Bernard Scott, RB, Cincinnati Bengals: 2010 NFL Fantasy Football Gold

Everybody loves a good under the radar fantasy pick.

Each year an unheralded player becomes a household name after a few weeks of double-digit fantasy points.

The Bengals have one on their hands this year in 26-year-old Bernard Scott.

The AFC North is not a pretty division. All four teams traditionally win with a strong defense and a solid running game.

It took the Bengals awhile to realize this. Finally in '09, they figured it out. Starting running back Cedric Benson received the rock early and often in the 13 games he played.

301 carries and 1,251 yards were career highs for the former top five pick. There were games in which he would almost reach 40 carries.

Benson has already shown in three preseason games that he is poised to repeat that performance. Without a doubt he is the starter for the Bengals. Yet the physicality of the division requires each team to have solid back-ups in the running game.

Benson missed three games last year with a hip issue and you can expect him to get banged up once again against the likes of New England, San Diego, New Orleans, and Indy—not to mention the teams in the AFC North.

Overlooking his backup would be a huge fantasy blunder. Scott is entering his second year out of Division II Abilene Christian. He set all kinds of records in college yet dropped all the way to the sixth round (209th overall) of the '09 draft due to dreaded "character issues."

The Bengals noticed his problems occurred in the early years of his college career. In his final two seasons he was a model citizen.

As a sixth round pick with a chip on his shoulder, Scott emerged as the clear-cut second string back right off the bat. Most would consider his first year a success. He had 321 yards on 74 attempts, good enough for a 4.3 yards per carry. Filling in for Benson against the Raiders underrated defense, he ran for 119 yards, including a 61-yard gallop.

He also began to return kickoffs, taking one to the house against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. That touchdown ended up being the difference in a 18-12 Bengals victory.

He ended up with a 31.5-yard average on 16 returns. Expect a similar role for him this season. He has been returning kicks in each of the first three preseason games.

The 5'10", 197 pound Texas native has break away speed and can be very hard to tackle. He has great elusiveness and holds onto the ball. He didn't lose a single fumble in his rookie season.

Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski admits he hasn’t had a back as explosive catching the ball out of the backfield in his 10 seasons here.

“No question he’s the kind of guy you want to put the ball in his hands,” Bratkowski says. “You can use him in the slot; you can do some different things with him.”

The ability to break off a long run is extremely appealing for a second string back. The versatility of Scott leads one to believe the Bengals will get this guy on the field in one form or another.

“If I have the ball in my hands, I feel like I can make a big play and help the team,” Scott says. “If they want to put me in the slot, and throw me a couple balls out of the backfield, that’s fine, too. We did a little bit of that (this spring) in camp. Now that I’m more familiar with the offense, I think they’ve got the confidence that I know what I’m doing and they can use me doing more things.”

While you shouldn’t use a top pick on Scott, a mid-draft selection of the underrated back will look make you look like a fantasy genius before the 2010 campaign is over. You have been warned.

Cincinnati Bengals: No to T.O, Yes to Antonio Bryant

The Cincinnati Bengals needed a wide receiver desperately, and their needle looked to be pointing in Terrell Owens direction. Chad Ochocinco openly campaigned for the 14-year veteran to join the Bengals ever since the Pro Bowl. But alas, they decided that the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Antonio Bryant was the better fit.

The deal is worth $28 million over four years, and he can gain an extra million through incentives, reports the Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy. Official word from the team isn't expected until tomorrow. Everyone knew the Bengals needed a deep threat at receiver after the Chris Henry tragedy, and Bryant and Owens had emerged as the top two candidates.

Bryant made a visit to the Bengals team facilities on Tuesday, but left town without a deal. Rumors surfaced that the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins were also interested.

The contract is very similar to the one given to Laveranues Coles last year. We all know how that one turned out; I am very surprised by the move. Yes, the 6’1" Bryant is the tall receiver QB Carson Palmer craves (or at least according to Coles), and has big play ability, averaging over 15 yards per catch over his career. But this guy isn’t a Pro Bowl talent.

Two seasons ago, Bryant caught 83 passes for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns with the Buccaneers. This was by far his best year. In 2009, he was effected by a knee surgery that repaired torn cartilage, and his production dropped to 39 receptions for 600 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. Not exactly eye-popping numbers for a guy set to make seven million dollars a year.

The fact is, for his eight-year career, he has averaged fewer than four TDs a game and a measly 710 receiving yards—not worth the money he's getting.

The 29-year-old Bryant was drafted by Dallas in 2002, and has also played with the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers in addition to the Bucs. Last year he received a franchise tag from the Buccaneers and was paid $10 million for the one-year deal.

Owens arrived Tuesday night and visited the team on Wednesday, tweeting his happiness on the way out. Now it looks like the Bengals will not sign him.

They could have had a guy with a Hall of Fame caliber career. They could have had a guy that is a home-run threat on any given play. They could have had a guy that has averaged over 10 TDs and 1,068 yards per season over his 14-year career (Not to mention T.O. would have come at a bargain bin price).

Sure he saw a drop in production with the Bills in 2009 (829 yards and five TDs), but who was his quarterback? Ryan Fitzpatrick. Every Bengals fan knows what happens when he is your QB. Critics thought Ochocinco was washed up after a dismal 2008 with Fitzpatrick behind center: This year he was once again a Pro Bowler.

They also could have had a guy that has proven time and time again that he can destroy a locker room at the drop of a dime. But last year he was a model citizen with the Buffalo Bills. He bit his tongue every time a reporter laid the bait. He was finally showing signs of maturity.

In the end, all of Ochocinco’s public campaigning for T.O. went for naught. Two alpha dogs were prepared to share the ball and spotlight. Such is a rarity among the diva’s that are big play wide receivers in the NFL.

It appears that the Bengals flirted with Owens to appease Ochocinco, and possibly for leverage on Bryant. It also looks like internal discussions regarding a possible run at Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall were a tactic to knock down the expectations of both Bryant and T.O.

Maybe Bryant goes onto to have a stellar career as a Bengal. The problem is that questions surround Bryant’s health and overall production. The questions regarding the “look at me” side of T.O. were answered last year. The production and health subjects were never in question.

Bengal fans are left with 99 other questions regarding the passing game, but T.O. ain't one.

The Redemer Strikes: Matt Jones Signs with Bengals...But No Pacman Yet

Same song and dance.

NFL free agency hasn't even begun, and the Cincinnati Bengals are already making moves.
Today they announced the signing of former Jacksonville wide receiver Matt Jones to a contract in what was first reported by ESPN. It is a one-year deal worth around $700,000.
He also had the Titans interested, but the Bengals ultimately won out.

It is a low risk, high reward-type move like the Cedric Benson and Tank Johnson signings. Both of those worked, so owner Mike Brown figured why not? He gave Chris Henry 1,496 chances and gave Odell Thurman plenty of chances—you know, the guy that got arrested for punching a dude at an amusement park.

The Jones addition doesn't mean they won't get a receiver in the draft or T.O. He's another body. He can probably be as productive as Laveranues Coles, and if he blows in training camp, they cut him. He's cheap, experienced, and is a former first round pick. He'll be 27 in April.
The move doesn't mean that the Bengals are Super Bowl-bound—but it's a start.

But that's not the only troubled Jones that is on the Bengals' radar. Numerous reports state that the one and only Adam "Pacman" Jones has worked out for the men in stripes. The poster boy for what's wrong with the league, Jones has a list of arrests even the Bengals would be impressed by. He has played in Canada and wrestled since his last stint in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys in 2008.

Mike Brown thinks he still has something left in the tank. Yes, the Bengals need a talented nickel defender who can return kickoffs and punts. He'll be available at a bargain bin discount. But he was awful for the Cowboys. He was outmuscled by receivers, and his height (5'11") is a big issue.
Then there is the whole "this guy was suspended for all of '07 and didn't play a single game in '09" deal. Sort of a big deal.

Why does this guy get so many chances? He only has four career INTs and has had major issues with fumbles on kick returns.

Because Brown loves being the redeemer. He loves being the guy that turns a troubled man's life around. It's the one thing the Bengals lead the league in.

I like the Matt Jones signing, but Pacman will bring a circus-like vibe to the Bengals. Mike Brown doesn't care. Cheap players + cheap owner + cheap franchise = the redeem team.

Rey Maualuga of Cincinnati Bengals Charged with DUI

The offseason was less than one month old when Mr. Rey Maualuga decided to use some awful judgment.

