Bengals Win Streak Halted
"The Bengals are going to be around for a while."
ESPN NFL analyst and Cincinnati native, Tom Jackson, had that to say on ESPN's The Blitz Sunday night after reviewing the highlights of the Bengals 24-17 defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was tough loss, yet again when aren't they, but at least the Bengals did not go down without a fight.
No Carlos Dunlap, no Adam "Pacman" Jones, Leon Hall got hurt and is lost for the season with a torn Achilles, A.J. Green suffered a hyperextended knee and only had one catch and missed most of the game. And yet the Bengals still had a chance to tie up the score with less than three minutes to go. I'm not one for excuses, but you have to think that if these four guys had played the full 60 minutes against Pittsburgh, the Bengals might be 7-2.
I hate losing, especially to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I'm not much for moral victories, but I give the Bengals a lot of credit for coming back the way they did. They looked awful at the start of the game. The offense couldn't do anything and the defense allowed two touchdowns on the Steelers first two possessions. However, both sides made adjustments and the Bengals turned things around and made a football game out of it.
Andy Dalton was not rattled by the Pittsburgh defense, he got rid of the ball when in trouble and he was not sacked. He made two nice throws to A.J. Green and Jermaine Gresham for touchdowns and the rookie even impressed the Steelers, especially QB Ben Roethlisberger.
“He’s a good player. He spins the ball really well, especially with the wind. He was spinning it really well,” Roethlisberger said. “He seems to be very cerebral. He knows what’s going on out there. I think that he is playing the best out of all the rookie quarterbacks. The other guys have numbers, but he makes some great throws."
Dalton and the Bengals are 6-3 and are still in the playoff race. They have a tough test next week in Baltimore and hopefully A.J. Green, Carlos Dunlap, and Adam Jones will be able to play. Sunday was a measuring stick game for the Bengals and although they lost, ESPN's Chris Berman said, "I was impressed with them, even in a loss."
I think the Bengals proved to everyone that they can play with the big boys and I expect them to give the 6-3 Ravens all they can handle next week in Baltimore. Who-Dey!
"HOLY CRAP" PERFORMERS
RB Michael Bush, Raiders: Step aside Darren McFadden, as the Raiders backup rushed for 157-yds on 30 carries, including a touchdown, and had three receptions for 85-yds, as Oakland moved into first place in the AFC West.
WR Denarius Moore, Raiders: Could he become Carson Palmer's favorite target? Moore hooked up with Palmer five times for 123-yds, including 2 TD receptions.
LB Kamerion Wimbley, Raiders: Big week for the Raiders as Wimbley joins the list of "Holy Crap" performers with seven total tackles, five hits on the quarterbacks, including four sacks.
QB Drew Brees, Saints: Brees is on pace to shatter Dan Marino's record for most passing yards in a season with 5,084. Brees already has 3,326-yards after going 30/43 for 322-yds and 2 TD passes Sunday in a Saints win against Atlanta.
QB Tony Romo, Cowboys: It's always a good day when you have as many touchdown passes, as you do incompletions. Romo was 23/26 for 270-yds, 3 TD, and QB rating of 148.4, as the Cowboys blew out the Bills at home.
RB DeMarco Murray, Cowboys: The guy continues to impress and he had another good game this week rushing for 135-yds and a touchdown on 20 carries. Murray also caught six balls for 36-yds.
CB Terrance Newman, Cowboys: Much like the Raiders, a lot of "Holy Crap" performances from Cowboys players this week. Newman had three total tackles and two interceptions, returning one of them 43-yds for a touchdown in Dallas' big win.
RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars: Jones-Drew is having a solid season despite his team being 3-6. MDJ rushed for 114-yds and a touchdown on 25 carries, as the Jaguars beat a winless Colts team on the road.
WR Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals: Fitzgerald is hands down one of the best receivers in the league and he wreaked havoc against the Eagles secondary with 7 receptions for 146-yds and 2 TD.
