An Ugly Victory

Hey, A "W" is a "W."

Sunday's victory renewed my limited faith that some good remains in the universe.  That said, the Bengals have a long, long way to go.  The first half was a perpetuation of the mental mistakes and physical shortcomings that caused the four-game losing streak; the second half evoked the smart play calling and gutsy execution that marked the 2005 season.  One good half - in the face of 9 horrible halves - is not much to cheer about.  It is a start, however.

Things I loved about the game:

The Running Game:  Whether it was the injection of fresh legs (Watson and DeDe Dorsey) or improved blocking (good job Levi), this is the kind of performance that can make the Bengals dangerous.  Ball control with explosiveness allows the Bengals to dictate the game to the defense.  Play action allows for Chad, TJ, and now Glenn Holt to get open.  A reliable running game picks up first downs by ensuring for short third downs.  Long drives a rest a defense (AND keep a bad defense off the field in our case).  All said, the satisfaction of running over the other team despite their best effort is pretty nice too.

The Run Defense:  Nobody would ever accuse the Jets of being a juggernaut on offense, but the Bengals did a good job against a serviceable back in Thomas Jones.  Making the Jets offense one dimensional allowed for the Bengals defense to focus on pass rush, leading to Pennington's screw ups in the fourth quarter.

Kick Coverage:  Imagine - an opponent not starting on their 40 yard line every time!  Nice coverage except for the last kick off.

Not Giving Up:  Enough said.

Winning Ugly:  I do not mean anything by this comparison but...the Patriots had to win ugly before they won big.  2001 had some pretty hideous games on the part of the champs but they found a way to win.  Instilling a culture of winning (for lack of a better term) attracts players to the team.  This is different than confidence - the Bengals have plenty of that.  Mental thoughness develops over time (just ask the Red Sox) - hopefully this can start that.

Johnathan Joseph's Pick-6:  It's about time.  Stay off the ganj and you might make a player JJ.

Things I hated about the game:

Lack of Preparation:  In the first half, there were a few instances of the Bengals not knowing who needed to be on the field, necesitating a time out on both Offense and Defense.  This came back to haunt the BEngals at the end of the half.  These kind of mental errors are about preparation -- and point directly to the coaching staff.  C'mon Marvin and the rest of the crew; you're better than that!  

Tackling:  There is reason why every team's NFL Films yearbook features video of running backs and wide receivers slicing through the Bengals defense.  We make even the most mediocre team look good - just ask the Cleveland Browns.

Letting Down at the End of the Game:  Long return at the end of the game.  Long pass for a TD.  2-Point conversion good.  Irrelevant BUT emblematic of a team that does not know how to end a game.  Do you think the Patriots or Colts would have allowed that to happen?

All said, a performance to build on and build on it the Bengals must.  The Steelers come to town next week.  Now I never bought into the hype about the Steelers like some people ... ahem, ESPN, ahem Peter King ... but they are a good team.  (My favorite instance of Irrational Steeler Love is anytime Merrill Hoge opens his mouth.  It's amazing how ESPN allows that homer to remain on the air - are they required to keep him on because of his post-concussion syndrome?  Peter King comes in a close second - his textual fellatio of the Steeler organization is only rivaled by Brent Musberger's slobbering over anything in Maize and Blue)  Their refusal to suspend Najeh Davenport aside, they're an organization that runs a tight ship, mentally and physically.  Just the kind of team that the Bengals usually have trouble with.  The Steelers are beatable; the Bengals can win by outscoring them in a shootout, but wouldn't it be nice to out-physical them for a change?  The Bengals did that to the Rat Birds in week one, why not do it again?

The season still has a pulse.  If the Bengals can win a few more division games - 4-2/5-1 record would be nice, they will win a lot of tie breakers.  Moreover, the Division is still up for grabs.  Baltimore is showing its age on defense and showing its shittiness on Offense (Willis is trash, anyone?).  Cleveland has 5 of the next 7 games on the road - they may lose all 5.  Pittsburgh has the Bengals twice - that is good way to make up games by simply beating the team one is trying to catach.  A wildcard berth is still feasible too - there are some AWFUL teams ahead of the Bengals at the moment (Chiefs, Browns, Raiders, Broncos, Texans).  Though the Bengals fall into the AWFUL category as well, I think talentwise the Bengals lead that group.  Talent tends to win games in the NFL; though idiocy tends to lose them.  With the Bengals that equation might be a wash at the moment but Sunday provided some hope!

On a final note - GO Red Sox.  The New York Times (best paper in the world) had two low blows against the Sox which were uncalled for.  

A Sunday article by William Rhoden warned that the Sox are rapidly becoming the Yankees (the team people love to hate).  Earth to NYT, but one championship since 1918 and two world series appearances in four years do not a villain make.  True, many people hate the Sox, but that number does not hold a candle to the vitriol inspired by the Yankees, particularly in small markets that watched competitive baseball become unaffordable in the past few years.  Additionally, the Sox would never fire Joe Torre, a classy guy and hall-of-fame manager, for only making the playoffs for the past fews years.  As a Reds fan, I'd take one playoff appearance in a decade...

Today's article by Selena Roberts makes a pointed accusation the former Senator George Mitchell, in charge of the steroid inquiry, is the shielding the Red Sox from drug questions.  The article actually says that there was no evidence to support this claim, and then goes on to make the claim.  The article impugns the integrity of an esteemed public servant merely because he has been a Sox fan all his life.  Additionally, it implies that the Sox are guilty because they are clean.  Sorry Selena Roberts, but not every team needs to hire steroid infused mercenaries to compete (Jason Giambi anyone?).  The Sox win the right way, as a team, they have fun, they interject a little humor and bravado into an otherwise boring sport.  Too bad the homers in the NYT sports page can't simply appreciate that fact for its own merit.  Maybe the Yankees could learn a little from their rivals up I-95 - the Yankees always seemed better when they were having fun.

I'll get off my soapbox.  Sox in 6.