All of Ohio, Northern Kentucky, W.Virginia, Virginia, Michigan, and most of Penn. and Indiana, will see this game on CBS. And for some reason, most of Oregon.

Here’s the coverage map.

One of the silently big stories late this week was the addition of Palmer onto the injury report with soreness and inflammation in his throwing elbow. He felt the discomfort during Thursday’s practice.

As a result, Fitzpatrick will be on high alert.

Geoff Hobson writes that Carson Palmer didn’t come out with Jeff Fitzpatrick and Jordan Palmer for warm ups.

Usually the three quarterbacks come out together, but Palmer surfaced on Friday’s injury report with a sore elbow, didn’t practice, and was listed as questionable. Palmer, who practiced Wednesday and Thursday, said Friday with the day of rest he would be “ready to roll.”

The structure of the warmups indicate that Fitzpatrick is about ready to make his fourth NFL start and first since his rookie year of 2005.

Carson Palmer is designated as the 3rd QB because of his elbow. AKA, he’s probably active, but only playing if Fitzpatrick and little Palmer go down.

Fitzpatrick’s last start came on December 18, 2005 in a 16-17 loss to the Eagles. Fitz completed 10 of 24 passes for 69 yards with a TD and INT.

The start before, Fitz threw five picks. He’s 0-3 when starting an NFL game and the game that he did win, he came in when Jamie Martin was hurt with 2:49 left in the first quarter.

Here’s Fitzpatrick’s four-game stretch in 2005 during the most significant playing time in his career.

Nov. 27 – At Houson. 19/30, 310 Yards, 3 TDs, INT

  Dec. 4 – Washington. 21/36, 163 Yards, INT

  Dec. 11 - @ Minnesota. 26/45, 235 Yards, 5 INTs

  Dec. 18 – Philly. 10/24, 69 Yards, TD, INT

During that four game stretch, Fitzpatrick was sacked nine times — including fives times against the Texans on November 27.

Kenny Watson and Johnathan Joseph are listed as inactive due to injury.

Bengals

CB Johnathan Joseph (ankle)
S Dexter Jackson (thumb)
RB Kenny Watson (hamstring)
S Herana-Daze Jones (hamstring)
WR Andre Caldwell
DT Pat Sims
DT Jason Shirley

Browns

WR Donte Stallworth
S Sean Jones
LB Willie McGinest
LB Beau Bell
OL Ryan Tucker
OL Scott Young
TE Martin Rucker.

Not that I do these much, but what the hell.

1) Now with Palmer listed as the #3 QB, the Bengals will need to rush the ball effectively.
2) With Fitzpatrick, the Bengals can rollout the pocket more on naked boot legs opening up lanes to guys like T.J. and Chatman running short and middle crossing patterns.
3) The Bengals o-line will have to step up to assure that Fitz isn’t always pressured throwing desperation passes that never lead to any good.

QB – Fitzpatrick
RB – Perry
FB – Maui’a/Coats
WR – T.J. and Chad
TE – Kelly
OL – Jones, Whitworth, Eric G., Williams, Andrews

Defense
DE – Odom, Geathers
DT – Thornton, Peko
LB – Dh.Jones, Rivers, Jeanty
CB – David Jones (for JJ), Leon Hall
S – Ndukwe (for Dexter), Marvin White

Fitz is capable, and vs. the Browns could look like Montana. Must run effectively.

Eric Ghiaciuc, Levi Jones, and Dan Coats should have to run gassers all day long, every day, until Palmer is healthy.

Get a lead, step on your opponent’s neck. That is the kind of mentality that the Lewis era has been missing. I’d love to see th Bengals stretch the field a bit too, but that all depends on the O-line.

Traitor. :)

If anyone wants descriptions of plays (aka, play by play) say so, or forever hold your peace.

Bengals receiving.

Fumble. Fitz got stepped on and falls backwards.

Nice job by Blackstock. He took away any lateral movement by Cribbs by containing the wide side.

Turnover. Turnover. Turnover.

