For the 11th time in his career, Chad ________ (fill in name here) scored multiple touchdowns in a game. Surely recognizing a consistent pattern that when he scores more than once, the Bengals are likely winning the ball game; yes, scenarios do exist that an 0-8 team remains eligible to prove true. Barring the unusual, like defensively playing offensively against Cleveland or defensively playing offensively times pi against San Diego in the second half, trends remain trends for a reason.

With 2:35 left in the first quarter, Chad Johnson lined up wide left, running five yards into the endzone, then cutting out. After Ryan Fitzpatrick attempted his less-than-Boomer-Esiason-like play-action to Cedric Benson, he aimed a pass towards the left sidelines. With more than enough separation, Chad Johnson hauled in the two-yard touchdown pass. He laid on the ground, clutching the football, for three minutes. Trends be damned, Chad Johnson scored only his third touchdown pass of the season in his ninth game of the season; not surprising as it would seem knowing that Chad Johnson often goes into cold stretches in the endzone. Depressingly, Johnson didn't show his public endorsement for President.

With 10:50 left in the second quarter, Johnson lined up left -- does he line up any place else? -- running a seam down the sidelines with the defensive back turned away from the quarterback. Thankfully the back didn't turn, or lift a hand, because the pass grazed over his helmet as Johnson leaned away, leaving a replay-worthy skid-mark stretching from the end zone, through the out-of-bounds chalk.

His second touchdown marked two things; his 11th multiple touchdown game, and the odds significantly favoring the greatest team Paul Brown ever invented -- perhaps a bit biased, but I care not for trivial things.

One of the craziest plays Sunday happened in the third quarter when Andrew Whitworth and Jaguars defensive tackle John Henderson were ejected from the game.

“We had gotten in a tussle after a run play and he came up and took a shot at the back of my head," Whitworth recapped. "Levi (Jones) was screaming at the refs for a flag. And when he stood up, he pushed me again in my facemask, and the ref still didn’t throw anything. So on the next play, he wanted me, I wanted him, and he kind of ‘swam’ me. I just pushed him past the quarterback and he fell to the ground, but he held onto my facemask and ripped my helmet off.”

Henderson got Whitworth in a headlock, while trying gouge out Whitworth's eyes. “He was digging in my face pretty good. I was trying to get his hands out of my face in case he ripped my eyeballs out.”

Marvin Lewis didn't endorse trying to save one's eyes from being "ripped out". “The hard thing there, and the thing that you have to do as a professional player, is walk away. There is no retaliation on an NFL football field. You have to walk away. Let him get the penalty, let him get kicked out of the game."

In our view, it's ridiculous that Whitworth was ejected, clearly defending himself from turd-like antics of Henderson. Because the refs have to keep some control of the game together, and since typically retaliation is always a sure-fire towards escalation, we can understand the personal foul.

Furthermore, we think that Marvin Lewis is dead wrong condemning Whitworth's actions, who was clearly defending himself. Whitworth felt he had no choice. “In that situation, I don’t know what else you can do as a player if a guy’s got his fingers digging in your face. It’s either, OK, I’m going to get fined or in trouble or this guy’s potentially going to ruin my career. So I had to defend myself there,”

Since the YouTube video (below) doesn't actually show anything, here's some screencaps of it (and the quality isn't good... at all).

Whitworth's manly hero exit.

Props to CincyMike56 for the better video.

There's been nine regular season games played by the Cincinnati Bengals since beating the Cleveland Browns 19-14 on December 23, 2007. And in all of those games, the Bengals failed to feature anyone rushing for 100 yards or more.

Jacksonville marked several first times in offensive rushing departments. Including the first 100-yard rusher, the Bengals recorded 150 yards rushing for the first time since that the second-to-last game against Cleveland in 2007. It's also the most yards gained on the ground since beating the St. Louis Rams on December 9, 2007 when the team rushed for 192 yards.

* Fitzpatrick led the team with 23 yards rushing against the Jets.
** Fitzpatrick led the team with 41 yards rushing against the Browns.

Remember the mention about the Rams? That was the last time the Bengals had two players recording 50 yards or more rushing; Rudi Johnson 92 yards, DeDe Dorsey 81 yards.

