Bleacher Report - Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals-Raiders: Bo Knows Raiders Have Dominated This Series

John Breech — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:29:45 -0500

Bengals and Raiders fans: grab a five hour energy drink, your favorite fur coat, and an eye patch and get ready to relive the most exciting three games in series history.

(Writer's note: males are only allowed to wear fur coats if they are crazy, old, have dementia, or are near death, all of which describe Raiders' owner Al Davis, pictured below).

And when I say get ready to relive the three most exciting games in history, I'm slightly exaggerating.

These two teams never play in exciting games against each other. It's like watching two blind people play tennis, only less fun.

However, after a week of looking, I think I've found three fun games.

Fact to impress drunk people with: Bengals all-time leading scorer Jim Breech spent 13 of his 14 career NFL seasons in Cincinnati. The one that wasn't in Cincinnati: Breech's rookie year of 1979, which he spent with Oakland.

All-Time Series: Raiders lead 17-8 in regular season (will be 17-9 after Sunday) and 2-0 in the playoffs.

Lets get to the countdown:

3. Sept. 13, 1992, at Cincinnati

Bengal legends Harold Green and Derek Fenner (pictured) both scored touchdowns in this game, but it almost wasn't enough for the win.

A one-yard touchdown run by Marcus Allen late in the fourth quarter tied the game at 21 and sent it to overtime.

Most teams hate overtime, but not the Bengals, because their kicker at the time was Mr. "NFL record for overtime kicks" Jim Breech.

Breech nailed a 34-yard field goal in the sudden death period, sending the Bengals and rookie head coach Dave Shula to 2-0.

And yes, you read that correctly, Dave Shula started a season 2-0. And it would have been 3-0 if not for this game, involving this person that I really want to do this to.

Result: Bengals 24, Raiders 21

2. Dec. 28, 1975, at Oakland

The Bengals traveled to Oakland in 1975 for only the third playoff game in franchise history. The mighty Raiders had gone 12-2 in the regular season, but Bengals fans had high hopes for this game. Why? Because one of the Raider's two losses came at the hands of Cincinnati.

Not to mention, the Bengals themselves had finished the regular season with the highest winning percentage in team history (.783) with an 11-3 record.

Unfortunately for Cincinnati, for three quarters, the Bengals looked a lot like the 2009 Cleveland Browns

Early in the fourth quarter, Cincinnati found themselves trailing 31-14.

Game over? Not so fast, my friend.

Ken Anderson threw fourth quarter touchdown passes to Issac Curtis and Charlie Joiner to cut the Raider lead to 31-28.

On Oakland's next possession, JaMarcus Russell wasn't the quarterback—or born yet for that matter—but the Raiders still executed a Russell-like drive by going three-and-out.

The Bengals then got the ball back with a chance to win or tie.

Or neither.

Cincy would go four-and-out and watch their franchise playoff record fall to 0-3.

Result: Raiders 31, Bengals 28

1. Jan. 13, 1991, at Los Angeles

This game put Tecmo out of business and ruined Nike's sweetest ad campaign ever.

And we have Kevin Walker to thank.

In the second half of a tantalizingly close game, Walker ended Bo Jackson's football career with a tackle that damaged Bo's hip.

This game was also exhibit A for why Bo was unstoppable in Tecmo Super Bowl. In the three quarters preceding the injury, Jackson had racked up 77 yards on six carries.

We can probably all agree that if Bo doesn't get injured, Tecmo Super Bowl would have sold six billion copies, and the Madden franchise would have never started.

No Madden means Playstation 2 would have never existed, which means Playstation 3 wouldn't be here, which means that X-box would be a cool name for a dog, but not a video game machine, and everyone in the world would be dead. So, Kevin Walker single-handedly stopped the apocalypse, amazing.

Lets get back to the game though. After Jackson went out with his team up 10-3, the Bengals came back and tied it in the fourth.

However, the Raiders would score 10 more points to win the game.

The most embarrassing part of the loss is that Jay Schroeder was the Raider quarterback at the time.

Say that again: "Jay Schroeder."

There are paper plates with more talent than Schroeder.

Result: Raiders 20, Bengals 10

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Cincinnati Bengals Week 11 Preview: West Coast Warm-Up Against Raiders

B. Clifton Burke — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:40:04 -0500

It seems too easy to pile on Al Davis and the Oakland Raider Asylum; that bit has done before, so we'll just skip it altogether.

Instead, the focus this week for the Bengals is preparing for the best thing the Raiders have going for them: their location.

Every week it seems Cincinnati is issued a new challenge to disprove the Same-Old-Bengals Theory. For Week 11, the challenge is to show they can travel to the West Coast and win.

In a sense, flying to Oakland is the practice run for the San Diego game later this season. Instead of arriving on Friday like they normally do when heading west, Marvin Lewis has decided to fly out on Saturday to cut down on jet lag and squeeze in an extra day of practice. How effective that decision becomes will likely determine the team's itinerary for the Chargers game.

The game itself shouldn't be much of an issue for the Bengals. While maintaining a few good defenders, Oakland remains laughably dismal on offense, recently exemplified by the benching of former first overall pick JaMarcus Russell for the journeyman and third-string-caliber Bruce Gradkowski.

Bengal fans will recall Gradkowski from when he played for Tampa Bay and beat Cincinnati in a nauseating game in 2006. That game could be the best of Bruce's career; nowadays he seems one step away from videotaping himself throwing footballs in a cornfield, like Uncle Rico.

Yet the Raiders can run the ball some, and in close games, that attribute makes them scary, but I don't expect the game to be close. The Bengals stop the run better than they do anything else, which forces obvious throwing downs.

Oakland would like to limit Gradkowski's throws to the bare minimum. They know on third-and-long situations Mike Zimmer will bring the heat with the blitz, so I would expect them to try short throws to their talented tight end Zach Miller and screens to the solid running back trio of Michael Bush, Justin Fargas, and especially Darren McFadden.

The Raider rookie receivers are lightning-fast—Al Davis is unabashedly addicted to speed—but they drop lots of passes and are generally unimpressive. Our corners, perhaps the best tandem in the league, might need a little safety help on deep routes but can take care of these youngsters on underneath routes and around the sidelines on their own.

It makes no sense to think the Raiders can do anything against a run-stopping, pass-rushing defense with excellent corners like Cincinnati's.

Still, I don't see a Bengals blowout this week as should be the case against such miserable opposition.

Oakland has good corners too. Nnamdi Asomugha is a top-five corner, and Chris Johnson has shown a lot of skill as well.

The Bengals would prefer not to throw much anyway. A light workload for Carson Palmer this week (and the two weeks after that) can only be beneficial for the quarterback's long-term sustainability this season; I'd rather have him firing touchdowns for three weeks in January, as opposed to three weeks in November.

That means, without Cedric Benson, the other running backs will get a chance to carry the rock, including maybe the newest Bengal acquisition, Larry Johnson.

The move to pick up LJ makes sense despite all of the obvious character concerns.

First of all, if you come to play for Marvin Lewis, you're there to work. This locker room will not tolerate any person not trying hard enough to win a Super Bowl. Johnson may be a big name, but he has little relevance to this team, and therefore he must prove his worth by the effort he demonstrates in practice.

Johnson has looked lethargic the last few years, and he's beginning to remind me of an aged Jamal Lewis on the field. However, he is a runner who can “carry the load” should Benson find himself further injured at any point this year.

Bernard Scott has exciting potential, and his patient running style will serve him well in this league. Brian Leonard has proven himself as a talented third-down back and extra-effort guy. Yet neither is at his best if he has to carry the ball more than 15 times. Johnson can lift some of that burden by simply owning a fresh pair of legs, which are also vital to winning playoff games in the snow.

Seeing LJ in stripes, railing against the Raiders like he's done so often before with Kansas City, would be an exciting development to an otherwise dull and lopsided affair in Oakland. Crazier things have happened and Any Given Sunday and yadda yadda yadda, but c'mon, it's the Raiders.

Bengals 20, Raiders 6

MK—The real Al Davis must be tied up inside a yacht somewhere near Costa Rica. The loony before us is an impostor hell-bent on ruining an otherwise really cool franchise. Too bad, Al. Too bad.