Houston Texans: Don't look now, but if the season ended today the Texans would have home field advantage in the playoffs. RB Arian Foster is one of the best players in the league and had another great game Sunday with two total touchdowns, 84-yds rushing and 102-yds receiving. The Texans did receive some bad news Monday as QB Matt Schaub was lost for the season with a foot injury. So, former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, will be the starter after Houston's bye week.
RB Chris Johnson, Titans: About time Chris Johnson made an impact. 27 carries for 130-yds and a touchdown is more of what fans are accustom to seeing Johnson, and he helped Tennessee get their fifth win of the season.
WR Devin Hester, Bears: Don't kick the ball to Devin Hester, yet teams still kick the ball to him. On Sunday the Lions punted to Hester three different times and sure enough, he returned one of those punts 82-yds for a touchdown. It was Hester's NFL record 12th punt return for a touchdown and he is now just one behind Deion Sanders for most return touchdowns in NFL history with 18.
Here's what Hester had to say on the NFL Network's GameDay Morning Show, "I don't know what it's going to take for a returner to get voted in the
Hall of Fame, but I'm going to make sure that it'll be a hard decision
to pass me up. There's a first for everything: I want to be the first." I don't know about you, but how do you keep the best return man in the history of the NFL out of the Hall of Fame?
San Francisco 49ers: Jim Harbaugh's team is 8-1 and they have a five game lead in the NFC West. With a win Sunday against Arizona and a loss by the Seahawks in St. Louis, San Francisco would clinch the division and it's not even Thanksgiving. Now that's impressive.
QB Tom Brady and TE Rob Gronkowski, Patriots: Brady and Gronkowski just continue to do what they have done all season and that's put up a lot of yards and score a lot of touchdowns. Brady was 26/39 for 329-yds and 3 TD, he too could break Marino's passing record, and Gronkowski had 8 receptions for 113-yds and 2 TD.
DE Andre Carter and LB Rob Ninkovich, Patriots: Carter was a man on a mission Sunday night and no one on the Jets offensive line could stop him. Carter had six total tackles, 4.5 sacks and eight hits on the quarterback.
Ninkovich had five total tackles, and two interceptions, including a 12-yard pick six, as the Patriots 32nd ranked defense held the Jets to just 16 points.
Green Bay Packers: How fun are the Packers to watch? Aaron Rodgers is playing best football anyone has ever seen - 23/30, 250-yds, 4 TD, and 9th straight game with a QB rating over 100 with 140.3 - the receiving core is the best in the league, and the defense is loaded with playmakers. Simply put, the Packers may go undefeated, but the still have to play the Lions twice, Chicago at home and they travel to New York to play the Giants. It will not be easy, but when your offense puts up 320 points through nine games and the defense only gives up 186, you are going to win a lot of football games.
"Holy Crap" Performer of the Week
QB Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos: According to ESPN Stats and Information, in the last 25 years, only one other team has won a game while completing 2 or fewer passes and only having one quarterback attempt a pass, and that was the Browns in 2009. This past Sunday, the Denver Broncos became the second. Tim Tebow completed two passes in eight attempts for just 69-yds, but 56 of those yards came on a touchdown pass to Eric Decker in the fourth quarter and Denver won 17-10.
Denver ran the ball an unheard of 55 times against the Chiefs Sunday and they racked up 244-yds in the process. Six different Broncos had carries in the game and Tebow had 43-yds of his own including a 7-yd touchdown run. Here's what SI's Peter King, who's the best NFL writer in the business, had to say about Tebow:
1. Tim Tebow came, he saw, he ran the Veer, he conquered. On a gorgeous 67-degree day in Kansas City with weather being no factor, the Denver Broncos completed two passes, never trailed and forged a three-way tie for second place in the mighty AFC West. Denver 17, Kansas City 10. Victories since Oct. 23: Tebow 3, Tom Brady/Michael Vick/Philip Rivers (combined) 2.
