The Bengals offense was non existent today in Baltimore. The line was not able to protect Carson Palmer, and Palmer looked off. Baltimore never gave Palmer the chance to really get set before he threw. The rust had to be shaken off of the Bengals Receivers as TJ and Chad were double teamed for most of the game. It was evident that the lack of time on the filed and the lack of reps between TJ, Chad, and Carson hurt the team.
The defense held the Ravens to 17 points, but the game actually ended with the Ravens having the ball inside the Bengals ten yard line when time ran out. The Bengals defense looked alright, but once again failed miserably at the end of the game when they needed to hold the Ravens to get the ball back. The Bengals have their home opener next week against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Cincinnati.
Lions cornerback Keith Smith intercepts a pass intended for Bengals receiver Chris Henry during the second quarter.
DETROIT -- Plenty to provide confidence. Enough that must improve. So it went for the Bengals last night in a 27-26 exhibition loss to the Detroit Lions in Ford Field. As expected, Bengals first-teamers didn't play long. Most of the offensive and defensive starters played only two possessions. Both units did more good than bad. Bengals starters outscored the Lions 6-0 and outgained them 126-63. But the offense couldn't get in the end zone, settling for 23- and 48-yard field goals by Shayne Graham, who missed a 48-yard try as time expired.
"We expect to score touchdowns every time we get the ball," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "We'll have to look at the film and figure out why we didn't." Palmer was sharp, completing 7 of 10 passes for 93 yards. The running game was productive behind a line missing tackles Willie Anderson and Levi Jones. Rudi Johnson's first carry went for 20 yards, and he finished with 32 yards on five carries.
On Cincinnati's first possession, Palmer connected with Chad Johnson for 18 yards and T.J. Houshmandzadeh for 30 before the drive stalled at the Lions 5-yard line. The big play of the second drive was a 22-yard completion to Johnson. But it wasn't all roses for the offense. Chad Johnson, left tackle Andrew Whitworth and receiver Chris Henry were called for false starts, the type of careless infraction all too common last year. Johnson uncharacteristically failed to get a second foot inbounds on a sideline pass. "That's a first," he said. "It's only the preseason, though."
The starting defense looked solid against former teammate Jon Kitna's Lions. On both drives, the defense stiffened as soon as the Lions entered Bengals territory. On the first possession, Justin Smith sacked Kitna on second down and Robert Geathers got pressure on a third-down incompletion. On the second, Bryan Robinson batted down a third-down pass to force a punt.
"Initially," defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan said, referring to the starters, "I thought we played very well." When the backups entered, the play got considerably sloppier. Doug Johnson threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Henry with a minute late in the second quarter but otherwise didn't inspire much confidence. He threw behind receivers at times and was intercepted when he underthrew Henry on a deep fade pass. Johnson finished 11 of 20 for 150 yards.
The second-team defense committed a huge blunder when it allowed Shaun McDonald to get open for an 83-yard touchdown from J.T. O'Sullivan. Leading 16-10 at halftime, Cincinnati built a 26-10 lead in the fourth quarter when rookie defensive tackle Matt Toeaina returned an interception 81 yards for a touchdown. But Bengals reserves surrendered 17 points in five minutes to relinquish the lead. They failed to recover an onside kick with 2:45 left after a Lions field goal, and Detroit needed only two plays to score the go-ahead touchdown.
Rookie quarterback Jeff Rowe led the Bengals to the Lions 30 on a last-minute drive, but Graham's kick was wide left. Second-round pick Kenny Irons suffered the only potentially serious injury. The running back hurt a knee in the second quarter and will have a magnetic resonance imaging.
4:15 p.m.
With running back DeDe Dorsey out for year, the Bengals turned to a star-crossed former first-round pick in Cedric Benson to back up Chris Perry Sunday in Dallas.
Benson joins the Bengals five days after two Travis County grand juries...
3:55 p.m.
From Bengals public relations:
The Bengals today signed free agent HB Cedric Benson and placed HB DeDe Dorsey on the Reserve/Injured list. Dorsey, a third-year player from Lindenwood College, played in this season's first four games but...
Posted: 6:10 a.m.
If Ryan Fitzpatrick gets another shot to start Sunday in Dallas, the Bengals only have to look at their last 19 games to see the road map for getting a victory with a backup quarterback.
In that stretch they've played eight...
This is THE podcast for all Cincinnati Bengals fans.Twice a week, legendary Cincinnati sportscaster, Ken Broo, is joined by the editors, writers and publisher of the popular bi-weekly publication, Bengals ReportIn this up to the minute podcast, the discussion is all Bengals featuring interviews with your favorite Bengals players.Get the inside scoop on the Bengals and their upcoming games by placing Bengals Report on your list of favorites!
In this episode, Ken Broo and Bengals Report executive editor, Mark Hardin preview the Bengals vs Browns game coming up Sunday 92808. You'll hear comments from Carson Palmer, Chris Perry and Marvin Lewis. For the best in sports, visit Ken Broo's web site www.kenbroo.com
In this episode, Ken Broo and Bengals Report executive editor, Mark Hardin preview the Bengals upcoming game at the New York Giants. You'll hear comments from Bengals head coach, Marvin Lewis and quarterback Carson Palmer. For the best in sports, visit Ken Broo's web site www.kenbroo.com
In this episode, Ken Broo and Bengals Report executive editor, Mark Hardin review the Bengals loss to the Tennessee Titans in week #2 of the 2008 NFL season. You'll hear comments from head coach Marvin Lewis, running back Chris Perry and wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh. For the best in sports visit Ken's web site www.kenbroo.com.