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Larry Johnson Gamble Shows Bold New Philosophy from Bengals Management

John Phythyon — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:17:24 -0500

A lot has been made of the Cincinnati Bengals’ decision to sign troubled ex-Chiefs running back Larry Johnson. Monday, Bengals.com columnist Geoff Hobson correctly predicted it will be "debated hotly through the hills and valleys of Bengaldom."

Some see it as a great move, gaining insurance for the playoffs, especially since feature back Cedric Benson is nursing a hip injury.

Others think Cincinnati is introducing a locker-room cancer into a close-knit team, torpedoing what has been a special season thus far.

And some figure it can’t hurt, because, at a pro-rated league-minimum salary, Johnson costs the Bengals nothing to cut if he’s a problem.

Lost in all this speculation, though, is what the move says about Bengals management. It’s easy enough to talk about Johnson as a huge gamble, but that really puts the focus on Johnson and not the Bengals.

The truth is signing Johnson says very good things about how the Bengals are managed.

Pretend for a second it wasn’t Larry Johnson the Bengals acquired. Pretend it was anyone else who could play reasonably well and add some depth to a position that would be frighteningly thin if the starter went down.

At 7-2 with seven games to play, the Bengals saw themselves in position to make a move. Two things could probably derail a playoffs run in a matter of seconds—losing Carson Palmer and losing Cedric Benson.

So there were the Bengals minding their own business when, suddenly, a two-time Pro Bowl running back hit the market. “You know,” head coach Marvin Lewis likely thought, “if that guy is willing to do things the way we want here, he could really contribute to us making a deep run at a championship.”

And when did that thought occur to Lewis? Last Thursday. Before Benson got hurt.

There’s a new way of thinking in Cincinnati. The Bengals have decided they are going to do what is necessary to win games. We saw it from the coaches in the offseason. We’ve seen it from the players during the season. Now, management is getting in on the act. Owner Mike Brown pulled the trigger on a controversial deal because it just might earn him something his father never had—a Lombardi Trophy.

This is aggressive, win-now thinking. It’s the kind of move the Patriots have made (Corey Dillon? Randy Moss, anyone?) multiple times. Ask Robert Kraft how it’s worked out for him.

It’s unclear right now whether Johnson can make good on his last chance the way Dillon and Moss did, but the Bengals management team should be praised for stealing a play from Bill Belichick and Co.

If it works, this little controversy will be forgotten, as, in the words of Bengals founder Paul Brown, “winning makes believers of us all.”

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Ben Roethlisberger Blames Loss to Bengals on Weather, Fans

Russell Wight — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:25:33 -0500

I did not wake up this morning with the intention of writing another post about the Bengals' victory over the Steelers, but the events of the day have changed my agenda.

Of course, I still hate the Steelers and would never balk at the opportunity to rip on them in some fashion, but I really was ready to move on from last week. The Ohio State-Michigan game is this weekend, and the Bengals will be in Oakland to take on the Raiders.

Speaking to reporters for the first time since Sunday, Ben Roethlisberger said , "I didn't feel great, my arm didn't feel good and that first drive, we connected a few times, went down the field, had to scramble. I kind of thought, 'OK, shut that funk off.' And then it never quite came around."

I am literally staring at the computer with a perplexed look on my face. Is he incapable of uttering a complete sentence?

Roethlisberger babbles on to say that something didn't feel right, referencing the warm weather and dejected crowd at Heinz Field. Santonio Holmes chimed in to say that Roethlisberger's perception of the surroundings was probably the reason the Steelers lost.

How about the fact that the Bengals defense slammed him to the turf four times? How about Bernard Scott's 96-yard kick return for a touchdown? I am no expert, but those factors might have played a part in the outcome of the game as well.

Excuses, excuses...

I was going to say that most Pittsburgh fans would be embarrassed at the comments of these two clueless dolts...then I saw this picture . The fans already have enough to worry about. God help their children.

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Bengals-Raiders Preview: Cincy Looks to End Recent Struggles in Oakland

Dan Parzych — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:14:32 -0500

The 7-2 Cincinnati Bengals travel to the west coast Sunday to take on the 2-7 Oakland Raiders in pursuit of their sixth-straight road win.

While the Bengals have ridden their way to the top of the AFC North standings on a three-game winning streak, the Raiders have won once in their last seven games.

However, the Raiders recent success against the Bengals should have Cincinnati extra cautious heading into Sunday's match-up.

The Raiders have defeated the Bengals four straight games in Oakland and 13 of the last 14. Still, it's difficult to imagine Cincinnati struggling against Oakland considering how well they have performed this season, especially on defense.

The Bengals defense has been nothing short of outstanding in 2009. Through nine games, they are allowing just 16.3 points per game, with only the Indianapolis Colts ahead of them when it comes to best in the league. Their 25 sacks has them ranked fourth in the NFL with three other teams and they continue to find ways to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks each week. Last week, they sacked Ben Roethlisberger four times in the team's 18-12 win over the Steelers .

With the way the Raiders offense has played this season, there's every reason to expect another big day from the Bengals defense.

The Raiders have the second worst offense in the NFL, ahead of only the Cleveland Browns. Their offense is averaging just 9.8 points per game, with their highest total coming in a 24-20 loss in Week One against the San Diego Chargers.

This week, Raiders head coach made the decision to bench quarterback JaMarcus Russell and replace him with Bruce Gradkowski.

Russell has one of the worst quarterback ratings in football at 47.7 He's completed just 46.8 percent of his passes, throwing for 1,064 yards, two touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.

Whether or not Russell will receive another chance at starting quarterback this season remains to be unknown. The Raiders now turn to Gradkowski, who will be making his first start of the season against the Bengals. The fourth-year quarterback will be making his 13th career start against a defense that has been nearly flawless the last three weeks, allowing just 29 points combined against the Bears, Ravens and Steelers.

While the defense has shined over the last few weeks for the Bengals, Marvin Lewis and company know they will need a strong performance from their offense as well if they want to leave Oakland with a win. Once again, the team will rely on quarterback Carson Palmer to lead the way, just like he has all season long.

Even though he has yet to throw for 300 yards in a game, Palmer is arguably having the best season of his seven-year career and appears to be back to his dominate form from 2005. During the team's three-game winning streak, he has been nearly perfect, completing 58-of-87 passes for 635 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

Part of the reason behind Palmer's success this season is because of the re-emergence of wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, who is back to his old ways as one of the top wide-outs in the league.

Through nine games, he has already surpassed last season's disappointing numbers (540 yards and four touchdowns), hauling in 46 receptions for 686 yards and five touchdowns. He is on pace to finish with over 1,100 yards for the seventh time in his nine-year career and has been a major factor for the Bengals offense this season.

Along with Ochocinco, wide receivers Laveranues Coles and Andre Caldwell have stepped it up for Palmer on offense ever since Chris Henry was placed on injured reserve with a fractured arm.

After a slow start where he struggled to hold on to balls thrown his way, Coles has emerged as one of the top wide-outs the last two games for the Bengals. Against the Ravens (six catches for 72 yards and a touchdown) and Steelers (five catches for 67 yards), he led the team in both receptions and receiving yards.

While the passing game has performed well enough over the last few weeks to help the team win, the Bengals look to take advantage of a weak Raiders rushing attack that ranks 29th in the NFL, allowing 155.6 yards per game. While the team averages 122.3 yards per game on the ground, the only question that remains to be answered for the Bengals is which player Palmer will be handing the ball off to the most on Sunday.

Bengals running back Cedric Benson has rested the last two days while keeping an eye on a hip injury he re-aggravated against the Steelers in Week 10. Whether or not he will start Sunday will most likely remain a mystery until right before the start of Sunday's game.

Lucky for the Bengals, they have a few options to go with if Benson is unable to suit up against the Raiders.

If Benson rests, the Bengals can rely on backups Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard to carry the load at running back. However, Lewis may want to consider using newly-acquired Larry Johnson, who signed a one-year deal Tuesday as the team's No. 4 running back .

Johnson has adjusted to playing the Raiders twice each season considering they play in the AFC West with the Kansas City Chiefs. In the five career games he's played in Oakland, Johnson has never lost, rushing for 498 yards and five touchdowns. His previous success against the Raiders could provide the ground game an extra advantage if Benson is unable to play.

Benson ranks sixth among rushers in the NFL with 859 yards and six touchdowns. While his presence at running back has been a key part to the Bengals 7-2 record, this may be the one week where the team can afford to rest him and rely on Scott, Leonard, and Johnson to carry the ground game.

