One of the more noticeable differences this year compared to last year, or the year before that, is the suffocating amount of serious injuries we've suffered. This year, we've largely avoided a string of injuries, limited to Reggie Kelly and Ben Utecht, with other injuries lasting weeks, not months. For the most part, our guys are suffering bumps and bruises, as any nasty hardcore first place team endures. And after a nasty hardcore collision against the Ravens, the Bengals left Baltimore sore, but otherwise healthy. Marvin Lewis said during his Monday press conference:

“Well, we're a little sore. Chinedum (Ndukwe), again, I'm taking my hat off to him for what he's doing. Roy (Williams) bumped his forearm and came out of the game a little bit, and Chinedum stepped up and I thought did a fine job, again. Maualuga, again, played through his injuries. Brian Leonard has a little bit of a groin issue. We'll see how he is on Wednesday. Frostee Rucker sprained an ankle. We'll see how he is on Wednesday. Tank Johnson was inactive, but was pretty close, probably could have played, but I chose to give him another week's rest. So hopefully he'll be able to play this week if Frostee (Rucker) can't, and we'll fill the void that way.”

Are fans still not buyers? We wrote a month ago, or maybe longer, that if the Bengals secured wins against the Steelers and Browns, they'd start selling out more of their remaining homes games at Paul Brown Stadium. Now, the Bengals beat the Ravens to put the icing on the cake. The Bengals are 4-1. They are 3-0 in the division. And even if the Jets win Monday night, the Bengals will be one of four teams to have only one loss or less on the season in the AFC. So you'd expect the Bengals to be selling out this Sunday against the Houston Texans, right? Not exactly.

But despite the Bengals' hot streak, tickets to the next home against the Houston Texans aren't exactly selling out."

We're actually treading a little behind where we were for the Denver game at this point, so we have a ways to go," said Andrew Brown, the Bengals' ticket sales manager.

+ Even though the Bengals celebrated a great win against the Baltimore Ravens, launching themselves into first place on the spirit to win one for Mike Zimmer and his family, the grieving process resumes for the immediate family and the Bengals family. Football is a nice break from reality. We've all said that after so many events in our lives, no matter how big or small in scope, was momentarily halted for the fiction that football and sports brings us.

On Monday, reports surfaced about the cause.

The wife of Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer died of natural causes, according to the Hamilton County Coroner.

Mike Zimmer came home last Thursday evening and found his 50-year-old wife dead and called 9-1-1.

Dr. O'dell Owens has yet to determine a cause of death because toxicology tests have not been completed.

A memorial service will be held for Vikki Zimmer on Tuesday.