Bengals-Vikings: Cincinnati Self-Destructs As Minnesota Rolls to a 30-10 Victory

The Bengals entered Sunday's game at Minnesota with a chance to officially clinch the AFC North title and show the rest of the NFL that they are indeed an elite team.

Neither happened, as Marvin Lewis saw his team play possibly its worst game of the season.

Penalties, mistakes, and a sputtering offense paved the way for a 30-10 Vikings victory.

Carson Palmer completed just 15 passes for 94 yards, one of the worst yardage games in his career. The only positive in the passing game was a 15-yard touchdown pass to Chad Ochocinco.

With 96 yards on 16 carries, Cedric Benson was able to go over the 1,000-yard mark on the season.

The defense, which has carried this team for the majority of the season, did not play all that well either. They allowed 30 points, including 142 yards on the ground.

The Bengals were penalized 11 times for 85 yards. Beating a team like the Vikings is a difficult task. Giving free yards away and expecting to beat them is virtually impossible. If the Bengals want a legitimate shot at advancing deep into the playoffs, they must stop giving teams yards because of mental mistakes.

Personal fouls, kickoffs that go out of bounds, and an inability to control the clock are certainly not the things I was hoping to see yesterday.

Pitiful performance? Yes.

A great season ruined as the Bengals sink back into the abyss of the NFL? No.

However, Cincinnati faces another playoff-bound team this week when they travel to San Diego. The Chargers are 10-3 and would receive a first-round bye if the playoffs started today.

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