At the end of the day, Lewis has to consider whether starting Benson is worth the risk against the league's 29th ranked rushing defense, especially with the Bengals making a strong case to be a threat come playoff time.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Read more Cincinnati Bengals news on BleacherReport.com

Cedric Benson Declares Himself Game-Time Decision for Sunday

Wayne Makela — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:50:21 -0500

Cincinnati Bengals starting running back Cedric Benson has gone against several reports , declaring that he has not been ruled out for this week's game due to a hip injury he sustained in Week 10.

Benson can tell us anything he wants, but considering the Bengals should be just fine with a RBBC against a horrible Oakland Raiders run defense, it'd be foolish for Cincinnati to rush their stud back to action before he's 100 percent.

Fantasy Perspective: NFL Soup is declaring Benson a "sit" call this week, as he's likely to share the load even if he does play and would be a strong bet to be done before halftime in a game that could get lopsided very quickly.

We like Bernard Scott to make the start, while Brian Leonard could steal some carries and is always a strong candidate to be active in the passing game, especially on third downs.

Newly signed former Chief Larry Johnson has said that he will play this Sunday, but since he doesn't have any idea what his role will be, you should play (these guys ) on the safe side and leave him where he belongs: on the waiver wire .

Guys like Justin Forsett and Ladell Betts, who are actually both available in many leagues, are much safer bets for this week and the long-term.

Benson should be fully ready to go for Week 12, so even if he tries to play this week, we strongly urge you to avoid getting disappointed for the second straight week and just find another option .

For NFL Picks , news, and fantasy advice, head over to NFLSoup.com

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Why I Must Be Delirious: Bengals and Vikings in the Super Bowl

Mr. X — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:36:23 -0500

Though the success of the Arizona Cardinals in 2008-2009 has no direct effect on the outcome of this season, I mention as a way of saying: Don't be surprised if the Super Bowl features the long-running joke known as the Cincinnati Bengals.

And you, they just might win.

Earlier this year, I called out Carson Palmer in several blogs, not saying that he read them, just that after calling him a, "Quarterback on welfare" who had failed in his role of leadership. Palmer however has stepped-up.

The Bengals (in my opinion) are playing the way a Super Bowl team should: Defense, running, and timely passing.

What's that you say: Patriots, Colts, and Steelers have the past success?

The Bengals just showed that they can handle the Steelers in Pittsburgh, and have also showed that they can win with defense. The Patriots and Colts are weak on defense, as the Patriots just showed by going for it on 4th-and-2 against Indy; a decision which of course, cost the game for New England.

Knowing that the Bengals can play strong defense and exploit weak defense, or succeed against a strong one like Pittsburgh, in Pittsburgh no less, tells me that the Bengals should be able to handle New England if need be.

The biggest question mark is whether Cincy can handle Indy. Based on the strengths I have already listed, I think Cincy can do it.

As for the Vikings, the Brett Favre experiment has been paying off, after I had believed that football was no longer The Passion of Brett Favre, and that the NFL was merely an escape from the realities of his world.

I like the Vikings though, because like the Bengals, the Vikings appear to be the most complete team: Defense, running, and timely passing, unlike New Orleans, which has a hot-and-cold defense that I think can be exploited by Adrian Peterson if need be.

When a team has a power runner like that, it wears down a defense. Like I said, the New Orleans defense is not a rock solid one. Moreover, the only NFC team with a stout defense, and relative consistency, is the New York Giants.

So barring another shocker in the NFC, as the Cardinals did last season, I think Minnesota is the team to beat.

Tough call between the Vikings and Giants, but if the Vikings have home-field, I would take Minnesota.

As for the Super Bowl, I would rather not pick which team I think will win, right now. I'll reserve that for later.

(And if the Bengals can do it with owner Mike Brown, then the Raiders can do it again with owner Al Davis).

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Cincinnati Bengals Remember Bruce Gradkowski's Game-Winning Drive In '06

Dan Parzych — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:19:26 -0500

Despite making just 13 starts in his four-year career, Oakland Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski has had recent success against the Cincinnati Bengals.

As a rookie in 2006, Gradkowski led the Bucs on a game-winning drive as he threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Clayton with 34 seconds left in the 14-13 win over the Bengals.

At first, the play was ruled incomplete as Clayton appeared to fumble before crossing the goal line. However, the replay showed he had control of the ball while crossing the plane, sending the Bengals to their second loss of the season.

The Bengals finished that year 8-8, and were one-game short of a possible wild-card berth. While it's difficult to apply the "what if" card in the NFL, the Bengals and their fans knew how different their season could have been had Gradkowski not led that game-winning drive.

Prior to the game, the Bengals were 3-1 and just one game behind the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. While there were a few games over the eight losses that season the team could look back and say they should have won, no loss may have been more painful than the one against the Bucs.

At the time, Tampa Bay was winless with a 0-4 record. Gradkowski, a sixth-round pick from Toledo, was making his second career start in the NFL, replacing the injured Chris Simms at quarterback. Despite being heavy favorites, the 3-1 Bengals loss to the previously winless Bucs was heartbreaking.

While the circumstances are different this time around, there are a few current members of the Bengals who were on the team in 2006 and still remember that game-winning drive by Gradkowski.

Gradkowski will be making his first start of the season against the Bengals after Raiders head coach Tom Cable decided to bench quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

At 7-2, the Bengals travel to Oakland as heavy favorites against the 2-7 Raiders. They are in control of their own destiny in the AFC North and look to continue their success on the road after winning their fifth straight game against the Steelers.

However, they know this time around to be extra cautious about Gradkowski at quarterback.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Read more Cincinnati Bengals news on BleacherReport.com

The Best of Ochocinco: Volume Five

Russell Wight — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:54:22 -0500

The Cincinnati Bengals are 7-2 and in sole possession of first place in the AFC North. However, it's time to take a break from game observations, report cards, and upcoming matchups.

It's time to step off the field and get some relationship advice from our favorite tweeter, Chad Ochocinco .

I now present The Best of Ochocinco, Volume 5 .

OGOchoCinco: "What a beautiful day, 70 degrees and raining = cuddle weather or pregnancy, one or the other is bound to happen!"

OGOchoCinco: "Who's guilty here? A wife wakes up from a dream yelling HURRY UP MY HUSBAND IS HOME n her husband wakes up n jumps out da window."

OGOchoCinco: "My condom brand is tiger striped—12 stripes included, let's the women know your size ahead of time = where you putting all those stripes < :)"

OGOchoCinco: "Remember life isn't a box of chocolates, it's more like a jar of jalapenos, what you do today can burn yo a$$ tomorrow!!"

OGOchoCinco: "yourenotdaonly1 if you are dating a guy N you ask for a toothbrush to use and he says to put your name on it."

OGOchoCinco: "yourenotdaonly1 if you find a dread in her bed and you're bald."

OGOchoCinco: "yourenotdaonly1 if she works OT but the check is coming up short!!!!"

OGOchoCinco: "Dis tweet is brought 2 u by Ocho Cinco Condoms. Feel d sensation of celebration every time u touchdown."

OGOchoCinco: "Ocho Cinco condoms work 85% of the time, every time."

OGOchoCinco: "She loves me. She loves me not. Why waste the flower when you can grow a new one, everyone have an awesome Wednesday."

OGOchoCinco: "Awesome Ocho Cinco condoms, they'll catch everything yo johnson shoots."

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Bengals Bring In Larry Johnson for His Second, and Final, Shot at the NFL

Evan Higgins — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:14:46 -0500

Larry Johnson found himself a new home, Cincinnati.

Yes, the home for many players who need a second chance after going through some rough times during their career. Johnson enters Cincinnati making many million dollars then what he got in Kansas City, signing a one-year deal at the leagues minimum pay.

Johnson comes into Cincinnati to provide depth behind starting running back Cedric Benson, who has had himself a breakout year, after spending three unsuccessful seasons with the Chicago Bears.

Whether Johnson gets much playing time or not, this is giving a statement to all 32 teams if he is really dedicated to playing in the NFL. We all know he has the talent, after putting up back-to-back 1,700 yard season in 2005 and 2006.

If Johnson keeps his mouth shut and doesn't cause any problems for the rest of the season, I think he'll get another shot with another team, and go back to putting up big numbers like he did in 2005 and 2006.

