TJB Scout: Cincinnati Bengals
0-5.
Dead team walking . . . nothing to play for but pride . . . playing out the string . . . relishing the role of spoiler . . . the most dangerous team can be the one playing with nothing to lose . . .
Hello? You play to win the game . . .
If the annals of NFL history have taught us anything, it’s that no team has ever recovered from an 0-5 start to make the playoffs. No doubt the 53 members of the Cincinnati Bengals are acutely aware of this fact, and are spinning all the above excuses to focus on this week’s contest. But the fact is that only one full week into October, and there will be no meaningful football being played in the Queen City this January. Again.
And if there’s anything the Jets know all too well, it’s being the favorite against a team that’s seemingly done. (More recently, see the Bears in ‘02, the Rams at the end of ‘04, the Bills early last season — I’m sure you can cite plenty of other examples.)
To paraphrase Gen. Ackbar of the rebel alliance: “It’s a trap!”
Cheerleader check: Gotta like the Ben-Gals!
The scene: The game is Sunday at 1 in the Meadowlands. Currently, the forecast calls for clear and in the mid 70s, a perfect day for football.
Record: Despite spirited games against the Giants and Cowboys, the Bengals still find themselves at 0-5.
Streaks: This is the first time the Bengals have lost five straight under Marvin Lewis. The Jets have beaten the Bengals 5 of the last 6.
Barometer: Falling. Head coach Marvin Lewis claims to have no issues with job security, but after the front office has repeatedly undermined him with questionable move after questionable move, it’ll be interesting to see if the Bengals come out with a roar or just lay down like harmless kitties.
Old Friends: Not surprisingly, none of the Jets’ boy scout types have found their way on to the Bengals roster. (Former linebacker Anthony Schlegel was cut this past May.)
Questions: Is Carson Palmer finally getting healthy? Can the team get on track? Are the Bengals on the verge of dealing one of their wide receivers? Does Marvin Lewis have any control of the lockerroom? How long before Lawrence Phillips puts on the orange-and-black? Is Paul Brown spinning in his grave?
Key injuries: LB Dhani Jones (foot), T Levi Jones (back), S Dexter Jackson (thumb), QB Carson Palmer (right elbow), DE Frostee Rucker (shoulder) and DT Pat Sims (thigh) are among this week’s injured.
Five things to know about the Bengals offense:
- Wheeere’s Carson? – Palmer has fought through an elbow injury sustained in week 3 against the Giants, but even with that, has been far from lighting it up: 75/129, 731 yards, 3 TDs, 4 interceptions for 69.0 QB rating. He played better in the 2nd half in the loss against the Cowboys last week, going 16 for 22 with 155 yards and 2 TDs and showing some of the ability that has made him among the top 10 quarterbacks (statisitically, anyway) in the NFL over the past few years. Last season, Palmer went 14 of 21 for 226 yards and a TD in the Bengals’ win against the Jets.
- Ocho Stinko - Through five games, Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson Jingleheimer Schmidt has managed only had 14 receptions for 159 yards and one TD — not exactly the big playmaker he takes great pleasure in billing himself as. T.J. Houshyourmamma has taken up the slack, posting 31 catches for 351 yards and 3 TDs. In fairness, Johnson often commands a double team, leaving Housh in single coverage. Troubled wide receiver Chris Henry has rejoined the team, and may cause trouble for the Jets when he lines up in the slot during three-receiver sets; he’s a definite deep threat. When clicking, Johnson and Housh are dangerous a tandem as any in the NFL.
- Ground Up – The Bengals running game has seemingly disappeared, possibly because the team let the steady-if-unspectacular Rudi Johnson go. The immortal Kenny Watson, who gashed the Jets for 130 yards and 3 TDs last year, has been the Bengals’ version of Ben Graham, finding himself cut last week then re-signed this week. Inexplicably, the Bengals have turned to Chris Perry, who has been a fumbling machine, putting the ball on the ground five times this season already, and Thomas Jones’ old caddy, Cedric Benson, who sobered up long enough to join the rogue’s gallery last week and was okay in limited action.
- It (Doesn’t) Start Up Front — Anchored by tackles Stacy Andrews and Levi Jones, the offensive line has been mediocre at best, giving up 14 sacks, near the bottom of the league. They’ve also struggled making holes for the running backs, ranking 30th in the NFL with 78 yards rushing/game. The tight ends — Reggie Kelly and former Colt Ben Utecht (who must be ready to choke his agent with his champion ring) — have not added much to either the running or passing games.