The 23-year-old was arrested at 1:45 a.m. Friday in Covington, Ky. on charges of drunken and careless driving after he allegedly struck two parked cars and a parking meter.

Maualuga, 23, of Cincinnati, appeared in Kenton County District Court via video link from jail. He pleaded not guilty and was released on his promise to return for future appearances.

Maualuga smelled of "intoxicants" and told the officer that he had "about six Captain and Coke drinks," the report states. The officer gave Maualuga field sobriety tests, which he failed, the report states.

"Subject had slurred speech, blood shot, watery eyes and he was unsteady on his feet," the officer wrote.

Maualuga had a blood-alcohol level of .157, according to a Covington Police report. The legal limit is .08.

A Bengals spokesman declined comment.

Covington literally borders the city of Cincinnati, so I'm sure he had partied in the city and was trying to make it to his apartment or whatever in Kentucky.

But this story gets funnier. He was driving a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire. C'mon Rey, that's the best a second round pick can do? No Hummer or Escalade?

Even funnier: He was with two female passengers.

Funniest: One of the girls was 18, and the other was a minor! Rey Rey! Can't find any 23-year-olds in the city on a Thursday night?

In the words of Michael Irvin—C'MON MAN!!!!

Carson Palmer Skips Pro Bowl For Thumb Surgery

The Pro Bowl is such a joke.

The reason why Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young was named to the Pro Bowl as a fourth alternate is because third alternate, Carson Palmer, is recovering from thumb surgery.

As reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer , Palmer had successful thumb surgery last week on his non-throwing hand and is recovering in his home in California.

The thumb was injured way back in week five against the Ravens. For the rest of the season he played with a glove on his left hand. Palmer was forced to hand the ball off with his throwing hand which made for some awkward hand-offs. Plenty of commentators foreshadowed a chance that the unorthodox hand-offs could lead to a fumble sooner or later. Despite not looking pretty, Palmer never had a problem with the exchange.

Palmer would rather go through surgery than play in the meaningless contest. The lack of memorable moments in the game is outrageous considering the star power. Name me your favorite Pro Bowl memory? I can't think of one.

Gobs of players find any injury excuse to get out of playing in a game that has less importance than a preseason game. Now that's saying something.

The game is next Sunday, a week before the Super Bowl. Great, don't let any player from the two best teams in the NFL get a chance to be in the game. Makes perfect sense to me.

I always thought the Pro Bowl was a way to extend the NFL for one more week. It already has the smallest schedule of any of the four main sports, so why shrink the calender? Does moving it to Jan. 31 really make the NFL any more money than having the game two weeks later?

Players know that their bodies are basically what gets them paid. So why put your money-maker on the line in a exhibition that pays you only a sliver of your current multi-million dollar deal? Why put forth any effort at all? What's the worst that can happen; some random coach from a team you play every four years gets mad and benches you?

These are the questions I'll be asking when I get to meet Roger Goodell.

Something needs to be tweaked in this game to make it relevant.

Why Are the Bengals Sticking with Bratkowski?

The biggest running complaint about the 2009 Bengals wasn’t concerning receivers, special teams or the tight end; it was about the play calling. The once high-powered Bengals offense had been reduced to a motorized scooter running out of battery power.

Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski has taken the majority of the criticism, and rightfully so. The run, run, pass scenario played out way too much for most fans' liking. The creativity consisted of a reverse to a receiver with the quarterback having to throw a block. The lack of flea-flickers and zigzag routes didn’t bother fans as much as the predictability. Talk radio was consistently oozing ungodly amounts of "fire Bratkowski" venom.

More often than not, a seasoned Bengals fan had a good idea of the play that was about to be run. If it's pretty obvious to the general public, imagine the lack of strategy needed for opposing defenses. The midseason tweaks and adjustments were ineffective, and it cost the team dearly in the end.

Unfortunately, the Bengals have an owner that takes penny-pinching to a new height. Firing a guy before his contract is up would require Mike Brown to fork over some extra cash—not going to happen. Bratkowski will be back for his 10th season as offensive coordinator of the Bengals, according to the team's official Web site.

How is this possible? Coordinators are hired and fired at will. There are only two head coaches (Jeff Fisher, Andy Reid) that have been at their current positions for more than 10 years; a coordinator sticking around that long is unheard of. It's understandable if Brat has achieved multiple seasons of success during the decade. Well, having two playoff losses doesn’t scream being worthy of such a rare feat.

For the entire second half of the ‘09 season, the passing game consisted of nothing but slants and screens—with maybe the occasional overthrown deep ball just to keep the defenses thinking the Bengals had some sort of vertical attack.

The running game was without a doubt the bread and butter of the ’09 offense. But the stubbornness and repetitiveness of the Bratkowski approach was easily sniffed out as the year wore on. Cedric Benson had more than 27 carries six times, and that includes the three-and-a-half games missed because of his hip injury. He had 301 total carries, and he might have had close to 400 without the injury.

The best offensive performance in the second half of the season was the 27-24 loss to the Chargers. The deep slants were there, and Chad Ochocinco caught a 49-yard bomb that came courtesy of a vintage Carson Palmer pass. The running game was actually not relied on to do the heavy lifting for once, as Benson only had 15 carries.

The 24 points were the most scored in a game during the second part of the year. Palmer looked comfortable with the aggressive game plan as he racked up a season-high 314 passing yards (43 yards more than the next highest).

The hurry-up style implemented in the second half of the game provided a more fluent and balanced attack. Never was the game plan or offensive fireworks it provoked ever implanted again for the rest of the season. The result was scoring 17 points against the Chiefs and a combined 14 points in two straight games against the Jets.

This past season, the Bengals defense was seventh against the run and sixth against the pass for the forth overall ranked D. It is only the third time in franchise history—and the first since 1989—that they had finished in the top 10 in all three categories in the same season. In short, they had a phenomenal season, and next year the unit could get even better with all the young guys coming back.

The major question for Bengals fans going into the 2010 season is simple: Can Bob Bratkowski be trusted with navigating this stale and underachieving offense?

Carson Palmer's Passing Precision Perfectly Fine

The popular consensus this week is that Bengals QB Carson Palmer has dropped a peg on the quarterback hierarchy.

"He was beyond awful in Sunday's Jets game."

"He is throwing the ball away consistently on blitzes."

"He doesn't look like the same quarterback that he was in '05."

Well nobody can argue with the first two statements. He hasn't been very good at handling pressure and he has had some questionable interceptions. It's no secret, Palmer's numbers haven't been up to par in the second half. For the year he completed 282 of 466 passes (60.5 percent) for 3,094 yards with 21 touchdowns against 13 interceptions.

But the third statement is false, Palmer is just fine. After the Week 10 win over the Steelers, the Bengals sat at 7-2 with a 5-0 AFC North record. Coach Marvin Lewis decided that it was time to play keep away. The entire game plan revolved around the running game, bend-but-don't-break defense, and controlling the time of possession battle. The passing game was very vanilla.

In the first half of the season the passing game was much more a part of the offensive philosophy. Palmer successfully led game-winning fourth quarter drives against every single divisional opponent (Browns, Steelers, and Ravens) and that is not counting the game-winning drive with seconds remaining against Denver that was wiped out by the immaculate deflection. Anytime the Bengals are in a game at the end, Palmer has delivered.

He led a game-tying drive against the Chargers that went for naught due to a poor prevent defense. He lead the division-clinching drive against the Chiefs two weeks ago. Put the ball in his hands at the end of a game and good things happen.

Each of those drives showed me that Palmer still has it. He comes up big when his team needs him most and doesn't buckle under the pressure. Is it his fault that the offensive line has way to many false start penalties? Is it his fault that the pass protection has slowly but surely deteriorated?

Or how about his lack of receivers?

Jets CB Darrelle Revis was selected as a starting corner for the AFC in the Pro Bowl, and deservedly so. No receiver has more than 35 yards against him this season.

WR Chad Ochocinco is getting put on Reevis Island and somebody needs to give Palmer a reliable target...Laveranues Coles is a solid veteran that needs to show up, especially against his old team. He hasn't been on the same page with Palmer this year but his numbers aren't awful (514 yards, five TDs.)

WR Andre Caldwell has really lost his confidence since that game-changing fumble against Oakland. He has made some huge plays this season but none of late. He needs to create that separation on those slants that he seemingly loves to run. WR Chris Henry's deep threat is missed greatly.