It's going to be hard to win in the NFL when your quarterback throws the ball eight times and only completes two passes, but as King states, Tebow has three wins in his four games since taking over as the starting quarterback. And they said Tim Tebow couldn't win in the NFL. "C'mon Man."
"C'MON MAN" PERFORMANCES
Head Coach Mike Smith, Falcons: Whether you think it was the right decision or not, I think that Mike Smith's decision to go for it on fourth and one from his own 29-yard line in overtime Sunday against the Saints, was wrong. I know the winner of that game moved into first place in the NFC South and a lot was at stake, but it's just too risky in my view to go for it. If he gets it and Atlanta goes on to win the game, it's seen as a great call, but lose, and it's seen as a very poor decision. A lot of football is still left to be played this season for that kind of a decision to be made.
Buffalo Bills: It was ugly for the Bills on Sunday as they were defeated 44-7 on the road in Dallas. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick did not have a good day, throwing for 146-yds, a TD and 3 INT, including a pick six.
Indianapolis Colts: 0-10 and no end in sight. I will guarantee, however, that they will not lose next week, because they have a bye. The Colts do have a two game lead in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes, so I guess it's not all bad.
Kansas City Chiefs: They knew Denver was going to run the ball. They knew they were going to run option plays with Tebow. The Broncos came out and even said they were going earlier in the week. And they still gave up 244-yds on the ground and lost the football game. Very poor coaching and game planning by the Chiefs who have lost two straight.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles lost yet another fourth quarter lead Sunday giving up two touchdowns to the Arizona Cardinals, including one with fewer than two minutes to go. Michael Vick had another rough day throwing for 128-yds and 2 INT. Philadelphia can basically kiss the playoffs good-bye. A very disappointing season for a team that many picked to go to the Super Bowl and just goes to show that you can't buy a championship in the NFL.
QB Josh Freeman, Buccaneers: After starting 3-1, Tampa Bay has lost four of five and much of that has been due to poor performances from the quarterback. Freeman was 15/33 for 170-yds, a touchdown and 3 INT.
Baltimore Ravens: Baltimore has beaten Pittsburgh twice, yet they have losses to the Jaguars, Titans, and now the Seahawks. The Ravens offense continues to baffle me, RB Ray Rice only had five carries for 27-yds and the Ravens ran the ball just 12 times while attempting 53 passes. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has to find some sort of balance and the Ravens need to play better if they are going to stay in playoff contention.
KR David Reed, Ravens: David Reed was one of Peter King's goats of the week and here's why. "The Ravens lost by five points at Seattle. Reed fumbled on two kick returns in the first half, both leading to field goals. So he handed the Seahawks six points. That's what I call directly contributing to a loss with really bad plays." Couldn't have said it better myself.
QB Matthew Stafford, Lions: After starting the season 5-0, the Lions have lost three of their last four and they now find themselves tied with the Chicago Bears for second in the NFC North. Stafford had his worst game of the season Sunday going 33/63 for 329-yds, TD and 4 INT, including two picks being returned for touchdowns. Detroit better get things together because the Packers come to the Motor City on Thanksgiving Day game and you better believe the whole country will be watching.
QB Mark Sanchez, Jets: If I'm a Jets fan, I'm starting to wonder if Mark Sanchez is the right answer at quarterback. Sanchez was 20/39 for 306-yds, 2 TD (Rush TD), and 2 INT against the league's worst pass defense, and just won't get it done. He is in his third NFL season and rookie's like Andy Dalton and Cam Newton look more prepared and better suit for the position of quarterback in the NFL. I believe Sanchez is the only thing keeping the Jets from reaching the Super Bowl and they may need to start looking at alternatives.
