There's a little bit of contention going around CJ, thanks in large part to the Larry Johnson signing and the residual fallout.  With that in mind, I thought it might be prudent to lighten the mood around here by posting the video of Bernard Scott's awesome kick off return against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  As we all know, it was the game's only touchdown, and because it was so essential to the Bengals victory, it needs to be celebrated -- especially in light of the newest acquisition.

The best part of Scott's return, besides him crossing the goal line, has to be Steelers kicker Jeff Reed's "attempt" to "tackle" Scott.  Granted, kickers aren't usually known as the best tackler, but that was just poor.  It would've been better if Reed simply escorted Scott to the end zone, for all the good his bullfighter approach to tackling did.

One last thing, make sure to look for Quan Cosby knocking the stuffing out of Stefan Logan right before Scott goes into score.  It's around the 18 or 19 second mark.

by Gene J. Puskar - AP

5 days ago: Cincinnati Bengals' Bobbie Williams (63) leaves Heinz Field after a 18-12 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

View full size photo »

It was a bar in Dayton that an odd fellow, let's call him William, struck up a conversation with me that began with typical fantasy football musings. He drafted Adrian Peterson. His reaction was like anyone else's when drafting a great fantasy football player -- telling EVERYONE. Confident of his chances, not requiring the debate of the rest of his fantasy football draft, the conversation took an expected turn. Everyone that knows me personally, knows that I could chit-chat Bengals all day long. But it's not just about Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco. Those are the superstars that everyone else knows. What's more to say about them? Carson just wins. Chad just finds dollar bills laying around, hoping that the ref can find the owner who lost the money. We'll talk how hard Abdul Hodge will smack you in the face on kickoffs. We'll reminisce how the monstrous Ahmad Brooks had every tool to become a super-stud linebacker. We'll agree that Rashad Jeanty is perhaps the most unknown contributor on this defense, since 2006.

It was never about who was right. That's never the way conversations go. It's just about talking about the thing that we both love. William was old enough to remember both Super Bowls as if watching it live. I was too young for Super Bowl XVI. Not Super Bowl XXIII. I've told the story of breaking my mother's lamp when John Taylor scored the winning touchdown more times than I can remember.

But William's mind was sore. Last season left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth. That angry feeling we had before Marvin Lewis' era had resurfaced. Our last conversations didn't detail the exponential growth we saw from the defense last year. It wasn't about Carson Palmer returning. It wasn't about Cedric Benson, who had the best three-game stretch of any running back in the final three games. It wasn't about the veteran free agents, nor the NFL draft in which many observers praised the Bengals selections.

He was mad. And he should be mad. This team was terrible in 2008. Few things could be said about them that actually made us feel good. And that anger carried over to 2009.

William suggested firing Marvin Lewis. I gave the people's eyebrow for good measure, showing my uncertainty while questioning the validity of the source. How could you? Why would you? Who would you replace him with? It really took me aback. His argument is that great coaches could deal with the amount of injuries this team suffered, and still go undefeated... if they were great. Alright. Who would you replace him with? Bill Cowher, he instantly says. Yep. Bill Cowher. He's proven to put great teams together with a core philosophy that lasted most of his tenure, he argues. Yea, but. Well, he's a former Steelers coach. He lowers his head. He knows the point I just made. He knows that level of crazy-talk, while fun at times, has no place here. Are you drinking again, William, I asked. No, he laughed. It wasn't Bill Cowher he was suggesting; but Cowher being a model of stability that this team needed. Understandable.

At this point, I've recovered enough to make sure my adult beverage had a one-way ticket in, assuring that the mist that exhaled from my nose during that conversation had no escape. My composure, solid. I told him, have patience. They did a lot during the offseason, and excuse or not, Palmer's injury last year was a big contributor for their struggles. Even so, they were a solid football team in the second half of the season. They sported a winning recorded in the final eight games in 2008, I argued. That momentum would continue. How can you be so sure, he asked. Well, I can't be. But there are positive things. There is momentum. We won't repeat 2008. I promise.

William thoroughly enjoyed Cincy Jungle. We talked about the Bengals a lot. But we also talked just about football. The Buckeyes. The Bearcats. High School. We even shared our own football war stories.