TE J.P. Foschi is not much of a receiving threat at tight end. He doesn't have great hands and can't make a guy miss in the open field.

Palmer isn't working with a bunch of All Pro's. Drops, missed blocks and penalties can't be blamed on the QB. He is still accurate and more than capable of leading a team deep into the playoffs. Now the playbook will be opened up to trick plays and others that have been waiting on deck until the playoffs.

He has gotten this team into the playoffs and he knows the rarity of that. This is the third postseason appearance in the last 19 years for the Bengals. How bad do you think a seven-year veteran wants to win his first playoff game?

Saturday will come down to quarterback play and give me Carson Palmer over his former ball boy Mark Sanchez.

Sky Hasn't Fallen on Bengals after Jets' Pasting

37-0.

On national TV, the Bengals got whupped. Beaten to a bloody pulp. The only positive from this game is that a bomb didn't go off in the locker room.

Chad Ochocinco played less than a half and was held without a catch, ending a string of 120 straight games played with at least one. He hurt his knee in warmups (though the MRI on his knee today was negative).

He said he would change his name back to Johnson if he got shut down, but after the game he responded to the question with an emphatic "child please."

Overall, the offense set a team record for fewest net yards in a game (72). Carson Palmer was an outrageous 1/11 for zero net yards and an INT. WOOOF.

Valuable defensive tackle Pat Sims broke his arm and is done for the season. Backup safety Tom Nelson, whom was filling in for the injured Chris Crocker, suffered a left knee injury after getting burned by the Jets on seemingly 20 plays in a row. The Jets found the weakness in the D (Nelson) and abused him as much as humanly possible.

37-0 seems like quite possibly the worst way to head into the playoffs.

But all is not lost.

Knowing his team needs to get healthy, coach Marvin Lewis chose to rest five starters— LDT Domata Peko (knee), LE Robert Geathers (knee) and FS Crocker (ankle) on defense, and RB Cedric Benson (hip) and TE J.P. Foschi (neck) on offense.

That's five key guys (OK, maybe four...Foschi stinks) that will be well-rested in the rematch this Saturday at 4:30. As much as you wanted to believe coach Lewis and the players that said they were "in it to win," once the inactive list had that many key cogs on it, it was obvious Lewis didn't feel the urge to win this one.

If anything, this is a credit to the Houston Texans and a message to the Jets. The Texans beat the Bengals at home early in the season, and Matt Schaub and Co. would have been back in Cincinnati for the franchise's first-ever playoff game with a Bengals win.

The Bengals want to play the Jets and their rookie QB Mark Sanchez.

While the final score clearly indicated dominance, Sanchez was a paltry 8/16 for 63 yards. Yes, the Jets didn't need to throw the ball, as the running game provided all the scoring necessary. However, any time Sanchez had to drop back and throw the ball, he seemed uncomfortable and hesitant against two of the best corners in the league in Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph.

The Bengals know Braylon Edwards as well as any reciever in the league from his days with division rival Cleveland. Jerricho Cotchery is not a deep threat and doesn't need anything more than single coverage, and there isn't much of a tight end presence.

The key will be if the top-five run defense of the Bengals that got abused for 257 rushing yards can fix it against the No. 1 rated run offense.

Two starters on the line will be back. Peko is one of the best at stopping the run in the NFL, and is certainly the best on the Bengals. The exotic schemes that defensive coordinator has been dialing up for most of the year will be back. I don't expect the Jets O-line to handle the Bengals D-line again.

After only allowing one 100-yard rusher all year up to Week 12, the Bengals have allowed a 100-yard rusher in three of the past four games (1-3). Peko has been out for the past four games—go figure.

The playbook for the Bengals was as vanilla as could be. No reason to open it up in a meaningless game. The Jets, on the other hand, busted out the Wildcat, and now you can bet the Bengals will be ready to defend it next week.

“There isn’t much more they can do,” said Ochocinco of the Jets offense. “There is no trickery. They can add to their game plan.”

In the meantime, the Bengals have been hatching up schemes for over a week and will be eager to show the world that the passing game is still there. Palmer will not let his ballboy in college beat him like that twice in a row. No way does the veteran not give it his all in virtually his first playoff game.

The one matchup that still is a concern is Chad Ochocinco vs. Darrelle Revis. Chad might be banged up, and Revis is the real deal. He is a shutdown corner that can be left alone on the "Revis Island." Chad needs to stop talking trash to that guy.

Overall, the reaction to this game has been predictable; a lot of it has to do with the time slot. But Bengal fans are all gloom and doom, and think the sky is in the process of falling.

37-0. And it wasn't even that close.

But take heart; the Bengals have opened as three-point favorites at home against the Jets, a week after being 10-point dogs and a day after 37-0. Vegas knows something, and it's simple: The biggest turd of the season will mean nothing come Saturday.

Bengals Upend Chiefs, Cruise To AFC North Title

In a game that was closer than it should have been, the Cinncinati Bengals (10-5) finally clinched the AFC North title on their third try Sunday, with a 17-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs (3-12).

The Bengals were literally running on fumes by the time they took the field, after a tough loss in San Diego last week, they had a late flight home, then flew to New Orleans on Tuesday to attend Chris Henry’s funeral. The receiver died from injuries suffered during what police describe as a domestic dispute in North Carolina last week.

They had just enough left in the tank. For only the second time since 1990, the Cincinnati Bengals will make it to the playoffs.

Cedric Benson had 133 yards on 29 carries as the Bengals pounded the Chiefs on the ground. He had a few long runs including a 32-yarder that jump-started the offense in the third quarter.

In an exciting subplot that didn't pan out, ex-Chief Larry Johnson only had four carries for 11 yards.

The first half was uneventful, with both teams deadlocked 3-3, offensively stunted. The Bengals, clearly distracted after just recently burying one of their teammates, were booed off the field after committing a plethora of mistakes and penalties.

Cincinnati had 53 total yards of first-half offense, and Carson Palmer struggled mightily, going four-of-nine for just 19 yards and pick, and getting sacked once (for a nine yard loss). Their offensive game plan was nothing but runs up the gut and short screens and slants.

The 10 total yards of net passing in the half was the worst by a Bengal since the legendary Jeff Blake against the Houston Oilers in 1996.

The Bengals received a late Christmas gift towards the end of the second quarter when the Chiefs long snapper Thomas Gafford sent one over the head of the punter, allowing the Bengals to set up inside the 10 yard line. Yet the Bengals couldn't capitalize, settling for a Shayne Graham 29-yarder with just under two minutes to play.

At the half, the scrappy Chiefs had outplayed the Bengals, and the crowd began buzzing, thinking about the "Bungels" of old; wondering if it was possible that their home team could falter for the third straight week and possibly not clinch a playoff spot. (Little did anyone know at the time that Cincinnati also would have won the AFC North even if they'd lost, thanks to the fact that the Ravens fell against the Steelers later that day).

The offense finally got the wheels in motion at the start of the third quarter on a drive that took 5:50 off the clock, and culminated in a Laveranues Coles 10-yard TD.

But the Chiefs battled back and were able to tie the game at 10-10 early in the fourth.

Later in the fourth, starting at their own two-yard line, the Bengals drove down the field to take the lead on a six-yard touchdown pass to Chad Ochocinco with 2:03 left on the clock. Ochocinco made a beautiful diving catch and then raised one finger on one hand and five on the other, a tribute to Henry's jersey number 15.

The entire Bengals team wore No. 15 decals on their helmets in his memory.

The Bengals' 14-play drive went 98 yards with seven first downs and took 7:18 off the clock. It was their longest drive of the season, and they completed all three of their third down attempts.

The Bengals D would hold the Chiefs in check over the final two minutes, and with the win they were able to crown themselves division champs for the first time since 2005.

But the question marks surrounding the squad were not answered.

Another bad team another week of playing down to the level of competition. I'm assuming that offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski didn't want to bust out much of the playbook against a clearly inferior opponent, but the "Cardiac Cats" cut it too close. There was a real possibility of them losing the game and the vanilla game plan didn't help.

But once again the Bengals offense was able to get a score when they absolutely had to. Credit Palmer for not getting frustrated, and credit the line that blocked wonderfully on the game winning drive.

False start penalties continue to be a concern. Chronic guilty parties LT Andrew Whitworth and RT Dennis Roland both had flags tossed their way. At this point in the season it seems that this is an issue that can't be fixed and will have to be taken into account for the rest of the year.

