Week 12 Preview: The Divisional Impostor

In an shady warehouse along the Hudson River near New York City, Raven and Steeler sit on crates and smoke cigars under the only light in the joint. The door slams shut and in struts New York Jets himself. He pulls up his own crate and the three get down to business.

"We want you in our club," Steeler mumbles without looking up.
"Yeah, we like your style, kid," squeals Raven.
"Why me?" asks NYJ in his best raspy, fat-guy voice.
"Cause you're a big power team with a hardcore defense—we like that." says Steeler.
"Who would I replace?"
Raven and Steeler look at each other and smile.
"The Bengals," they say in unison.
"Oh yeah, didn't they beat you both last year...twice. And you, Raven, you got it again this season, right?" giggles Jets.
"Shut up, Jets! You want to be the Baltimore Ravens and you know it!"
"You can't prove that!" Jets screams.

And all three beat each other up to prevent the deal from getting done after all.

They have a point though. The Jets are more like an AFC North team than the Bengals are anymore. Last year, the Bengals trampled through the wrecked debris of a dominated division with their fists and their spirit, but all that might and power has evaporated now, yet the Jets grow stronger and even more difficult to beat. The venom toward that smelly, gangrenous Super Bowl contender in green that we Bengal fans had stored up for them last year, still exists. That's the only reason the Thanksgiving Game matters: because the Jets have become a hated team and beating a hated team feels extra-special.

Jets offense vs. Bengals defense

Continuing on the AFC North comparison, this year's Jets offense reminds me very much of the 2005 Steelers. They are resolutely committed to the run and want to limit the times Mark Sanchez needs to make plays, but they still like to go deep when they can and embrace the intangible chaos of the trick play.

The Bengals secondary is onion-paper thin and the front office is checking Monster.com for somebody to play in the nickel. With Braylon Edwards, now improved by catching one out of five passes thrown his way, and Santonio Holmes, arguably the hottest receiver in football right now, the holiday could be a long one for the Cincinnati pass-defense. I would like to think that the defensive brain-trust would play their corners deep to not allow passes over their heads against two explosive receivers, but obvious focal points like Roddy White and Steve Johnson seemed overlooked on the priority list, so don't be surprised to see them get fried by the expected culprit once more. Of course, a young and inexperienced secondary would be assisted by a decent pass rush but we all know that isn't likely to happen and there's no reason to beat up the defensive line anymore—they know who they are.

It's because of the deep attention Edwards and Holmes should receive that will allow Dustin Keller and LaDainian Tomlinson to find space underneath, and this is where I expect the Jets to find most of their first downs.

The linebackers so far are having a bad year. When they blitz, they are rarely effective, they take poor angles in the open field, and their lack of speed becomes a serious liability in coverage. There have been a few shining moments by each guy at some point over the past 10 games but nothing consistent enough to call adequate. Since they aren't fast, they must recognize plays quicker and react fast enough to make the play. It hasn't happened enough this season. If the Jets have watched their tape, they know they can find open areas in the flats where the linebackers struggle to get to on time. In fact, I can already see Sanchez faking the hand off on a stretch play, rolling out to his right, drawing the safeties back deep with a pump fake and finding Keller open on a crossing pattern for a big third and long conversion. The linebackers don't change direction well and this kind of fake draws them in nearly every time. To keep the Jets off of the field, the second-tier needs to cover the underneath receivers and make open-field plays. Missed tackles and slow recognition won't get it done.

Obviously, the whole passing game takes a back seat to the run in the Jets offense. LT looks like he's found a new spark in the Big Apple, and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has carved out a nice spot for him to fit into. Power-back Shonn Greene still gets a good amount of carries, but his explosiveness seems to have stabilized some compared to his play during the playoffs last year. They like to get their linemen out in the open field and run off-tackle, and even add a good amount of razzle-dazzle with their wildcat formations featuring Brad Smith.

Last week, the Bengals run defense looked tired and unwilling to tackle Fred Jackson as the game went on. Often times, defenders were just a tad too slow closing gaps in running lanes. This breakdown mightily contributed to the debacle that unfolded in the second half on Sunday. A repeat performance will almost certainly lead to another loss.

Bengals offense vs. Jets defense

The Jets aren't trying to trick anybody with their defense. Their going to blitz as much as they can get away with, and just because Jim Leonard is small, he can sack a much bigger quarterback with no problem. I've always felt that Leonard is an underrated pass-rusher. Sure he doesn't have the Freeney Spin move, or the Trent Cole up-and-under, but he finds clear paths to the QB whenever he's asked to blitz from his safety spot—which is often.

Plus, Carson Palmer has average pocket-presence...at best. They know they can rattle him with a few shots to the face-mask and if it means a penalty, so be it. The Bengal's offensive line also had a tough second half last week and a few of these guys have plummeted in value over the course of the year. The Steelers and Ravens are certainly tough, but the Jets are both unfamiliar (to some degree) and relentless with their blitzes. Carson is already beat up; his protection must be strong for him to survive.

If he does have time, he might have to look for the slot guys. The Jets have arguably the best corner tandem in the game and testing Darrelle Revis is bad for quarterback ratings. Antonio Cromartie is a larger corner who matches up well with Terrell Owens. Like I have continually promoted, get the ball to the rookies in clutch situations instead of forcing the ball to the high-paid receivers and drives will carry on. Instead of going deep and risking negative effects, check off and get a new set of downs. When to be patient and when to attack always seems backwards in this offense; hopefully that doesn't happen again on Thanksgiving.

When the Bengals do give it to Cedric Benson, he must secure the ball and keep from fumbling. Suddenly he has ball-security issues and his fumbles are quickly becoming a problem. Chris Perry was cut altogether because of a similar illness. Fumblitis: it can happen to the best of us. The problem is, Benson is a free-agent next year and every fumble costs him serious money. We could, of course, mix it up more with the other backs, but I say that every week and am beginning to sound like a parrot.

