Post-Game Open Thread: Bengals beat Browns, 23-20, with seven seconds left in overtime thanks to Carson Palmer's 15-yard scramble on fourth down
by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 4, 2009 5:13 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
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PrintThe Cincinnati Bengals is why the city of Cincinnati is seeing the biggest surge of admissions to cardiac hospitals after Cincinnati beat the Cleveland Browns in overtime. Not just overtime. The game winning field goal kick was made with seven seconds left in the game. Through much of regulation, the Bengals offense struggled and the Browns offense moved the ball extremely well. When overtime came, the Bengals defense held the Browns offense in check while the offense, once again, struggled to move the ball.
The Bengals, down by two field goals, engineered a 10 play drive for 70 yards, scoring the game-tying touchdown just under two minutes left in the game. So, the Bengals kick the point after touchdown and take a one-point lead, right? Nope. Brad St. Louis makes a bad snap, Graham kicks it low and Shaun Rogers blocks the kick. Game tied, the Browns move the football from their own 33-yard line to the Bengals 40-yard line with relative ease. After spiking the football, Derek Anderson threw back-to-back incomplete passes and the Browns elected to punt. Palmer takes a knee to end the game in regulation.
Both teams punt the football three times in overtime before the Bengals take possession with 3:23 left in overtime at their own 20-yard line. No-gain by Benson. Incomplete. WIth third-and-ten, Palmer found and hit Chris Henry for 20 yards. After two more incomplete passes, Palmer hits the relatively quiet Laveranues Coles for 20 yards. After a no-gain screen pass to Coats and a sack for a three-yard loss, Palmer dumps off a pass to Brian Leonard.
Instead of punting the football, like the Bengals initially wanted to do, Marvin Lewis listens to Carson Palmer who demanded they go for it. Palmer, with the game on the line, scrambles up in the pocket and picks up 15 yards on a sprint. Palmer hit Leonard on another nine-yard pass, who would rush for four yards on the next play setting up Shayne Graham's game-winning 31-yard field goal.
You have to give Carson Palmer all of the credit in the world. Through his struggles in the middle of the game, he engineered a game-tying drive late in regulation and then engineered a game-winning drive in overtime, which included the most unlikely of results; Palmer rushing for 15 yards on a fourth down play.
You can say what you want about Palmer, but he's playing like he's only interested in winning football games. The thing about it, he's doing just that.
And your weekly reminder. The Bengals would be 4-0 if not for the Broncos fluke play. Cincinnati heads into Baltimore next week for division supremacy, as both teams are currently tied for first place.
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We may win
But this is hard on my body, mind, and relationship. My girlfriend doesn’t give a shit about football, but loves the bengals because I’m horrible to be around when they lose.
by brandone on Oct 4, 2009 5:20 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
We may win
But this is hard on my body, mind, and relationship. My girlfriend doesn’t give a shit about football, but loves the bengals because I’m horrible to be around when they lose.
by brandone on Oct 4, 2009 5:20 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
WHO DEY!
Rough game for us fans, roller coaster up and down thought I was gonna have a heart attack. May the football gods continue to smile down on Carson the new Come Back Kid!
Looking ahead
I see 5 relatively easy games. The rest of the schedule looks tough. I am guessing we finish at 9-7. That Denver game was a killer.
I’m sure fans will be ticked that the game was that close, but the fact of the matter is simple: This is The Battle of Ohio. Of 72 editions, i’ll guess more than 80% of those matchups have come down to the wire. The Browns played like they had nothing to lose, and Brad St. Louis played like….well, i won’t go there.
I’ll say this, the Defense was very banged up from their bout with the big bad steelers, and really needed the offense to step up and run the ball. All week I was calling for an all out ground attack. The Browns had a lot of confidence in Derek Anderson, and played their asses off, while our D did just enough to stay alive. “Not dead, Can’t quit” as Rey Rey says.
Gripe all you want, but Carson Palmer grew a pair of stones this offseason. Golden Arm has found a way to come up big, BIG, in the end of 3 out of 4 matchups thus far. (15 yard rush on 4th and 10 in OT….WOW).
With 2 division wins, were technically 1st in the AFC North, others may say tied at 3-1 with the Ravens. We live to see another day. Tank and Roy the Hitman got some much needed rest for what will be a big time Week 5 matchup for AFC North supremacy.
Buck up Whodeyers. We Won!
3 yards and a pile of dust
I think the Bengals Offense
could be a lot better with the no huddle-duh. 1) They present match-up problems on 3rd down. 2) They are more aggressive and dictate the action. 3) Carson can decide what play to run-not you know who.
I’m restricted from mentioning our point scoring kicking game or lack there of . Otherwise, I would be ranting about someone.
Run game and defense
You can’t have a good run game and a good defense if you always use the no-huddle. They feed one another.
If you take away the Defensive TDs the past 2 games
If you take away the Defensive TDs the past 2 games, then were 1-3. We can’t let it come down to the wire anymore if we want a post season.
RE:
The only relevant thing is that the Bengals are 3-1.