A key injury will set the Bengals back even more defensively. Rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga broke his ankle and is likely done for the year. He will be sitting next to Antawn Odom, Roy Williams, and Reggie Kelly on injured reserve.

The Bengals' tenth victory of the season allowed coach Marvin Lewis to pass team founder Paul Brown for second place on the team's all-time wins list, with 56.

The Bengals played an ugly game, but they got the win and that's what counts in the end. Next week they travel to New York to play the playoff hungry Jets (8-7) in the final game at the Meadowlands. It will be the first prime time game of the season for the Bengals, who can still get the three seed in the AFC with a win and a Patriots loss to the Texans next week.

The Bengals know that the only thing people will remember is how they perform in the playoffs.

"The AFC North hat is just a hat," Palmer said. "The AFC Championship hat is one you want, but the Super Bowl hat is what we are working for. The title is one of the many goals we set out to achieve. We are not going to pound our chest over this. We don't feel like we have conquered the world. We still have a lot of work to do."

The 2009 Bengals didn't dump Gatorade on coach Lewis after the game. They know that the bigger task at hand has only begun.

Cincinnati Bengals Stale Pass Offense Still Sputtering

Another day another win full of question marks for the Cincinnati Bengals after Sunday’s 23-13 victory over the Detroit Lions. Of course it’s incredible that the Bengals control the AFC North at 9-3, a year after finishing 4-11-1.

Cedric Benson picked up where he left off after a two game hiatus to gain 110 yards on 36 carries. The run blocking continues to impress and Benson looked fresh (although 36 carries is too much when you have a healthy Larry Johnson).

The problem is that the previously standards have been set for this team. The bar has been raised a few feet and now the new expectations are not being met.

This has nothing to do with the defense that has given up the fewest points in the league at 187.

The job that defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has done will likely earn him a head coaching gig next year. Middle linebacker Dhani Jones is the definition of a leader, both on and off the field. And the starting corners Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall both deserve Pro Bowl consideration.

Kudos to the entire D. BUT, let’s talk about the offense. Throw out the Jonathan Fanene defensive TD, and the Bengals offense scored 16 points on the leagues worst secondary. This is a week after dropping 16 on the punch less Browns.

Is it the QB’s fault?

For the first time since 2004 Carson Palmer is looking quite average. He finished 17/29 for 220 yards with one TD and two INT’s plus a lost fumble. Although both INT’s looked to be Laveranues Coles’ fault, Palmer was not very accurate. He missed a couple of throws down the field and at times got “happy feet” in the pocket.

Maybe it’s due to the multiple injuries he has suffered over the years, but Palmer does not hang in the pocket and trust his lineman the same way Tom Brady or Brett Favre does. He is tucking the ball away and running more than ever.

The issues with any receiver without a Mexican last name are becoming more apparent as well. As stated above, Coles was either not breaking correctly out of his routes or Palmer miss read the defense on multiple plays.

Caldwell, the supposed third receiver, didn’t have a single catch. A closer look reveals that he simply wasn’t open. If he can’t create separation against the Lions 31st rank pass coverage then there is a problem.

The lack of a deep threat continues to plague this team. Without Chris Henry, the deep ball isn’t even an option any more. And the second round pick of last year Jerome Simpson is unable to get on the field. He was drafted for his explosive play ability and superior speed. He has been a complete bust a pick so far, especially considering the outstanding play of this years second round pick linebacker Rey Malaluga. Simpson has one catch for two yards in his career.

Having said that, Chad OchoCinco is looking just fine (except for the false start that has become routine). Nine catches for 137 and a TD is another day at the office for “the interesting one”. The best play of the game was a 36-yard beauty that Palmer led right into the hands of Chad for the lone offensive TD. It was a reminder of what could be done in this offense.

But Chad can’t do it alone. The tight end position continues to be a major weakness. Ben “stone hand” Coats dropped yet another TD. J P Foschi wasn’t much better; he only had a 16-yard grab with a holding penalty to boot. As the season rolls along it has become clear that the tight end spot is the weakest on the team.

Meanwhile fourth round pick Chase Coffman out of Missouri rots away on the practice squad. He had all the opportunity to make a difference but it seems he is simply not NFL ready yet. Consider this a red shirt season for Coffman.

Penalties are not helping either. Nine more for 75 is not going to cut it against better teams. The offensive line has been called for way to many false starts and holding penalties. Andrew Whitworth seemingly has at least one of each per game. Dennis Roland has been guilty of similar crimes in recent weeks.

As the season rolls along the cliché “we are who we are” begins to ring true. The 2009 Bengals are a team built off defense and running the ball. The offense isn’t going to light up the scoreboard. Yards are gained in chunks, not gobs. The big play, quick strike ability doesn’t exist in Cincinnati this year.

It’s about ball control, time of possession, and sound special team coverage. Will this formula work outside of the AFC North? A date at the Meterodome with the Vikings is on tap, followed by a trip to sunny San Diego to decide who get the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

The Bengals have played to the level of competition all year long, will this trend continue?

Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals Need to Air It Out Sooner or Later

OK, we get it, Marvin: the 2009 Cincinnati Bengals want to establish the running game.

You have proven to the entire league that the four-headed monster that is Cedric Benson, Bernard Scott, Larry Johnson, and Brian Leonard can run, jump, juke and spin around opponents.

Fans are beginning to wonder if QB Carson Palmer is even the key to success anymore.

While the pass happy magical-turned-nightmarish 2005 is a distant memory, the key to winning is the same. Palmer was a Pro Bowler that year, had a fantasy player's dream of a stat line.

Now he is tucking the ball and running at a career-best rate. Everybody is getting in on the running game it seems.

Palmer hasn't thrown for over 300 yards going back to the 2007 season. He threw for 110 yards against the freakin' Browns last week. What is the deal with Palmer, has he lost his skills?

Not quite...

Palmer is one of the top seven or eight QBs in the NFL. He is forgotten by the national media because of the flashy, yet overrated young guns like Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, and Tony Romo.

This season he hasn't been asked to carry the team until the end of games. When he does throw, it has been screens, slants, and curls. Long bombs have been harder to find than a believable Tiger Woods excuse.

This has nothing to do with Palmer's arm strength or accuracy. It’s the lack of a deep threat (Chris Henry on IR hurts bad) as well as the overall offensive philosophy that has changed.

Why not have Palmer sit back in the pocket that extra two-to-three seconds and wait for the deep ball?

The Bengals are well aware that No. 9 going down also means the team goes down. He is the one guy that can't get hurt. They already had two scares this season with his health.

In a "here we go again" moment, Palmer sprained his ankle in the first game of the preseason and didn't play again till Week One after missing 12 games last year. In October, Palmer sprained his non-throwing hand, having to wear a protective glove and hand-off with his throwing hand ever since.

So, naturally, Bengal fans are concerned for his health. But concerned with the 29-year old's ability? No way.

Remember earlier in the season when the Bengals earned the nickname "the Cardiac Cats"? They made a habit of demoralizing the opponent with a last second scoring drive.

Palmer drove the length of the field to beat the Broncos with 17 seconds left (until the immaculate deflection).

He conducted a clock devouring six-minute drive that culminated in a TD and a win with 20 seconds to go against Pittsburgh. He had a 15-yard scamper setting up a field goal on a fourth down in overtime against the Browns that prevented a tie, and he marched down the field against Baltimore in the final minute as well.

Coach Marvin Lewis understands this. He knows what Palmer is capable of. That's why he is protecting him so much. But as the NFL schedule hits Week 13, it's time to go deep.

Enter the Detroit Lions.

The Lions will visit Paul Brown this Sunday sporting the 31st-ranked passing defense. They rarely pressure the QB and have an extremely mediocre secondary.

This is the game where Palmer can dial up some bombs to Chad or some deep slants to Coles. They need to put up 21 by halftime, to show the Lions (and more importantly the rest of the NFL) that they are more than a running team. Open up the floodgates early to quiet the offensive doubters.

Aside from the 45-point Bears explosion, the offense has put up a measly 17, 18, 17, and 16 points. But they won three out of four.

Sunday needs to be the day to take advantage of the matchups and make a statement, not to mention the importance of keeping the one and only Chad Ochocinco interested. You know deep down he is fuming over the pedestrian numbers being put up. The last thing the Bengals need is a late season Chad concern.

I have a feeling this won't be the case since coach Lewis brought in his new toy, Larry Johnson.

