Bebgals Prepare for Tampa Bay

They get their first chance to show those adjustments Sunday when they play the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.

Though the Bengals (3-1) are only one-half game behind the division-leading Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North, the swagger that accompanied last season's resurgence seems to be missing.

Their most recent game was a 38-13 home loss to New England on Oct. 1. Only one of Cincinnati's losses last season was by more than 14 points, and that came in a virtually meaningless regular-season finale because the team already had clinched a playoff berth.

Cincinnati's offense has topped 300 yards only once this year and the rushing attack has totaled just 158 yards over the last two games. On the other side of the ball, the Bengals are giving up 344.8 yards per game to rank 24th in the league and they've allowed 406 rushing yards in the last two contests.

"We haven't played as good as we can, because we know we can be a great football team," Bengals linebacker Brian Simmons said. "At the same time, we're 3-1 and you have to feel good about that."

Quarterback Carson Palmer will try to lift the offense out of its doldrums. He threw for 245 yards against New England, but had no touchdown passes while being sacked four times and losing two fumbles.

Palmer has been sacked 15 times, four fewer than all of last season. A re-tooled offensive line, as well as the lack of a consistent running game or second receiver behind Chad Johnson have caused problems the team has yet to overcome regularly.

"The fact that he's getting hit more and the pressure has an effect on any quarterback," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "What we've got to do is do a better job of protecting him to allow him to do it."

Though he's on pace to rush for more than 1,400 yards for a third straight season, Rudi Johnson has been limited to 112 yards on 33 carries over the past two games.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh had four catches for 95 yards in the loss to the Patriots, his second game after missing the first two with a bruised heel. Kelley Washington had three receptions for 28 yards, and will get another shot at being the No. 3 receiver this week with Chris Henry finishing a league-imposed two-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse and conduct policies.

   
Bruce Gradkowski impressed in his first start, but the Bucs are still looking for their first win.     
Cincinnati, starting a stretch of three straight games against NFC South foes, has outscored opponents 227-91 during an eight-game interconference winning streak dating to a loss to the St. Louis Rams on Dec. 21, 2003. Palmer has thrown for 1,446 yards and 14 TDs in six games versus NFC opponents.

Tampa Bay is off to its second 0-4 start in three seasons, a complete reversal from last year's team that opened 4-0 en route to the NFC South title. The Buccaneers had the NFL's top-ranked defense last season, but have seen age -- six starters are older than 30 -- and ineffectiveness drop them to 20th heading into this game.

"We are struggling," Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said. "If I could put my finger on it, I'd probably tell you what it was. ... It's just not up to the standards that we've seen around here in the past, nor the ones that we expect here in the future."

A mediocre defensive performance last week wasted an impressive effort by rookie quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who was making his first NFL start for injured starter Chris Simms. Gradkowski completed 20 of 31 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, but Tampa Bay lost 24-21 at New Orleans.

"It's a tough one to swallow," Gradkowski said. "There's a lot of good that came out of this game."

Gruden has challenged his defensive line to play better this week, which failed to record a sack and yielded 143 rushing yards. The Buccaneers, who also did not have a turnover last week, have allowed an average of 163.3 rushing yards through four games after giving up 94.7 per game last season.

"For us to come out of the ashes here, they're going to have to dominate," said Gruden, referring to starting defensive ends Anthony McFarland and Simeon Rice, as well as key reserves Ellis Wyms and Dewayne White.

"Until they do, we're going to struggle because we need those four guys, whoever's in there at the time, to deliver."

This is the first game between the teams since the Buccaneers won 35-7 on Sept. 29, 2002, at Cincinnati. It also will be the Bengals' first game in Tampa since a 19-16 defeat Oct. 8, 1995.