About two months ago, William died of cancer. I'm going to miss talking to him about football. About the Bengals. But what really makes me sad, is that we won't be able to tell him that the Cincinnati Bengals swept the Steelers and Ravens, have a two-game lead in the AFC North with a 7-2 record. It would have been sweet to watch the pessimistic Bengals fan morph back into an bouncing anxious Bengals fan honestly optimistic that they could win any game on the schedule.

Hey William. We just swept the Steelers. You'd be proud.

Continue reading this post »

Um, you were saying Terry? Would you like to repeat those sentiments about Cincinnati's chances against your beloved Steelers? Don't get me wrong, I still think Howie Long would whip your behind, but hell, since you were so damn incorrect about the Bengals, perhaps you should just reach over and smack Howie in the mouth next Sunday.

Take a chance.

It couldn't be any worse than your Bengals/Steelers "prediction."

More photos » by Keith Srakocic - AP

5 days ago: Cincinnati Bengals' Jonathan Joseph, left, and Rashad Jeanty celebrate after their defense stopped the Pittsburgh Steelers on fourth down with time running down in the fourth quarter of the NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. The Bengals won 18-12. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Browse more photos »

Rewind to December 4th, 2005.  Your Cincinnati Bengals had just beat the Pittsburgh Steelers at Pittsburgh to take ownership of the division.  I really don't recall what my specific reaction was, but I'm sure it was nothing short of epic.  I was bouncing off of walls.  I was talking smack to every Steeler fan within earshot.  I was thrilled to death when Chad Johnson said that the Bengals were the new reality, that the Steelers were black and white television and the Bengals were color. 

When the 2005 Bengals clinched the division two weeks later at Detroit's Ford Field, I was doubly ecstatic.  I was absolutely convinced that our long run of pain and suffering in Bengal Nation had come to an end. 

That is very different compared to the emotions I feel today as your Cincinnati Bengals have completed their first season sweep of the Pittsburgh Steelers in eleven years.

Continue reading this post »

More photos » by Tom E. Puskar - AP

5 days ago: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals' Robert Geathers in the second quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

Browse more photos »

The Steelers said they were playing their best football. Bengals fans quietly thought to themselves "you know, the Bengals are playing pretty damn well themselves right about now." And our boys in orange and black came through in Pittsburgh, as Carson Palmer improved his career record at Heinz Field to 3-2. And really, this game was won by the defense and the big men up front on offense.

It was, for the most part, a pretty even game. But in the second half it was the Bengals defense, led by backups Jonathan Fanene and Brandon Johnson (2 sacks, 2 tfl, 1 qb hit; 2 passes defensed, respectively) up front, and Morgan Trent and David Jones in the seconday (broke up key passes and tipped Frostee's interception ball) that closed the game down.

The Bengals gave up 41 yards in the fourth quarter, only 7 on the Steelers' final two drives, as the offense, powered by back ups Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard, milked enough of the clock on a 4:20 drive for 3 before the defense came back onto the field and gave Ben Roethlisberger no time and no open receivers. Carson took some knees, and the Bengals won.

There was not much offense in this game. Time of possession was roughly even. Both teams accrued 10 first downs. The deciding factor on the scoreboard was Bernard Scott's touchdown return with 4:26 to go in the first quarter, the only touchdown of the game. Frostee Rucker's superaware interception probably went a long way in securing the victory, as the Bengals defense won the turnover battle and shut down the Steelers when they had to.

Enjoy your victory, Bengals fans. Chant "WHO DEY!" in the streets. This is certainly a good year to be a Bengals fan.

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

12 days ago: Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson runs against the Baltimore Ravens in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Cincinnati. Benson ran for 117 yards and one touchdown as the Bengals won 17-7. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Browse more photos »

It takes muscle and endurance to beat the Baltimore Ravens defense; along with a few missed Ed Reed tackle (have you ever seen him miss so many tackles against the Bengals?). Cedric Benson's rushing performance against the Ravens is in large part why the Bengals were able to beat a team that was favored in both games. The first time around, Benson rushed for 120 yards on 27 carries, which was the first time in 40 games that anyone rushed for 100 yards or more against the Ravens. Adrian Peterson would accomplish the same feat, rushing for 143 yards the following week.