Pre-snap penalties, bad passes, dropped passes and turnovers are the things that are keeping this offense from winning more games. It's been an ugly display of self-flagellation and low self-esteem issues all season long and only they can help themselves.

Conclusion

So even if they are more AFC North than us and even if they are one of the premier teams in the conference, I want them to lose because I really dislike them and I would take joy in knowing that our team brought them anger and regret. I know that isn't really in the spirit of the holiday and that it kind of makes me a vindictive ass, but when your team is holding down the very bottom of the AFC, people can get ugly. Even on Thanksgiving. Nonetheless, I am a fan—not an idiot—so, for yet another week, I give you another reason to shake your head in despair at this team.

Jets 23, Bengals 14


Mojokong—eh, who's watching anyway. Most of us will be asleep by then.

Week 11 Recap: Crap Out

The collapse against the Buffalo Bills was a perfect microcosm for the Bengals' season as a whole. In the first half, Cincinnati showed off all of its artillery and star-power, as they racked up yardage, defensive plays and points. It was a harmonious collection of talent that, for one half, felt like the Bears game of last year.

However, the team reverted to form after halftime and let things get totally out of control. By the final whistle they had blown a 31-14 lead at halftime and lost by 18 points! A new low of the season was accomplished and the greater-Cincinnati area exhaled a familiar sigh.

For the record, here is how the second half went for the Bengals: allowed a Bills touchdown on the opening possession, fumbled the ball away for a touchdown return, threw an interception in the end-zone which led to a touchdown, went 3-and-out followed by a badly shanked punt (23 yards), missed a field goal, threw another interception that led to another touchdown, and finally, played the backup quarterback.

This team has either packed it in for the year, or they're simply awful, or both. Regardless, the loss to the now 2-8 Bills was the death-blow to the season and has forced the wounded and shaken Bengal fans to look ahead to the next draft and beyond—if there even is such a thing.

If you want to look at the positives in this game, think of how good the win was for Buffalo. They are now officially on a win-streak and have to be feeling good about the way their team is playing. The Bills are a competitive bunch who have a horrendous record but manage to stay competitive without tripping over their own feet. Like Cleveland, they play hard and seem like they genuinely care—that's more than we can say about our team.

Bill Walsh believed that one group can only be effective for so long before the dynamic wears off and the group becomes complacent. I think that's what has happened in Cincinnati. It is now abundantly apparent that a major overhaul is needed within this organization. Besides the few rookies and free agents the team acquired in the off-season, this was largely the exact same team as last year. People talked of making the damned Super Bowl!

Maybe their philosophical approach to the season was based on grandiose expectations. Maybe their adjustments (or lack thereof) were misguided. Or maybe the players simply didn't want it as badly as last year. I'm still not sure which reason it is, but I am sure that everything this season has gone to hell in a tiger-striped hand-basket and that if this were any other NFL team, heads would roll. As it is here, we, as fans and simple townspeople, are afraid of which path our local team's leadership will decide upon. The worse of those fears, it seems, is that no path will be chosen at all. What if Mike Brown comes to a fork in the road and just sits down? The same-old, same-old will not do!


Mojokong—put Marvin upstairs, remove Bratkowski, and trade Carson for a swashbuckler.

Week 11 Preview: Where The Buffalo Roam

Here come the Buffalo Bills! Two small market teams with old-guard owners will get together this weekend in Cincinnati and play a friendly game of football where one team is likely to improve on its dismal record while the other feels that much worse about itself. Bills fans are excited about the chance of winning in back-to-back weeks, while Bengals fans eye this game as their team's best chance at ending the current six-game losing streak. It could very well turn out to be an exciting game that comes down to the end between two quarterbacks who are close friends and former teammates. There are some quality story lines in the match-up this week, but the game is blacked out and there are so few of us who still care anyway. A game played in darkness—what a shame.

Rant About Television Blackouts (feel free to skip down)

Not that I blame anyone for not wanting to fork over $65 and up for a ticket to see two non-playoff caliber teams. Instead, I blame the blackout rules and the men who profit from them. Rather than preventing millions to watch because thousands won't attend, why don't teams partner with cable networks and offer the game as a pay-per-view program? If you have the NFL ticket, then you are paying for just that, but even that prevents the buyer from watching in-market blacked out games. Of course, I don't know the business ins-and-outs of the contract-law universe and I am sure that my ignorance prevents me from understanding why that wouldn't work, but going to an NFL game is overrated when you can watch it at home and get good replays with the company you prefer. I'd rather watch my team on television as they play in an empty stadium rather than not watch them at all. In fact, we can scale the stadiums down to nothing and watch the Bills and Bengals play a regular-season game at Georgetown, Kentucky, and pay to watch it on television instead of cramming into a huge, overpriced place for more than a full-day's work. If that could happen, owners couldn't screw cities with stadium taxes and threats to move elsewhere—move anywhere you want, just give me the option of seeing the games on television. After all, if everyone in Cincinnati is paying taxes on the team's stadium, they should be able to see home games on TV no matter what. Gimmie a break.

On to the game.

Bills offense vs. Bengals defense

We know Ryan Fitzpatrick; he's a rascally gunslinger with accuracy and arm-strength issues. He can be fun to watch when he's found an offensive rhythm and heartbreaking when he can't hit his target at all. He's not a pure passer but he's quick and gritty for a quarterback—a very poor man's Steve Young. I've always rooted for him because, despite his Ivy League history, he lacks that pretty-boy sheen that the QB fraternity embraces. It seemed to me that when the Bengals (finally) adjusted their offense toward his skill-set, they found out that they were a good ball-control and power-run team. That philosophical shift worked well from about Week 9, 2008 to Week 13, 2009 where it amassed a 13-6-1 record during that stretch. What it also showed was that Carson Palmer was more effective in the Fitzpatrick-mold of the Bengals offense rather than the Palmer-mold. Interesting.