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 4, 2009 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Remember
It was a huge rivalry today and Cle came out well because they got behind Anderson, who was very solid.
Both teams are getting paid to lay it out there and the Browns had it and the Bengals didn’t today yet we still got the win. Who Dey
3 Things
- Throw more balls to Chris Henry #2 Start interviewing new long snappers #3 Give more opportunities to B. Scott. Great job to the offensive coaching staff for integrating him into the scheme. He had some big plays.
Season review
Game 1. Apart from the Q4 drive, the offense did nothing. The D played well. Various comments during the game said Palmer was rusty.
Game 2. Similar to the previous game, the offense did not play well, the D looked OK. Once again various comments during the game criticised Palmer and the play calling
Game 3. Similar to previous games, the offense did nothing until Q4, the D was not as good as previous weeks but held when it mattered. BSL, Palmer and the play calling was again questioned
Game 4. Once again, the offense did nothing for large parts of the game. This meant that the D was on the field for too long. The offense did too little, the D was below average and BSL, SG and Palmer were not at their best (again). Play calling run-Run-Pass-Punt.
In short, Palmer is not playing well – should he be replaced by O’Sullivan, SG and BSL should be replaced and is the offensive play better than last year. Is Run-Run-Pass-Punt the new play calling that was promised.
The Bengals could easily be 0-4. This is not a team heading for the play-offs.
I sort of think that only a die-hard skeptic could call for O’Sullivan after what was potentially 3 game winning drives by Palmer. No, he hasn’t been playing well, but a win is a win. We’re also not playing playoff football, but….we are improving. A lot less penalties this game. Anderson is clearly the better QB in Cleveland and we weathered the storm.
Here’s to low blood pressure!
Who Dey
This is our year!
maybe we should start with JT and only put Carson in in the 4th quarter :P
by Sheffieldbengal on Oct 4, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions
"The Bengals could easily be 0-4. This is not a team heading for the play-offs."
They could also be easily 4-0. However, the only thing that does matter is that the Bengals ARE 3-1. I say we enjoy it with meed, loot and women.
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 4, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions
What is it with these people?
I bet if you gave them a million dollars, they’d complain about the taxes.
"If it wasn't this, it'd be something else."
That scramble on 4th and 10 was all sorts of awesome.
That being said, that play was there the whole game. I’m just glad he finally took advantage of those lanes and won us the ballgame.
Cleveland gave everything they had… everything! and they lost. Bengals should have killed this game off but Bad St. Louis crapped it all up with Francshitze Graham. All that matter though is that at crunch times our D stepped up and made a play in OT and our O finally got it done. We’ll need better play next game but… come on guys… we won!
+1
Seems like to me, some of us need to learn how to appreciate a win — and a team that’s 3-1 and leading the division.
I wouldn’t ask for anything else right now.
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 4, 2009 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions
how many of us
last year would have killed to at least be competitive. I know I was one and now we are in first freakin place. Say what you want about Carson Palmer but he is making plays when he has to.
Negativity is a Disease
We could be 0-4.
Palmer could have had career ending surgery last year instead of letting it heal.
There is a lot of things that COULD have happened.
Look at what is happening. This team is finding a way to win. It is what good teams do. This team is good.
Once is a fluke. Twice is lucky. Three times and there’s something going on.
Let’s enjoy it.
I wish
We would have signed nugent in the off season.
Aside from that Scott looked good and it was nice to get Henry in the game, but palmer is still UNDERthrowing receivers and I can’t help but think it’s his arm.
by brandone on Oct 4, 2009 6:53 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
You guys are fools if you think Carson Palmer is holding this Team back.
He’s completing 60% of his passes, something JTO has never done. He’s led 3 end game drives that were awesome. CP and the Defense are making the idiotic mistakes moot points.
What about
that awful throw to Henry? What about the under and over throws to all of the other receivers? Carson was throwing off his back leg all day long. He wasn’t following through on his throws. The only good thing he did today was that he held it together when it counted. I know that a lot of the receivers were not running the right routes. Carson had that fire in him again this game, even though he was not very good the majority of the game. He was when it counted the most, again. I hope that he can put it together for a whole game before he loses that fire and confidence.
Every QB makes bad decisions.
Palmer is a human, not a robot. If you think Flacco would be better, sure, maybe. If you think we have anyone on the team that’s better, that’s crazy.
There was
a lot of bad decisions today. Not only by Carson but by the receivers and Brat!!!! All I am saying is that Carson needs to make better decisions in the pocket. He looked awful throwing of his back leg and not following through on his throws. That causes the QB to be off target even when the receivers are running wrong routes. This happened all game. Looked like he was being rushed when there wasn’t a need to be rushed. I am sure that he will get it fixed.
He was rushed because everyone was covered.
A lot of his completions were to late progressions. WRs accounted for less than half. That’s telling me they had to be covered; so he checked down a lot, TE and RB. Browns came to play. Palmer’s protection seemed pretty good, and he stayed in the pocket for long times.
