The Bengals, as I mentioned last week, are one of those mid-table play-off hopefuls, who really relish the preseason as a chance to make a statement and to build on the progress of last year.
Incumbent starter Andy Dalton looked good, completing 8 of 14 attempts for a touchdown and no interceptions. He helped his team score effectively and consistently in all phases of the game, recording a box score of 3, 7, 7, 7. That's a sign of a nice tempo and a solid, essential ability to find the end zone when it matters.
Furthermore, the Bengals were playing against opposition who are in the same boat. Despite making the play-offs with an impressive regularity these past few years, the Falcons under the leadership of QB Matt Ryan are a team that has failed to convince anyone they can pull it out of the bag when it matters. They have posted great regular season records and challenged for the division since Ryan donned the red and black of Atlanta, but have tanked in January and must now be used to having questions asked about their legitimacy as title contenders.
They are not regarded as a lock for the post-season, but if Ryan's performance was any indication of how they'll fair when the games start to matter, they needn't worry just yet.
The Boston product was sensational, completing a staggering 18 of 21 for 174 yards, a TD and no picks. That is what he needs to do in the preseason to build the confidence of his team. That is what he must do if they are to go further than they have since the days of Michael Vick.
Cleveland, another team that needs the warm-up of the preseason, faced off against the Green Bay Packers, who, unlike the Falcons, have nothing to prove. Expect GB to go 0-4 in the preseason as they tinker with plays and experiment with new packages. It means nothing to them. Success in Green Bay does not end with making the play-offs. There is only one result that will do, and that's the Super Bowl victory.
As for the Browns, one of just a handful of teams to have never contested the big game, their performance against the Champs once removed was professional and laudable.
They hit double digits (10 and 14 respectively) either side of the half. Brandon Weedon kept the ball safe and gained solid yards. Their running game, minus Trent Richardson, looked competent and found success inside the 20.
Promising signs from both Ohio outfits. They'll need to keep it up if they hope to make the playoffs, which is always, for these AFC North afterthoughts, a steep mountain to climb.
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