The Bengals have out and thoroughly dominated the Raiders in ever way possible. Geno Atkins picked up his 9th sack of the year on the Raiders’ first drive, passing Dan Wilkinson for club record for interior defensive lineman. Andy Dalton continued his red-hot play, picking apart the Raiders’ secondary to the tune of 151 yards and a pair of TDs. BenJarvus Green-Ellis exploded for 74 yards on 10 carries, including a 48-yarder.
Rookie WR Mohamed Sanu caught two touchdowns, including a spectacular one-handed grab in the endzone (pictured above). The Bengals ran 35 plays for 289 yards compared to the Raiders 31 for 83. The defense was dominant the entire half, and the Raiders were shut out in the first half for the first time this season.
A Mike Nugent 55-yard FG at the halftime gun tied the franchise record set by Chris Bahr in 1979, and the Bengals hold a commanding 24-0 halftime lead.
Make sure to join us back here for the second-half of action.
In the midst of a two-game winning-streak and in the thick of the race for one of the two Wild Card spots, as well as welcoming back former franchise QB Carson Palmer to town, the Bengals are poised for a playoff push as they welcome the Oakland Raiders into town today. At 5-5, Cincinnati could finish Week 12 in a tie for one of the two Wild Card playoff spots if either Indianapolis or Pittsburgh loses today.
The Raiders, sitting at 3-7, are playing for pride in their first season on new head coach Dennis Allen. Carson Palmer leads the team after abandoning Cincinnati one year ago. Thank you for joining us today for our live blog. Who Dey!
Thank you everyone for joining us for the blog. Make sure to join us next week as the Bengals head to San Diego for a critical matchup with the Chargers.
Bengals in Victory Formation, finish off 34-10 win over Raiders. With Browns win vs. PIT, Bengals now tied with PIT for final AFC wild card spot. A great day to be a Bengals fan.
Have to second that, Jason. At the beginning of the season, I thought this would be a close game. Now the Bengals are up 24 with 2 minutes and Carson continues to hit the dump off. Bengals finishing strong.
What a return for Palmer. Whoda thought they’d be on opposite ends come this time, and the Bengals would be on the winning end? We give Marvin hell, but this 2-year turnaround is nothing short of amazing.
Gresham TD caps crazy 12-play, 84-yard drive and extends lead to 34-10 with 3:39 left
This time Giordano can’t save a touchdown. Gresham with the mean stiff arm and continues his huge second half of the season.
Bengals facing 3rd-and-6 at Oakland 7 and is last chance for A.J. Green to extend his streak of consecutive games with a TD.
With the Raiders now without Houston, Kelly and Seymour, the Bengals are running it down Oakland’s throat.
Peerman rushes for 9 yards to OAK 15. Like McDonalds, I’m loving it!
Peerman is running really well on this drive. Hitting the crease quickly, running through arm tackles to pick up extra yards.
Green goes over 1,000 yards this season for Bengals. He’s got 111 today
After all that, Dalton goes deep to Green for 48 yards to OAK 37
And there’s AJ! Whit got the Bengals fired up, Oakland might implode
Okay, ejecting Whit and Houston was unnecessary. Just like against the Jags and John Henderson.
Just like an enforcer in hockey, let’s see if Whit’s scuffle fires up the Bengals.
Love seeing Whit going after Houston for throwing Dalton down after the whistle. Standing up for your QB, that’s why we love him.
Never seen that for in all my years watching football.
Saved by an inadvertent whistle. Bengals get another chance on 3rd down instead of a Raiders scoop and score.
After driving into Bengals territory, D stiffens up and forces an OAK punt
Because it bears repeating: Dunlap’s first step is so quick when he’s in pure pass-rush mode. Got the Bengals off the field on 3rd down.
Geno decided to go ahead and take care of the screen pass game himself. Give him anything he asks for at the negotiating table, Katie.
Newman is good at playing off and jumping slant routes. Generally in great position.
More bad tackling, this time from Nelson in the open field, and screens are reeling in Bengals’ defenders.
All these arm tackles aren’t working on the 255 lb Marcel Reece. Gotta put some shoulder into that huge man.
Slant to Marvin Jonas. Can’t make the contested catch. Settle for FG. Lead 27-10
On 2nd down, the Raiders swarmed to the A gap by Zeitler. They know where the Bengals’ bread is buttered.
At least with the lost challenge, the Bengals have a chance to throw AJ a TD pass in the 10th straight game
Green-Ellis had a season high long of 21 yards entering the day and now twice topped 39.
Don’t think Marvin will win this challenge, but not the worst idea. A touchdown here swings the game back towards the Bengals.
And BJGE big gain stopped just short of the goal line again — 39 yards
First play of 4th quarter, Lawson sacks Palmer, who fumbles and Maualuga recovers
Fumble by Carson just what the Bengals needed. Manny Lawson with the strip sack on the blitz.
Good point, gotta keep the middle of the pocket off of the quarterback.
End of three at PBS — Bengals 24, Raiders 10. ON Shawn’s comment, I agree, but when o-line is allowing d-line to push them right into Dalton, its hard not to.
Bengals had a receiver coming open at the marker on 3rd, but Dalton drops his eyes under pressure and takes the sack. First down if he rolls out and keeps his eyes downfield.
Raiders continue to control 3rd quarter. Dalton sacked on 3rd down, OAK takes over at OAK 44 after Bengals punt
Bengals allow Raiders to drive down the field, and Palmer hits Moor for TD. First TD allowed by the Bengals in 105 minutes of play and cuts score to 24-10. Bengals are sleep walking in this half.
On that Raiders touchdown, it looked like Hall just lost track of the ball in the air.
Rey has been terrible on his run fits and Burfict has not been getting off blocks well.
Three straight three-and-outs for #engals to start second half.