- Slow Starters – The Bengals have struggled putting points on the board early in games, only managing a lone field goal TOTAL in all of the first quarters they’ve played this year. Overall, they’ve only averaging 14.8 points/game, and are next-to-last in the NFL with yards/game with 239.2. They have also turned the ball over a lot, coming in at –4 in the giveaway/takeaway category.
Jersey watch (offense): #84 of Houshmandzadeh and, uh, #ochenta y cinco of that other guy should keep the Jets secondary occupied.
Five things to know about the Bengals defense:
- Ground Down – As much as the Bengals have failed to run the ball, they have failed to stop the run, ranking 29th in the league and giving up 171 yards/game. Last week, the Cowboys rolled up 198 yards on the ground. They have defended the pass better, ranking 6th and allowing only 167.6 yards/game.
- A Rivers Plays Through It – First-round pick and linebacker Keith Rivers has been a welcome addition the perennially underwhelming defense, notching 31 tackles and an interception so far.
- Return of Double J – After missing time with an ankle injury, cornerback Johnathan Joseph returns to starting lineup to bolster a secondary that hasn’t been awful, currently ranking 6th in the NFL and allowing only 167.6 yards/game. Joseph joins second-year corner Leon Hall, who is coming off a decent rookie season (12 passes defensed, 5 interceptions), and safety Chinedum Ndukwe, who has a sack and an interception playing in place of injured Dexter Jackson. The Bengals favor a press coverage, which will put pressure on the Jets offensive line to give Favre time until receivers can get open.
- Keeping Pace? - Trying to outdo the Jets, the Bengals signed a pair of Arizona linebacker to help fortify the unit. Unlike the Jets, they haven’t gotten quite the same production out of the signings — Darryl Blackstock was suspended earlier this week for four games after violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, while Brandon Johnson has rotated in and out. The rest of the unit features Rashad Jeanty starting on one side with the reliable Dhani Jones in the middle and the aforementioned Rivers on the other side. The Bengals sometimes drop into a 3-4 scheme based on situations.
- No Pressure – The defensive line has struggled to get pressure on quarterbacks, only registering 3 sacks in 5 games. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer — new this season after a good run in Dallas and one year in Atlanta — runs a 4-3 defense, and it features former Titan Antwan Odom and veteran Bengal Robert Geathers at the tackle spots, with solid second-year pro Domata Peko and elder Bengal John Thornton on the inside.
Jersey watch (defense): #55 of Rivers should be worth keeping an eye on.
Three things about the Bengals special teams:
- Holt the Bolt – Glenn Holt has sparked the kick return game the past two seasons, averaging 27.1/yards a kickoff this year, and returning one for a TD last year. He posted two returns of over 45 yards against the Cowboys last week. Antonio Chatman returns punts, and has averaged a respectable 10.1 yards/return.
- At Least Someone Named Graham Will Be Kicking This Week – Kicker Shayne Graham may not have the strongest leg in the NFL — he hasn’t made a field goal of over 50 yards since 2006 — but he is accurate, knocking them through at a rate of 90 percent or higher the past few seasons, including going 9 of 10 this year.
- Getting a Kick Out of Kyle – Kyle Larson has handled the Bengals punting duties for the past five years and performed well — averaging 42.9 yards/punt with a net of 36.6, which has been right around the NFL average over that time period.
What to expect from the broadcast booth: The game is on CBS-TV and will feature solid play-by-play man Dick Enberg and analysts Randy Cross and Dan Fouts, which is actually one of the better teams around, meaning there may be some coherent analysis. It’ll especially be fun to hear Fouts talk about the two quarterbacks in the game.
Spotlight matchup: Johnson, Houshmandzadeh and Henry vs. Revis, Lowery and Poteat/ Coleman/ Barrett/ Miller/ Elam/ Carroll/ Stuckey. The Jets secondary has been vulnerable to the passing game — especially slot receivers and tight ends — so look for the Bengals to shift formations and add movement to create matchups that can be exploited.
The pressure is on: The Bengals front seven to keep the Jets’ struggling running game from breaking out this week, and to force the Jets’ offense into passing situations, which the Bengals have defended better.
