Cincinnati Bengals

The New York Jets suppressed the home team Cincinnati Bengals Saturday in a 24-14 victory, despite giving up 171 yards on the ground.

After being shut out last week, the Bengals took advantage of early field position to take a 7-0 lead off a Carson Palmer pass to Laveranues Coles in the endzone. From there it was all Jets. Rookie QB Mark Sanchez completed 12 of his 15 passes for 182 yards, including a well-called bootleg where he found tight end Dustin Keller for 45 yards and a score. Sanchez was backed-up by 164 combined yards on the ground from rookie back Shonn Greene and veteran Thomas Jones. Most importantly, Sanchez didn't turn the ball over.

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week regular season, the Wild-Card round begins this afternoon with the rematch between NY Jets and Cincinnati Bengals, followed by what could be the game of the weekend. Philadelphia travels to Dallas for the third meeting this season between these NFC East rivals. Time for analysis and predictions! It's the Opening Drive of Wild-Card Saturday!

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he postseason, whether his other players agree with it or not.

(9-7) New York Jets 37
(10-6) Cincinnati Bengals 0

So the Bengals quit halfway through this game. Let's just get that out of the way. However, they quit after being blown up by the Jets defense. Carson Palmer made solid throws, but his receivers did nothing to help with their numerous drops. Mark Sanchez wasn't asked to do much as the Jets ran the ball 57 times for over 250 yards. Next week (in another wildcard round rematch), the Bengals won't be sitting Cedric Benson and will be throwing everything at the rookie Sanchez. 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 17"

Even at 3-12, I like the Chiefs to pull of the upset over their AFC West rival.

(10-5) Cincinnati Bengals at (8-7) New York Jets 

For the second straight week, Rex Ryan's Jets could be the beneficiaries of an opponent resting their starters. While I'm sure Bengals players would love to show what they can do against the league's top defense, there's a strong likelihood that these two teams will play again next week if the Jets win. Carson Palmer should not be out there for more than a half. If Mark Sanchez doesn't throw four interceptions against an underrated Bengal secondary, the Jets get this win.

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nd-down season in Buffalo, this could be a signature win to carry them over into next year.

(9-4) Cincinnati Bengals at (10-3) San Diego Chargers

In the most significant game of the weekend, San Diego and Cincinnati are essentially playing for the number two seed in the AFC and an additional home game in the playoffs. San Diego has been lighting teams up in December while the Bengals were just lambasted by Minnesota. After the tragic loss of Chris Henry, I can't believe the Bengals are going to have enough in the tank to head out west and win.

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Color me not impressed.

 

(11-2) Minnesota Vikings 30
(9-4) Cincinnati Bengals 10

After being thumped by the Cardinals, the Vikes took their frustrations out on the visiting Bengals. Carson Palmer did not break the 100-yard passing mark while Brett Favre let his defense do all the heavy-lifting. If Childress can give Favre some rest in the next few weeks, Minnesota will be in prime playoff position, even if they can't catch the Saints.

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I get it. 

(7-2) Cincinnati Bengals 18
(6-3) Pittsburgh Steelers 12 Okay, we all have to start accepting the Bengals as a legitimate AFC contender. Any team that beats Pittsburgh and Baltimore twice in one season thanks to their defense should be treated likewise. Have you noticed they’ve turned into a power-running team? That added to their defense a conference champion makes.

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Let’s wrap up week nine with the Final Drive!

(6-2) Cincinnati Bengals 17
(4-4) Baltimore Ravens 7

So the Bengals are 4-0 in their division. Who saw that coming? Joe Flacco was less than his usual efficient self while Carson Palmer aired it out enough to win. The real difference maker was the running game. Baltimore’s Ray Rice only carried the ball 12 times for 48 yards while Cedric Benson garnered 117 yards on 34 carries. Benson definitely grinded it out, but he’s had two 100+ yard rushing days against the Ravens defense. That can’t be ignored. Also hard to miss is that Bengals defense. Yikes.

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Let’s wrap up week nine with the Final Drive!

(6-2) Cincinnati Bengals 17
(4-4) Baltimore Ravens 7

So the Bengals are 4-0 in their division. Who saw that coming? Joe Flacco was less than his usual efficient self while Carson Palmer aired it out enough to win. The real difference maker was the running game. Baltimore’s Ray Rice only carried the ball 12 times for 48 yards while Cedric Benson garnered 117 yards on 34 carries. Benson definitely grinded it out, but he’s had two 100+ yard rushing days against the Ravens defense. That can’t be ignored. Also hard to miss is that Bengals defense. Yikes.

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ld you be watching? Find out in the Opening Drive of week nine!

(4-3) Baltimore Ravens at (5-2) Cincinnati Bengals

With the Ravens, Bengals and Steelers all making a case for their place atop the AFC North, this game will go a long way in deciding the final two. If Baltimore is swept by Cincinnati, they’ll drop back to .500 while the Bengals and Steelers fight it out. The Ravens dominated Denver in the second half of last week’s game, thanks to Joe Flacco’s efficiency with the football. He’ll need a repeat performance if he’s going to keep up with Carson Palmer, who is playing on a Pro Bowl level. Both offenses have depending on a balanced attack, so look for each defense to shut down the run.