Fitzpatrick's current offense is sort of a free-wheeling one where Fitzy has license to take shots down-field or use his legs to pick up first downs. The group is loaded with some explosive talent and has found a bit of a stride lately. There are two Buffalo players that I have noticed for the first time and one of them is receiver Steve Johnson. I don't know much about his past, but this year Johnson has found stardom with Fitzpatrick. He seems reliable around the sidelines, is fast and has some flashy open-field moves. His success has led to Lee Evens seeing less double teams and has also benefited the numbers of third-receiver Roscoe Parrish. The Bengals secondary will have to make Johnson their top-priority while staying mindful of Parrish on short crossing routes and bubble screens. As for Evens, I would be fine with keeping Johnathan Joseph on him in single coverage and live with the consequences.

The Bills also employ a nice running-back tandem of Fred Jackson and rookie C.J. Spiller. Jackson is not as fast as Spiller but is good at picking up at least some yards on every carry. He has nice cutback runs and reminds me a little of Chicago's Matt Forte. Buffalo doesn't run nearly as much as their opponents do, but that stat is likely skewed from a 1-8 team throwing more often on comeback attempts—Bengal fans know how that feels. Fitzpatrick himself racks up a good deal of rushing yards on his scrambles, and on third down, that is something the Bengals must be mindful of. Overall, I would think Zimmer might concern himself more with stopping the pass than worrying about the run, but if these guys start ripping off big chunks of yardage and Spiller busts loose for a big one, an adjustment should be made. Hopefully the linebackers keep up their tough play from last week and continue to look active and aggressive. Good play from that group could obscure the difficulties in other parts of the defense.

This Bills team is capable of putting up yards, but they can also be derailed quickly if Fitzpatrick's wild improvisation can be contained. The Bengals should have a handle of what their old backup can do; they should bait him and spring the trap once they know he can't resist.

Bengals offense vs. Bills defense

The other guy I have noticed this season in Buffalo is defensive tackle Kyle Williams. This is a hard-working individual who isn't the tallest or fattest in the league, but gets a good push into the pocket on passes and plays his running lanes very well by staying low. The good news for Cincinnati is that Williams missed practice time this week with a bothered hamstring and may not suit up on Sunday. Who becomes the next priority on that defensive line is hard to say—no one really grabs the eye, so this might be a team that the Bengals can pound with Benson up the middle.

Another good player for the Bills is Paul Posluszny who has put together a very nice four seasons and arguably has the squarest head in the league. In the limited Bills action I've seen this year, No. 51 is always on the screen making something happen. You will probably notice him this week too—oh, that's right, you won't. My bad.

And in their secondary, the Bills feature the hard-hitting Donte Whitner and good cover man, Leodis McKelvin. They also have the promising safety, Jairus Byrd, who had nine interceptions last year but has zero so far in 2010—funny how that works. Collectively, this group is good enough make the Bills the seventh-ranked pass defense and should be hungry for an errant throw by Palmer, or a pass allowed into coverage by Terrell Owens.

If Buffalo can at least slow the run and get a few picks, they should win the game. For the Bengals to reverse that outcome they should, a) get both running backs involved with not only runs but also screen plays and check-offs, b) use their possession-receiving rookies, Jermaine Gresham and Jordan Shipley on third downs, and c) not force the ball to their superstars if any part of the play breaks down.

Both TO and Chad make big plays—it's what has made their careers great—but when they're targeted and they can't pull it in, it always seems somewhat disastrous. I don't want to sound like I am not appreciative of the amazing things they do for their team, but when they are targeted and can't convert, the play rarely goes for a harmless incompletion that sets up second or third down. Instead, the ball is either intercepted, missed for a huge play, or leads to a fourth down. They are hall-of-fame caliber players, but despite their heavy statistical production, they have been unreliable and it's killing the team. That's why instead of going their way in crucial moments, I think they should look for the supporting cast more. Once TO, Chad and Palmer have proven they can consistently be on the same page, then you look for the great ones to make the important plays. Otherwise, they're wasting downs in crunch-time.

I know what some of you are saying. TO and Chad have combined for tons of yards and touchdowns, how can I blame them? Because sometimes doing it often is less important than doing it when it counts the most.

Special Teams

I include this segment this week because the Bengals will unveil a kicker I have never seen before. If they find themselves in a situation like 4th & 4 at the Bills 32, they may just want to go for it rather than try out this new, mysterious leg. The kick-coverage will also be worth monitoring. Chances are, this game will be a low-scoring one and that field position will matter perhaps a little more than usual. If Aaron Pettrey kicks short kickoffs or starts missing field goals, I say we let Chad give it a go.

Conclusion

Many of us will see the action of the game after the fact. It will be surreal watching a Bengals game for the first time and already knowing the outcome. If the Bengals lose this one, the entire organization may just emotionally check out and let the season rot—if that hasn't happened already. A win, however, could propel the men in stripes to an unfathomable stretch of seven wins in a row, a wild-card birth and an eventual Super Bowl championship! And it all starts this weekend! Here come the Buffalo Bills!

Bengals 14, Bills 9



Mojokong—covering my wagons.

Week 10 Recap: Positively Meaningless

When a team is bad, the positives of a loss become more celebrated. Winning teams don't like anything about a loss. It stinks. The Bengals, however, are now back at the kiddie table and are grasping for any nice thing at all to be said about them.

Here are a few.

The defense against the Colts was unexpectedly masterful. Not only did a pass rush exist, I witnessed on more than one occasion where individual player's moves effectively hurried - and even once sacked - Peyton Manning. The run defense was good, the banged-up secondary played well, and Dhani Jones finally deserves some credit on a job well done - for as much crap as I give the guy, I have to give him props when he earns it, and he did just that on Sunday.

