Who Dey, Who Dey, Who Dey Think Gonna Kick a Field Goal?

As a lifelong Bengals fan, I know my team isn’t going to go out and flawlessly execute their game plan.  We’re going to turn the ball over, miss capitalizing on big drives, take stupid penalties, and blow assignments. 

And that’s just when we’re winning.

For me, the deepest frustration I faced today was watching our team’s leaders fail to make adjustments.  From Palmer’s failure to correct his overthrown passes to Ochocinco’s inability to escape Revis, the guys we relied on to lead the charge into the postseason were about as effective as a Twitter ban. 

Even Ben Roethlisberger knows that receivers aren't THAT tall.

After a first half of one offensive debacle after another, is it too much to expect them to make the corrections needed to stay in this game?

Like coming up with a more creative offensive play that doesn’t involve someone named Cedric.

Like getting the defense to stop giving up big plays on the run.

Like trading Shayne Graham for a heater and a bowl of Skyline Chili.

OK, well maybe not all adjustments can be made at halftime—but the bottom line is that the Jets managed to reduce Palmer and Ochocinco to non-factors, swing momentum in their favor, and on the drives where we should have at least put three points on the board, Graham was outplayed by the goalposts.  

Credit the Jets for believing in themselves, silencing the naysayers, and executing their game plan.  Most of all, credit Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez who in turn made Marvin Lewis and Carson Palmer look like...well…

Rookies.

If I was the kind of person who believed in consolation—and I’m not—I would probably look for it in the fact that the better team won.   This wasn’t the case of Carson Palmer being carted off the field with a torn ACL, a bad officiating call or an Immaculate Deflection.   When we experience a complete breakdown of fundamental play against a wildcard team, I can only imagine what the Colts or Patriots would have done.  

One word of advice for next year’s coaching staff?   Bring back the Wendy’s Halftime Kick Contest for the fans. 

You just might have time to upgrade your roster in time for the third quarter.

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