Expect the unexpected from: Cedric Benson — he ran with purpose and intensity last week, seemingly realizing that the troubled Bengal backfield may be his last chance to claim a starting job (and a paycheck) in the NFL.
Bottom line: The Bengals have played hard against some very good teams this year — the Giants and Cowboys, in particular — and no doubt will see the Jets as a great chance to finally put a “W” on the board. If they can catch the Jets napping a little coming off the bye, score big early and take the crowd out of the game, then they have an excellent chance of stealing a “W.”
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This game scares me. This, to me, is the perfect “trap” game. It would be so typical of the Jets to come off a blow-out game, have everyone talk about how they are set to soar, and lose the next game.
But coming off the bye week with plenty of time to paln, I think Mangini will have them prepared, and ready to play. This game should be the start of a pretty good run of wins.
Hopefully they won’t be singing this after the game, but i think they will be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kj_mFDaTm8&feature=related
“Seems like I’ve
been playing your
game way too long
Seems the game
I’ve played has
made you strong
Trapped
OOh yeah
Trapped
OOh Yeah
Trapped
OOh Yeah
Trapped
OOh Yeah”
Yes, lets hope not.
This is officially a must win for the Jets, if we dont win this game against the Bengals we can seriously forget any chances of dominance in the AFC this year, forget about it. With a decent game plan this is a very winnable game, come on mangini dont blow it now!
Shore up that short pass defense, run the ball effectively and dont let them run all over us like last year.
As long as Jenkins stuffs the run we will be fine.
When it comes to the Jets, I always look at the glass as half-empty and assume some horrific unseen event will cause a heart-breaking loss. But, honestly, as long as Jenkins is healthy, and the team is prepared the way it’s been after every bye week under Mangini, I can’t see them losing.
A classic trap game is when you have a weak opponent that you overlook because of a bigger game next week (Chargers losing to the Fins and playing the Pats this week…that was a trap game). So, this game, to me, doesn’t qualify as a trap game. Especially after the bye week, I expect the Jets to be focused. But, that game at home against the Chiefs before the Bills game? That’s a trap game.
agree 100% sd, its the kc game that qualifies as the classic trap game. hopefully that week is one of lj’s five carry games, and not one of his forty. if we lose this game it won’t be for lack of focus, it will be because we’re not as good as many of us think/hope.
Other than the Patriots and Bills games this season, I think this game will tell us the most about this version of the J-E-T-S. This is a game we are supposed to win, at home, after a bye week. If we don’t win by two touchdowns or more, there should be a lot of questions asked - especially of management.
2 touchdowns or more? Yea like the NFC powerhouse Giants and Cowboys did that. The Bengals aren’t quite as bad as their 0-5 record proves.
oscarfactor -
Two touchdowns or more? Really? In case you missed the Bengals’ games Giants and Cowboys, these guys can play, and aren’t what I’d call a true 0-5 team. I don’t really care how much we win by, as long as we get the W. If this were the Chiefs or Rams games, I’d agree that a blowout would be something I’d really hope to see, but Cincinnati isn’t a scrub team.
I think it’s generally a bad idea to make a determination on how much your team needs to win by. Just take every win you can get.
2 Touchdowns or more? Do you watch the NFL? How many games each week are decided by 2 touchdowns or more?
Above you state you are worried about the running game and stopping that. From what I have seen the Jets are giving up tons of yds through the air. Palmer and the boys are going to eat that up.
WhoDey
I lived in Cincinatti and watched the Bengals during their one playoff run since Boomer. They suck. They have more that enough talent and sometimes we even get a glimmer of it. Then they collapse. We gave up a 14pt lead to lose to them last year. Last year when we were a joke. I’m not saying this is a def win, but it will be a cold day in heck b4 some one from an area as boring as Cincinnati tells me that the Bengals will eat anything but Chili. Go Jets!
No predictions, but I’d like to see a complete 4 quarter performance. No mental lapses and, if the Jets are lucky to have a good lead in the second half, no comebacks. We all can see that this team has all the pieces to be very good, but good teams play hard and smart for 4 quarters.
you would think a guy that lived in Cincinnati would know how to spell it.
Maybe you should eat a dictionary???
Oh boo hoo. Your come backs are lame and if I can’t spell its funnier because I went to school there. Man that town sucks.
Don’t worry guys, when you lose this game you’ll still have Gate D to enjoy.