He is saving the majority of the playbook for the Vikings and Chargers in back-to-back road games following Sunday. Lewis understands the significance of those two games, and the insignificance of the Lions game.

Be prepared to complain about the offense for another week Bengals fans. But when they travel to the Metrodome to play the Vikings, I’ll expect the offense to finally have the training wheels taken off.

Maybe a basic game plan can still yield 28 against the Lions, or it will be another 16-7 yawner.

Bengals Run Over Hapless Browns

The Cincinnati Bengals played the ball control game as they ran down the Cleveland Browns throats in a 16-7 workman like victory. The Bengals held the ball for just over 38 minutes as they rushed for 210 yards on the ground.

The Browns were simply unable to stop the Bengals two-headed rushing attack of Larry Johnson and Bernard Scott. With Cedric Benson out for the second straight game with a hip injury, the team continued to impose its will in the running game. Johnson had 22 carries for 107 yards; Scott had 87 yards on 18 carries.

The stellar play of the Benglas defense continued Sunday. An overmatched Brady Quinn looked awful, going 15/34 for 100 yards. That’s a 51.3 QB rating. He threw behind several receivers. His passes too often were at the shoelaces. A couple of times, he threw downfield between two receivers—but the pass was so bad, that it was hard to know who the intended receiver was.

Quinn wasn’t even pressured much by the Bengals front four, but the pass coverage was once again top notch. The linebackers were all over the field, especially Brandon Johnson and his eight tackles. The Browns finished with only 58 yards on the ground and 169 total.

Overall the game plan was incredibly vanilla. The Bengals had zero trick plays and lots of runs between the tackles. No reason to empty the play book in a game like this.

"There are no tosses or loop-di-loop plays. It's basically, `Line up and go after it,' " Johnson said.

Punter Kevin Huber was able to keep the ball out of Josh Cribbs on punt returns and he barely touched the ball at all. Although he did throw an 18 yard bomb to Quinn that was the second biggest offense play all day for the Browns.

The Browns defense knew what was coming but simply couldn’t do anything about it. Carson Palmer had a pedestrian 110 yards, completing 13 of 24 passes with a touchdown. He didn’t have an exceptionally accurate day. He has gone 15 straight games without having a 300-yard passing day. He only has two TD tosses in the past four games.

Palmer has really adapted to the “game manger” role in this offense. He doesn’t have to do it all for the Bengals to have a chance. He continues to take care of the ball and be the leader on offense.

"It felt like a bad-weather game," said Palmer. "It was just a physical, run the ball, control the field position and feed off the defense game."

Past concerns did arise during the game. The team is averaging around 18 points a game minus the Bears 45 point explosion. The offense is settling for field goals and getting killed by penalties. An infuriating 10 penalties for 75 yards continually killed momentum on drives.

The main culprits were the offensive line—too many holding penalties. The pass protection was below average as well. As great as the run blocking was, the pass blocking was pretty awful. Palmer was sacked three times and hurried throughout the game.

Chad Ochocinco (three receptions for 38 yards) is still playing at a high level, but if teams take him away, Palmer is struggling find other receivers. Partly because they are not getting open, and also because he is getting hit before he can get to that second or third read.

So what does it all mean? Well 8-3 is 8-3. A perfect 6-0 divisional sweep for the first time in franchise history is a tremendous achievement. But there are still things that need to be cleaned up.

CBS Sports analyst Boomer Esiason said it perfectly after the game. Maybe it’s a good thing that the Bengals haven’t hit on all cylinders yet. They are doing what needs to be done in order to win the game. Maybe they’re saving the best for December and January.

"If we can run the football and play good defense, I can drive into the stadium pretty confident most days, and that's a good feeling," coach Marvin Lewis said. "I think we are at that point."

Ten Reasons Why the Bengals Lost to the Raiders

Talk about your classic "Don't let a bad team hang around" game. The Cincinnati Bengals couldn’t hold a 14-0 lead and let the Raiders slowly inch back into this ugly contest. The Raiders scored 10 unanswered points over the final minute to take a 20-17 win. How did this possibly happen?

1. The playcalling on offense. The Bengals abandoned the passing game in the second half. Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski called way too many runs on second and third and long. Bernard Scott did rush for 119 yards on 19 carries but didn’t convert enough third downs to run out the clock.

Fullback Jermi Johnson had a key fourth quarter fumble with the Bengals inside the Raiders 15-yard line. He almost never gets a carry, why decide to give him one when Scott was running so well? For the day the Bengals had three fumbles and QB Carson Palmer’s last hail mary was picked off to make it four total turnovers.

2. The previously invincible offensive line couldn’t protect Palmer in the second half. The Raiders were getting consistent pressure which led to an antsy Palmer. He rushed numerous throws in addition to the strip-fumble

3. Shayne “franchise tag” Graham shanked a 37-yard field goal that ended up costing his team. This guy used to have the highest percentage of made field goals of all-time. He is now a below average kicker that will most likely not be a Bengal next year.

4. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer allowed rookie nickel cornerback Morgan Trent to “cover” Raiders wide receiver Louis Murphy on the final drive.

Trent got twisted around when getting burned by Murphy’s game-tying, 29-yard TD with 33 seconds remaining. The rookie sixth-round draft pick has played well up to today, but QB Bruce Gradkowski kept throwing his way in the fourth quarter.

This was the first game the Bengals really could have used recently IR’ed safety Roy Williams.

5. With Bernard Scott (21 carries, 119 yards) promoted to starting tailback in the wake of Benson’s deactivation, the kickoff return job fell by default back to Andre Caldwell.

Caldwell fumbled Oakland’s kickoff with 0:27 on the clock, setting up Sebastian Janikowski’s game-winning, 33-yard field goal with 0:15 remaining. Caldwell shouldn’t have even returned it as he caught the ball mid-way in the end zone.

Scott had returned a kick to the house last week against Pittsburgh after a mediocre performance by Caldwell to start the season.

6. Their opening drive, which went for a touchdown, was more crappy magazine than textbook perfection. The drive covered 78 yards, but included six plays for negative yards. Three were penalties. Chad OchoCinco had two false starts and the team overall seemed to lack focus.

7. Cincinnati is 0-10 in Oakland, 1-14 on the road vs. the Raiders. Not sure what it means but that is not a good stat for the Bengals. The Oakland Coliseum was half empty and the crowd was a non-factor. Didn’t matter

8. The Bengals have scored less than 20 points six times in 10 games. Since putting up 45 against the Bears, the Bengals have combined to score 45 in the last three games.

9. The prevent D in the last two minutes. Soft coverage, shoddy tackling, and no pressure on the QB… sound like a recipe for success??

10. Jonathan Joseph lets a game-ending interception fly right through his hands. On one of the final plays on the game-tying TD drive, QB Bruce Gradkowski threw a rocket that Joseph jumped the route and simply didn’t catch.

“We didn’t play winning football long enough or consistently enough. When you don’t win we better learn a hell of a lesson because we paid a hell of a price.”

—Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said after the game. Sounds about right.

Larry Johnson Signed by Bengals for Stretch Run

The "redeemer" strikes again.

The Cincinnati Bengals have signed former Kansas City RB Larry Johnson.

After being released by the Kansas City Chiefs two weeks ago, Johnson was left jobless. He cleared waivers, meaning every team had a chance to grab him and all declined.

From leading rusher to leading a rush to the unemployment line: a humbling experience for a guy that needed just that.

Bengals owner Mike Brown has been nicknamed the "redeemer" in Cincinnati for giving troubled players a second chance (or fifth, for Chris Henry) to be an NFL player. The theory is that a lot of these players have plenty of talent left in them, plus they are as cheap as can be.

Johnson's contract is prorated for the league minimum for the rest of the year. Not bad for a guy that was only 70 or so yards away from being the Chiefs' all-time leading rusher.

But if the Chiefs paid $2.1 million for Johnson to stay away, how much does he have left in the tank?

The Bengals got a steal when they scrapped Cedric Benson off the trash heap. Everybody passed on him till the Bengals signed him during Week Five of the 2008 season. This year he is in the top five in rushing yards with 859 to go along with six TDs.

So why would the Bengals need this guy if they have a top rusher like Benson?

It is nothing more than, in coach Marvin Lewis' words, "a insurance policy." Benson is at 205 carries and is on pace for the seventh most in league history. He is entering uncharted waters, as his career high is only 214. He suffered a hip flexor against the Steelers and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Oakland.

Lewis said during his Monday press conference that Johnson would be the fourth running back and that the role of the three backs on the roster would be the same.

