NFL: Week 4 Review
If I told you that the Bengals would put up 413 yards of total offense, score 20 points, Carson would throw for 371 and 2 TD and T.O. would have 222 yards receiving, you probably would have thought the Bengals had won. Well, you would be wrong.
Sunday's game was anything but pretty. They put up 413 yards of offense, Carson and T.O. play their best games of the season, they scored 20 points, yet still lost to the Cleveland Browns, who were 0-3 coming in. Flat out, pathetic. Every time the Bengals look like they are headed in the right direction they take a GIANT step back. I just can't figure them out, they have the talent to compete and they know it, but they still manage to lose to the Browns, who have been one of the worst teams in the NFL for the past few years.
Everyone has been blaming Carson and the offense the past three weeks, but this one is on the rest of the team. Carson and T.O. played lights out and did what they need to do to help this team win and their teammates let them down. The party to blame this week are the offensive and defensive lines. Yes, Carson threw for 371 yards and the offense had over 400 yards of offense, but only being able to run the ball for 67 yards won't win you many games.
This team is "built to run the football," and whose identity on offense is to run the football, but Cedric Benson only got 15 carries for a measly 60 yards. The Bengals were down by 10 and 13 points at different times in the game, but you still have to give Benson the ball. The main reason the Bengals were 6-0 in the division last year was because of their ability to run the football. So, far this season they rank 23rd in rushing offense. Sure doesn't look like a run first team to me.
Then their is the defense, who carried this team the last two weeks, that laid an egg on Sunday. The were unable to stop RB Peyton Hillis from reaching 100 yards and they allowed QB Seneca Wallace to basically stand in the pocket and make throws. The Bengals continue to fail at getting pressure on the quarterback, which a team has to do in order to win the the National Football League.
The Bengals only recorded one sack and only had 3 QB hits on Wallace. The Browns don't have to best line in the NFL, they have some good linemen like Eric Steinbach and Joe Thomas, but that is still no excuse for not getting any pressure on the quarterback. The Browns sacked Palmer three times, hit him 7 and he fumbled twice. The Bengals have to be able to not only protect their quarterback, but get to the other team's quarterback. The defense is still very good, but they need to get better at rushing the passer. The Bengals have given up 7 sacks on the season and have only recorded 3. Those numbers have to change if this team is going to win any more games this year.
I could give you more stats and go on a rant on why this team is not performing, but the fact of the matter is I don't see the Bengals winning the Super Bowl anytime soon under owner Mike Brown. Until he sells the team or dies, the Bengals will not be able to compete with the front office and coaching staff that they have. From poor front office decisions to draft picks being busts, aka Andre Smith, Jerome Simpson, Odell Thurman, and David Pollack. Mike Brown continues to make poor decisions and until a change is made the Bengals will never be more than a mediocre team that will occasionally make the playoffs, like twice every 20 years.
The Bengals drive me crazy and as much as I want to give up on them and root for another team, I won't. The Cincinnati Bengals are my favorite football no matter how good or bad they are. Let's hope the season gets turned around, they are still 2-2, and their is a lot of football still to be played.
As for the players that had you saying, "Holy Crap," or "C'mon Man," this week, I will only give a few shout outs. I have had long lists in the past and I really want to focus on those outstanding and not pathetic performances. This week there are some really good performance and some really bad ones. Let's just say that the "Holy Crap," and "C'mon Man" performances of the year might have taken place in Week 4. Enjoy.
"Holy Crap"
CIN-WR Terrell Owens: 10 rec, 222 yds, TD. Passed Issac Bruce for 2nd all time in receptions and receiving yards, trailing only the great Jerry Rice in both categories. He also became one of just a handful of guys to have three 200 yards receiving games in a career and T.O. did it with three different teams.
CIN-QB Carson Palmer: 25-36, 371 yds, 2 TD, 121.4 QB Rating. That will shut up some of the critics in Cincinnati.
NYJ-RB LaDainian Tomlinson: 19 car, 133 yds, 2 TD. Another old guy that the Chargers thought was done, well LT is still a good back.
DEN-QB Kyle Orton: 34-50, 341 yds, 2 TD, INT. Orton has played well this year and he was also the leading rusher for Denver is this week's game. He only had 11 yards though.