Also, the rookie receivers continue to show some real upside to their careers. Not only does Jordan Shipley show veteran-like comfort within a pro-style offense (unlike another once-promising receiver drafted by the Bengals who has one career catch in three seasons and wears No. 89), but fellow rookie Jermaine Gresham plays with an aggression that makes him appear eager and ambitious when put into action. Gresham plays almost too hard as he forgets to coral the ball before setting his sight on a defender to hit. It's as if being big and hard to tackle are more important than being a reliable ball-carrier. He needs to work on remembering the value of the ball, but otherwise, this guy is a gem.

More good stuff that came from Sunday includes Brian Leonard's long rumble on a weird, fake-punt-wildcat kinda thing in the first half, followed by the prettiest play of the season and possibly of any pass between Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco - of course it was called back because of a penalty. Right after Leonard busted through a big hole on 4th-and-1 and ran 45 yards, Carson faked the stretch hand-off, rolled to his right, heaved a long arching pass to Chad in the end zone who leaped up and pulled it in on his way to the turf. Despite its lack of impact on the game, it was truly a thing of beauty, and made me smile.

The last positive derives from a recurring negative. After the game, Terrell Owens admitted that he let up on Palmer's interception in the fourth quarter. This marks the third time that his lack of effort has resulted in a pick which has either clinched or greatly contributed to a Bengals loss. However, it was refreshing to hear him say so - if that actually means anything to any of you.

While I'm on this rant, it must be written, yet again, that TO simply does not exert more energy than he deems necessary on the long passes thrown his way, and in my book, that is not okay. The one that fell to the turf against Indy appeared to be literally within arms reach, but Owens demonstrated the alligator arms that he pulls out on the long ball and simply let the pass go incomplete. Unless the ball is delivered within foot radius of his hands, he has no qualms with where it ends up. TO has been remarkably productive this season - far exceeding my expectations of him - however, he is single-handedly responsible for at least two Bengal losses this season due to his lack of effort on passes thrown slightly away from him. All he has to do is move slightly further in one direction and less bad things would happen to his team. This drives me crazy and has to privately have the same effect on Carson. If I were Palmer, I would look elsewhere late in games.

So as for the positives, that's all I have. At the end of the day, it was another wild comeback attempt that came up short - nothing new. The team still suffers from self-imposed mistakes like pre-snap penalties and an abundance of turnovers. The talent on this team is like an old fluorescent light bulb that flickers on and off, but never stays on long enough to get anything worthwhile accomplished. This is a team that has all the correct parts but the assembly instructions are written in Japanese, or something. In August, they put some high expectations on themselves and now their collective spirit must be in fragments. Some brave souls among the Bengals dared to murmur the words "Super Bowl" in reference to where they thought they would end up, but now even an invitation to the post-season tournament is practically impossible.

I feel that the Marvin Lewis & Carson Palmer experiment is out of funding. It's been eight years with a 25 percent success rate, and any intrigue to how the results will fare in the future with more testing is gone. Why should we care anymore? This is an old team with no direction but down. Not to say that there aren't salvageable parts for the next mad professor - there are some real bright spots among the rusted has-beens, but as for this current group, it's now a waiting game to see how long it is before they're asked to put their things into a cardboard box and leave the premises. Most of the men involved are still quality players and coaches who have real chances of catching on somewhere else, but I don't feel they have any more potential to fulfill. The 2010 Bengals have become a team that is simply finishing out their term and auditioning for future suitors. It was a good run, more than any other sustained group can say in the Mike Brown era, but it has run its course. All of these failed comeback efforts this season speak to that sentiment.

Mojokong - no blackouts to this blog!

Week 10 Preview: Hopeless

The last time the Bengals were in Indianapolis, they were trounced by the Colts but afterward experienced a transformation that made them into a quality team for a season and a half. Things have come full circle for Cincinnati as they head back to Indy as a bad team once more.

The biggest difference between the disappointing campaign of 2008 and the one we see today is that the franchise quarterback, Carson Palmer, is healthy enough to start. When Ryan Fitzpatrick was under center, the Bengals didn't have the confidence to regularly win games; in 2010, it's anyone's guess as to why the team can't get it together with Palmer as their man.

As for the Colts, well, they don't change much. Even with a multitude of important players on the disabled list, Peyton Manning continues to rack up the wins. He's a craftsman at his trade and makes anyone standing near him a more talented person. He remains the figure-head of a well-ran organization that is nicely composed by general manager, Bill Polian. As long as both of these men are with the Colts, Indianapolis is a Super Bowl contender year in and year out.

This week's game should exemplify the competency level of each franchise. The Colts, undermanned and relying on key backups, will likely play smart by emphasizing their strengths of the no-huddle offense and an intense pass-rushing defense. The Bengals, on the other hand, are more likely to continue to perplex their fans by ignoring the no-huddle passing offense until they have no choice once they have fallen behind, and allow Manning to carve them up through the air by dropping back linebackers and safeties into coverage rather than blitz. I don't expect the game to be close, and it would not surprise me if Palmer is forced out of the game from multiple hard hits.

Colts offense vs. Bengals defense

With no discernible pass rush coming from anyone on the Bengals defense, Peyton Manning should have plenty of time in the pocket, which makes it nearly impossible to beat him. As the master at line audibles and last-second adjustments, Manning probably knows how the Bengals will defend him before they even do, and that makes the battle that much more uphill. If Zimmer feels aggressive and blitzes No. 18, he has a chance of disrupting the Colts machine but if anyone misses a tackle or are simply too slow to cover their man, it can turn into big plays and points in a hurry. Regardless, defenses must try to get Manning on the ground because he is simply too good to dare to throw into coverage.

One of the mismatches the Colts will look for is their backup-made-starter tight end, Jacob Tamme, working against the Bengal linebackers who are simply terrible in coverage. Tamme has subbed in for pro-bowler Dallas Clark masterfully, catching 17 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the past two weeks. He has good hands, runs routes well and has the quarterback to maximize his potential to the fullest. I expect Tamme to have another big day, especially on third down and in the red zone. Other injured weapons include Anthony Gonzalez, Austin Collie and Joseph Addai, but the Colts have proven time and again that as long as Manning is healthy, they can win throwing to just about anyone.