Cedric Benson is coming off Sunday's big win versus Pittsburgh with a hip injury, which forced him to leave the game. He was later replaced by rookie Bernard Scott, who posted 13 attempts for 33 yards. Johnson was then brought in for a work out to provide depth behind an injured Cedric Benson.

Coach Marvin Lewis told Benson that his job as the starting running back was safe, and they were bringing in Johnson only to improve this team.

Some were worried if the signing of Johnson was too risky, and could mess up a locker room that is finally getting to be perfect. Cincinnati (7-2) has had a heck of a season, they don't need anything messing that up for them.

If Johnson gets a hundred carries or no carries, he was blessed to be given this second chance. After many legal troubles and frustrations with the coaches and players, Johnson was cut from Kansas City. Many teams were interested, but they thought he might have too much baggage.

Cincinnati has a knack for signing players that have had troubles in the past, and for some, that has worked out.

If Johnson keeps his mouth shut, and just plays the game of football the way we all knows he can, he'll be another dominant player in the football league.

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Cincinnati Bengals Should Rest Cedric Benson Against the Oakland Raiders

Dan Parzych — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:53:27 -0500

After straining his hip against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the status of running back Cedric Benson is still up in the air on whether or not he will start this week against the Oakland Raiders.

As tempted as Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis may be to start Benson, who has rushed for 859 yards and six touchdowns on the season, he might want to consider resting the league's sixth-ranked rusher against the Raiders.

Benson sat the second half Sunday against the Steelers and was replaced by rookie running back Bernard Scott, who scored the lone touchdown of the game on a 96-yard kickoff return in the first quarter.

Against the Steelers No. 1 ranked rushing defense, Scott managed to gain 33 yards on the ground on 13 carries. While these numbers may not seem spectacular, Lewis should consider the potential Scott has against the Raiders rushing attack.

The Raiders have the fourth-worst rushing defense in all of football, ranking ahead of only the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Buffalo Bills. In Week Seven, the defense allowed 316 rushing yards to the New York Jets, allowing running backs Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene to each finish with over 100 yards on the ground.

While he may not be as effective as Benson, Scott is capable of providing the Bengals with enough production at running back to help the Bengals leave Oakland with a win. If they can beat the Steelers with just 55 yards rushing behind Scott and Benson, there's no reason why they can't do that against the Raiders.

Benson's hip strain may not be that serious of an injury. However, the last thing the team needs is to play him while the injury is minor and make things worse.

Nothing against the city of Oakland, but the Raiders are the perfect team for the Bengals to play in this type of situation. Lewis should rest Benson to avoid the chance of losing him later on in the season—especially come playoff time.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Read more Cincinnati Bengals news on BleacherReport.com

Cincinnati Bengals: Sign Troubled Running Backs? Been There, Done That.

Russell Wight — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:32:21 -0500

Larry Johnson is officially a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. He called this a chance to "right some of my wrongs."

Much has been said about the running back's checkered past and how his signing will affect team chemistry.

Is it healthy to take on a player with baggage and give him a fresh start?

Wait a second. I think we have had this discussion before...

Bengals sign another malcontent in Cedric Benson [Clubhouse Cancer ]
Cedric Benson to the Bengals, like he'd end up anywhere else [The Big Picture ]
Cedric Benson signs with Bengals. No, seriously. [TheEndZoneView.com ]
So-and-so arrested. Bengals offer contract. [SPORTSbyBROOKS ]
Bengals sign Cedric Benson. This would be funny if it weren't true. [FF Toolbox ]
The woefully dreadful Cincinnati Bengals sign the equally dreadful Cedric Benson. [Blog Down, Chicago Bears ]

These are just a few of the stories you will find from last fall after the Bengals signed Cedric Benson. At the time, the Bengals were horrible and the organization seemed to be in a state of disarray.

Fans were disgusted when the team gave Chris Henry another chance to redeem himself and the signing of Benson just added fuel to the fire.

Apparently, something has changed.

Benson and Henry have stayed out of trouble. Henry's play was okay this year before being placed on injured reserve with a broken arm and Benson looks to be on his way to the Pro Bowl.

At 7-2, the Bengals occupy the top spot in the AFC North and are playing as a cohesive unit. The days of individual stars putting up huge offensive numbers for an average squad seem to be over.

Things are going well in Cincinnati.

Marvin Lewis said Johnson will be judged on his future, not his past. Hopefully, that future will resemble that of the Bengals last two reclamation projects.

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If It Ain't Broke...: Are the Cincinnati Bengals Ruining Their Team?

Nick Signorelli — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:47:53 -0500

Prior to the 2009 NFL season, HBO featured the Cincinnati Bengals on their yearly show Hard Knocks. It is a show that follows a team from the beginning of training camp until the end of preseason.

What the Bengals have done since is nothing short of remarkable. After a heartbreaking loss to the Denver Broncos in their opener, Cincinnati has dominated the AFC North, defeating the Browns in the last seconds of overtime and sweeping the season series against both the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Since they are basically the same team with a top-10 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, other than the return of Carson Palmer, most people would say that the main reason for the Bengals' success is their team unity and chemistry.

On the heels of their Heinz Field victory and attainment of sole possession of first place in the AFC North, the Bengals are now in danger of ruining that team chemistry.

First, they signed disgruntled troublemaker Larry Johnson. Johnson is a free agent because the Kansas City Chiefs, one of the worst teams in the NFL, could not put up with his behavior anymore. Johnson was suspended and then released after making negative sexual references to members of the press, not once, but twice.

Some Bengals fans would say that move was necessary because Cedric Benson was slightly injured against the Steelers. Forget the fact that Benson has said the injury is minor and it will not affect him next week.

Others would say that they are acting like the Bungles of old instead of the new division leaders.

Adam Schefter is now reporting, via profootballtalk.com, that the Bengals have also brought in receiver Joey Galloway, safety Mike Doss, and defensive tackle Ed Johnson for workouts and interviews.

There is an old saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." So, can someone tell me exactly what is broke?

Galloway was cut by the New England Patriots because he does not have the hands he used to. Numerous times in their first few games, Tom Brady tried to get the ball to Galloway, and he just could not hang onto it.

Doss and Johnson were both with the Colts during the preseason, but neither was good enough to make the regular season roster. The Colts have had injury issues with Bob Sanders, who was on IR for the last week and a half, and they still did not bring Doss back.

The Bengals also made two other moves today by releasing two players from IR. Tight end Ben Utecht and receiver Antonio Chatman were released. Because they were on injured reserve, they are now free to sign with any team other than the Bengals.

Now that the Bengals are finally over the stigma of being a bad football team, having only one other winning season in the last 20-plus years, you would think that they would not want to risk hurting the team chemistry. None of the men they brought in are considered to be as good as anyone the Bengals currently have on their roster, so it makes no sense.

These moves may be considered smart by some, but if the Bengals end up losing some winnable games over the next month, you can be sure that it will be traced back to the moment management decided to fix what wasn't broken.

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Cincinnati Bengals' Win Over Steelers Sunday Shows a Different Team from 2005

John Phythyon — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:34:30 -0500

It wasn’t that long ago. The Cincinnati Bengals invaded Heinz Field tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers. They left victorious with a lock on the division.

Sound familiar? It is a little. A 94-yard kick return by Tab Perry set up a Rudi Johnson touchdown that effectively sealed the game. A gritty performance by the Bengals kept them in it, even when it looked like the Steelers were rallying.

But something was very different in that 2005 game than Sunday’s most recent win in Pittsburgh.

Before leaving the field, TJ Houshmandzadeh wiped his cleats with a Terrible Towel. The Bengals strutted around the field declaring the balance of power in the AFC North had shifted. Cincinnati had arrived, and everyone should bow down.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t true. The Bengals lost their final three games of the year—one to a weak Buffalo team; one to the Chiefs when they rested their starters for the playoffs; and the final one in the playoffs to those very same Steelers they had vanquished only a few weeks before.

Things didn’t get any better. They beat the Steelers again at Heinz in Week Three of the following season, but then didn’t do it again until 2009. Cincinnati didn’t win more than eight games in any season after the balance of power in the AFC North allegedly shifted.

The Steelers have won two Super Bowls since then. The Ravens have finished above the Bengals every year. So much for things being different.

But this year, there’s reason to think they might be. No one got out a Terrible Towel after Sunday’s 18-12 win that put the Bengals alone atop the division. In the interviews, the Bengals were mostly humble.

