SportsStreet Ohio

Consecutive 8-8 seasons provided zero indication the Bengals were prepared to make the next step in 2005. But halfway through the 2005 season, the Cincinnati Bengals have established themselves as one of the best teams in a competitive AFC and a legitimate threat to represent the Conference in the Super Bowl come February.

How does an average team make the leap to a playoff team in one season? Simple — a head coach committed to his vision and the patience to see that vision through to the end regardless of the obstacles.

Quarterback: Carson Palmer spent one year on the bench learning the NFL. The Ivy League education he must have received is paying huge dividends this season as the third-year signal caller is enjoying an MVP-type season. Leading the Bengals to 7-2 record, Palmer leads the NFL with 18 TD passes against only 5 interceptions. Palmer, second in the NFL in passing yards, also enjoys the second highest passer rating.
Position Grade: A.

Running Back: Rudi Johnson quietly racks up yardage in a big play offense that uses the run to prevent defenses from pinning their ears back and blitzing Palmer. While Johnson has not scored many TDs – three so far – and broke many big runs, the bruising running back is on pace for almost 1,400 yards. Chris Perry’s emergence as a third-down back provides Palmer with a gluttony of options to keep the chains moving.
Position Grade: A-.

Wide Receivers: The Bengals arguably have the two best players in the NFL at both quarterback and wide receiver. Chad Johnson leads the NFL with 53 receptions and 808 yards. Lists aside, Johnson is rewriting Bengals history books each time he touches the football. With the attention paid to Johnson, T.J Houshmandzadeh picks up key first downs and helps open up the field for Palmer and the running backs coming out of the backfield. No. 3 receiver Chris Henry has been a pleasant surprise and gives the Bengals depth at the wideout position.
Position Grade: A.

Offensive Line: Time comes when a group deserves its due, and the Bengals offensive line’s time has been long overdue. On pace for another 1,000-yard rushing season and surrendering less than two sacks per game, the Bengals offense produces because the men upfront win the battle in the trenches week in and week out. Palmer hasn’t been pressured too much this season and the running game continues to click.
Position Grade: A-.

Defensive Line: The rap on the Bengals always focuses on Cincinnati’s inability to stop the run. And while considerable improvement has been made, until the Bengals can stop the Steelers ground game (which they were unable to do in their only home loss), a deep playoff run might not be possible.
Position Grade: B-.

Linebackers: Marvin Lewis has found his Ray Lewis in Cincinnati – second round draft pick Odell Thurman. Thurman leads the defense with 54 tackles and mans the middle of the Bengals’ opportunistic defense. Teamed with Brian Simmons and Landon Johnson, the group comprises three of the top four tacklers on the team (Simmons 47 tackles; Johnson 38). Thriving in Chuck Bresnahan’s system, the linebackers have been making plays all season despite the occasional mistakes as indicated by Thurman’s four interceptions.
Position Grade: B+.

Secondary: Without a doubt the most improved group on the team, the ball-hawking secondary has intercepted 20 passes already this season, making the Bengals the NFLs’ best in turnover margin at plus-20. Deltha O’Neal leads the team with six picks and Tory James has four. Kevin Kaesviharn is second on the team with 49 tackles and has also contributed two picks.
Position Grade: A-.

Special Teams: Kicker Shayne Graham and punter Kyle Larson have been solid all season – Graham delivering on 14-of-18 field goals and Larson placing eight kicks inside the 20. Tab Perry looks as if he can break a return at any moment and Keiwan Ratliff has done a solid job on punt returns.
Position Grade: B-.

Coaching: Marvin Lewis has delivered. When Lewis came over from the Ravens, everyone expected the Bengals to turn into a defensive-minded football team. But rather than try to change the team’s makeup, Lewis took the talent at hand and focused on changing the culture of losing prevalent throughout the organization. Early round draft picks netted Palmer, Thurman, and both Perry’s. The offense was allowed to evolve and Lewis remade the defense into an opportunistic, play-making group capable of dominating football games. Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski intelligently game plans the big-play offense. At times the offense bogs down, but Bratkowski finds ways to get his playmakers the football. Bresnahan’s defensive scheme maximizes turnovers and forces opposing offenses to take what the defense gives them – thus forcing opponents to take unnecessary risks.
Grade: A-.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Proof positive that pro football is a ruthless business, the Cincinnati Bengals waived cornerback Dennis Weathersby.

Weathersby struggled through a series of unfortunate events worse than any Mr. Snickets could conjure. After being injured in a drive-by shooting, Weathersby suffered a head injury in a car crash in Springdale last spring.

Perhaps Weathersby’s luck will change in the short-term and he can find his way back on to an NFL roster.

Popularity: 8% [?]

In the “parity-is-best” NFL, sometimes underwhelming teams can convince themselves they are on the brink of something special. Just ask this year’s version of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Despite 15 players on injured reserve, a 1-4 start, and an early-season quarterback controversy, the Bengals lurked in the playoff background, ready to pounce on its next prey and slide into the AFC Playoff picture. A win over the similarly surging Buffalo Bills would have put the Bengals at 7-7, one game out of the final wild-card spot with two games to play. But sloppy play and four turnovers did Cincinnati in, as they fell 33-17 to Buffalo, abruptly ending the slimmest of playoff hopes.

Fans called for Jon Kitna earlier in the year when Palmer was struggling, but on Sunday, it was Kitna who struggled. Responsible for three turnovers, it’s easy to place the blame on Kitna for another lost season. Sure, the offense stumbled with Kitna at the helm. But that’s an easy excuse…playoff season’s aren’t won, or lost, on the arm of a single guy in a pivotal game.

Cincinnati had its chances, but lost at Cleveland, at Tennessee, and couldn’t find a way to beat Baltimore, Pittsburgh, or Buffalo at home. To earn a spot in the playoffs, beating one playoff team doesn’t get the job done. Niether does coming close against the defending champions. At some point, you have to find ways to win big games, regardless of quarterback.

Playing meaningful games in December is no consolation for fans waiting to celebrate an overdue trip to the playoffs. Its been 14 years.

Popularity: 8% [?]