“It would have zero affect on Cedric Benson, Bernard Scott, or Brian Leonard,” Lewis said. “I’m very happy right now with what they’re doing and their roles, and I want to see Bernard’s role continue to expand as it did yesterday (Sunday).”

Johnson will be limited in practice and evaluated throughout the week as the club prepares for its trip to Oakland.

Lewis said he will be expected to do all the things a fourth running back is supposed to do, such as special teams. Not sure if Johnson will be okay with that for more than a few weeks. But after eating an extra large piece of humble pie, maybe he has gained a new perspective.

In the end, it is a low risk, high reward move for the Bengals. The locker room is finally strong enough for Johnson to just slide in and do his job. The veterans will not allow him to pull any of the crap he did in Kansas City.

He might not have any gas left in the tank, but it's worth a shot. He had a few outstanding years in KC, and now the Bengals are extremely deep at running back.

He will also come in handy as the temperatures drops and his physical style of play and ball protection will be needed. The NFL is a long and grueling season, and I have no problem with the Bengals going out and making a move to ensure they don't sputter down the stretch.

Oh, and by the way...the Chiefs make a visit to Cincinnati on Dec. 27. I wonder if Johnson has already circled that one on the calendar. Maybe he can pull a Benson and destroy his former team and exact some sweet revenge.

The Cincinnati Bengals Physicality Punishes Pittsburgh Steelers

Are you a believer yet?

The bandwagon is filling up with fans at a feverish pace.

The Cincinnati Bengals went into Pittsburgh and came out with a hard fought, tough as nails 18-12 victory. Neither team scored an offensive touchdown in what turned out to be a battle of the trenches. Usually the Steelers win the physical match-up, but not against this Bengals team.

''That's probably the most grinding football game I ever experienced,'' Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said after the game. The Bengals were able to punish the Ravens and Steelers on back-to-back weeks and beat them at their game.

The D was able to get consistent pressure on QB Ben Roethlisberger. He came into the game tied for first in the NFL with a completion rate of 70.6 percent, but he was 20/40 on Sunday with an INT. He rarely seemed comfortable in the pocket.

DE Jonathan Fanene had six tackles with two being for losses, two sacks, two QB hits and a pass deflection. DE Frostee Rucker was able to intercept a tipped pass that set up a field goal. For the game the Bengals were able to take down Big Ben four times.

Every time the Steelers got into the red-zone, the Bengals D got stingy. Pittsburgh could only muster four Jeff Reed field goals. Once again the stellar secondary led by Leon Hall, and Jonathan Joseph were able to shut down WR Hines Ward (26 yards) and rookie WR Mike Wallace (16 yards). That was big considering both had big games in the first match-up.

''They're clearly the best team in the division,'' Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark said. ''I'd give my left arm to play them again.''

Offensively the Bengals didn’t set any records by any stretch. It was a lot of short slant routes and runs up the gut. QB Carson Palmer was 18/30 for 178 yards and didn’t have a turnover. In fact the team was turnover free.

RB Bernard Scott came in to replace the injured Cedric Benson and finished with 33 yards. As a team the Cincinnati only gained 61 yards on the ground.

But Scott proved coach Lewis right when he inserted him as the new kick-off returner He took a first quarter kick 96 yards for the only TD of the game. What a way to start off in your new role.

The biggest issue facing Cincinnati now is the health of Benson, who left the game with a hip injury. If Benson's injury were serious, that would be a big loss for the Bengals. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that he is expected to play next week at Oakland. There have been rumors linking free agent Larry Johnson to the Bengals even before Bensons injury. This story will gain more steam as the week progresses.

The Steelers were without star safety Troy Polamalu for all but the opening series as he aggravated the left knee injury that previously sidelined him for four games. He underwent an MRI exam, but there was no immediate word about his status.

By sweeping the season series for the first time since 1998, the Bengals effectively lead Pittsburgh by two games because they own the tiebreaker and, for the first time in their history, a 5-0 division record.

''In the past, we would lose games like this,'' center Kyle Cook said.

Cincinnati ate up much of the clock in the final seven minutes, culminating in a 43 yard Shayne Graham field goal. The Steelers got the ball back with slightly less than two minutes to play, but Roethlisberger threw incomplete on four consecutive downs from the 33, and it was over.

"This was a statement game," Cincinnati safety Chris Crocker said. "Beat Pittsburgh two times. Beat Baltimore two times. Now everyone [in the AFC North] is looking at us from behind."

So what did we learn today class?

1.) The Bengals beat the Super Bowl champs without big days from their two biggest offensive weapons. Benson had 22 yards on seven carries before leaving the game and Chad OchoCinco only had two receptions for 29 yards.

2.) The Steelers offensive line struggled against the front four of the Bengals D. Rashard Mendenhall was held to 36 yards and the pressure on Ben was there all game long.

3.) Carson Palmer didn’t have a great game and his team still won. Usually the Bengals live and die by the play of the franchise QB. He was high on a multiple throws and put a little too much mustard on a few as well. But he played the game manger role and was able to keep the Steelers off balance even without a great effort in the running game.

4.) Willie Parker is done in black and gold. One carry for seven yards? No way he is a Steeler in 2010.

5.) The Bengals are for real, for real. Talking heads on T.V, and radio were all predicting a Pittsburgh win. Even Vegas still didn’t believe in them. After being favored to lose by three AT HOME against Baltimore, the Bengals were once again favored to lose, this time by seven.

6.) The Bengals are a perfect 4-0 on the road this season, with wins at Lambeau Field, Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium and the Big Ketchup Bottle in Pittsburgh.

7.) With a AFC North crown in clear view; the goal shifts to play-off positioning. This team has a real shot of finishing in the top two and earning a coveted bye in the play-offs. Who wudda thunk it after that week one miracle tip loss against Denver? The Cincinnati Bengals are 7-2 and the bandwagon is getting bigger by the day.

I’ll leave you with the quote of the game courtesy of LB Brandon Johnson, whom filled in nicely for injured starter Keith Rivers.

“I’m almost diabetic right now it’s so sweet. I’m so excited right now I can barely contain myself.”

Bengals D Show Flacco, Ravens How To Be Top Notch

How long does it take to earn respect? Even after jumping to a 5-2 start the Cincinnati Bengals were still not viewed as serious contenders.

Virtually all of the “experts” predicted the Baltimore Ravens defense would avenge the 17-14 loss of a month ago. Boy were they wrong on a gorgeous November afternoon. It turned out to be the Bengals defense that set the tone on a sunny side up 17-7 victory in front of a sold-out Paul Brown Stadium.

The Ravens were stymied by the excellent pass coverage of the Bengals secondary. The Ravens were a poultry 1-10 on third down conversions in the game while the Bengals converted 8-18. The one conversion for Baltimore came with 2:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Bengals DB’s are quietly becoming one of the top tandems in the league. Leon Hall had an INT, three tackles and two pass deflections while Jonathan Joseph also had an INT to go along with four tackles and five pass deflections. In the two-game sweep the duo essential shutdown the Ravens receivers.

Ravens QB Joe Flacco and WR Derrick Mason connected on just three of 13 targets Sunday, and Flacco connected on just five of 18 receiver passes. Baltimore receivers in the two games against Cincy were thrown to 27 times and made just nine catches. A mind boggling stat that speaks volumes of the terrific coverage. For the game Flacco was 18/32 for 195 yards and two interceptions.

The Bengals offense came out firing much like in their last game against the Chicago Bears. After a hot start, QB Carson Palmer “cooled off” to finish 20/33 for 224 yards and one TD.

His favorite target on this day was WR Laveranues Coles whom caught six balls for 74 yards. Coles finally looked like the player the Bengals signed for $27.5 million. He broke multiple SS Ed Reed tackles (tough task) and converted a couple stick moving third downs.

It was another typical ’09 Palmer performance that featured slants, curls and a few more scrambles. The one deep ball thrown to Chad was forced into double coverage and broken up. Palmer’s new found scrambling ability bought him and his recievers more time and now defenses have to stay at home on coverage down the field. It does seem that the days of long bombs are over for the Bengals.

After a 73-yard opening drive that culminated in a TD to WR Andre Caldwell, the Bengals drove 80 yards on their second series. Two pass interference penalties on the Ravens covering Chad Ochocinco—one of which converted a fourth down— led to a Cedric Benson one-yard touchdown.

