Bengals pull their act together
Reverting to 2005 form helps them end three-game skid

The Bengals revived their 2005 formula just in time to save, at least for now, their 2006 season.

The Bengals won the AFC North last year thanks to a combination of explosive passing, rugged running, opportunistic defense and sound special teams. One or more of those ingredients had been missing in almost every game this season until the 31-16 victory over the New Orleans Saints yesterday in the Superdome.

Chad Johnson set an NFL record for receiving yards in consecutive games by catching six passes for 190 yards, including three touchdowns.

Rudi Johnson ran for 111 yards.

The defense snapped a three-game turnover-less streak by forcing four turnovers, the last one an interception returned 52 yards for a touchdown by rookie Ethan Kilmer.

The kick-coverage units held dangerous returners Reggie Bush and Michael Lewis in check.

"It felt like it was a game from last year," quarterback Carson Palmer said.

Having lost three straight and five of six, the Bengals (5-5) couldn’t wait any longer if they were to salvage their season.

"We had our backs against the wall," Rudi Johnson said. "Coming in here against a great team at a hard place to play, it’s definitely a big lift off our shoulders."

Not that it was particularly pretty. The Bengals yielded 595 yards, including 510 passing by Drew Brees, the sixth-highest total in NFL history. That number could have been worse. Rookie sensation Marques Colston left the game early because of a sprained ankle, and the Saints’ other receivers dropped numerous balls.

After the Bengals’ secondhalf collapse last week against San Diego, defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan probably endured another night of tossing and turning.

"You can give up 600 yards or whatever we did, but we scored on defense and that was one of the goals we had going into this game," defensive end Bryan Robinson said. "We have that goal going into any game, but we got it done today."

All three interceptions were pivotal. New Orleans (6-4) was at the Cincinnati 8 when safety Madieu Williams intercepted a pass in the end zone to keep the score tied at 7 early in the second quarter.

The Bengals took advantage with a drive for a field goal, but the Saints were again on the verge of taking the lead just before halftime. Then Kevin Kaesviharn continued his knack of making big plays in the end zone by stepping in front of an ill-advised Brees pass for an interception.

The final one clinched the victory. With the Bengals ahead 24-10 with less than seven minutes left, Brees threw a short pass to running back Aaron Stecker. Kilmer, a rookie playing in his first pro defensive series, stepped in front of the pass and ran 52 yards to give the Bengals a 31-10 lead.

The Bengals had taken the lead thanks to the Palmer-Chad Johnson combination. They hooked up on an improvised 41-yard touchdown less than two minutes into the game.

After that, the offense mostly stalled for the next three quarters.

Given the way New Orleans moved the ball, Cincinnati looked to be in trouble. But with the score tied at 10, Palmer escaped the pocket, saw Johnson get behind cornerback Fred Thomas and tossed the ball down the left sideline to his open receiver, who ran for a 60-yard score.

On the Bengals’ next possession, Johnson made a spectacular 48-yard reception and scored on a 4-yard slant on the next play to make it 24-10. Johnson had 260 receiving yards last week, giving him an NFL-record 450 in consecutive games.

Any chance for a Saints comeback was foiled by Kilmer’s interception and Rudi Johnson’s running.

After the Saints made it 31-16, the Bengals’ workhorse running back dragged several tacklers for a 10-yard gain and a first down to end any remaining suspense.

Columbus Dispatch

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