Chick Ludwig (my personal favorite Bengals beat writer) points out that the Bengals will play 13 games against running backs (all six games in the AFC North) that have rushed for 1,000 yards or more. For running backs, 1,000 yards rushing has always been the benchmark -- and the argument that 1,000 yards rushing just isn't that impressive anymore is a VERY valid one. But it is the benchmark nonetheless. Using Chick's research (we're a lazy group bloggers, eh?), let's quickly run down the 1,000 yard rushers we face this season.
- Willie Parker (1,312 yards rushing)
- Willis McGahee (1,207)
- Jamal Lewis (1,304)
That's six among the AFC North alone. The rest:
- Joseph Addai (1,072)
- Fred Taylor (1,202)
- LenDale White (1,110)
- Thomas Jones (1,119)
- Brandon Jacobs (1,009)
- Brian Westbrook (1,333)
- Clinton Portis (1,262)
Let's quickly examine opposing running backs against the Bengals defense in 2007.
| RB | Season | Att - Yards - TDs |
| W. McGahee | 1,207 | 19 - 77 - 0 |
| J. Lewis | 1,304 | 27 - 216 - 1 |
| S. Alexander | 716 | 21 - 100 - 0 |
| S. Morris | 384 | 21 - 117 - 1 |
| L. Johnson | 559 | 31 - 119 - 1 |
| T. Jones | 1,119 | 19 - 67 - 0 |
| W. Parker | 1,316 | 22 - 126 - 1 |
| M. Lynch | 1,115 | 29 - 153 - 1 |
| W. McGahee | 1,207 | 17 - 60 - 1 |
| E. James | 1,222 | 22 - 52 - 1 |
| L. White | 1,110 | 8 - 27 - 0 |
| W. Parker | 1,316 | 28 - 87 - 0 |
| S. Jackson | 1,002 | 18 - 91 - 0 |
| F.Gore | 1,102 | 29 - 138 - 0 |
| J.Lewis | 1,304 | 21 - 92 - 0 |
| J.Chatman | 515 | 12 - 42 - 0 |
The Bengals played 12 games against running backs that recorded 1,000-yard seasons. Of those 12, in only four games did the running back actually record 100 yards or more against the Bengals. The spin: three of four games with feature backs with less than 800-yard rushing seasons, actually rushed for 100 yards or more against the Bengals. A neat little trend: the Bengals defense hasn't allowed a rushing touchdown the opposing team's running back for six straight games... a trend that exists going into 2008.
UPDATE: We needed to point out that the trend of not giving up a rushing touchdown to the opposing team's running back was solely meant as the opposing team's feature back -- not back ups or QBs.
2007 Breakdown against Feature Backs [Cincy Jungle]