Shayne Graham's 23-yard field goal on Cincinnati's third possession increased the Bengals lead to a 17-0. At halftime, the Ravens were out-gained in total yards 235-44. At one point the Bengals had 12 first downs and the Ravens had run 11 total plays. Mid way through the third quarter the Bengals had 19 first downs to the Ravens five.

Once again RB Cedric Benson ran for over 100 yards against a cocky Ravens defense. A few Ravens (mostly Ray Lewis) considered last month’s 120 yards a fluke. Well, after another 117 yards and TD, maybe Lewis and company will take him seriously next time.

He was aided by another stellar performance by the O-line. Benson enjoyed a few gapping holes in a first quarter where he gained 45 yards. And for the first time all year…no false start penalties!

The multi-millionaire rookie RT Andre Smith could have played for the first time this season, but I think Marvin Lewis didn’t believe he was one of the best eight O-line players available. Not sure if that speaks to the terrific play of the line or the ridiculously slow progress of Smith. Either way it’s a luxury to have the overpriced BMW in the shop for as long as it needs to be.

Chad had a roller coaster ride of a game. He made several catches in double coverage while picking up first downs in the process. He made an unbelievable dive on a fade route that was a beauty to watch. He had 66 yards on five catches. BUT…

Once again he was stripped by Bengals killer Ed Reed and lost the fumble. It was a punishing drive that would have made the Ravens “kiss the baby”. Instead it gave the Ravens a little bit of life in the fourth quarter. He also had a second fumble that was nullified by an illegal contact penalty earlier in the game. Speaking of penalties…

The Ravens shot themselves in the foot time and time again. They had seven penalties for 80 yards on the day. The Bengals second TD drive was aided by multiple pass interference calls on the Ravens secondary. The Bengals knew what looks obvious to the rest of us now—the Ravens DB’s are unable to cover receivers one on one. This is a major issue for Baltimore and their alleged top-notch defense.

Hard Knocks hero RB Brian Leonard once again provided some huge third down plays. He converted three of em’ and came a foot short of another. He has been everything that RB DeDe Dorsey wasn’t, a tough, physical grinder that always knows where the first down marker is.

The injury bug chomped down on WR Chris Henry’s form-arm. Looks like he will be out for the year (terrible luck in a contract year). LB Keith Rivers also left the game with a calf injury, as did G Evan Mathis with an ankle. CB Fabian Washington of the Ravens also went out of the game on the same play Henry went down.

Bottom line for the Bengals: last year they lost to the Ravens 34-3 at Paul Brown while being swept in the process. This year it’s a 17-7 home win and a Bengals sweep. My oh my what a difference a year makes. With the win, Palmer improved to 8-3 in his career against the Ravens.

At 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the AFC North, the Bengals are forced to play yet another divisional game that could decide the final standings when they travel to Heinz field to battle the Steelers. I’m sure the talking heads will favor Pittsburgh, citing last year’s success. But clearly last year means nothing in the NFL and especially to the 2009 Cincinnati Bengals.

NFL Fans Suffer from Bye Week Blues

Without a doubt the longest stretch in the NFL season for a fan is the bye week.

The six days leading up to it crawl by as you read stories of players resting and taking a few days off.

The headlines on ESPN hype up the big matchups of the week and break down the upcoming games with no mention of your team.

Hearing of vacation destinations for bye week players makes me more nervous then interested in the off week (maybe because I'm a Bengals fan...but still).

Once Sunday arrives, your whole routine is thrown off. Who wants to watch the pregame shows when the team you root for will not even be mentioned? The Lions and Rams will get more coverage for this one week.

Once the games start, an odd feeling of indifference strikes. Most Sundays are filled with hype and a large dose of emotion. On bye week you are relegated to rooting for fantasy players and teams playing divisional foes.

By the end of the day nothing has changed much in the grand scheme of things. Maybe you gained or lost a half-game.

Then the highlights begin to roll in. There is no opportunity to see what the "expert" analysts think of your team's game. (One of the great feelings a fan has is when his or her team wins and you can watch the highlights and talking heads gush over them on ESPN, NBC, FOX, and CBS.)

No predictions about the upcoming games or updates on injuries. Nothing at all when it's bye week.

After it's all said and done, the bye is still not over. Now the team is subjected to minimal mention at the beginning of the week because they haven't played in a while. Rarely does a big story occur during a bye.

Dan Snyder and the Redskins had the perfect bye week because it allowed people to forget about their awful season for a week. The media pressure went down a notch (from boiling to simmering).

But for a team like the Cincinnati Bengals, the bye was ill-timed. Off a 45-10 pasting of the Chicago Bears, the momentum was strong for QB Carson Palmer and the offense. The team was relatively healthy and seemed extremely focused. Taking a week off doesn't do anything for this team.

Odd stat of the day: Marvin Lewis is 1-4-1 with the Bengals after a bye. Not sure how to interpret that one. Do the players get too much time off? Does Lewis fail to keep the squad focused on the task at hand? Or is the stat a complete coincidence? I wish I had the answer.

So while byes can be quite beneficial for teams that are banged-up or trying to release some of the steam from the pressure cooker, it doesn't always help every team—and it makes fans suffer through two painfully long weeks.

Sunday can't come soon enough.

Bengals Michael Johnson: New Most Important Johnson

Just when it looked like the Cincinnati Bengals had a constant pass rush for the first time in years, DE Antwan Odom and his eight sacks promptly lands on the IR. Odom tore his Achilles against the Houston Texans on Sunday and is now lost for the season.

To add insult to injury, DT Domata Peko went down with a knee injury as well. His status for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears is in the air. With the pair, the Bengals are third in the league with 16 sacks through six games.

Enter Michael Johnson. The rookie from Georgia Tech was considered a top 10 prospect going into his final year of college. A physical specimen that would translate well to the NFL. The knock on him was his effort. He took plays off scouts said.

He dropped all the way to the third round in the ’09 draft. He impressed early on in training camp with his 6’7 and 260 pound frame. But like most first year players, the learning curve was steep.

After the first six games of the season Johnson has collected 11 tackles. He has slowly received more playing time as he learns the consistent effort needed to be successful in the NFL. With the way Odom was playing, it was hard for him to even get on the field at all. Now he will be playing a much bigger role for this team.

Johnson has the physical tools to be a disruptive force on opposing QBs. Long arms and quick feet allow him to get penetration in the backfield. He has a pass deflection in each of the past three games. He will block a kick sooner or later in his career.

“Every week he gets quite a few snaps,” said Bengals coach Marvin Lewis of Johnson. “I think Michael played his best football that he played this season yesterday (Sunday.) Hopefully that continues as a trend. He’ll have an opportunity to do more and more.”

While the injury to Odom is a real bummer for Bengal fans, the door is now open for Johnson. If he can put fourth maximum effort for on every snap his physical talents will do the rest.

If the Bengals want to keep the top spot in the division, they must get big contributions from Johnson. If not, then the secondary will have to continue to defend receivers for six to seven seconds. Just like the last 10 plus years.

Cincinnati Bengals: The Cardiac Cats Raise City’s Collective Blood Pressure

What a five game stretch for the 2009 Bengals.

Every game has been decided in the final 60 seconds and the feeling of excruciating defeat and astonishing victory has been felt weekly. These Bengals don’t do anything easily, but 4-1 is 4-1. 3-0 on the road and 3-0 in the division are numbers that can’t be ignored.

Quick recap: crushing loss to Denver on a fluke tip after the Bengals drove the length of the field to go ahead with 20 or so seconds remaining, QB Aaron Rodgers runs out of time on a possible game tying drive in Green Bay.

Two game winning last second TD’s from QB Carson Palmer to WR Andre Caldwell over divisional powers Pittsburgh and Baltimore sandwiched between a should have been game winning last second drive at Cleveland that was forced to OT due to the errand snap on the extra point. The game was later won by another solid Palmer led drive in OT.

Callers to Cincinnati sports radio have been complaining of high blood pressure all week. The Cardiac Cats are doing wonders for doctors in the region. Each week the offense shows flashes of brilliance in the first quarter, before going into hibernation until halfway through the fourth quarter.

This team reminds me of the kid that is real smart but doesn’t do his homework till right before it needs to be turned in. He scribbles down the answers frantically and gets it in just in the nick of time and he some how receives full credit.

One of the big reasons for such tension was released yesterday in Brad St. Louis. After two bad snaps against Baltimore and six over the first four games, the Bengals released the veteran long snapper/tight end on Tuesday and signed Clark Harris.