Of course, Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon are still healthy and each will be a handful for a cornerback tandem once considered elite but slipping in that category thanks to some recent sloppy performances. Even if those two are covered most of the game, Manning will still find a way to get them the ball, and slot receiver Blair White is likely to see some passes thrown his way as well. Essentially, there is no shutting down the Colts offense. Remove one guy from the picture and watch the others rack up big days. That being said, the Bengals would be wise to prevent Wayne and Garcon from killing them and take their chances on backups like White and Tamme.

The Colts are also effective running the ball because the pass is so dangerous. None of their backs are the most physically impressive and Addai is the only one with a good amount of productive experience, but complimentary backs Mike Hart and Donald Brown often gain good yardage in key moments because so much running space is allowed from overcompensating for the pass. Manning knows when to check off to the run better than anyone and when he sees a crack in the run defense, he attacks it. I wouldn't count on a 100-yard rusher emerging in this game, but expect the Colts to pick up a healthy yards-per-run average.

Bengals offense vs. Colts defense

The biggest thing to worry about concerning the Indianapolis defense is their speedy ends, Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney. Leave either of these players in single protection and you run a great risk getting your quarterback hammered. Palmer has a sore throwing shoulder which forced him to miss some practice time this week. Andre Smith broke his fat foot again this week and is lost for the year. If his replacement, Dennis Roland, or the line's captain, Andrew Whitworth, lose containment on the sack specialists of the Colts, Palmer may end up with an ice pack wrapped around his shoulder and watching his brother run around for his life in this game. Nobody wants to see that.

If the Bengals are able to protect well, then, like always, the Bengals should go to the air. The coaching staff insists on “establishing the run” in practically every circumstance—including last week against the best run-stuffers in the business—but the Colts aren't especially great against the run so it may not be a bad idea to give it a try this week. The problem is, the Colts offense is likely to get points early on which would force the hand of the infamous Bengal play-caller which I will not mention by name. The Bengals are at their best when they get into attack mode in the passing game, and I would come out blazing with the pass to try and get a lead. If that can be achieved, then I would run the ball once the secondary is on their heels. Establish the pass to set up the run. That way, even if the Colts are putting up points, the offense has a chance to match tit for tat. If Cincinnati tries to use clock and play for field goals early in the game, they may not have the time or element of surprise to make a reasonable comeback.

It has been said that the reason Chad Ochocinco has seen his production fall off, is because he is constantly double-teamed. This occurrence has benefited Terrell Owens and to a lesser degree, Jordan Shipley too. I know Chad is frustrated with this, but it's important not to force the ball to him in order to appease him. First off, Chad needs to prove that he is still a reliable target when he does get passes thrown to him because he hasn't managed to pull in his trademark sideline passes much at all this season. To me, it appears he has created a weird mental construct that is keeping him from succeeding; it reminds me of a hitting slump. If he can find his “happy place” and clear his mind of all the negative energy he has recently collected, he can return to being the Chad Johnson we all enjoyed in the past.

Speaking of Shipley, though, it is refreshing to see a player become the most reliable receiver on the team in his first year. While TO may be the most productive, and Chad the most high-profile, it is Shipley that has come up with the drive-sustaining catches the most this season. I think the Wes Welker comparisons are actually coming true and you can just sense that Carson feels really comfortable throwing the ball his way. It would behoove the Bengals to keep up the philosophy that when the going gets tough, the tough go to Shipley.

And, as always, play Bernard Scott more.

Conclusion

For a good team, winning in Indianapolis is extremely difficult. For the mediocre to bad ones, it's damn near impossible. Even less so than last week, there is no sensible reason why the Bengals should win this game. They are mentally and emotionally in the dumps, their hopes for a playoff run are ruined, their fans don't like them very much right now, they seem old and slow, their coaching philosophy is stale and tired, and they're traveling to play one the best teams in the league. I will watch the game, root them on and hope for a win, but I don't think the Bengals have a chance in hell.


Colts 31, Bengals 13


Mojokong—the Sheriff takes on the town drunkard.

Week 9 Recap: More Than Just One Game

A thrilling loss, like the one witnessed Monday night, isn't the worst thing to happen to a young, up-and-coming team—too bad the Bengals are anything but that. The theme of rallying back from deficits only to come up short in the end is already a tired one for this bunch. Unfortunately, it seems it's their only trademark and there simply aren't any more options to explore. Despite the shiny facade and previous accolades, this Cincinnati Bengals team before us is simply not any good, and the worst part is, their future somehow looks even worse.

The prime-time loss to the hated Steelers hurt more than just eliminating Cincinnati from any realistic playoff chances (as if that hadn't happened two weeks ago). It represented more than the epic failure and tremendous disappointment that this year's team has given us. When walking out of Paul Brown Stadium that night, one could feel the wave of deflation and forfeiture that those wearing striped clothing gave off. Those waving yellow towels and profanely abusing the home crowd, met no resistance to their mockery. What could a Bengals fan say? In a flash, Bengaldom time-warped back to 2002 and everyone knew it.

Everyone knew it.

This is an organization out of answers. Its stubborn, backward business motto has finally reached a crescendo of ineptitude that, without change to a more modern approach, was inevitable. A wise man recently pointed out to me how the Bengals were never good, but only lucky when they were able to achieve success. And while I stand behind the belief that playoff years are good years no matter how you slice it, I can no longer disagree.

Since 1991, the Bengals have never experienced two winning seasons in a row and have only made the playoffs twice in that span. No organizational move, including hiring Marvin Lewis or drafting Carson Palmer, has led to any real sustained success. This has gone on too long to not define it as anything else than failed policy. It has become more fact than opinion—the Bengals stink.

So what do we do? We like football but our favorite team is back to the familiarity of circling the drain. Do we hope for more losses for a better draft pick and further cause for sweeping changes in the offseason? Do we just want the Bengals to win games no matter who is in charge or what their record is? Will some of us turn our backs to the NFL altogether and spitefully hope for a lockout to transpire?