You were probably one of those guys that lived in Northern Kentucky and said you lived in Cincinnati. Kind of like living in Jersey and telling people you are from NYC.
The town stopped sucking as soon as you left. And the football team is going to put it together this week against the Jets.
We will not win by 2 touchdowns however. Probably 4 or 5.
I’m dead serious. Indianapolis is 100,000 times the city Cincinnati is. I was convinced the midwest had nothing to offer during my time there. Their best place to go is called Newport and it is across the river in Kentucky (Even Chris Henry goes there. He got in trouble for not paying the 5 dollar parking fee). The place was void of culture and the pizza was horrible.
I agree with Sack about the game. As long as they dont beat themselves I’m happy.
I wouldnt feed a hungry homeless Pats fan that cr*p they call chili in “The ‘Nati.” And dont they say Who Dey in Noleans anyway, they got a chant and everything. Boy it must suck to pull for the Bungholes. They make Jets fans look classy…
“N.J. pol wants crackdown on rowdy Jets fans’ behavior” - usa today
yeah, stay classy New Jersey Jets
At LEAST two touchdowns, if we are the playoff juggernaut we are supposed to be.
-Coming off bye
- Palmer is hurt
-Playing at home.
This is a game where we should DOMINATE on the field and on the scoreboard IF we are as good as we think we are.
Don’t give me the crap about how the Bengals almost beat the Giants and stayed close to the Cowboys. I’m talking about THIS WEEK, THESE TWO TEAMS. It’s a measurement game, and I won’t feel happy unless we win by 14 or more.
Chrebookie, the Saints say Who Dat. If you want the entire story check it out here.
http://boards.bengals.com/showthread.php?t=13
JustAGreenGuy, I’m not surprised that Newport is the only place you found to party at near Cincinnati. You were probably looking for The Dock and found your way there.
” ‘Nati pol crackdown on over-hyped chili,” - CBS 60 minutes cites. “Who puts spaghetti in chili anyway?” Andy Rooney wonders.
Plus you cant spell Classy with “ass” and isnt that what created jets fans- Moon Man in Shea anyone?
When the Sked game out in April, we marked this down as a game we had to win. Nothing has changed. Bengals are desperate, have better than 0-5 talent, and will play hard. We need to treat every game as desperate if we want to win division and get a bye. We cannot lose this game. We should not lose this game. Things change in this league from week to week, but right now, we need win the next 3, and win 2 out of following 3: @ Buff, Stl, @ NE. Need to be 7-3 when we arrive in Tennessee Nov 23rd
Jersey has parking lots more interesting than Cincy.
Your city sucked. The local music was lame, your women smelled of desperation and your bars smelled like piss. Even Mark Twain thought Cincy was 20 years behind the rest of the country. It isn’t just me.
Its plain and simple… Every game is a must win situation. Do you think NE said in game 15 last year “Hey we’re 14-0 we can afford to lose this game.”
No I’m sure they didn’t and that goes for every game and every team for the season. We will drop this game anyway. And we can all go back to same questions about the Favre trade and everyone will be wanting to bring back Penny. We will have lost the glimmer of hope we saw two weeks ago against “The Gloved One.”
Ahh to be a “classy” Jets fan.
A Jersey guy talking about other girls? How does the saying go?
“Jersey girls aren’t trash….. Trash gets picked up”
Cherbookie I think you have lost it.
The Jets give up 83 points in their last two games and you talk about stopping anyone?
This is the “Get back on track” game the Bengals need.
Maybe a “Get back to the wrong side of the track” game for the Bingels. I mean Henry is back, let the DUI’s flow.
And thank you for noticing- WhoDoh’Fan
and Jersey girls get recycled anyway, Schmuck
We will see. Do you blog any where I’d love to make a visit after the game. The Browns game was the game you needed to win. Yeah and that joke is old. I understand you are from Cincy, so of course your material is out dated.
You don’t have the offense the Chargers have and Arizona has better recievers. Believe what you want but a top 8 draft pick is in the Bengals future and if you keep Marvin Lewis you deserve to lose. A defensive guru should know defense. Plus your O line sucks and is what has limited 85’s catches.
