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After the Bengals littered the field with errors, topped off by a botched extra-point attempt, he put Sunday's 24-23 loss at Denver into perspective. Defensive tackle John Thornton's take? "We gift-wrapped it."
Added Dave Lapham, the analyst on the Bengals radio network: "I've never seen anything like it. It was Murphy's Law at its finest. I counted about five touchdown opportunities blown. It was ugly." Here's a blow-by-blow account of the Bengals' buffoonery: First quarter 13:56: On third and goal at the Broncos' 6, QB Carson Palmer's pass sails over WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh and gets intercepted by CB Darrent Williams in the end zone. 7:50: On second and 7 at Denver's 29, Palmer gets sacked for a 14-yard loss, taking the Bengals out of field goal range. 7:07: On the ensuing play (third and 21 at Denver's 43), WR Chad Johnson drops a pass at the Broncos' 24. Bengals are forced to punt. 0:58: Ahead 7-0 and facing third and 9 at Bengals' 37, Palmer's pass to Chad Johnson is intercepted by CB Champ Bailey. Second quarter 15:00: Bengals defense falls asleep as Broncos WR Rod Smith takes direct snap, rolls left, throws lateral to QB Jay Cutler, who completes 36-yard pass to WR Brandon Marshall at Bengals' 1, setting up Cutler's 1-yard TD pass to fourth-string TE Tony Scheffler at 13:24. 12:26: On second and 3 at Bengals' 36, Chad Johnson catches a 13-yard pass, but fumbles on a tackle by SS Dominique Foxworth. Bailey recovers. It's Johnson's first lost fumble of his six-year career. 12:07: On the next play, Bengals' duo of CB Johnathan Joseph and SS Dexter Jackson gets burned by WR Javon Walker for 39-yard TD reception as Broncos take a 14-7 lead. 2:37: On first and 10 at Broncos' 30, Palmer misfires to Houshmandzadeh in the end zone, but rebounds with an 11-yard TD pass to Chris Henry at 0:51 as Bengals take 17-14 halftime lead. Third quarter 10:44: On fourth and 7 at Denver's 32, Palmer gets hit with 5-yard delay-of-game penalty. Bengals are forced to punt. 10:34: The Broncos, pinned at the 1, drive 99 yards on 14 plays in a 7-minute, 17-second march marked by lousy tackling, poor coverage and no pressure on Cutler. Denver converts three third downs and Mike Bell's 2-yard TD run gives the Broncos the lead (21-17) for good. 2:51: Palmer and Henry hook up for a 75-yard TD, but a 5-yard "illegal shift" penalty nullifies the play. "That took the life out of us," TE Reggie Kelly said. Fourth quarter 10:50: On first and 10 at Denver's 24, TB Rudi Johnson fumbles on a hit by FS John Lynch. DE Elvis Dumervil recovers. 7:02: On third and 9 at Bengals' 32, Palmer's 13-yard pass to Henry is ruled a catch, but gets reversed by Broncos' replay challenge. 0:41: Bengals pull within 24-23 on Palmer's 10-yard TD pass to Houshmandzadeh, culminating a 12-play, 90-yard drive. But the most automatic play in football, the point-after kick, gets botched when holder Kyle Larson can't handle Brad St. Louis' wide, wobbly snap in the snow. 0:38: Bengals' Tony Stewart recovers Shayne Graham's 16-yard onside kick, but play is nullified by offside penalty on Bengals' Ahmad Brooks. Dayton Daily News http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/pro/bengals/2006/12/26/ddn122606benside.html |