The Raiders are dialing up all the right blitzes. Dalton is going to have to improve his pre-snap adjustments.
Burfict’s excellent open-field tackling is a big reason for that Raiders 3 and out.
Dunlap had an unreal first step off the ball to help Gilberry into that sack.
Another 3-and-out for Bengal. Punt to OAK 43.
Hall’s ability to mirror slot receivers without getting a jam at the line shows how well his achilles has healed. Explosive out of cuts.
Bengals D holds at CIN 37. Janikowski boots in a 55-yard FG. 24-3 now.
The reason Marcel Reese has those gaudy reception statistics is Palmer’s checkdowns. Same reason Myers has good numbers at TE
Bengals go three-and-out to open half. Only second three and out in seven series today for Bengals
Dalton got lucky he didn’t get intercepted. Bad decision to throw to Sanu, Oakland pressure affected Dalton on the first possession.
Nuget totally redeems himself going into halftime, splits the uprights from 55 yards. 24-0
Like clockwork, Carson gets picked as soon as his offense begins moving.
Crocker with the pick of Palmer, returns 29 yards to OAK 48 with 0:08 left in half
Bengals drive stalls, Nugent wide right from 48
That fourth-down attempt by OAK was a microcosm of their day. They can not win toe-to-toe battles vs CIN.
Raiders go for it on 4th and 1, and Burfict stuffs the run play. CIN ball at CIN 46 with 1:48 left in half
Reggie Nelson was definitely missed on defense. He is so good in the box vs the run or underneath routes.
Really surprised that it took this long for Raiders to involve Brandon Myers. Their only favorable match-up in passing game.
Bengals have outscored opponents 62-22 in the first half of the four games since the bye.
Not coincidental that the Bengals have kicked it up a gear with a heavily-involved Sanu. Just the big, sure-handed, playmaking target Dalton needed desperately.
Dalton throws to Sanu for 5 yard TD pass!!! Bengals now up 21-0.
Despite his early season struggles, Gresham playing more focused, blocking extremely well.
Cedric Peerman goes for 31 yards on his first carry. Bengals back in the red zone at the Oakland 5
At OAK 30
Ellis gets another third down carry and picks up 3 for first down
Good call on the end-around, run blitz the middle heavily and get burned.
End-around to Green nets 22 yards
Good to see a shot to Marvin Jones. If Dalton could have stepped into that throw, would have been huge.
ON 3rd and 2, Ellis picks up first down.
Marvin Jones checks in, Dalton looks for him deep but pass is broken up.
But Hall is more physical, better in man coverage than Finnegan.
Leon Hall had been used in a role similar to Cortland Finnegan. Good use of his physicality vs run in slot, Adam Jones more of pure cover corner on outside.
Adam Jones with nice pass-breakup on third down forces Raider punt to CIN 11
The Raiders running game is almost dormant, now down 14 look for heavy blitzing from Cincy.
Bengals go 3-and-out and punt to OAK-29
Hall expected to return with finger injury
After three straight near-INTs, bad news to see Hall in pain.
Nelson with a safety blitz nearly gets Palmer forces a 3-and-out
CB Leon Hall holding his left hand after the play and being looked at on field.
Another Palmer throw to Moore with bracket coverage. That’s going to be trouble soon.
Oh, and lead 14-0.
Total yards: Bengals 156, Raiders 8. Bengals averaging 11.1 yards per play.
Sanu with a one-handed TD snag that is almost as spectacular as AJ’s from last week.
Though Gresham down the seam has been deadly lately. Another great route and throw vs 2-high safeties.
I really love Charles at the move TE. I hope this is the game we see him get really involved.
All these third down conversions the past couple weeks are something the Bengals didn’t see during their slide.
Sanu converts on a 3rd down run
They look lost big time.
On that AJ 44 catch, it looked like every WR found every hole in Oakland’s zone coverage.
Dalton finds Green on 3rd down for 44 yards to OAK 40.
As any Bengals fan knows, if the Bengals keep this heavy pressure on Carson they’ll get an INT any time now.
Leon Hall with the 3rd down pass breakup. Raiders go 3 and out on 2nd possession
Carlos Dunlap was picture perfect sealing the edge vs run. Definitely taking steps as all-around DE
Right behind Zeitler on both goal-line runs. He’s playing out of his mind and Gruden is riding him.
Punches it in on 2nd-down for TD
Wipe off TD. Out at 1.
Was a career long run for Ellis. Previous longest was 33.
Play under review. May have been out at 1.
Longest run of the season for BJGE on that 49-yard touchdown. Previous long was 21
With Richard Seymour out, the Bengals o-line should see plenty of domination at the line of scrimmage. That TD was all Zeitler.
Green-Ellis with a hole for a 49-yard TD
The sack by Atkins gives him 9 for the season, passing Dan Wilkinson for club record for interior D-lineman.
Michael Johnson gets in on the act, sacks Palmer, OAK to punt.
Fitting that Geno, one of the leaders of the new youth movement, was the one that sacked Carson, the leader of the old guard.
Geno Atkins just pancaked Palmer for the sack on his first pass attempt.
More than a couple boos to greet Carson as he takes the field.
Opening kickoff: Mike Nugent kicked off 65 yards into the end zone. Coye Francies to the Oakland 22 for 22 yards.
bengals win toss but defer
Thanks everyone for joining us for another edition of the Stripe Hype Live Blog. We’re minutes way from kicking off. With the game blacked out today, follow all the action here.
God is my Savior. I enjoy watching, writing, and talking about sports. I'm a National Guardsman and love writing about the Bengals. I strive to bring all of our readers the best, most up-to-date sports news there is. Follow our writers for all the latest Bengals news.
Guttersnake
All Cincinnati Sports
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Bearcats
Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers
Xavier Musketeers
