Bengals Banter: Adam Jones’ Redemption, & Pat Sims the X-Factor
By Jason Marcum
Jan 7, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson (80) catches a touchdown pass against the Cincinnati Bengals in the third quarter of the 2012 AFC wild card playoff game at Reliant Stadium. The Texans defeated the Bengals 31-10. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
In last year’s playoff game against the Houston Texans, receiver Andre caught a 40-yard touchdown catch late in the third-quarter that broke the backs of the Bengals, and the man he beat for one one of the game’s biggest plays was CB Adam Jones, who says he saw a replay of it on Tuesday for the first time in nearly a year:
"I couldn’t sleep for a couple of weeks after that game; that double-move. I know what I did. I knew what I did wrong with my technique. I took my eyes off him. I’ve been going over it ever since."
He also added that play has since then served as motivation, leading Jones to play the best football of his 6-year NFL career:
"I’ve been using that for motivation the whole year. That whole game, I was just screwed up, no excuses. I’ll be ready this time."
Marvin Lewis added to that:
"I thought he played one of his best games last week. He had his best week of preparation and practice. He’s focused. He’s got an edge to him that’s hard to change overnight. We try to make him understand when things come out of his mouth, he’s meaning one way, but it sounds the other."
Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer knows containing Houston’s running game will be key to victory Saturday, and failing to do so and letting Pro-Bowler Arian Foster run wild will be costly:
"They do a great job in the run blocking; the scheme that they run is great. We’ve got to tackle. If we’re undisciplined in the run game, we’re going to get pounded, and then off of that comes the play-action pass. So if you can try to get this team to be one-dimensional, it helps us. But saying that, anytime you can stop the run in a seven-man front you have an advantage."
Defensive tackle Domata Peko agreed and also stated that the teams’ best run-stuffer in Pat Sims will be the teams’ x-factor this time around:
"Pat Sims is the X Factor. Look, we’re 7-1 since he’s been back. But he’s a big guy for us. He’s really important. We haven’t had him in the playoffs and it’s really going to help us. He comes in for Geno and me and we just keep rolling."
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