to come in for Bryce right now (talk about not setting the bar very high). I think we'll probably pick up a new QB in the draft and give Bryce the opportunity to stay on the bench here or be traded out on that fourth contract year. Long term, we need someone with more oomph. Bryce is tougher and more resilient than I thought he would ever be, but he needs to be able to regularly move that ball down the field more. There's no doubt about that.

They really don't have a choice. They have a lot of decisions to make in the offseason. With qb being number 1 and the rb position being number 2. Rico showed them how good the run game could be and has created and uncomfortable situation in the rb room.

Everybody outside of few posters believe as well, however due to the rookie contract set up his time is running out for him to show he can "be the man". Hes got 8 games to go to drastically improve his play.

Many teams will be in the playoffs that are meh. Only a handfull. are top tier

Yep, and I've said time and time again, it's up to Bryce to show us he can be the man or if he can be a career backup. Me, I think the body of work says he's going to be an excellent back up QB. But right now, we don't have anything else in the cupboard. Andy Dalton showed that he's just a dust-covered pack of cookies that was long ago emptied out. In the end, we may be looking at drafting another QB. And well, that may be the cheapest, best option. Until then, though, here's hoping we keep stacking wins, however we do it.

Right I am just saying the reasons they said after they gave him a 2 year deal was completely and utterly tone deaf. I mean we covered it in the Dalton signing thread (and boy there are some doozys of posts in there). I have no inside knowledge or anything but I strangely think they overhaul the qb room this offseason.

I get what you are saying. I'm just saying we made it to the win, we should have a bit of class and not dogpile on the QB because his stat line wasn't great. His stat lines weren't great for almost his entire pro career, but this time, we got a win. Give him a breather. The team cleared the bar. In the end, that's all that matters. Do it enough times and well, good things happen. We've shat the bed enough times with good-ish QB play. It's not like we've been regularly to the playoffs even with our best performing QBs over the years. Heck, Matt Stafford was a helluva QB in Detroit for a long time with nothing to show for it. Steve Bartowski was a great QB back in the day, but in 20 years of watching I saw one playoff game for the Falcons. Heck, even Dan Marino spent most of his illustrious career on a lousy Dolphins team. And yet, Tampa's first Superbowl ring was with the esteemed Trent Dilfer at the helm. Sometimes it goes like that.

I don't care what they tell me. Its what they actually do that matters. Coaches and GM's say crap all the time to keep fan interest. They are always trying to sell you something.

But you have to separate the 2 things in order to move forward. Its okay to enjoy winning and its also okay to be critical of what is happening. Coaches do it why cant we? Also they have to be thinking next off season, next year all in real time. They are applying what is working, where help is needed and how to get better and make plans for that. I am weirdly confident that Dan and Dave are seeing what we are seeing and will adjust. The wildcard however are the teppers

Ideally we’d have a QB with a missile. You play the exact same way, but with 3-5 true deep shots per game. Defense still isn’t good enough for track meets.

I’m having a great time watching the team improve but I’m positive they are not playoff caliber.

I mean we all saw the highlight of the wounded duck int ryce threw in the end zone on sunday. Its no secret his moderate to deep balls lack zip. DC is simply trying to limit that

Our opponents need to see it more than we do. If there's no threat of going over their heads it's going to be a long day.

Bryce is very good at evading pressure, but no way you can say we have OL issues after what they did to GB Sunday.

Prior years don't matter right now. This season is all that matters at this moment in time. At this moment, we are strangely, very strangely competitive. If our QB isn't the main reason behind the win, that's okay in the moment. The W matters.

Dave's going to need an answer for 9 and 10 in the box.

Their reasoning and rationale that they told us is not what a serious football team would do. I hope they have learned their lesson and fix that poo in the off season

And sometimes, that's what you need to get the W. And we did. And as for Cam, Cam got too much of the responsibility for the wins and the losses. They, and we the fans, put way, way much more on that man's shoulders than anyone could bear. In time, that kind of pressure breaks even Superman. We had a team built fairly well, but we used it often times like it was just the one guy. Here, we seem to be building a team again, but we as the fans are screaming for a superhuman guy at QB again. We don't have that guy and I don't think we can make him into that guy. But we do seem to be playing the game to make the most of what we have with a realistic eye to what we are working with. And for that, Canales deserves some kudos, as does Bryce for handling his role.

Well yeah but we need to see it. I’d be surprised if it were this week but, divisional game so maybe.

Opponents are going to adapt. If I'm facing the Panthers as a HC I'm telling my DC that we better not lose this game because Rico goes for 150+ and we aren't selling out against the run. We need to be playing run first D on everything but 3rd and 10+. We have to force Bryce Young to beat us with his arm. I want to see heavy fronts and stacked boxes all game long. If Rico STILL beats us then well damn, hats off.

Sounds like Cinci fans said the guy is washed up. If he can't get on the field for their terrible defense, I'd rather not have him here

With Bryce's skills/limitations AND the oline injuries their only chance to win is dominant run game, good D , small ball it/hopefully some really good PA/bootleg/misdirection. Rico's the man...treat him like prime Arian Foster and let's roll