"C'mon Man" Performance of the Week
WR DeSean Jackson, Eagles: Jackson was inactive for the Eagles game Sunday against the Cardinals because he missed a special teams meeting, in its entirety, Saturday morning due to oversleeping. This guy is a key player for the Eagles and they cannot afford to for him to be absent from the field. Jackson is in the final year of his rookie contract and missing team meeting won't help him get a new deal that he so desperately wants.
ESPN NFL analyst and Cincinnati native, Tom Jackson, had that to say on ESPN's The Blitz Sunday night after reviewing the highlights of the Bengals 24-17 defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was tough loss, yet again when aren't they, but at least the Bengals did not go down without a fight.
| A.J. Green's only reception Sunday was another spectacular one, a 36-yd TD catch between Steeler defenders Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu. (The Enquirer/Michael E. Keating) |
I hate losing, especially to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I'm not much for moral victories, but I give the Bengals a lot of credit for coming back the way they did. They looked awful at the start of the game. The offense couldn't do anything and the defense allowed two touchdowns on the Steelers first two possessions. However, both sides made adjustments and the Bengals turned things around and made a football game out of it.
Andy Dalton was not rattled by the Pittsburgh defense, he got rid of the ball when in trouble and he was not sacked. He made two nice throws to A.J. Green and Jermaine Gresham for touchdowns and the rookie even impressed the Steelers, especially QB Ben Roethlisberger.
| Ben Roethlisberger and the rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers were impressed by the play of Andy Dalton on Sunday. (The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger) |
“He’s a good player. He spins the ball really well, especially with the wind. He was spinning it really well,” Roethlisberger said. “He seems to be very cerebral. He knows what’s going on out there. I think that he is playing the best out of all the rookie quarterbacks. The other guys have numbers, but he makes some great throws."
Dalton and the Bengals are 6-3 and are still in the playoff race. They have a tough test next week in Baltimore and hopefully A.J. Green, Carlos Dunlap, and Adam Jones will be able to play. Sunday was a measuring stick game for the Bengals and although they lost, ESPN's Chris Berman said, "I was impressed with them, even in a loss."
I think the Bengals proved to everyone that they can play with the big boys and I expect them to give the 6-3 Ravens all they can handle next week in Baltimore. Who-Dey!
"HOLY CRAP" PERFORMERS
RB Michael Bush, Raiders: Step aside Darren McFadden, as the Raiders backup rushed for 157-yds on 30 carries, including a touchdown, and had three receptions for 85-yds, as Oakland moved into first place in the AFC West.
WR Denarius Moore, Raiders: Could he become Carson Palmer's favorite target? Moore hooked up with Palmer five times for 123-yds, including 2 TD receptions.
LB Kamerion Wimbley, Raiders: Big week for the Raiders as Wimbley joins the list of "Holy Crap" performers with seven total tackles, five hits on the quarterbacks, including four sacks.
QB Drew Brees, Saints: Brees is on pace to shatter Dan Marino's record for most passing yards in a season with 5,084. Brees already has 3,326-yards after going 30/43 for 322-yds and 2 TD passes Sunday in a Saints win against Atlanta.
QB Tony Romo, Cowboys: It's always a good day when you have as many touchdown passes, as you do incompletions. Romo was 23/26 for 270-yds, 3 TD, and QB rating of 148.4, as the Cowboys blew out the Bills at home.
RB DeMarco Murray, Cowboys: The guy continues to impress and he had another good game this week rushing for 135-yds and a touchdown on 20 carries. Murray also caught six balls for 36-yds.
CB Terrance Newman, Cowboys: Much like the Raiders, a lot of "Holy Crap" performances from Cowboys players this week. Newman had three total tackles and two interceptions, returning one of them 43-yds for a touchdown in Dallas' big win.
RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars: Jones-Drew is having a solid season despite his team being 3-6. MDJ rushed for 114-yds and a touchdown on 25 carries, as the Jaguars beat a winless Colts team on the road.
WR Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals: Fitzgerald is hands down one of the best receivers in the league and he wreaked havoc against the Eagles secondary with 7 receptions for 146-yds and 2 TD.