“It’s scary because everybody’s going to be patting us on the back and telling us how good we are,” quarterback Carson Palmer said after the game. “We’re not good enough to win the Super Bowl now; we have a long way to go. We’re not good enough to make a dominant playoff run....”

Is he talking about the team that’s ranked second in the AFC? The team that dominated the Bears, Ravens, and Steelers in its last three contests? That team isn’t good enough for a deep playoffs run?

Maybe Palmer is exaggerating, but the attitude is right. You don’t get the sense the Bengals feel they’ve accomplished much. They don’t act like they’ve “arrived.”

And he’s not the only one carrying that new attitude around.

“It’s a great win for us,” DT Domata Peko said, “but we have to look forward to the next week.”

OLB Brandon Johnson sounded a little happier, saying “I’ve never experienced anything like this,” but he was quick to point out the season wasn’t over: “On to the next one. Bring on the Raiders.”

MLB Dhani Jones perhaps put it best: “You can’t rest on the laurels of just a win. There’s a lot of season left to go. Yeah, it’s a big win, but at the same time we have more games to play. That will affect the outcome of the season.”

The 2005 Bengals were a good team, but they didn’t have this attitude, and it showed when Palmer got hurt in the playoffs loss to the Steelers. When things went wrong, they completely unraveled.

Things are different now. If the current attitude stays, Carson Palmer will be wrong—this team will be poised for a deep playoffs run.

And the balance of power in the AFC North may well have actually shifted this time.

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Why The Larry Johnson Experiment Will Work for the Cincinnati Bengals

Benjamin Conner — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:19:36 -0500

UPDATE: I think it is important to note, while I do not condone what LJ did to be dismissed from his team, I just see this as an opportunity, a free agent signing if you will, for a fresh start for LJ. Life gives you second chances, let's see what he does with the opportunity.

Larry Johnson signed with the Bengals as a "backup" to be fourth on the depth chart. Not so long ago LJ had back-to-back 1,700 yards season in Kansas City and was considered a fantasy superstar.

Since then he has been plagued with suspensions and inept offenses that had him fall off the radar for most people.

Cincinnati has already established firm control of the AFC North, and at 7-2, they control their destiny on the road to the playoffs. The Bengals have already suffered injuries to many positions and are still running like a well oiled machine.

The Bengals find ways to win (what any championship team does). They come from behind, they get it done on defense, they win games with special teams, and they beat teams on the road. For the first time they are 5-0 in the division with another game against the dysfunctional Browns. Wrap that up to a franchise best 6-0.

Because Cincinnati is rolling so smoothly, there is absolutely no pressure on LJ to perform. All he has to do is show up and get his reps in. His power game matches that of Cedric Benson, and unless injury prevents Benson to play, don’t expect to see Johnson on the field. It is unlikely they will split reps, especially considering how well backup Bernard Scott is running with his change of pace running style.

Expect Scott to become a bigger part of the offense in the coming weeks.

Marvin Lewis has been known in Bengaldom as a no-nonsense kind of person. He comes from great pedigree with his raising and learning in Pittsburgh and Baltimore. This is exactly the type of coach that can handle LJ’s character. Do not expect LJ to be much of a distraction with Marvin Lewis in charge.

Mike Brown has a history of bringing players back with character issues. But don’t worry the year of having nine players arrested, the Bengals are far removed, with the only player left on the roster from that year is Frostee Rucker, all others have been cut and have moved on.

Carson Palmer remains the Bengals best kept secret. Not only has he added five fourth quarter comebacks to his resume this year, but his passing stats are just getting more and more efficient. The Bengals have a tremendously balanced attack between their air and ground game.

With a lot of credit due to Benson, defenses know what Palmer can do with a simple flick of his wrist. Palmer is also the franchise quarterback for the Bengals—he is established, and there is no question on his leadership abilities.

If LJ doesn’t respect the way the Bengals are moving, expect Palmer to just change the play and throw the ball until LJ realizes he is just a piece of the puzzle.

The Bengals offensive line has established itself as a gritty and very physical unit, taking on five of the league’s top defenses and amassing 100 yards against four of the five. They do not allow many sacks and rush the ball very efficiently.

With all these pieces in the puzzle, expect LJ to play in a system where he can flourish. Unlike Kansas City, he comes to a team that can pass the ball effectively.

If the Larry Johnson experiment doesn’t work out, the Bengals lose only half the salary of a league minimum, but if it does work, the benefits will be astronomical. He is an insurance policy and when you have a thoroughbred like Benson pounding the ball, injuries will happen. This will keep the Bengals ground game moving in the right direction.

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Cincinnati Bengals Week 10 Recap: Meet the New Boss

B. Clifton Burke — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:56:04 -0500

There is a luxury suite on the top floor that overlooks the AFC North. It's shiny and comfortable and smells like the Playoffs. After milling about their new digs for a while, the Bengals put their feet up on the glass table, leaned back, and smiled to themselves. This is the life.

Suddenly Marvin Lewis bursts into the room and banishes his team to the boiler room.

“We can come back when we win it,” he tells them as they file out and head to the basement.

In the parking lot below, Pittsburgh walks to its car holding a cardboard box, escorted by two NFL security guards. Behind them is Pittsburgh's secretary, Baltimore, also carrying a box but walking alone.

Most of the world still has a hard time accepting the facts: In the toughest division in football, Cincinnati has clubbed their way past Darth Raven and the Steeler Emperor twice each.

This past week, experts everywhere declared that the Bengals were not ready to succeed on a big stage like the one at Pittsburgh. “They're not that good,” they said of the Bengals.

Yet all season long, no one has adequately answered why not.

We in Cincinnati have been shat upon for so long that we crave a little recognition when something goes right. Yet, in the face of the best Bengal season in a long time, very few believe in them. I admit it's frustrating, but we can take solace in knowing that the Steeler Nation is still beside themselves with rage and disappointment.

Eat crow, you vermin. And before you resort to that lame historical comeback regarding your Super Bowls remember this: No one is disputing you've been better in the past. All we're saying is that our team is better than yours this season.

Today.

Now.

Go polish your trophies while you cry and lick your wounds. You can find us up here sitting on top and laughing at you if you want to give it another go in January.

The best part is that the Bengals don't care what any of us have to say; they have work to do. I get the feeling they aren't even enjoying their success. They're playing like they've been sentenced to hard labor until they win it all. No smiles, no relaxing; just pick axes and a half-mountain of concrete that still needs busting up.

They are a strong team. The offensive line is a group of angry elephants protecting their treasured quarterback and slamming d-lines out of running lanes for Mr. Benson and crew.

The defense is a stubborn roadblock that forces opposing teams to turn around and go back where they came from. The backups on this team are as good as the starters, and everyone is held to the same standard.

They are also a smart team.

We're witnessing perhaps the best collective coaching effort this franchise has enjoyed since the Paul Brown Era. The game plans are superior and unwavering; players appear totally prepared and demonstrate excellent technique when doing their job.

The roster is made up of forgotten toys and castaways that aren't the most talented in the league, but with discipline and focus emphasized on the practice fields each week, have this team in place for a first-round playoff bye.

Who cares if the world refuses to believe it? It's happening either way.

Fans and media will continue to find reasons why the Bengals are unable to win it all, while Marvin and his staff will continue to disprove each stigma that resides in the minds of humans who know football.

So go ahead and assume the Bengals can't; you'll be cleaning out your office next.

Mojokong—in the here and now.

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Larry Johnson Signed by Bengals for Stretch Run

Eric Ball — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:47:10 -0500

The "redeemer" strikes again.

The Cincinnati Bengals have signed former Kansas City RB Larry Johnson, according to ESPN's John Clayton.

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.

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Former Chiefs Running Back Larry Johnson Signs WIth Bengals

Dan Parzych — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:21:21 -0500

One week after his release, former Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson signed a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. He visited with the team on Monday and signed a one-year deal on Tuesday.

Johnson was released from the Chiefs after another run-in of trouble. This time, he recorded gay slurs and questioned head coach Todd Haley's ability to lead the team on his Twitter account. He was eventually suspended for two weeks before his release.

Despite being the go-to guy with the Chiefs, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has made it clear that Cedric Benson's starting job at running back is not in jeopardy, even with the recent hip strain.

