Cincinnati Bengals: Sweep of Ravens Sells This Writer

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It's time to come clean. I  need to admit to the world that I, Jux Berg, threw a boycott on the Cincinnati Bengals last season. 

I'd simply had enough. The 2006 and 2007 campaigns were complete debacles, and the '08 season was doomed from the start. I was tired of Chad's antics. I decided he was the cancer on the team. I wanted him traded. I decided to forget the Bengals even existed. 

When Chad Ochocinco was not traded and T.J. Houshmandzadeh was not re-signed, I figured 2009 would be more of the same for the Bengals, the only team in football that places their franchise tag on a kicker.

Well, I'm glad to admit that I was wrong about this team. Sunday's utter domination of archrival Baltimore, led by Ced Benson's second 100-yard rushing performance against the typically unyielding Ravens' defense, has me knocking on the bandwagon windows asking if there are any seats left. 

The resolve on this team is inspiring, to say the least. In Week 1, a ridiculous fluke touchdown by Kyle Orton and Brandon Stokley snatched a victory right out from underneath Robert Geathers and the Bengals. For some teams, that can kill an entire season.

What did the Bengals do to respond? Carson and the crew marched right into Lambeau Field and bashed the Packers around. 

The following week, Domata Peko and the troops took down the defending Super Bowl champ Pittsburgh at home, 23-20. That was the win that forced me to take notice. 

After a less-than-stellar performance (but a W, nonetheless) against sad-sack Cleveland in Week 4, tragedy struck the Bengal family. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer suddenly lost his wife. It was a very emotional week for this close-knit group. 

Zimmer decided to coach the next week, and his loyal soldiers on defense decided to pack a motherf***in' lunch. Bengals 17, Baltimore 14. In Baltimore. Palmer to Andre Caldwell with less than a minute to go. Incredible. 

Week 6 saw an understandable emotional letdown from Cincinnati, as Houston came into Paul Brown Stadium and left with a victory. 

Sitting at 4-2, the Bengals were hosting the Chicago Bears in Week 7. Cedric Benson, the former Texas Longhorn pimp, would face the team who drafted him 4th overall and then threw him out like yesterday's trash in the middle of 2008. Needless to say, Ced was hyped. And the game was a joke. Cincinnati jumped out to a 31-3 halftime lead, added two more scores in the second half, and sent Jay Cutler back to Pout-ville. 45-10 Bengals. As for Ced: 37 carries for 189 and a house-visit. 

So now the Cincinnati Bengals sit atop the AFC North at 6-2 with, who else, the Pittsburgh Steelers. And whaddayaknow, the Bengals visit Heinz Field this Sunday. 

I'd like to ask permission to root for this team for the remainder of the season. There were six people who stayed 100% loyal, and I'd like to acknowledge that impressive mental wherewithal: Grandpa Stan, Aunt Rochelle, J. Cossman, Liss Eardley, John Horn, and Amanda Beam. 

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