Houston Texans: Don't look now, but if the season ended today the Texans would have home field advantage in the playoffs. RB Arian Foster is one of the best players in the league and had another great game Sunday with two total touchdowns, 84-yds rushing and 102-yds receiving. The Texans did receive some bad news Monday as QB Matt Schaub was lost for the season with a foot injury. So, former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, will be the starter after Houston's bye week.
RB Chris Johnson, Titans: About time Chris Johnson made an impact. 27 carries for 130-yds and a touchdown is more of what fans are accustom to seeing Johnson, and he helped Tennessee get their fifth win of the season.
WR Devin Hester, Bears: Don't kick the ball to Devin Hester, yet teams still kick the ball to him. On Sunday the Lions punted to Hester three different times and sure enough, he returned one of those punts 82-yds for a touchdown. It was Hester's NFL record 12th punt return for a touchdown and he is now just one behind Deion Sanders for most return touchdowns in NFL history with 18.
 |
| Why do teams still kick the ball to Devin Hester? (AP Photo) |
San Francisco 49ers: Jim Harbaugh's team is 8-1 and they have a five game lead in the NFC West. With a win Sunday against Arizona and a loss by the Seahawks in St. Louis, San Francisco would clinch the division and it's not even Thanksgiving. Now that's impressive.
QB Tom Brady and TE Rob Gronkowski, Patriots: Brady and Gronkowski just continue to do what they have done all season and that's put up a lot of yards and score a lot of touchdowns. Brady was 26/39 for 329-yds and 3 TD, he too could break Marino's passing record, and Gronkowski had 8 receptions for 113-yds and 2 TD.
DE Andre Carter and LB Rob Ninkovich, Patriots: Carter was a man on a mission Sunday night and no one on the Jets offensive line could stop him. Carter had six total tackles, 4.5 sacks and eight hits on the quarterback.
Ninkovich had five total tackles, and two interceptions, including a 12-yard pick six, as the Patriots 32nd ranked defense held the Jets to just 16 points.
Green Bay Packers: How fun are the Packers to watch? Aaron Rodgers is playing best football anyone has ever seen - 23/30, 250-yds, 4 TD, and 9th straight game with a QB rating over 100 with 140.3 - the receiving core is the best in the league, and the defense is loaded with playmakers. Simply put, the Packers may go undefeated, but the still have to play the Lions twice, Chicago at home and they travel to New York to play the Giants. It will not be easy, but when your offense puts up 320 points through nine games and the defense only gives up 186, you are going to win a lot of football games.
"Holy Crap" Performer of the Week
QB Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos: According to ESPN Stats and Information, in the last 25 years, only one other team has won a game while completing 2 or fewer passes and only having one quarterback attempt a pass, and that was the Browns in 2009. This past Sunday, the Denver Broncos became the second. Tim Tebow completed two passes in eight attempts for just 69-yds, but 56 of those yards came on a touchdown pass to Eric Decker in the fourth quarter and Denver won 17-10.
Denver ran the ball an unheard of 55 times against the Chiefs Sunday and they racked up 244-yds in the process. Six different Broncos had carries in the game and Tebow had 43-yds of his own including a 7-yd touchdown run. Here's what SI's Peter King, who's the best NFL writer in the business, had to say about Tebow:
1. Tim Tebow came, he saw, he ran the Veer, he conquered. On a gorgeous 67-degree day in Kansas City with weather being no factor, the Denver Broncos completed two passes, never trailed and forged a three-way tie for second place in the mighty AFC West. Denver 17, Kansas City 10. Victories since Oct. 23: Tebow 3, Tom Brady/Michael Vick/Philip Rivers (combined) 2.
It's going to be hard to win in the NFL when your quarterback throws the ball eight times and only completes two passes, but as King states, Tebow has three wins in his four games since taking over as the starting quarterback. And they said Tim Tebow couldn't win in the NFL. "C'mon Man."
