Carson Palmer's Health Will Be Key to Cincinnati Bengals' Chances in 2009

(Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

By Adam Kiefaber

CINCINNATI - When Carson Palmer throws his first touchdown of 2009 in Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati fans will finally be able to take a deep breath.

Then, as Todd Rundgren's "Bang the Drum All Day" blasts through the loud speakers, all the those fans will whip out their cell phones and text as much as trash talk as they can in a commercial timeout to every Pittsburgh or Cleveland they know.

However, when the good time subsides in the Queen City and the fans realize that the Bengals have to go out on defense, will that confidence die?

Maybe, but will it also be hard to convince Cincinnati fans that their team will not make the playoffs.

To make the transition from a 4-11-1 team to a playoff contender, the Cincinnati Bengals must get a completely injury-free season from franchise quarterback Carson Palmer.

That is the obvious, but for Palmer to do that, he will have to protected by an inexperienced offensive line.

To say that the projected starting OTs, Andre Smith and Anthony Collins, are unproven would be an understatement.

Furthermore, the Bengals biggest question mark in 2009 will be in the middle at center where last year Eric Ghiaciuc was pushed around as often as a Push Pop.

Enter fourth-round pick Arkansas center Jonathan Luigs, who could be the key to this offense.

On the defensive side of the ball, the team should be improved with the additions of safety Roy Williams, defensive tackle Tank Johnson and rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga. 

Overall, the Bengals appear to be improved, but do they have enough to compete in one of the league's strongest divisions?

Led by 2008 Super Bowl champs Pittsburgh Steelers, the AFC North is a tough division to win. The Bengals will also have to worry about the Baltimore Ravens, who finished 11-5 last year and as the conference runner-up when it lost to the Steelers, 23-14, in AFC Championship game.

Then there is Cleveland, which might struggle in its first season under head coach Eric Mangini. But when the Bengals play the Browns, it is not a guaranteed win for either team, no matter how well they are playing up to that point.

So will the Bengals be able to compete in '09, yes, but like many teams in the National Football League, they are a key injury or two away from being a legitimate contender to a doomed loser.

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