Yeah, I own a blog. http://www.whodeyfans.com
The Browns game should have been a win. Carson Palmer did not play and we choked. I think I could make a strong argument for Cincy’s wide outs over Arizona. And Palmer is a better QB than Warner.
nobody is better than “The Gloved One”
When Palmer sees the field he is better and he still hasn’t accomplished a tenth of what warner has. He had his eyes locked on TJ all last week. I watched Chad get open and he didn’t even look at him. Palmer is wounded and running for his life. I’ll take Boldin or Fitzgerald any day over any Bengal wide out. Where is Jerome Simpson anyway?
Chrebookie, get help. It’s not too late.
http://www.soberforever.net/
who knows, first year wide out, no playing time. I don’t claim to understand the coaching calls.
The thing I love about the Bengals is that however bad our history is, theirs is worse. We had Kotite, but they had David Shula. We had Coslet for 3 years, but they had him for 4 years.
Him and whoever that other WR you drafted should have made resigning Chris Henry ridiculous. Henry was the guy who got arrested bringing liquor to 17 year olds in his own jersey. That is pretty dumb.
darren i prefer
http://www.whenthefunstops.com/
thanks though
What’s with the moron influx?
And oscarfactor, margin of victory is often a gross misrepresentation of how well a team played. I suggest you be a little less rigid and form a judgment based on what you see on the field instead of just what the scoreboard says.
I usually don’t get involved in this kind of debate, but check out WhoDey Fans blog. A bit one-sided for me… not a whole lot of substance thrown around over there- also not a whole lot of comments either. One from D Hollywood and one from an anonymous Jets fan. Perhaps you should rethink naming your blog WhereDey Fans?
True enough, NY Titan. What a dead site. Doc Hollywood must be mighty lonely over there! Just like his prom night is gonna be when he reaches puberty….
wanted them to beat dallas for that very reason. you can only down a team with talent so many times before they come out swinging. they still have a lot of ability, and have suffered close loses. bengal’s d showed some life against the cowboy’s, shocking against that o-line. we need these next few games, if Cincinnati loses another game in succession, they are decimated.
Thing that scares me the most is Vegas making line 6. Average morong gambler lays the 6 and they are BEGGING you to use JETS in teasers. Line is fishy = just like MNF game line of SD -9. I live in SD. Every friend/co-worker that is a Charger fan thought JETS were great bet. Some traps have to hit, and with our history after bye week, that makes me feel good.
Darren Hollywood / Whodeyfans:
From your IP address it is clear you are the same person. We don’t like that here.
Please don’t do it anymore if you want to continue to be able to post here. Thanks.
Actually, we work together. Same office, same IP. I assure you we are different people.
I’m embarrassed that I share an IP with him. It makes me sick.
@Bubby
Great blast. I’ve got no come back. One day when I’m hairier I’ll join you at Gate D for nipples and beer.
NY Titan:
Hilarious, Where Dey Fans. Don’t worry, we will be in Jersey this weekend. I will throw some pics up next week for you.
I beg to differ on the substance. You can go to a million sites and see the same old stats. I give it to you from different angles. Its just, I don’t have any hatred for the Jets so maybe I was uninspired this week.
WDF/DH: Fair enough.
There’s nothing wrong with your blog IMO (although I might find some of your trash talking a bit misguided in places, I don’t have a problem with a bit of homerism). I’m sure if I was a Bengals fan, I would enjoy the site.
P.S. The Gate D thing is old news. Doesn’t happen any more, I’m pleased to report.
I am an extreme homer. I also like to have fun with it.
Here is a non biased article for you:
http://www.whodeyfans.com/2008/10/tecmo-bowl-futures-jets.html
Let the machine decide.
Also,
Bengals.com is reporting Carson did not practice and had ice on his arm. Local media thinks he will not play. This changes everything.
When is your bye? Next division game? I think if he can throw he is going unless there is a mighty good reason to rest him.
Jeez, Palmer’s injury sounds pretty bad. Tough call in giving him the start and possibly prolonging it or starting… Fitzpatrick? Is that his name? I don’t know… at 0-5 and no shot at the posty, I’d keep him from further injury. Give the backup some time in the game. It sounds bad, but Cincy can’t risk Carson just to win some meaningless games can they?
I guess. An 0-5 team needs a leader though.
Thats what the local media is saying. The Bengals have the worst trainers ever. Our old center was day to day for three weeks, then got a second opinion and was found to have a broken bone in his leg rubbing against itself.
Nice.
yeah, he is out.
Congrats on the win Jets.
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