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Remember when the NFL schedule came out and the last game of the season for the Cincinnati Bengals looked like a perfect way to springboard into 2007? Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati in Paul Brown Stadium on New Year’s Eve. Not long ago, word was the NFL would change the 1 p.m. scheduled start to prime time, which it still might do. But instead of that game serving as a prelude to the playoffs, not much more than draft position might be at stake. Welcome to Mel Kiper Jr.’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve!
The situation for the Bengals (4-4) is not nearly as dire as it is for the Steelers (2-6). If the Bengals can avenge Sunday’s 26-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in their rematch at the end of the month, they’ll need to pick up only one more game to tie them for the AFC North lead. But that seems like wishful thinking, considering the Bengals have lost four of their past five games. In fact, it can be argued the Bengals were outplayed in two of their victories, over Pittsburgh and Carolina. Two components of last year’s success have gone AWOL: Cincinnati’s offense remains capable of big plays but now has trouble sustaining success, and the defense has stopped forcing turnovers. On offense, the line has suffered from injuries to center Rich Braham and, to a lesser extent, left tackle Levi Jones. Now a third key lineman might miss Sunday’s game against San Diego. Coach Marvin Lewis said yesterday that right tackle Willie Anderson will be listed as questionable because of a shoulder strain. But the problems go beyond the line. Chris Henry’s pathetic effort on Sunday’s final throw might irreversibly damage his relationship with Carson Palmer. A quarterback must trust that a receiver will go for every ball, especially with the game on the line. Chad Johnson’s frustration at being reduced to a complementary part of the offense boiled over after the game when he described himself as a hood ornament. The bigger issue, however, might be with Palmer. Just when it seemed his reconstructed left knee had ceased to be an issue, he acknowledged that his mechanics have suffered because of it. ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski studied tape of Palmer and said he lifts his left leg as he throws when pressured and doesn’t follow through properly. As a result, some throws have sailed high, as was the case on an interception returned for a touchdown against Baltimore. "There has been a couple of times I haven’t stepped all the way into a throw," Palmer said. "Looking back last week, (I thought) if I do step into a couple of throws when that (pass rush) happens, I might mess up my knee again. It’s something I need to continue to work on and do a better job mechanically." Defensively, the Bengals have had two straight games without a turnover, and they continue to struggle on third down. The difference in styles between Baltimore’s defense and the Bengals’ was stark. The Ravens attack; for the most part the Bengals react. It should be pointed out that Cincinnati is not playing with the lineup it expected before the season. Linebackers David Pollack and Odell Thurman are out for the season, and steady veteran Brian Simmons missed the Ravens game with a lingering neck injury. Cincinnati’s two biggest freeagent signings are playing on one good leg each: Defensive tackle Sam Adams has a knee injury that will require postseason surgery; safety Dexter Jackson’s sprained ankle isn’t fully healed. Lewis also revealed that cornerback Tory James has a sore knee and is questionable for Sunday. The Bengals now face their moment of truth. Three of their next four games are against San Diego, New Orleans and Baltimore, each of which is 6-2. "We just have to move on to the San Diego Chargers," Lewis said. "We’ve got to play better football than what we’ve played over the last month." Columbusdispatch.com |