If you noticed
that even when receivers are covered great, QB’s throw the ball right on target. I see Payton, Brady, and the other Great QB’s do it. Do you know how many times I seen Payton to Wayne or Clark, Brady to Welker or Moss, Carson to TJ or Chad (in the past)? He looks to be off, confused and in a hurry when there is no hurry. I’m not questioning his ability,but there is something going on here!! I know there were drop passes, but there was a lot of bad throws too. I’m just wondering if Carson is comfortable and questioning Brat’s play calling,( in his head). If so, he needs to speak up!!!!!!!!! Behind close doors. Better yet out in public!!!! (NOT GOING TO HAPPEN). God I would love to see that!!!! FIRE BRAT!!!!!
Palmer
has been good when he had to be. Eventually (I hope) he will be good most of the time, though I can’t get over the suspicion that he has succeeded mostly when responsibility for the hurry-up offence has been placed on his shoulders and not on Bratkowski’s.
I didn’t get a good look at the blocked field goal, but the snap on the blocked PAT looked like it went to the wrong side of Huber, and that he had to make a fair effort even to get it down late. Am I wrong on that?
RE:
The blocked FG was a high snap. It forced Graham to stutter step and kick the football low. On the PAT, you’re right. It went to Huber’s right side again. You have to give Huber some credit. He’s actually getting the football down, but I think Graham is being knocked off rhythm. I mean, the snap is bad, sure, but the hold is there. Graham, to me, seems to be lacking that trust/confidence. On both attempts, I think he had a chance but the bad snaps through him off.
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 4, 2009 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Quit Complaining
for years our formula has been to play well enough for 3 qtrs then find some way to lose it in the 4th, how many times have we seen big number games for Carson, Chad, TJ, Rudi, Corey, Carl, Darnay, etc etc with a Loss, Loss, Loss, Loss.
I don’t care how ugly they do it, this team is finding ways to win that no Bengal team has since Boomer, seriously..it’s going I think they are going to kill me but I love this team!!! Now, will some of the obvious weaknesses come back and bite them late in the season, very likely yes, but until then, just shut up about it and appreciate the win
WHO DE!
This is what these posts
are all about. We get to express our feelings over the games and converse with each other. Yes, we are all enjoying a heart attack win, but we are aloud to express our opinions.It’s fun for us. So lets shut this forum down and we will never say another thing again. Yea right!! If you don’t like it, you quit complaining about us!!!! STOP READING, AND GET OFF THIS FORUM.
I like the wins, but
These nailbiters are destroying my heart and my liver.
by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Oct 4, 2009 11:08 PM EDT reply actions
On another note
WDR is talking about putting BSL’s face on urinal cakes.
by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Oct 4, 2009 11:36 PM EDT reply actions
Good and bad!
Good
1) Defense is NFL caliber. Not perfect but none are. They are hard nosed and step up. No major weak spots, playmakers, and some depth.
2) Punting game is solid except for a few missed tackles today, but everyone misses Cribbs.
3) O-line, which was the number one concern entering the season, has played as good as any in the league.
4) Competent running backs because of (3).
Bad
1) I haven’t seen anyone post about Palmer and Lewis’ clock management. This is the third game where they were clueless at the end of a game and saved time for the other team for no reason other than panic.
2) Palmer has been the worst starter on offense in spite of his comebacks. He is a gamer but looks out of sorts and throws bad balls into coverage.
3) Kicking game is incompetent to this point. I think St. Louis and Graham want out of Cincy and are trying to play bad. They may have already lined up new jobs through Deion Sanders’ new tampering business. The NFL can’t touch him!
I agree with your points about ML's clock management
I’ve been bitching about that for 8 years now
by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Oct 4, 2009 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, but only on that last drive
The rest of the game was atrocious
by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Oct 5, 2009 6:15 AM EDT up reply actions
I meant yes about the time management. The moments where Marvin successfully manages clock are few and far between.
by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Oct 5, 2009 6:16 AM EDT up reply actions
2 major mistakes in last drive vs. Pitt
With about about a minute left, inside the 20 w/ 3 time outs Palmer is frustrated after a first down play that does nothing and calls time out w/ 15 seconds on the play clock and I started getting visions of Denver. Too much time left. Then they got a first and goal with 2 timeouts and about 40 seconds left, chose to line up and spike it instead of using a timeout, wasting a down. It was dumb luck they converted the TD on 4th down. It should’ve been third down. They could’ve given the ball back with only a few seconds left, instead of creating the potential for a fluke like they did vs. Denver.
In the Denver game, where a field goal could’ve beat them in the waning seconds, they had 1st and goal at the 2. They could have run a QB sneak to burn some seconds or a Denver TO then had 3 downs to stick it in. I was yelling at the tv because they left too much time. Even without the fluke play, they could still have lost 3 plays later on a long FG. It’s their jobs to know how to manage a clock. They’ve been very fortunate.
Sprint
Interesting description, I would go for rumble :)
Mind you, Geathers looked pretty good running back the fumble.
Who is in first? Cincinnati.
Cincy is in first place this week. We have more divisional wins than Baltimore currently.
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