No one knows exactly how Joe Bengalfan will continue living with a Mike Brown-led team, but it's already expected that the upcoming home game against the Bills will not sell out, and for the first time in 57 chances, Cincinnati will not have the privilege of watching their home team play football. If that keeps up for the remaining home games, it may send Brown a message that his constituency's support for him and his club is waning. However, after surviving (comfortably) throughout the dark ages (1991-2003), it makes no sense to think that Brown really cares about sellouts or any other form of fan loyalty.

The man wants to win, but admits he wants to do it his way. Therefore it's up to that man to come to grips with the fact that his way does not work and that a new way—another man's way—is needed to win. The needless suffering, mockery, and well-deserved inferiority complex this city has gone through for 19 years could end with one person admitting they're wrong. I think I speak for many Bengals fans when I say that losing is okay if there is a perceivable commitment to do better. As it is now, we all basically hope to get lucky every year, seeing how no real organizational changes ever take place. In other words, if Cincinnati was 2-6 with a young, rebuilding team composed of promising, well-coached prospects, then I would tell everyone I know that things will get better and to be patient. Instead, we have veterans at nearly every position, most of whom have inexplicably decreased in their skill set in a year's time, we have all the same coaches that we've had for a good, long while and all the above simply looks terrible right now.

As for me, I plan on finishing out the season with the Bengals and seeing what happens in the early half of 2011. I would be lying if I said I wasn't eying other teams to spend my autumn Sundays with, and I always knew that Mike Brown would eventually become a deal-breaker, but I'm afraid that day is approaching faster than I expected. In the meantime, I, like so many of you, will gape at my television, scratch my head and drive myself mad trying to find solutions to this broken machine called the Bengals. That is to say, find an alternative solution to the obvious one I have ignored for the past eight years: replace the owner.

Mojokong—we aren't bound to suffer. We have a choice.

Week 9 Preview: Bright Lights On An Empty Stage

Writing about the Bengals these days is like addressing a mostly-empty auditorium about the ins and outs of the tax code; those few in attendance are only half awake and not really listening. And why should they? There are more important things to think about like grocery lists and why the pennies in our change jars will outlive us all. Any musings about the men in stripes, as interesting as they may be in content, are now shrugged off as pointless hypothetical gibberish that bears little to no intrigue to anyone's everyday life.

Yet I am a committed writer who cannot and will not, turn back now. So for all the Mel's in this Flight-of-the-Concords-like endeavor still tuned in, the rest of this season is for you.

Because of last year's joy of a season, the Bengals this year were awarded three prime-time games, the first of which is upon us this Monday night. On one side is the Bengals who have labored through a four-game losing streak in October that felt like a sharp stick in the eye, on the other is the insufferable Pittsburgh Steelers who have prevailed despite missing their franchise quarterback for four of their seven games.

Before we move ahead, I need a quick word with all Steeler fans who will certainly take the time to dig this up and attempt to piss all over it—they're motivated in strange and spiteful ways.

Your team is great, there is no denying it. You have an exemplary organization that is committed to winning through sensible and efficient methods. You employ excellent coaching, scouting, and player personnel. You have a rock-solid fan base that will seemingly never desert you. It's no coincidence that you have won more Super Bowls than any other team.

We in Cincinnati envy you. We can only wish that the Kim Jung-Il of the NFL, Mike Brown, would change his policies even a little to emulate your ways. Alas, it is extremely unlikely that will ever happen. If you believe that some people in life are made to suffer, then in football terms, we Bengal fans are those unfortunate few. That being said, why even take the time to remind us of how awful we are? Why kick a dog when it's down?

Do some Bengal fans go overboard when their team occasionally does prevail? Of course—there are knuckleheads in every corner of the Earth. But should you pay any attention to them? Not until they too have won six Super Bowls which could take a hundred years or more to accomplish. What I'm saying is enjoy the catbird seat and please ignore those groveling at your feet. Your elitism only incites bitter anger in us because no matter what happens, we have no comeback for the infamous "six rings" rhetoric. So now that we have acknowledged just how superior you are to us, can we all just move ahead like adults?

Now, as for the Bengals chances in this one, well, they aren't good. As difficult as it is to identify any real weakness in the Steelers, it's equally challenging to find strengths in the Bengals. All the firepower we thought we had has proven to be in short supply. The hard-nosed gritty toughness we counted on has inexplicably dissipated. It seems like it's time to go back to the drawing board, but I'm afraid that Mike Brown didn't spend enough money on it either and now it's antiquated and broken down. Unlike in Pittsburgh, things in Cincinnati fall apart—quickly.

Nonetheless, the game must be played out and if the outcome of games were always certain, no one would bother with Las Vegas. Since both teams are composed of human beings, the unexpected has a chance to occur, and that, it seems, is the only unprotected area in the Steeler death star. The Bengals have played Pittsburgh tough the last few years, there are very few unknowns between the two teams, and the bright lights of nationally televised games sometimes brings out the best in the underdogs. Flimsy sources of hope, I know, but I am not a conjurer of cheap tricks. So there you have it.

Steelers offense vs. Bengals defense

When a team can win three out of four games with the second and third-string quarterbacks at the hlem, you know it's composed of workable parts. Now with their big-jawed gun-slinger back under center, the Steelers feel that they're back to title-contending form. As is the Steeler philosophy, Big Ben will likely never lead the league in passing yards. The offensive balance the Bengals organization seems hellbent on achieving, even when such an obsession is the cause for multiple losses, such balance comes naturally to Pittsburgh.

While Rashard Mendenhall is not the greatest back in Steeler history, he is capable of putting up big games and busting big runs. Their offensive line, a staple in the team's success over the years, has shored up nicely aided by the impressive development of rookie center Maurkice Pouncey. This unit has allowed Mendenhall, and complimentary back, Mewelde Moore, to compile a reasonable 117 yards per game so far this year.