They doubled Peko and Steinbach got to the second level.

The Browns are owning the line of scrimmage. They are doubling the DTs at the point of attack, the FB (Vickers) is killing the LB at the POA.

Odom stuffed the POA and White finished Lewis off.

Third and one, Browns run off the left side. The Bengals penetrated (especially Thornton) that side of the line and prevent the first down.

PLAY ACTION DUMBASS.
- The Browns expect run on first down because that is what the Bengals have done all season. For the love of God, think about the plays you call!

They were doubling the DTs at the POA and FB was taking out closest LB (or safety). Then, when around the five-yard line, the Bengals d-line finally got penetration, especially by overloading the sides, or stacking the LOS.

Ok this playcalling sucks.

Fitz, in shotgun, throw to Chad running up the sidelines. Browns DB covered well.

Run, Run, Pass, Punt?

They are getting good drive on the Bengals d-line at the POA.

Anderson in shotgun, dumps the pass to Jerome Harrison out of the backfield. WOW. Wide open. Incomplete pass.

Anderson in shotgun, with plenty of time, completes the pass to Steptoe (with Fletcher in coverage) and convert the first down.

The Bengals fail to make plays when they are in position to do so.

Not that he made the tackle, but he’s filling the hole, forcing Lewis to limited gain.

The Bengals force a punt!

Longest play by the Bengals offense so far, three yards.

It’s so shocking how this team gets worse on each down.

Ha!

Fitz, pressured, scrambles up the middle and PICKS UP THE FIRST DOWN OF THE GAME.

That beats mixing a pocket-passer with a terrible offensive line.

><

Fitz: 1/3, 13 yards
Perry: five rushes, seven yards
Fitz: 1 rush, 11 yards
Chad: 1 reception, 13 yards

Anderson: 2/5, 13 yards
Lewis: nine rushes, 45 yards

Bengals: 13 net yards, 1 first down, 1/3 on third downs
Browns: 77 net yards, 6 first downs, 1/3 third downs

Anyone watching what he does exclusively?

He’s back to his 3.1 yard average. LOL <— that’s a sad LOL… like going insane LOL

Man, if he’s not getting bull rushed into the backfield, his guy is always shedding off the block.

argh. wru willie

Hey guys, we were having a problem last week (pointed out by Brian) that once our comments reach a certain number, then the site gets really slow (sometimes locks up). We’re going to break the open thread into two — starting a new one at half time.

The job for you guys is to keep me informed of the site’s performance. Cool?

Fitzpatrick can tuck it and run.

Fitzpatrick leads the team’s rushing with 24 yards on two QB scrambles on third down (I think they were both on third). Perry has 23 yards rushing on eight attempts.

We rely on Chris Perry way too much.

This is only through the first three games this season.

On First and Ten.

Passing – 57.97% of the time.
Rushing – 42.03% of the time.

2nd sack of the year for the bengals =(

Let’s go boys!

Wow, did the Bengals get a new defensive coordinator this week?

After rushing for 24 yards on two rushes, Lewis has rushed eight times for 21 yards.

Is in the lockerroom getting examined. Concussion, likely.

Bad, bad pass. Too much air under it.

with all the offsides, penalties, bench players starting (our qb/db/etc), lack of coordinated lines, and limited offense.

Got away with it.

With seven minutes left in the second quarter, between Fitz and Anderson: 46 yards passing (33 for Fitz, 13 for Anderson).

Pass: 6
Rush: 15

About .000000001 yards short. Going for it on fourth down.

a good pass = 6

Anderson, play action, rolls out right and throws the ball short to Hieden. INCOMPLETE.

Would have been a touchdown too.

This defense looks good when they’re aggressive . . . two or three plays each game.

BUTTAFINGAS!

..it is

That looked like a pretty good throw by Fitzpatrick too, and a nice one-handed pick by the Browns.

Chad Johnson recovers!!

We’re in a defensive battle, boys!

How do you let that much time off the clock after one-yard reception, and then call time out?

All right guys, we’re up on the second thread.