IND-QB Peyton Manning: 33-46, 352 yds, 2 TD, INT that wasn't his fault. Peyton is lights out and he also passed one of my all-time favorite players, John Elway, for second all-time in passing yards. Peyton only trials Brett Favre in most passing records and when he finally retires don't be surprised if Manning holds every passing record.
New York Giants Defense: This one will have you saying "Holy Crap" a couple of times and so far is the "Holy Crap" performance of the year. The G-Men recorded 9 sacks in the first half against the Bears Sunday night, which tied an NFL record and ended up with 10 in the game. Bears QB Jay Cutler and backup Todd Collins were knocked out of the game because the punishing hits they took from the Giants as New York rebounded with a 17-3 win. I got to say it again, "Holy Crap."
NE-S Patrick Chung: 5 total tackles, blocked a punt that ended with a touchdown, blocked a field goal that was returned for a touchdown and returned an INT for a touchdown. Another potential "Holy Crap" performance of the year.
"C'mon Man"
Only two this week, but two really good ones. These will have the guys on ESPN Monday Night Countdown saying, "C'mon Man."
Chicago Bears Offensive Line: I would not want to be in the Bears film room this week. The O-line gave up not one or two, but 10 sacks Sunday nights against the Giants. Last time I checked one of the main concepts of the game are to protect your best and highest paid player, the quarterback. The Bears failed in this big time and it got not only Jay Cutler, but backup Todd Collins knocked out of the game. "C'mon Man."
SF-CB Nate Clements: The performance by the Bears offensive line is a tough one beat, but CB Nate Clements of the San Francisco 49ers was able to top it. Clements intercepted a Matt Ryan pass late in the 4th quarter, which would have sealed the 49ers first win this season, had he not fumbled the football. All Clements had to do was fall to the ground or run out of bounds and the 49ers could have ran the clock out. Instead, for some stupid reason, he decides to try and take it to the house. While running for the endzone, he is holding the ball out like a loaf of bread and sure enough, Atlanta WR Roddy White comes up from behind and forces him to fumble. The Falcons recover and end up getting a game winning field goal to send the 49ers to 0-4. If that doesn't have you saying "C'mon Man," as a 49er fan I don't know what will. So, the bone head play of the week, maybe even the "C'mon Man" performance of the year, belongs to Nate Clements. Think head coach Mike Singletary is mad about that one?
Sunday's game was anything but pretty. They put up 413 yards of offense, Carson and T.O. play their best games of the season, they scored 20 points, yet still lost to the Cleveland Browns, who were 0-3 coming in. Flat out, pathetic. Every time the Bengals look like they are headed in the right direction they take a GIANT step back. I just can't figure them out, they have the talent to compete and they know it, but they still manage to lose to the Browns, who have been one of the worst teams in the NFL for the past few years.
Everyone has been blaming Carson and the offense the past three weeks, but this one is on the rest of the team. Carson and T.O. played lights out and did what they need to do to help this team win and their teammates let them down. The party to blame this week are the offensive and defensive lines. Yes, Carson threw for 371 yards and the offense had over 400 yards of offense, but only being able to run the ball for 67 yards won't win you many games.
This team is "built to run the football," and whose identity on offense is to run the football, but Cedric Benson only got 15 carries for a measly 60 yards. The Bengals were down by 10 and 13 points at different times in the game, but you still have to give Benson the ball. The main reason the Bengals were 6-0 in the division last year was because of their ability to run the football. So, far this season they rank 23rd in rushing offense. Sure doesn't look like a run first team to me.
Then their is the defense, who carried this team the last two weeks, that laid an egg on Sunday. The were unable to stop RB Peyton Hillis from reaching 100 yards and they allowed QB Seneca Wallace to basically stand in the pocket and make throws. The Bengals continue to fail at getting pressure on the quarterback, which a team has to do in order to win the the National Football League.
The Bengals only recorded one sack and only had 3 QB hits on Wallace. The Browns don't have to best line in the NFL, they have some good linemen like Eric Steinbach and Joe Thomas, but that is still no excuse for not getting any pressure on the quarterback. The Browns sacked Palmer three times, hit him 7 and he fumbled twice. The Bengals have to be able to not only protect their quarterback, but get to the other team's quarterback. The defense is still very good, but they need to get better at rushing the passer. The Bengals have given up 7 sacks on the season and have only recorded 3. Those numbers have to change if this team is going to win any more games this year.
