For the first time in Cincinnati Bengals franchise history, the Bengals sweep the division with a 16-7 win over the Cleveland Browns today. Carson Palmer had an unimpressive day thanks to poor protection by the offensive line, going 13 for 24 for 110 yards and a single TD to the under-rated TE J.P. Foschi. Former Chief RB Larry Johnson came through for 107 yards on 22 carries in a “backup” role, while starter Bernard Scott had 87 yards on 18 carries. Scott suffered a turf toe injury early in the game.
Both C. Trent and Joe Reedy also report that Cedric [...]

First-round pick Andre “Moobs” Smith is active today for the first time in his NFL career. Look for him to play in Cincinnati’s unbalanced line packages. Meanwhile, RB Cedric Benson is out for the second straight week, as is LB Keith Rivers. RB Bernard Scott earns his second career start, with recently acquired RB Larry Johnson backing him up.
Other Cincinnati inactives today include the usuals Jerome Simpson and Crash Dummy.

Sucks? Hurts? Pisses you off? It’s hard to describe the most recent Bengals’ loss in one word, but it was definitely BAD. Michael Jackson BAD. Bad News Bears BAD. BAD.
The hapless Raiders converted an 80-yard drive in just over two minutes, converted a 4th and 10, scored a touchdown, and then won the game after Andre Caldwell coughed up the football on the ensuing kickoff. Barf. It was a game that conjured up all the painful memories of the Bengals bad beats over the years. And one that makes the road trips to Minnesota and San Diego look increasingly bleak. But [...]

Alright, it sucks the Bengals dropped the game to the lowly Raiders, 20-17.  There are some bright spots that shouldn’t be lost, however.
First, Bernard Scott is more than capable of filling Benson’s gap.  21 carries, over one hundred yards.  He did his job and filled the one hole most fans were concerned about this past week. 
Second, Palmer rushed for two scores and made plays–in the first quarter and a half.  He threw for over 200 yards and only one pick.  Of course, after that, Palmer didn’t impact the game but for a fumble and suffering three sacks.
And there are many [...]

Out in Oakland, RB Cedric Benson looked fine in warmups but still isn’t expected to go today. C. Trent relays word that first-round pick Andre “Moobs” Smith is also warming up, so we may see his Bengals debut, as well as RB Larry Johnson’s, today. If active, Smith will likely not start, but instead come in on Cincinnati’s unbalanced line packages. As for LJ, he’s expected to get about 10 carries against the Raiders. RB Bernard Scott will get the start.

Who didn’t see that coming, eh? From the moment word broke that the Cincinnati Bengals were sniffing around RB Larry Johnson, experienced Bengals fans knew Cedric Benson’s allegedly minor hip injury wasn’t so minor after all. That isn’t to say that Benson is done or anything, but clearly it was expected he’d need some time. If they thought he would only miss one game, an LJ signing probably isn’t necessary.
That Ced’s banged up shouldn’t come as news. He’s been a brutal pace so far this season, with 205 carries in nine games. Moreover, a variety of dings and dents have [...]

Recently, I’ve noticed something very strange that I haven’t seen since 2005.  The Cincinnati Bengals are now ranked number four in every power ranking on the internet.  ESPN.  Sports Illustrated.  Fox.  The national media is now doing back-flips and cartwheels crowding our bandwagon.
None of that ultimately matters to me as long as the team keeps winning.  But I admit to a wee bit of confusion.  In every one of those power rankings, the Minnesota Vikings are number three.
I understand the national media’s long-standing love affair with Brett Favre.  I’m not a fan of the annual ‘Retirement Parties’ that have characterized [...]

Ahead of their game against the Bengals, the Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable owner Al “Nosferatu” Davis has benched the ineffective JaMarcus Russell in favor of backup Bruce Gradkowski.
Bengals fans will remember their last encounter with Gradkowski, when DE Justin Smith’s failure to put a mattress and pillow beneath the then-Tampa Bay QB before sacking him led to a 14-13 Bucs victory that would eventually cost Cincinnati a playoff berth.
So, a memo to the DEs and DTs for Sunday: remember, Marvin’s words after that game:
I guess you have to cuddle him to the ground.

While the signing of ex-Chief Larry Johnson has gotten all the attention, the Cincinnati Bengals have made other roster moves and brought in other players for workouts this week.
Cut to make room for Johnson on the roster was DT Orien Harris. Harris, signed a few weeks back off the street to take some pressure off then-injured starters Domata Peko and Tank Johnson, was with the Bengals earlier in the year, traded to St. Louis for FB Brian Leonard, cut by the Rams, spent training camp with the Lions, didn’t make that squad, and has now been and gone with the [...]

Let me start by saying this recap will not be your typical recap. You want numbers and situational stats, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Frankly, this game wasn’t good enough for me to even bother looking up numbers and plugging them in.
That’s not completely true, either. Here’s the numbers you need to know. The final score was Ravens 16, Browns 0. Goose egg. Zip. Nada. Flatline. Brady Quinn? 12 of 30 completions, 85 yards and two picks, including a pick six. Let’s look at this dreck of a game.
The Ravens:
It is beyond me that this team is the same Ravens [...]