Fitzpatrick? He's only led the team rushing twice (41 yards against the Browns, 23 yards against the Jets). In fact, the only game that he's started in which he didn't finish as first or second rushing, was against the Steelers; he recorded 15 yards rushing behind Benson's 52 yards and Watson's 17 yards.

Breaking down Benson's rushing performance against the Jaguars.

I think one of the crucial part of today's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, was how successful the Bengals offense was at sustaining drives on the game's first two possessions; Fitzpatrick's performance on the team's opening two possessions was simply brilliant.

On third-and-two, at the Cincinnati 24-yard line, Fitzpatrick scrambled for 18 yards picking up the team's first down of the day (9:14). On third-and-10, after Houshmandzadeh committed a false start, Fitzpatrick turned to Houshmandzadeh for 16 yards. After the Jaguars were called for encroachment giving the Bengals offense a first-and-goal at the two-yard line, Fitzpatrick faked a handoff to Benson, and completed a touch pass to Chad Johnson for the touchdown and the game's opening points. It's the first touchdown by the Bengals offense in the first quarter this season.

The team's scoring drive went 14 plays, 84 yards for 7:51.

After the defense forced a Jaguars three-and-out, Fitzpatrick completed a ten yard pass on third-and-seven to Chris Perry; who lined up wide left for ten yards. Highlighted by plays that picked up chunks of yardage on first and second down, the biggest "to-go" on third down, was on third-and-five; Fitzpatrick completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Johnson.

On the team's second scoring drive of the game, the Bengals offense went 10 plays for 88 yards in 4:23.

Unfortunately, the Bengals wouldn't match double-digit plays or the yardage for the rest of the game. Fortunately, they wouldn't need to; provided the defense held and special teams didn't, oh I don't know, fumble on kickoff return and the recovering team takes the football to the house (all on the same damned play).

I'm certainly not going to cry about the Bengals offense today; however Fitzpatrick's performance severely slopes and the team's rushing effort in the fourth quarter isn't indicative of how successful football teams eat clock to put teams away -- Benson had six yards on eight rushes in the fourth quarter.

However, I really wanted to highlight the team's first two possessions; converting their first five third down attempts -- including two "no play" conversions (on third down) after Jaguars defensive penalties (encroachment, pass interference).

On the team's first two drives, Fitzpatrick completed of 11 of 14 passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns -- including all 52 yards rushing on scrambles (and a QB draw). On the team's nine possessions after that, Fitzpatrick really digressed completing 10 of 17 passes for 85 yards and an interception -- 47.4 passer rating.

Even when Cedric Benson ran from seven yards out to score the Bengals third touchdown of the game, with 9:20 left in the third quarter, a 21-3 lead, a possession after Dhani Jones picked off a David Garrard pass, I was nervous. With the Bengals winning the game 21-3, leading into the fourth quarter, I was nervous. When the Jaguars recovered a Glenn Holt fumble with 13:27 left in the game returning the turnover for a touchdown, I got really nervous. The score was 21-13 with over thirteen minutes left in the game. When the Jaguars went on an 11-play, 73 yard drive in 4:39 leaving a two-point try to tie the game, I was so nervous my hands violently shook.

The Bengals offense went nine plays on the ensuing possession, punting after wiping over four minutes off the clock. Then, the Bengals defense kept the pressure on David Garrard, making him uncomfortable in the pocket, rushing passes for incompletes; even a few passes that should have been picked off. It wasn't until the six minute mark that the Bengals allowed the Jaguars offense to move the ball with any consistency. Charting their drives, they go:

The Bengals defense forced the Jaguars to go three-and-out four times, including two possessions that compiled negative yardage; which includes a long rushing play of eight yards (Maurice Jones-Drew). Six Jaguars possessions never accumulated more than nine yards. The Bengals rushing defense limited the Jaguars to 68 yards rushing on 21 rushing plays (3.2 yards per rush).

Chinedum Ndukwe, Pat Sims and Robert Geathers recorded sacks and Dhani Jones recorded an interception and made a great stop during the Bengals goal line stand that forced the Jaguars into a third-and-three with 13:40 left in the game -- which ended in an incomplete, false start and 26-yard field goal -- which includes 15 rushes for 45 yards rushing between Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor combined.