I could give you more stats and go on a rant on why this team is not performing, but the fact of the matter is I don't see the Bengals winning the Super Bowl anytime soon under owner Mike Brown. Until he sells the team or dies, the Bengals will not be able to compete with the front office and coaching staff that they have. From poor front office decisions to draft picks being busts, aka Andre Smith, Jerome Simpson, Odell Thurman, and David Pollack. Mike Brown continues to make poor decisions and until a change is made the Bengals will never be more than a mediocre team that will occasionally make the playoffs, like twice every 20 years.
The Bengals drive me crazy and as much as I want to give up on them and root for another team, I won't. The Cincinnati Bengals are my favorite football no matter how good or bad they are. Let's hope the season gets turned around, they are still 2-2, and their is a lot of football still to be played.
As for the players that had you saying, "Holy Crap," or "C'mon Man," this week, I will only give a few shout outs. I have had long lists in the past and I really want to focus on those outstanding and not pathetic performances. This week there are some really good performance and some really bad ones. Let's just say that the "Holy Crap," and "C'mon Man" performances of the year might have taken place in Week 4. Enjoy.
"Holy Crap"
CIN-WR Terrell Owens: 10 rec, 222 yds, TD. Passed Issac Bruce for 2nd all time in receptions and receiving yards, trailing only the great Jerry Rice in both categories. He also became one of just a handful of guys to have three 200 yards receiving games in a career and T.O. did it with three different teams.
CIN-QB Carson Palmer: 25-36, 371 yds, 2 TD, 121.4 QB Rating. That will shut up some of the critics in Cincinnati.
NYJ-RB LaDainian Tomlinson: 19 car, 133 yds, 2 TD. Another old guy that the Chargers thought was done, well LT is still a good back.
DEN-QB Kyle Orton: 34-50, 341 yds, 2 TD, INT. Orton has played well this year and he was also the leading rusher for Denver is this week's game. He only had 11 yards though.
IND-QB Peyton Manning: 33-46, 352 yds, 2 TD, INT that wasn't his fault. Peyton is lights out and he also passed one of my all-time favorite players, John Elway, for second all-time in passing yards. Peyton only trials Brett Favre in most passing records and when he finally retires don't be surprised if Manning holds every passing record.
New York Giants Defense: This one will have you saying "Holy Crap" a couple of times and so far is the "Holy Crap" performance of the year. The G-Men recorded 9 sacks in the first half against the Bears Sunday night, which tied an NFL record and ended up with 10 in the game. Bears QB Jay Cutler and backup Todd Collins were knocked out of the game because the punishing hits they took from the Giants as New York rebounded with a 17-3 win. I got to say it again, "Holy Crap."
NE-S Patrick Chung: 5 total tackles, blocked a punt that ended with a touchdown, blocked a field goal that was returned for a touchdown and returned an INT for a touchdown. Another potential "Holy Crap" performance of the year.
"C'mon Man"
Only two this week, but two really good ones. These will have the guys on ESPN Monday Night Countdown saying, "C'mon Man."
Chicago Bears Offensive Line: I would not want to be in the Bears film room this week. The O-line gave up not one or two, but 10 sacks Sunday nights against the Giants. Last time I checked one of the main concepts of the game are to protect your best and highest paid player, the quarterback. The Bears failed in this big time and it got not only Jay Cutler, but backup Todd Collins knocked out of the game. "C'mon Man."
SF-CB Nate Clements: The performance by the Bears offensive line is a tough one beat, but CB Nate Clements of the San Francisco 49ers was able to top it. Clements intercepted a Matt Ryan pass late in the 4th quarter, which would have sealed the 49ers first win this season, had he not fumbled the football. All Clements had to do was fall to the ground or run out of bounds and the 49ers could have ran the clock out. Instead, for some stupid reason, he decides to try and take it to the house. While running for the endzone, he is holding the ball out like a loaf of bread and sure enough, Atlanta WR Roddy White comes up from behind and forces him to fumble. The Falcons recover and end up getting a game winning field goal to send the 49ers to 0-4. If that doesn't have you saying "C'mon Man," as a 49er fan I don't know what will. So, the bone head play of the week, maybe even the "C'mon Man" performance of the year, belongs to Nate Clements. Think head coach Mike Singletary is mad about that one?
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