Cincinnati Bengals: Redeem Team Crashes the Party in Green Bay

Going into the season most experts figured the Cincinnati Bengals would be 1-1. But I doubt anybody could have mapped out the path to 1-1 the Bengals took.
 
After last week’s heartbreaking loss to Denver, the Bengals came into Lambeau Field (having never won a game there) and dominated the (1-1) Green Bay Packers 31-24.
 
For most of the game it seemed as if the Bengals were their own worst enemy. Cincinnati had 13 penalties for 100 yards, lots of false starts and holding calls.
 
Carson Palmer (15-23 for 185 yards, three TDs, two INTs) looked shaky early. He threw a pick-six to CB Charles Woodson and set up another Packer TD with an ill-advised throw that landed in Woodson’s hands as well.
 
In the second quarter, Bengals down 21-14, backed up at their own seven-yard line—facing third and 37, it seemed as if the game was unraveling for Palmer, whom had already thrown two picks in the quarter.
 
Palmer threw a screen pass to Daniel Coats and the field opened up like the Grand Canyon. Coats rumbled 23 yards before being stripped by a gang of Packers. But a hustling Laveranues Coles pounces on the ball as it bounces past the first down marker.
 
Four plays later Palmer connected with Chris Henry for a five-yard TD that not only tied the game, but also sucked all the wind out of Green Bay’s sail.
 
The offensive star of the game was RB Cedric Benson. He had 141 yards on 29 spectacular carries. He made the first man miss constantly. He fought for every inch of those 141 yards and helped eat up the clock in the fourth quarter.
 
The biggest star of the game wasn’t on offense. It was DE Antwan Odom and his five sacks. Yes FIVE sacks. He tied a Bengals single game record and now has seven in two games. He only had three all of last year.
 
He had seven QB hits on Aaron Rodgers, whom was hurried for the majority of the day. The Bengals D was light on the pressure in the first quarter, and the Packers had 14 points. But in the second half the Bengals D was constantly in Rodgers face and the Pack would only scrap together a field goal.
 
The tandem of former first-round picks CB Jonathan Joseph and CB Leon Hall in the secondary is superb.
 
They have played together for three years now and have been great in coverage the first two games (except the tip fluke play in week one). Joseph shut down WR Brandon Marshall last week and WR Greg Jennings put up a big goose egg yesterday.
 
While the rust of Palmer is still evident, the Bengals told the rest of the league that they wont be the “Bungals” this year. With so many new players on the roster—the losing culture that has plagued this franchise is a foreign concept to most of the team.
 
The Pittsburgh Steelers invade Paul Brown Stadium next week, with second place in the AFC North on the line.
 
The Bengals have never beaten Big Ben at home, but over half the team wasn’t there and doesn’t care. If this D can continue to pressure the QB and stop the run against a mediocre Pitt O-line, this game could force fans to re-think the powers of this division.
 
After a gloomy week in the Queen City, all is well again—at least for one week.