The Bengals, meanwhile, have completely lost the credible rush defense it enjoyed last season. Slipping all the way to 23rd in the league, Cincinnati has bent and broken against the run in multiple games this year, all of which resulted in losses. If the Bengals even want a sniff of a chance to win this Monday, they must keep the Steelers rushing tandem to a modest day. If Ben Roethlisberger can finish the night without passing 30 or more times, he and his team are probably very happy of the game's outcome.

The Steelers don't seem to run as much trickery as they used to, so staying in run gaps and flowing to the ball should be a fairly straight forward assignment for the Bengal defense. The linebacker play for this team has slipped through mediocrity into the realm of unimpressive. The high draft picks of Rey Maualuga and Keith Rivers need to prove they can have more of a positive impact on games. Dhani Jones isn't likely to improve anymore as his body continues to slow down, but the others must step it up. Each man was a force in college. What happened to those days?

Against the pass, Mike Zimmer knows how to go after Big Ben. Even though the Bengals pass rush this season has been as fierce as a toothless kittens, Zimmer instructs his larger men to employ something he calls the pulse rush. Instead of just zooming toward Ben with reckless abandon, Zimmer wants his men to move forward then stop, then move again and stop again, and so on. The theory is that this prevents Ben from avoiding the initial pass rush, and keeps him from moving out of the pocket and improvising his way to first downs. If they can't get to Roethlisberger this way, they throw their hands in the air and try and knock down passes. This experiment went well in the second meeting between the two teams last season when the Bengals repeatedly sacked and deflected the passes of Big Ben. Unlike most quarterbacks in the league, daring Roethlisberger to stand in the pocket and throw in rhythm is the way to go.

When Ben does get the pass off, speedster Mike Wallace presents the most problems. Sure, Hines Ward is the consummate gamer who is locked in tune to Ben's thought processes and is always a candidate to have a big game, but it's Wallace that stretches out the defense and makes Ward's life easier. With many of the Bengal defensive backs ailing with numerous pains and injuries, a speedy deep threat is even that much more daunting. To allow Pittsburgh multiple long, sustained drives that eat up a lot of clock and wear out the defense is never a good thing for their opposition, but quick strikes to Wallace could put the game away in a hurry, and the Bengals are no stranger to that unfortunate circumstance this season.

In order for a severely disappointing defense to redeem itself in a big way against a very quality team, they must keep the rushing yards at a reasonable total, pressure but not overpursue Ben Roethlisberger and keep Wallace from getting deeper than the deepest defender. A turnover or two is also probably vital for any real success against Pittsburgh.

Bengals offense vs. Pittsburgh defense

One thing no one has been able to do this season is run on the Steelers. There are good run defenses and then there are blood-thirsty banshees who simply refuse to allow any decent ground momentum; Dick LaBeau's group is made up of the latter. How good are they? They allow 58.9 rushing yards a game. Second best? San Diego with 83.1 yards per game.

The typical game for Cedric Benson this season has been something like 20 carries for 70 yards. That doesn't impress that much as it is, but facing a defense like Pittsburgh's, it's conceivable to expect less than half of that rushing total. Of course the team does have another notable back, but the offensive powers that be for whatever reason prefer to keep Bernard Scott in the closet most of the time, wasting a perfectly good talent. It would be nice to see some more experimentation with the abilities of Mr. Scott, but I've said the same thing every week and nothing changes. Apparently my advice falls on deaf and stubborn ears within Paul Brown Stadium. A shame, really.

So if they can't run it, they'll have to pass it, which the stats show is the no-brainer way to go. As terrific as the Steelers are against the run, they aren't dominant against the pass, ranking a surprisingly low 25th in the league. Even more fortunate for the Bengals, is the fact that passing is what they're best doing.

If the drops can cease, or at least marginally subside, and if one aged yet productive receiver can display a tad bit more effort—especially on the deep ball—then, as repeated in nearly every blog post this season, the Bengals can pass on this team. The problem is, however, the Steelers attacking blitz scheme that has through the ages become world renown for its complexity and tenaciousness. If it isn't James Harrison, that rottweiler of a person who takes life's misery out on his opponents, then it's Lamar Woodley, a slightly less imposing hell-hound but still extremely problematic in his own right. And if LaBeau doesn't want these two wreaking the havoc, he can send the famed Troy Polamalu, or the other defensive backs to get in Carson Palmer's face and disrupt any passing rhythm that has proven scarce for the Bengals this season.

It doesn't help that Palmer is not prone to playmaking once he scrambles out of the pocket, if he is even able to do so at all. It also doesn't help that the offensive line has struggled at key moments this year and that the eternal hope the franchise has in Andre Smith has proven to be repeatedly misguided. Third-down plays have been abysmal for the Bengals and it appears that the problems there are so bad that the team's confidence in their ability to convert said scenarios are completely shot. When a group of people know it's possible to complete a task but repeatedly fail, they begin to wonder if that task has become impossible. I fear that effect has taken hold of the 11 players on offense. Jordan Shipley, a fine rookie who has exceeded my expectations, should not be the most reliable player to throw to on the entire team, yet he is.

Asking for good time in the pocket against Dick LaBeau is like asking an elected politician to erase an immense deficit in two year's time—it ain't happening. If the Bengals choose to live and die with the deep ball on Monday, they will likely die because there's no way the Steelers will drop back and wait for receivers to come free. Instead I expect Pittsburgh to send pressure and attempt to fluster Palmer into throwing into coverage on a hot read. That is why I feel it is imperative that Carson be comfortable checking down to underneath receivers and living another day.

The interception against Miami came on 2nd-and-10 and Palmer ignored a wide open Brian Leonard for at least six yards electing instead to squeeze one into Terrell Owens who simply watched the ball flutter past him. The same also happened with the second interception against Tampa Bay when Palmer again tried TO instead of a much easier pass to Jermaine Gresham. Checking down is not a defeatist decision, especially on second down. True, it often brings up third and short, and we've discussed how that can be something of a nightmare for this team, but I'd rather see if our players can break a tackle and get the first rather than force the ball into places it shouldn't be. Both Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson won Super Bowls regularly checking off. Just sayin'.