"That's what his role would be, it would be as a fourth running back and an opportunity as a backup player on this football team doing all the things backup players do, and that's work their tails off in the kicking game and showing looks (on the scout team) and so forth that way," Lewis said. "And then he would be an insurance policy if something would happen down the line to one of our guys where he'd have a chance to be active.

"But I couldn't foresee him being active when he was initially here, if this is what happens. And that's what I've told him."

Despite his recent troubles with the Chiefs, signing Johnson is an excellent move by the Bengals front office considering the potential of another threat at running back.

In 2005, Johnson emerged as an elite running back when former running back Priest Holmes suffered an injury to his spinal cord in a game against the San Diego Chargers during Week Seven. As the new starter at running back for the remaining nine games, Johnson ran for at least 100 yards in each game.

Overall, he finished the season with 1,750 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns, earning him the starting job for the Chiefs the following season.

Since Johnson was able to rush for 1,750 yards the season before after starting just nine games, the expectations were high for him in his first full-year as a starter.

He lived up to the hype, rushing for 1,789 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Chiefs, who finished 9-7 on the year and clinched a wild-card berth for a first-round matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

Despite losing 23-8 to the Colts, the Chiefs were satisfied with the type of running back Johnson was emerging into. In his first two seasons as a full-time starter, he recorded 4,292 from the line of scrimmage and 40 touchdowns.

However, most of Johnson's production may have resulted from a dominant offensive line, which consisted of two Pro-Bowl guards in 2006 with Will Shields and Brian Waters.

After emerging as one of the top running backs in the league from 2005-06, Johnson's numbers have declined each season.

In 2007, a foot injury in the second half of the season limited him to playing in just eight games, rushing for just 559 yards and three touchdowns. The following season, he played in just 12 games, finishing with 874 yards and just five touchdowns.

Many claim the reason behind Johnson's decline in production the past two seasons is because of a weak offensive line. If this is the case, he may have a chance to revamp his career behind a strong Bengals offensive line ranked sixth overall in the NFL, who have allowed just 14 sacks in nine games. They have also helped lead the way for Benson, who is averaging 95.4 yards per game on the ground and found the end zone six times.

With the Chiefs having the 31st-ranked offensive line, Johnson averaged just 2.7 yards per carry. In seven games this season, he's run for 377 yards and zero touchdowns.

The Bengals were already dangerous with one elite running back. If they can turn Johnson into the type of running back from a few years ago with a fresh start and improved offensive line, this team has the potential to become one of the top running games in the NFL.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Read more Cincinnati Bengals news on BleacherReport.com

The Bengals Love Their "Johnson's"—A Look at The Best "Johnson's" This Decade And Where Larry Fits Into The Picture

Jeff Stambough — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:57:02 -0500

If you look through the annals of history, the Cincinnati Bengals have demonstrated a kinship towards the name "Johnson." With history rich with names like Pete Johnson in the 1980s and the legendary punter Lee Johnson throughout the 1990s, the Johnson's have truly taken over this millennium. The first part of this article will rank the different Johnson's who have graced Cincinnati with their talents, or lack thereof. The second part will examine where LJ stands and what exactly is Mike Brown, the owner of the Bengals, infatuation with being the ultimate redeemer and his magnetic attraction to all-things "Johnson."

Begin Slideshow

Bernard Scott's Performance Helps Cincinnati Bengals Control The Cruise

Dan Parzych — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:06:48 -0500

Imagine being a rookie running back on the Cincinnati Bengals drafted out of Abilene Christian in the sixth round of April's NFL Draft.

Now imagine being that same rookie playing in a game against the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers and making a key play on special teams that would end up being a difference maker for the Bengals' victory.

After Sunday, Bengals rookie running back Bernard Scott is living that dream with his performance against the Steelers.

In a key game that would decide bragging rights for sole possession of first place in the AFC North, the rookie stepped up on offense and special teams to help the Bengals leave Heinz Field with an 18-12 victory, ending the Steelers' 10-game win streak at home.

With the win, the Bengals improved their record to 7-2 on the year and 5-0 against teams in the AFC North. Not only did they beat the Steelers to take a one-game lead in the division, but for the first time in franchise history, they have won five games in a row on the road.

While this was a team victory with the offense managing to get down the field and displaying a stellar performance on defense, it's hard to imagine the Bengals pulling away with the victory without the help of Scott.

After Steelers kicker Jeff Reed nailed a field goal from 28 yards with just under five minutes remaining, Scott returned the following kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, the first one of his career. He took advantage of a weak Steelers special team unit that allowed their fourth kickoff returned for a touchdown on the year. The return gave the Bengals a 6-3 lead and ended up being the lone touchdown scored by both teams.

Not only did Scott help the Bengals on special teams, but he filled in for running back Cedric Benson, who strained his hip in the first half. He finished with 33 yards on just 13 rushes and picked up key first downs for the Bengals in the fourth quarter to help run the clock down.

When the Bengals defeated the Steelers, it was the late heroics of running back Brian Leonard that helped the team seal the victory.

This time, it was the help of a rookie running back in Bernard Scott that not only helped them make a statement by defeating the Super Bowl Champions on their own turf, but inched them closer to their first playoff berth since 2005.

With a 7-2 record and a favorable remaining schedule, there's every reason to believe the Bengals will at least clinch a wild-card berth for the playoffs.

While most experts and analysts expected the AFC North to come down to a battle between the Steelers or Ravens, the Bengals are showing why they should have been at least considered all along.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Read more Cincinnati Bengals news on BleacherReport.com

Bengals-Steelers: Week 10 Report Card

Russell Wight — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:02:17 -0500

Even after a night's sleep, I am still in a state of euphoria as I observe the national media praising the Cincinnati Bengals. With an 18-12 win in Pittsburgh on Sunday, the Bengals are in sole possession of first place in the AFC North. It is hard to find fault with the Bengals right now. They are the best team in their division and right at the top of the AFC with the Indianapolis Colts.

After watching his team fight for 60 minutes, Marvin Lewis said, "It's the most physical grinding game I've ever been on the sideline for."

The Bengals are no longer a team that lives and dies by the passing attack. They are a smart, mature football team that knows what it takes to win.

OFFENSE

The offense was unable to cross the goal line, but did what they needed to at the most crucial point of the game. With 6:17 left and a 15-12 lead, Carson Palmer entered the huddle and instructed his teammates not to give the ball back to the Steelers. The Bengals offense marched 54 yards in 11 plays and took over four minutes off the clock. They racked up four first downs on the drive that ended in a Shayne Graham field goal.

Cedric Benson left the game with a hip injury. The combination of Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard showed the depth that the Bengals have. Grade: B

DEFENSE

Finding words to describe this defense gets harder each week. The Steelers were 3-for-15 on third down and failed on their last 10 attempts. The Bengals sacked Ben Roethlisberger four times and tipped four passes, one resulting in an interception.

Palmer said, "It was a team win but our defense won this game. Field goals win games, touchdowns win games, we'll take this."

Mike Zimmer designed another great gameplan and it was executed beautifully. It was another team effort by the Bengals defense. Grade: A

SPECIAL TEAMS

All points came on special teams. The only touchdown of the game came on a 96-yard kickoff return by Scott in the first quarter. Graham kicked four field goals and had a 51-yard attempt bounce off the right upright. Grade: A

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Cincinnati Bengals Physicality Punishes Pittsburgh Steelers

Eric Ball — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:53:05 -0500

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 matchup.

''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 Benson's 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 TV 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 playoff 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.”

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Bengals Shock Steelers in Season Sweep

Fred Richani — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:00:57 -0500

1:00 PM ET
November 15, 2009
Heinz Field,
Pittsburgh, PA

The Cincinnati Bengals are used to being the red-headed (in this case—orange) stepchild of the AFC North division. Actually, outside of a couple .500 or better seasons over the years, the Bengals haven't had much success in general. That's disappointing considering the talent the team had and STILL has.

Well, that's all the past because at 7-2, they sit atop the AFC North—four of those seven wins coming against the Baltimore Ravens and the team they beat this Sunday: the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Yes, you read that correctly. The Cincinnati Bengals have the second-best record in the entire AFC, the AFC North division all but wrapped up, and are owners of the NUMBER TWO rushing defense in the NFL.