"C'MON MAN" PERFORMANCES
Head Coach Mike Smith, Falcons: Whether you think it was the right decision or not, I think that Mike Smith's decision to go for it on fourth and one from his own 29-yard line in overtime Sunday against the Saints, was wrong. I know the winner of that game moved into first place in the NFC South and a lot was at stake, but it's just too risky in my view to go for it. If he gets it and Atlanta goes on to win the game, it's seen as a great call, but lose, and it's seen as a very poor decision. A lot of football is still left to be played this season for that kind of a decision to be made.
Buffalo Bills: It was ugly for the Bills on Sunday as they were defeated 44-7 on the road in Dallas. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick did not have a good day, throwing for 146-yds, a TD and 3 INT, including a pick six.
Indianapolis Colts: 0-10 and no end in sight. I will guarantee, however, that they will not lose next week, because they have a bye. The Colts do have a two game lead in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes, so I guess it's not all bad.
Kansas City Chiefs: They knew Denver was going to run the ball. They knew they were going to run option plays with Tebow. The Broncos came out and even said they were going earlier in the week. And they still gave up 244-yds on the ground and lost the football game. Very poor coaching and game planning by the Chiefs who have lost two straight.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles lost yet another fourth quarter lead Sunday giving up two touchdowns to the Arizona Cardinals, including one with fewer than two minutes to go. Michael Vick had another rough day throwing for 128-yds and 2 INT. Philadelphia can basically kiss the playoffs good-bye. A very disappointing season for a team that many picked to go to the Super Bowl and just goes to show that you can't buy a championship in the NFL.
QB Josh Freeman, Buccaneers: After starting 3-1, Tampa Bay has lost four of five and much of that has been due to poor performances from the quarterback. Freeman was 15/33 for 170-yds, a touchdown and 3 INT.
Baltimore Ravens: Baltimore has beaten Pittsburgh twice, yet they have losses to the Jaguars, Titans, and now the Seahawks. The Ravens offense continues to baffle me, RB Ray Rice only had five carries for 27-yds and the Ravens ran the ball just 12 times while attempting 53 passes. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has to find some sort of balance and the Ravens need to play better if they are going to stay in playoff contention.
KR David Reed, Ravens: David Reed was one of Peter King's goats of the week and here's why. "The Ravens lost by five points at Seattle. Reed fumbled on two kick returns in the first half, both leading to field goals. So he handed the Seahawks six points. That's what I call directly contributing to a loss with really bad plays." Couldn't have said it better myself.
QB Matthew Stafford, Lions: After starting the season 5-0, the Lions have lost three of their last four and they now find themselves tied with the Chicago Bears for second in the NFC North. Stafford had his worst game of the season Sunday going 33/63 for 329-yds, TD and 4 INT, including two picks being returned for touchdowns. Detroit better get things together because the Packers come to the Motor City on Thanksgiving Day game and you better believe the whole country will be watching.
QB Mark Sanchez, Jets: If I'm a Jets fan, I'm starting to wonder if Mark Sanchez is the right answer at quarterback. Sanchez was 20/39 for 306-yds, 2 TD (Rush TD), and 2 INT against the league's worst pass defense, and just won't get it done. He is in his third NFL season and rookie's like Andy Dalton and Cam Newton look more prepared and better suit for the position of quarterback in the NFL. I believe Sanchez is the only thing keeping the Jets from reaching the Super Bowl and they may need to start looking at alternatives.
"C'mon Man" Performance of the Week
WR DeSean Jackson, Eagles: Jackson was inactive for the Eagles game Sunday against the Cardinals because he missed a special teams meeting, in its entirety, Saturday morning due to oversleeping. This guy is a key player for the Eagles and they cannot afford to for him to be absent from the field. Jackson is in the final year of his rookie contract and missing team meeting won't help him get a new deal that he so desperately wants.
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