Kicker Shayne Graham has looked extremely tentative in his kicking and as a result has had two field goals blocked against the Browns’ Shaun Rodgers. A competent long snapper should solve that problem.

The offensive line looked to be a huge issue going into the season because of the horrid play of last year. But the unit has unexpectedly gelled together nicely. The line has protected Palmer well and has opened holes up the middle for RB Cedric Benson.

Speaking of Benson, he leads the NFL in rushing with 487 yards. He is on pace for a team-record 1,558 rushing yards which would shatter the Bengals team record. The scary thing is that the Bengals have yet to use unknown explosive rookie RB Bernard Scott much.

The rookie from Abilene Christian has only 10 carries on the year for 45 yards but has shown signs of his raw speed. He scored 60 TD’s his last two years in college after letting off the field incidents derail his chances of getting a division one scholarship.
But this guy has talent and considering Benson leads the NFL in carries, Scott will be getting more touches as the grueling 16 game schedule rolls on. He will be a good waiver wire fantasy pick-up in the coming weeks.

Back to the O-line, once LT Andre “the giant” Smith is able to get on the field the depth will only increase. He has been sidelined all year with a broken foot. Reports out of Cincinnati suggest that his foot is almost 100 percent healed and he actually is in decent shape. Considering the Alabama product didn’t even allow a sack in his final year in the SEC, his future is promising.

In the secondary the line-backing core is black hole deep. Dhani Jones provides the veteran leadership, Keith Rivers leads the team in tackles with 29, and rookie Rey Maualuga provides the devastating blows. On top of the stellar starters, back-up Brandon Johnson has provided solid support in the run game and Rashard Jeanty, whom has been battling injuries all season, is a asset in the passing defense.

The secondary features two of the top young corners in the league in former first round picks Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall. The duo held wide receivers Greg Jennings, Braylon Edwards, and Derrick Mason catch-less and limited Hines Ward and Brandon Marshall under 40 yards. That is some impressive coverage on each teams top target.

Add it all up and at 4-1, the Bengals can still improve in multiple areas. Nobody’s ready to crown them AFC North champs yet, because these are the Bengals, but it seems as if the clouds have cleared up over Paul Brown Stadium. Three home games in a row and a bye means they wont be on the road again till a Nov. 15 tilt at Pittsburgh.

For the first time since 2005, the sky is the limit. It’s no coincidence that Carson Palmer is at his healthiest since ‘05, and the veteran leader seems determined to resurrect this franchise.

All the talking heads on radio, and T.V. forgot about the guy, instead praising the likes of Tony Romo and Joe Flacco over Palmer. Well folks, now is the time to jump back on his bandwagon. Now is the time to watch a 29-year-old pro bowler in his prime.

Sit back and enjoy the show Bengal fans, even if it means you have to keep your heart doctor on speed dial.

Cincinnati Bengals: Offensively Challanged in Week One

Sunday’s Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos game was a cold, brutal example of the old saying “it aint over till the fat lady sings”.

A brilliant drive by QB Carson Palmer put the Bengals up 7-6 with only 20 seconds to play.

But then the football Gods struck.

With 38 seconds to go, a QB Kyle Orton deep ball deflects into the air off CB Leon Hall’s hands and lands right into the gloves of WR Brandon Stokley.

Then 87 yards later the Broncos steal one in Cincinnati. Final 12-7. A rusty steak knife right through the middle of every Bengal fans heart.

Cincinnati’s Air Attack

The first pass of the game was an 18-yard bullet to Chris Henry. That was his only catch of the game. In fact, he wasn’t even thrown to again for the entire game.

On Palmer’s second pass, a 21-yard gain to OchoCinco, he looked like he was in midseason form with the kind of zip and accuracy Bengals fans have come to expect.

OchoCinco gets hit with a holding penalty that stalls the first drive and forces a punt. This would be the theme of the game, dumb mental errors.

The second drive is highlighted by another penalty and a huge third down drop by new Bengal Laveranues Coles. The pass simply bounced off his hands.

After the drive stalls on the Broncos 10 yard line, a terrible snap by long snapper Brad St. Louis results in a blown opportunity for three points.

Up to this point, the massive, Bengals O-line has looked respectable against the smaller, quicker Broncos D-line. RB Cedric Benson has space, and Palmer hasn’t been pressured.

This changes on the third drive. After another terrific throw by Palmer to OchoCinco for 34-yards, the O-line begins to fall apart. A blitz by Denver catches RT Anthony Collins off guard and this results in a 10-yard sack. Palmer didn’t have a chance on the play. They are unable to recover from a 2nd and 20 and punt the ball.

Cincinnati begins to move the ball down the field again on their next drive. FB Daniel Coats redeems himself with a 16-yard play after dropping an easy one earlier. After the O-line gets pushed back twice in a row, Laveranues Coles catches an 11-yard tight spiral from Palmer, first down at Denver’s 31.

On 3rd and six, Palmer forces a pass to OchoCinco. CB Champ Bailey tips the ball before OchoCinco can get to it, and Wesley Woodyard picks it off. It was a forced throw by Palmer that should have been incomplete, but on this day, it fell right into the arms of Woodyard.

After another drive of short Benson runs stall out, it’s halftime. Zero points for the Bengals. 3-0 Denver.

At this point Palmer is 9-15 for 132 yards with a INT, while Ochocinco had two receptions for 56 yards. They drove into Denver territory on their first FIVE drives but had nothing to show for it.

The second half wasn’t any better.

The Bengals had three drives in the quarter, but two of those went three and out. On the second drive, they got the ball on the Denver 45, but back-to-back sacks of Palmer killed that drive. He is getting no chance to read the D before the Broncos are in his face now.

FB Jermi Johnson drops a short throw then Coles followed suit with his third on the day. Great start with your new team Coles. Twice on Sunday, he dropped first-down passes on third down.

Seven dropped passes on the day for Cincinnati.

Through three quarters, the Bengals have a 201-167 advantage in total yards. Palmer line is 13 of 23 for 167 yards.

The fourth quarter starts with a 23-yard catch by OchoCinco erased by an offensive pass inference call on him. Palmer is facing more and more pressure as the game progresses. The lack of depth on the O-line is starting to be evident (thanks A. Smith).

The running game has come to a halt. Benson is getting no push from the O-line at the point of attack. Palmer is rushing throws because of the pressure.

Down 6-0 with 6:21 left the Bengals take over at their own 9-yardline.
OchoCinco has a 12 and a 13-yard catch sandwiched between a three-yard loss on the ground by Benson. A Palmer bullet to WR Andre Caldwell for 13 yards puts the Bengals on the Broncos 32.

With decent protection, Palmer finds a wide-open Brian Leonard for an 18-yard pickup. Great decision by Palmer, he was looking for somebody else but found the open man.

Inside the Broncos 10, Caldwell catches another that puts him down to the one-inch line. His butt was in, but the ball wasn’t.

With plenty of push, Benson bullies his way into the end zone for the first and only Bengals TD of the game with only 20 seconds left for Denver.

Then the refs’ inexplicably say that the previous play (Caldwell catch); was considered a lost challenge by Marvin Lewis and the Bengals. They were docked a timeout.

And some how they tack on 18 additional seconds. Too bad that with under two minutes in the game, EVERYTHING IS A BOOTH REVIEW.

You know the rest of the story… final Denver 12 Cincinnati 7.

“We have to find a way to score points on offense, and we will. It’s disheartening,” said Palmer, who was 21 of 33 for 247 yards and two interceptions.

“We moved the ball effectively, but just not into the end zone.”

He shook off some rust early, but looked fine for the most part. The second INT was a last prayer Hail Mary to end the game.

OchoCinco had five catches for 89 yards and looked rejuvenated. He was getting yards after catch (YAC), on every reception. Caldwell had 54 yards, Benson 32; Leonard 24, Henry 18, Coats 16, Coles 11 and Foschi 3.

The O-line had its moments, but is certainly a work in progress.

Coles is the goat of the game for his three drops.

The Bengals now go to Lambeau to play the Packers, and then it’s a date with the Steelers. Can they just hit the reset button?

Green Bay’s D was extremely aggressive against Chicago. QB Jay Cutler threw four INT’s and was roughed up physically by the Packers front seven. Palmer is going to have to keep his eyes on Cullen Jenkins all game long next week.

If Palmer and company can’t establish the run against a stout Packers frontline, it’s gonna be a loooong day. Thanks again A. Smith.