Cincinnati 18 Pittsburgh 12

The final score of Sunday's game was 18-12 in favor of the Bengals. They have swept the two teams that represented the AFC in the championship game last postseason in Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

Not only is that incredibly impressive, but more so since they still have Marvin Lewis as their coach (somehow, some way), a similar cast of characters that are now healthy (Palmer, Ochocinco, Henry), and the fact that historically, at least recently, the team hasn't been very good.

Even with their star running back Cedric Benson out with a hip injury during the second half, the orange and black found a way to win at the Steelers' own house.

Then again, when Pittsburgh can't get their rushing attack going and Big Ben Roethlisberger has to throw 40 times (only completing 20 passes), including one pass that ended up being picked off, then it's hard to win a football game—especially against the new and improved Bengals.

The Steelers didn't have the services of safety Troy Polamalu for practically the whole game (except the opening series of downs), aggravating the left knee injury that previously sidelined him for four games. No word yet on his status or when he will return.

Despite the injury, at 6-3, the defending Super Bowl Champions are still in good shape with a relatively light (by their standards) schedule in front of them. However, any hopes of a first-round bye in the postseason or an AFC North division crown can be kissed goodbye.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a columnist for The Sports Courier , 411Mania.com , and everythingyntk.com . Richani founded The Sports Courier in 2009. His work has been featured on CBS Sportsline , Pro Wrestling Torch , GOOGLE News , and USAToday.com . He has also interviewed Platinum-selling bands Blue October and OneRepublic . Richani currently resides in Freehold, NJ, just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

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Bengals Backups Step Up in Big Win Over Steelers

Evan DeZeeuw — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:42:06 -0500

Injuries plagued the Cincinnati Bengals last year and it showed in their 4-11-1 record.

No one was able to fill the void left by the injured starters, but things are different this year.

The Bengals' backups and rookies have come up big in the past few weeks and played a huge part in the win over Pittsburgh.

After rededicating himself and starting out the season on fire, Antwan Odom went down for the season with a torn Achilles' tendon. Jonathan Fanene has stepped in and not disappointed. He has four sacks over the past three games, including two on Sunday.

Another backup that came up big multiple times Sunday was linebacker Brandon Johnson who was filling in for the injured Keith Rivers. Johnson was all over the field and deflected two key passes.

With an in-game injury to the Bengals' leading rusher, Cedric Benson, rookie Bernard Scott ran the ball well, often making short-yard gains on what should have been plays for a loss. He also scored the only touchdown of the day, running back a Jeff Reed kickoff after the Steelers scored the first three points of the game.

Another rookie that played well today was Morgan Trent, who helped out a banged up Leon Hall. The two former Wolverines played good man coverage and this young secondary continues to prove itself week in and week out. Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph have to considered as one of the top corner duos in the league, each with four interceptions on the year. Jonathan Joseph had two chances at interceptions today, with one ball bouncing off his hands and another sailing right through them.

This Bengals defense showed signs of improvement last year but with absolutely no offense, it was hard to tell just how good they were. Mike Zimmer's squad is showing they are one of the league's top defenses and with a young secondary and linebacking corps, the sky is the limit.

With the third-easiest remaining schedule, the Bengals should be fine, even with key players like Cedric Benson and Keith Rivers out. With their next three games against Oakland (2-6), Cleveland (1-7), and Detroit (1-8) (combined 4-21 record), it gives these players time to heal up and also time for the Bengals to integrate their No. 1 draft pick, Andre Smith, into the starting O-line that has exceeded expectations.

As long as this team can stay healthy and the backups continue to play well, the Bengals are playoff bound and poised for a deep run.

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Bengals-Steelers: A Step Outside the Box

Erik Frenz — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:26:31 -0500

Not very often do I write coverage on games that don't involve the New England Patriots.

The implications of this game, I felt, were big enough to warrant a step outside the Northeastern box I've resided in for so long.

Well...Heinz Field is still in the Northeast. So maybe this isn't a step too far outside the box.

This game wasn't much of a step outside the box, either.

The Bengals have won a lot of low-scoring games this season, and they did so again today.

One step outside the box, though, was Pittsburgh's offense, which scored 27 or more points in its past five contests; they produced only four field goals today.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who has thrown a touchdown pass in every game this season, failed to do so today. The Steelers have become a passing team this season, but that seems to be what doomed them today.

Roethlisberger is one of the most "outside the box" quarterbacks, excelling when he is on the run. He is still sacked too often in key spots.

On three red-zone possessions, the Steelers failed to produce a touchdown. He was sacked two times on plays from inside the 10. One of those sacks was a drive-killer on 3rd-and-8.

Carson Palmer took a step outside the box by also failing to throw a touchdown pass, but his efficiency was on par with his season numbers; he completed exactly 60 percent of his passes.

Contrary to Roethlisberger's four sacks resulting in 28 yards lost, Palmer was only sacked twice for 21 yards.

After being swept by the Bengals for the first time since 1998, it may be time for Pittsburgh to return to its run-heavy days.

It's still unclear whether Roethlisberger can carry an offense on his arm alone, as he's always had top-notch run support until this season.

Mike Ditka said it best on NFL Sunday Countdown when he mentioned that the Bengals spent all off-season building their team to beat the Steelers.

They wanted to take a step outside the box with an aggressive, hard-nosed team that played physically on defense as opposed to the paper-tiger defensive units the Bengals have fielded as of late.

The Bengals pulled off the season sweep of the Steelers by beating them at their own game.

With the result of today's game, it's tough to say whether it would benefit the Steelers more to go back to thinking inside the box, figuratively and literally.

Would they be better off going back to pounding the ball down the defense's throat in the running game? Or should they think outside the box with the aerial assault and hope that things continue to develop?

All season long, the Bengals have succeeded by proving all their doubters wrong. It appears the Bengals have taken a step outside the box, no longer the victim of total domination at the hands of their black-and-gold rivals, and appear to be on their way to a huge step outside the box for Marvin Lewis...a winning record.

Only time will tell if this is a step outside the box, or merely a quick escape from it.

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Bengals Complete Sweep of Steelers

Russell Wight — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:09:40 -0500

There are not many things in the sports world sweeter than a win over your biggest rival. It is even better when the rival and their fan base are arrogant jerks who think they are in a class by themselves when they are clearly not.

The Steelers are a good team, but the Bengals are better. Hardly anyone gave the Bengals a chance, but they stuck to their game plan. That game plan resulted in a 18-12 victory.

The offense was able to move the football and converted some tough third downs. They were not able to put the ball in the end zone, but got close enough for Shayne Graham to kick four field goals.

The only touchdown of the game was a kickoff return by Bernard Scott in the first quarter.

The Bengals defense was incredible. I cannot say enough about this bunch. They kept "Big Ben" and company out of the end zone.

Mike Zimmer has done a great job and the players are executing the plan. The best thing about the play of the Bengals defense was not having to look at Hines Ward's disgusting grin all afternoon.

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Cincinnati Bengals Overcome Odds, Convert Believers

Doug Tifft — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:51:00 -0500

Nobody believed.

The Cincinnati Bengals had not swept the Pittsburgh Steelers in 10 years. The Steelers had won four in a row, and were sporting “the toughest defense in football.”

The Bengal pass rush that only got to Ben Roethlisberger once in a week three matchup was now without defensive end Antwan Odom—out for the season with a town Achilles.

To make matters worse, the key to the resurgent Bengals offense, running back Cedric Benson, only carried the ball seven times because of a hip injury.

There was a laundry list of reasons why the Bengals should not have beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 10. Ultimately, none of them mattered.

The supposedly weak Bengal pass rush produced four sacks, thanks to creative packages from defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, frequently bringing linebackers Rey Maualuga and Brandon Johnson up the middle to free up Jonathan Fanene on the outside for two sacks.

The Bengal secondary answered the proverbial challenge, as well, with cornerbacks Jonathan Joseph, Leon Hall and rookie Morgan Trent working in mostly single coverage to limit Steeler receivers Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward and Mike Wallace to 128 combined yards.

With the Bengal defense maintaining the early advantage on the scoreboard, Cincinnati offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski was able remain conservative in his play calling.

With Benson out with a hip injury, the Bengals rode a steady diet of 15-yard outs to Laveraneus Coles and Chad Ochocinco, screen plays to the wide receivers and outside runs to utilize running back Bernard Scott’s speed.