So what does Benson do? He follows it up with another 100-yard performance. Dave Lapham asked the question. Who was the last running back to rush for 100 yards in consecutive meetings against the Ravens? Rudi Johnson actually came three yards short in 2005, rushing for 97 yards on November 6 and 114 yards on November 27. Both wins. Corey Dillon did do it in two seasons, rushing for 102 yards on November 10, 2002 and 127 yards on December 23, 2001. Pragmatic writes (through a Joe Reedy spirit or Twitter account) that it was Ricky Williams that last rushed for 100 yards against the Ravens in back-to-back games between 2002 and 2003. This Baltimore Sun article confirms it, writing that the Ravens defense "haven't allowed 100 yards to a running back in consecutive meetings since Miami's Ricky Williams in 2002-2003."

And more specific to our division's history, which running back has rushed for 100 yards against the Baltimore Ravens defense twice in one season? We looked. We scanned. The best we came up with was Jerome Bettis in 1997 -- rushed for 137 yards on October 5 and 114 yards on November 9 (if someone else, let us know).

As for the league, Chris Johnson put together another fine performance against the San Francisco 49ers rushing for 135 yards on 25 carries. He leads the league with 959 yards. Steven Jackson and Adrian Peterson were both off this week, allowing Benson to jump into second with 837 yards rushing.

One last impressive stat. Benson has recorded a rushing touchdown in four straight games, and six of the eight games this year.

by Al Behrman - AP

12 days ago: Baltimore Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain (33) is gang-tackled by, left to right, Cincinnati Bengals defenders Domata Peko, Keith Rivers, Frostee Rucker, Dhani Jones and Leon Hall after a short gain in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

View full size photo »

Today was the first time in recent memory that I sat down to watch a Bengals division game and did not get nervous from the first snap.  Were there some things that happened today that give me pause?  Were there some things that happened today that concern me going forward? 

Of course there were.  I don't like that Ed Reed made Chad Ochocinco cough the ball up again today.  That bothers me.  I credit Chad for continuing his theme of improving his yards after catch, but when it comes at the cost of possessing the ball it can be a detriment.  Chad has been great at making things happen after catching the ball all year long, and it usually happens the same way.  He will catch the ball on the left side of the field, turn to his left and spin off a defender and take off like a bat down the field.  It is usually a thing of beauty.  Got to keep better control of the ball while he's running, but I'm sure he doesn't need to hear that from me. 

Let's do some breakdown after the jump, shall we?

Continue reading this post »

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

Cedric Benson roars and stuff. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Browse more photos »

Hearts started racing in the fourth quarter as the Bengals offense flatlined after opening a 17-0 lead early on. The Ravens were threatening for the entire quarter, Ray Rice breakin tackles as Ray Rice does. But, the defense stepped up with a huge sack before the two minute warning, forcing the Ravens to use their second time out with 2:18 on the clock and a big, long third down facing them. Sacks are huge in 2 minute drills. It was 4-down territory, though, and on 3rd and 19 Flacco was sacked by Geathers. Game over? 4th and 29, Flacco drops back as idiot Fouts mentions Brandon Stokely, Flacco sacked. Fanene takes his helmet off like an idiot and is flagged, but whatever, the game's gotta be over - or is it? It is.

The Bengals got off to a quick start, and that saved the day. Reminiscent of Northwestern's victory over Iowa yesterday, the Bengals kept the Ravens off the board, and the defense saved the day in this one. 4 sacks, including two big sacks in the 4th quarter, and 8 total QB hits from the D-Line sans Antwan Odom. In comparison, the Ravens sacked Palmer once and hit him 5 more times. The Bengals had 4 tackles for a loss, 2 picks, and 10 passes defensed. You know what that means? The defense played really well, it wasn't just Flacco missing targets.

The Bengals out-gained the Ravens 369-215 (of course, Ray Rice had to tack on a 35-yard catch at the end of the game to hurt our pass defense ranking). Coles finished the game as the Bengals top receiver, catching 6 passes for 72 yards, and Ochocinco caught 5 for 66. Cedric Benson had 34 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown, not a great average, but he sure did get stuffed a lot late. Carson finished with a 91.0 passer rating, better than Flacco's 48.3, on 20/33 passing for 224 yards and a touchdown.

My favorite stat, as you guys may have figured out by now, is time of possession. Well, the Bengals possessed the ball for 40:00 in this one, and the defense just got off the field consistently on third downs. The Ravens converted only 1 of 10 third downs, and were 0 for 1 on 4th. The Bengals were 8 for 18 on third down.

Penalties really hurt Baltimore early, and the Bengals defense held on. It's a big Bengals win, and 4-0 in the division could go a long way. Hopefully Keith Rivers can get healthy for next week's big contest against the Steelers.