In the end, it was Johnathan Joseph and Marvin White disrupting a three-yard pass that would have given the Jaguars two points on conversion and the tie. It was also a consistent pass rush on Garrard by Geathers, Antwan Odom, Domata Peko, John Thornton and Pat Sims that kept the Jaguars offense off-balanced -- likely due to a group of linemen that are patched together. Though you can't argue that for much of the game, the Bengals secondary kept Jacksonville receivers covered unlike any other game this season. Regardless, the Bengals defense showed up without two-hand touch practices that embarrassed us so much last week.

Bengals perform their most complete first half, with good pass protection, great wide receiver routes and sustaining drives with third down and short, converting most of them. The Bengals secondary is beating on the Jaguars receivers, while the Bengals defensive line is getting pressure on Garrard.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is quick on his decisions, throwing to his first option on a majority of his passing downs, and pulling the ball down when he sees a running lane. He's completed passes to eight different receivers. Benson picked up towards the two minute warning with a 20-yard run up the middle. The Bengals have two rushing plays of 20 yards or more -- Benson, Fitzpatrick.

Also the Bengals defense held the Jaguars offense below 100 yards total for the half. Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor combined for 31 yards rushing on 10 attempts. Garrard completed only six passes on 12 attempts for 53 yards -- which includes a 16-yard screen pass.

Fitzpatrick: 16/19 for 100 yards passing, two touchdowns and 52 yards rushing on three carries (one draw, two scrambles).

Benson: 10 rushes, 46 yards rushing, one reception for five yards.
Watson: One rush, one yard.

Chad Johnson: four receptions, 26 yards receiving, 2 TDs
T.J. Houshmandzadeh: five receptions, 35 yards receiving.

Garrard: 6/12, 53 yards passing

Jones-Drew: seven rushes, 25 yards rushing, one reception for 16 yards
Taylor: three rushes, six yards rushing.

Lewis: 2 receptions, 11 yards
Jones: 1 reception, 9 yards

As a Team

Total Yards: Bengals (199 yards), Jaguars (86 yards)
Passing Yards: Bengals (100 yards), Jaguars (43 yards)
Rushing Yards: Bengals (99 yards), Jaguars (43 yards)
Third Downs: Bengals (5/7, 71%), Jaguars (3/7, 42%)
Time of Possession: Bengals (16:24), Jaguars (13:36)
First Downs: Bengals (13), Jaguars (5)

Game: Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) @ Cincinnati Bengals (0-8)
Series Leader: Jaguars, 11-5
Streak: Jaguars on a four-game winning streak
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis: 0-1. Del Rio (1-0)
Broadcast: CBS (1:00 PM ET): Gus Johnson, Steve Tasker. SIRIUS: 121 (Jax.), 152 (Cin.). XM: 108
(Cin.). Direct TV: 705
SB Nation: Big Cat Country
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: Hi of 66 and partly cloudy [Weather.com]
Uniform: Orange
Television Coverage: Limited regional coverage. [the 506 TV distribution maps]
Site: We plan on being here.

BENGALS

OUT: WR Andre Caldwell (foot), S Dexter Jackson (hamstring), QB Carson Palmer (right elbow), WR Jerome Simpson (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: LB Rashad Jeanty (foot)
PROBABLE: DE Jonathan Fanene (hamstring), CB Jamar Fletcher (hamstring), WR Glenn Holt (chest), WR Chad Johnson (foot), TE Reggie Kelly (neck), LB Corey Mays (ankle), S Nedu Ndukwe (ribs), DT Domata Peko (ankle), TE Ben Utecht (chest)

JAGUARS

OUT: WR Mike Walker (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Rashean Mathis (foot), WR Reggie Williams (hamstring)

Primer

Injury/Practice

STATUS

BENGALS

OUT: WR Andre Caldwell (foot), S Dexter Jackson (hamstring), QB Carson Palmer (right elbow), WR Jerome Simpson (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: LB Rashad Jeanty (foot)
PROBABLE: DE Jonathan Fanene (hamstring), CB Jamar Fletcher (hamstring), WR Glenn Holt (chest), WR Chad Johnson (foot), TE Reggie Kelly (neck), LB Corey Mays (ankle), S Nedu Ndukwe (ribs), DT Domata Peko (ankle), TE Ben Utecht (chest)

JAGUARS

OUT: WR Mike Walker (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Rashean Mathis (foot), WR Reggie Williams (hamstring)

Practices

DNP - Did Not Practice
LP - Limited Participation in Practice
FP - Full Participation in Practice