While the tweaked offensive system only produced 218 total yards on the afternoon, it allowed the Bengals to hold the ball long enough to avoid being dominated in the time of possession battle without Benson to lean on in the running game.

It may not have been the way that they drew it up, and it certainly defied the expert expectations, but the results are that matter.

The Bengals own their destiny in the AFC North. And a few new believers.

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Bengals-Steelers Week 10: Live Notes and Updates from the First Half

Dan Parzych — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:41:26 -0500

In one of the most anticipated matchups in Week 10 (along with the Peyton Manning going against Tom Brady in Sunday Night Football), the 6-2 Cincinnati Bengals and the 6-2 Pittsburgh Steelers both look to take control of the AFC North with a win today.

Here are live notes and updates from the first half between the Bengals and Steelers.

First Quarter

14:55—A nice opening kickoff by Bernard Scott for 21 yards to the Steelers 30. Let the battle for bragging rights in the AFC North begin.

14:44—Palmer looks for Laveranues Coles up the middle but William Gay does a great job breaking up the pass, nearly coming away with the interception.

14:37—What a play by Palmer, who finds Chad Ochocinco for 16 yards on a 3rd-and-10 to pick up the first down, the Bengals first of the day.

13:32—Palmer finds wide receiver Andre Caldwell on 2nd-and-6 for an eight-yard gain and another Bengals first down. So far, they have opened the game with five straight passes against the Steelers No. 1 ranked rushing defense.

12:23—For the second time this drive, Gay nearly comes away with an interception off Palmer as he breaks up a pass intended for Coles.

12:17—What a catch by Coles, who brings down a 12-yard pass by Palmer in double coverage and manages to get his feet down before going out of bounds. The replay shows his feet weren't down in time, but Palmer manages to get the play off before Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin can throw the red flag.

10:53—Palmer needs to be more careful with his passes as Ike Taylor knocks down the third pass of the opening drive in on a 3rd-and-14 intended for Ochocinco. Let's see if Bengals kicker Shayne Graham can capitalize on the field goal.

10:49—The kick had the distance, but hits the right upright as Graham misses a 51-yard field goal. So much for the Bengals jumping out to an early 3-0 lead. The Steelers will take over on their own 33.

10:40—Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger drops a quick pass off to wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who moves down the right sideline for 11 yards and a first down. A nice opening play on offense for the Steelers.

8:52—On 3rd-and-1, Mewelde Moore breaks loose and runs for 12 yards and a Steelers first down. 1st-and-10 at the Bengals 27 yard line.

7:42—The Bengals defense gets to Roethlisberger for the first time today as Jonathan Fenene sacks him for a five-yard loss. Big third down coming up now for the Bengals

6:40—On 3rd-and-13, Roethisberger finds an opening and scrambles for a 15-yard gain to the Bengals 15 yard line. So much for the Bengals taking advantage of a 3rd-and-long situation.

4:46—Big play for the Bengals defense on 3rd-and-5 as Chinedum Ndukwe knocks down Roethlisberger's pass. The Steelers are forced to kick the field goal as Jeff Reed nails one from 28 yards to give Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead.

4:26—Wow! Scott takes the kickoff by Reed and returns it 96 yards for the touchdown after a couple of nice moves to find an opening down the left side of the field. The rookie from Abilene Christian records his first career touchdown to give the Bengals the lead, leaving the fans at Heinz Field stunned. Lucky for them, the field goal attempt fails after Kevin Huber bobbles the ball. Instead of leading 7-3, the Bengals settle with a 6-3 lead.

3:36—The Bengals defense gets to Roethlisberger for the second time today as Dhani Jones comes down with the sack, setting up a 3rd-and-14 for the Steelers.

2:57—Roethisberger finds Holmes down the middle and the refs appear to give him a generous spot for the first down. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis quickly throws out the challenge flag and it pays off. After further review, the refs spot the ball at the 40 instead of the 42, leaving the Steelers with a 4th-and-2 instead of a first down. Looks like the Bengals will be getting the ball back.

2:21—The announcers on CBS just informed the audience that Troy Polamalu will be out for the remainder of the game after tweaking his knee. This could have a huge effect on the outcome of today's game considering Polamalu is arguably the best safety in the league.

1:48—Benson runs for nine yards and a first down on a 2nd-and-8, his longest run of the day so far. The Steelers defense is showing him why they're the best in the league at stopping the run.

00:26—Caldwell hauls in a six-yard reception for the first down and the final play of the first quarter. After one quarter of play, the Bengals lead the Steelers 6-3.

Second Quarter

13:29—What a play by Coles on 3rd-and-3, who uses his quickness to pick up 25 yards down the left side of the field and another Bengals first down.

12:12—On 3rd-and-14, Palmer looks for Caldwell down the middle but fails to connect as he was in double coverage. Instead of a 53-yard field goal, Lewis decides the Bengals are safer punting the ball considering Heinz Field is always a difficult place to kick the ball.

11:55—On the first play of the drive, Steelers tight end Heath Miller breaks a tackle from Jonathan Joseph and gains enough yards for a first down at the Bengals 21 yard line. On the next play, Roethlisberger finds Holmes for an 11-yard gain and another Steelers first down.

10:06—Roethlisberger appears to be sacked for the third time today, but he manages to find Hines Ward for a quick screen pass. Unfortunately, he only gets one yard out of it and the Steelers will face 3rd-and-6.

9:28—The Bengals defense comes through on third down as Roethlisberger fails to find Holmes across the middle of the field. The Steelers are forced to punt once again.

9:06—Ochocinco runs a beautiful route down the middle, but he fails to bring in the pass thrown by Palmer which would have given the Bengals a first down. A few plays later, Palmer overthrows a ball intended for Ochocinco again on third down, forcing the Bengals to punt to the Steelers.

8:05—Stefan Logan provides the Steelers with a nice 25-yard punt return to the Bengals 46 yard line. Should be interesting to see if the Steelers can take advantage of the great field position this drive.

7:41—Rashard Mendenhall opens the drive with a 10-yard run and a first down for the Steelers, helping them get closer to at least field goal range.

7:00—Roethlisberger may be one of the best quarterbacks in the league when it comes to scrambling around before throwing the ball down the field. In what appears to be a lost play, he finds Holmes for a 21-yard pass to move to the Bengals 15.

4:54—The Steelers get lucky as Roethlisberger looks for Holmes in the end zone and almost throws an interception with two Bengals defenders present. A big third down play coming up here.

4:46—Fenene comes up with his second sack of the day for the Bengals, preventing the Steelers from finding the end zone and settling for a field goal. With 4:13 left in the first half, this game has lived up to the hype so far with the Bengals and Steelers tied 6-6.

4:06—Another key injury for this game. This time, it's on the Bengals side as the announcers just told the audience that Benson is questionable to return with a hip strain.

4:02--Okay, so Benson already appears to be back in the game for the Bengals. It's obvious something is wrong with his hip and it shows in his run. If Benson is out, it will be a huge hit for the Bengals.

3:05—The Steelers defense applies the pressure to Palmer and brings him down for the 10-yard loss as James Harrison is credited with the sack. The Bengals are forced to punt again, giving the Steelers less than three minutes to move the ball down field before halftime.

1:55—Roethlisberger looks for Mike Wallace deep down the field, but the pass is incomplete. Along with the incomplete pass, Miller is called for offensive holding, pushing the Steelers back to their own 24-yard line.

1:44--The Steelers catch a huge break as Roethlisberger goes deep to Wallace and draws the pass interference on Ndukwe. The gamble by Roethlisberger results in a 46-yard penalty and puts them deep in Bengals' territory.

00:59—Roethlisberger finds Ward in the middle of the field for another first down. Now the Steelers are looking at a 1st-and-goal at the Bengals 8 yard line.

00:50—What a big play for the Bengals defense as they get to Roethlisberger for the fourth time today. Robert Geathers records his first sack of the day for the Bengals.

00:16—The Bengals catch a break as Holmes is unable to bring the ball down in the end zone on third down, forcing Reed to kick another field goal. A field goal is better than a touchdown any time on defense, and the Bengals have to be pleased that the Steelers' lead in 9-6 instead of 13-6.

00:00—The Bengals decide not to risk anything and just kneel to run the clock out. At halftime, the Bengals trail the Steelers 9-6 in a battle for first place in the AFC North.

Dan Parzych is the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Questions? Comments? Email him at djp746@gmail.com

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