It should also go without saying at this point, that I feel the Bengals should go no-huddle on pretty much every drive, because they can't do anything when they don't, but since not every one gets it, I am hence stating that the Bengals should go no-huddle on every drive. Moving on.

Conclusion

I'd like to say that this is a big game for Cincinnati and its football team, but I feel they no longer have the luxury of being in big games. They're all just games. If they want to win, they would be wise to follow the ingredients laid out in this passage, but it's safe to say that this wisdom is not a virtue this team demonstrates. If they do win, I will be pleased, mainly because I despise the Steelers and everything about them, but I can't in good analytical sense pick that as a likely outcome. It pains me write this out, but I'm pretty sure the only games I can give the nod to the Bengals on are Buffalo and Cleveland, and even those aren't gimmies.

Steelers 28, Bengals 17


Mojokong—let's all drink to the death of a clown.

October Recap: One To Forget

October proved to be a black and dreary month for the Bengals. It was the part of the schedule that was supposed to propel them into early playoff contenders and make the season's daunting second half more approachable. Instead, the team quickly unraveled and the season seemed lost before it had a chance to get off the ground. Four games were lost in October, and not even the bye week could slow down the self-destruction. Marvin Lewis' troops looked confused and apathetic, his quarterback depleted of late-game magic, and the support of his owner conspicuously absent. What smelled like roses such a short time ago now stunk of lame duck.

It started with the mistake on the lake. The loss in Cleveland opened eyes and raised eyebrows of those suddenly questioning the legitimacy of this team. Strengths like strong running and quality defense were watered down into a tepid brew of mediocrity, and the obsession to stay balanced on offense obscured the brief moments of success using the no-huddle offense.

Then the Bengals failed to protect a seven point lead and gave up 10 points in the last three minutes to lose to the Buccaneers. What should have been a bounce-back game from the Cleveland debacle wound up as further evidence to support the growing theory that the Bengals just weren't very good anymore. For the first time ever, Cedric Benson rushed for over 100-yards and the Bengals lost on the same day. After five games, Cincinnati's record dropped to 2-3 and the team had yet to effectively combine its offense, defense and special teams well enough to win consistently. Like light-bulbs on a string of Christmas lights, a few bad connections ruined the entire operation and while it was only three losses, real concern began to drizzle down upon the Bengal community.

Fortunately, many Bengals fans told themselves, a bye week was next. Surely a week off would refocus the main objective for the players and coaches and they would return as new men who were forcefully dedicated to turning the season around. None of that, of course, was meant to be.

The following week in Atlanta, the players and coaches stared at a scoreboard that read they were down 24-3 at halftime. For the only time that month, the Bengals emerged from the locker room and looked like a credible team. With the help of the no-huddle once again (and a defensive fumble), Cincinnati stormed back and took the lead. For one marvelous quarter, the fight seemed back in these jungle cats. Then the fourth quarter rolled around and Benson fumbled the team's chances away.

Now the ire and frustrations of Bengal supporters reached desperate levels. The other teams in the division weren't losing, no particular player on the team appeared all that inspired, and the only response coming from Paul Brown Stadium concerning the losses was a reiteration that each member of the team had to work harder.

The next week, in a game the Bengals absolutely needed to win in order to keep the season from slipping through their fingers, they lost, 22-14 to Miami. Upon that outcome, the city could feel a wind of loyalty and intrigue blow out of Cincinnati. The people were no longer angry; instead, they slipped back into the casual-observer role who expects their team to lose from then on out. And that's where we stand now—defeated and resigned for future failure.

The leadership from the top down has once more been questioned. The assumption is that Marvin, in his own mind and spirit, has moved on from the Bengals. He will coach for the remainder of the season and find other employment once his contract is officially fulfilled. Chances are that he will find an organization that operates on a more standard day-to-day basis, and will, in all likelihood, have more success elsewhere.

His players are certainly playing like they're simply going through the motions. The best example of such an accusation resides in the play of arguably the most productive Bengal, Terrell Owens. At first glance, one may be inclined to defend TO—and the man has certainly earned his money—but if he put forth 100 percent of effort instead of 80, his team would have at least one more win this season.

In both the Miami and the Tampa Bay loss, his inability to fight for, or go after passes in the air, led to game-losing or game-tying interceptions by Carson Palmer. Last week, TO could have caught or at least incurred a pass-interference penalty on a long pass attempt in the end zone late in the game had he not just stood there with his arms held out awaiting a perfect pass. He is slow in and out of his breaks, is easily tackled around the legs, and doesn't bother with throws that aren't perfectly delivered his way.

On the other side, Chad Ochocinco seems to need yoga and meditation to get his mind clear enough to catch passes. For some reason, Chad and Carson have been unable to hook up on a regular basis—like they had for eight straight years—and especially when it matters the most, like on 3rd and short or on 2-point conversions.

The other factor that led to the loss against the Dolphins is the coaching decision to move away from the no-huddle after it had proven effective in the first half. The ability for the Bengals to properly adjust during a game is sadly lacking, but with no pressure from the general manager or the owner—in this case the same man—static play-calling can carry on undeterred, and so it goes.

How long the losing will continue is anyone's guess. The schedule gets harder, the injuries mount and the fan-base dwindles. Faith in an organizational turnaround is nil and many are already eying next season. At this point, if the defense can't improve and the coaches insist on balance and continue to resist using the no-huddle at practically all times, there's no reason to sugar coat the season as anything more than doom and gloom. In order to get a win, the men involved have to want a win, and at this point, I'm not totally convinced that's the case. Duck should not be served lame, but I'm afraid that's the only kind offered at the Bengals luncheons these days.


Mojokong—may the remainder of the winter be storybook or else.