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I won’t punish you by going over every thing the Bears did wrong on Sunday. I don’t have that much time to write and I already punished myself by watching the game off my DVR after having heard the slaughter on the radio Sunday. Instead, let me explain what you can learn from their 45-10 beatdown at the hands of Carson Palmer, Cedric "holding a grudge" Benson and the Bengals. 

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At 3-2, my Chicago Bears are in better shape than I would have predicted going into the season. That being said, I’ll still be upset if they lose in Cincinnati Sunday afternoon. Despite holding a lead in the AFC North, the Bengals are a beatable team. Let’s get right down to it in my Gameday Preview! 

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The Final Drive of week six starts right now! 

(3-3) Houston Texans 28
(4-2) Cincinnati Bengals 17 

Every once in a while, Houston goes ballistic and puts up mega-points. Matt Schaub once again proves he’s a fantastic fantasy QB… five games a season. The Bengals aren’t an elite team, so you had to expect a letdown eventually after winning four straight. Now they dropped back with Pittsburgh, who are also 4-2, but technically behind since the Bengals beat them head-to-head.  

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Welcome out of the loser’s club Carolina. 

(4-1) Cincinnati Bengals 17
(3-2) Baltimore Ravens 14 

The Ravens may have cost themselves some opportunities with awfully-timed penalties, but make no mistake, the Bengals won this game on their own. They are legit and in control of that division. Carson Palmer should be back on his way to the cream of the quarterback crop. 

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Let’s get things going with the most anticipated games of week four! 

Cincinnati Bengals (3-1) at Baltimore Ravens (3-1) 

While it’s way too early for the winner of this game to be named AFC North champion, it will give one team a sizeable advantage. If the Bengals can pull off the victory, there will be no questions as to their legitimacy. Unfortunately, they’re facing a Ravens squad that is fuming after their loss to the Patriots last week. Ray Lewis and that swarming defense will try to make a statement at the expense of their division rival. 

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Week four Opening Drive commence! 

Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) at Cleveland Browns (0-3) 

Can you imagine the Bengals sitting in the driver’s seat in the AFC North at 3-1? Since they’re facing off against the offensively-challenged Browns, that’s becoming an extremely likely scenario. I don’t think anyone in Cincinnati could have imagined a better start in their zaniest dreams. Great job to Marvin Lewis and a defense that has been rightfully much-maligned over the years. Carson Palmer is as close to 100% as we’ve seen since his injury. Cleveland is still awful. Sorry. The players hate Eric Mangini and he can't stand firm on a quarterback for more than six minutes. Derek Anderson may be starting this week, but I don't think Brady Quinn will stay on the sidelines all season.

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Now that’s impressive. 

(2-1) Cincinnati Bengals 23
(1-2) Pittsburgh Steelers 20 

Easily the biggest surprise of the weekend. Carson Palmer led a comeback drive late to put his Bengals at 2-1. Without that freaky play in week one, they would be 3-0. Think about it. It’s painfully obvious that the Steelers are not the same without Troy Polamalu and can’t simply rely on Ben Roethlisberger to drop back all day. 

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I’d call that an improvement.

(1-1) Cincinnati Bengals   31
(1-1) Green Bay Packers   24

HA! That’s just embarrassing for Green Bay fans. You take down your division rival in week one just to fall to the lowly Bengals the next week. Carson Palmer hasn’t been himself for a few years; maybe this is the season he can get back on track as being one of the best QB’s in football.

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That’s not an offense Eric.

Denver Broncos 12, Cincinnati Bengals 7

In the most outrageous and unbelievable ending I’ve ever seen, Josh McDaniels and his Broncos escaped Cincinnati with a victory. With less than 30 seconds left, a Kyle Orton pass from the 13 was tipped in the air and landed in the hands of a lucky Brandon Stokley who took it 87 yards for the winning score. They’re still going to be pretty bad, but there’s one highlight for the Bronco season.

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It's that time of year again folks. Time to start predicting the unpredictable. Will any of the Denver Broncos running backs get enough carries to warrant a spot on your roster? Can Michael Turner replicate last season's performance and warrant the second overall pick in your draft? What will Terrell Owens's numbers look like now that he is in Buffalo? And how does that impact Trent Edwards value as the Bills' QB? Who am I taking if I get the first pick? What if I get stuck at the end of the first round? Do I snatch up two running backs? Or should I go one running back and also nab a top tier receiver?

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This wasn’t supposed to be a game. This shouldn’t have even been competitive. Dallas was supposed to walk all over the bumbling Bengals. Instead, Cincinnati had a chance to win this game late and possibly hand a second loss to the mega-talented Cowboys.  Unfortunately Cincinnati remembered who they are and fumbled away their chance for victory.

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Cleveland Browns (0-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-3)

Last week we had the Pennsylvania Bowl in the NFL, featuring two great teams. It’s too bad for Ohio that both of their teams are just plain bad. Each of these squads is looking to step on the other as they climb out of the trash heap of winless teams. If Derek Anderson is going to hold off the Brady Quinn chants, he’ll have to beat the hapless Bengals. He won’t be able to do it alone though, as Braylon Edwards needs to stop dropping every ball that comes his way. Cincinnati isn’t looking to be pushed over either, as they offered stuff opposition to the Super Bowl Champ New York Giants last week, forcing overtime. Carson Palmer will be hungry in this game, and a Palmer-led offense can put up 40 on any given Sunday.

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which will make their renowned running game more difficult to maintain.

Tennessee Titans (1-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)

The only reason this stinker is on the list is because of Vince Yo

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