November 18, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston (50) in the first half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

The Bengals have been getting offensive production from a number of receiving threats this year, and stepping up Sunday was tight end Jermaine Gresham, who had one of his most complete performance of the 2012 season in the Bengals 28-6 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. He grabbed six balls for 69 yards, including a 10-yard catch on 3rd-and-goal from the KC-11 that helped break open the game after he he carried four Chiefs defenders five yards down to the goaline after catching a pass over the middle at the 6-yard line, a play which set up a 1-yard TD run by Andy Dalton that essentially broke the Chiefs’ spirits at 14-3. It was memorable in large part because we’ve not seen that kind of heart in Gresham in his three years in Cincinnati, but now he appears to be developing a strong work ethic that could soon make him one of the NFL’s top tight ends.

Gresham was originally drafted with the 21st overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft after an All-American college career at Oklahoma, and the Bengals expected him to be a dynamic receiving threat, as well as a solid run-blocker, a combination the Bengals hadn’t had in a TE since the days of Tony McGee. He was also projected to immediately become one of the NFL’s top redzone threats, as evidenced by his final two active seasons in Norman, when Gresham caught a total of 25 touchdowns.

He didn’t exactly disappoint, accounting for 108 receptions and 1,067 yards to go along with 10 touchdowns in his first two years, though he didn’t quite light the world on fire like most believed he would.

Nov 18, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) escapes a tackle from Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga (58) during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-US PRESSWIRE

The Bengals defense may want to thank Chiefs offensive coordinator Brian Daboll for not attacking one of Cincinnati’s biggest weaknesses on Sunday. After going three-and-out on their first offensive drive, the Chiefs offense came out on their second-drive going no-huddle 5 of the 7 plays during that drive. The Chiefs gained 59 yards on that drive, which ended up being their most productive drive of the entire game, despite the fact it ended it only a Ryan Succop 34-yard field goal. Given that it was only the Chiefs’ second offensive possession, it would have been easy to think Kansas City would have kept up their no-huddle-attack for must of the game as they held a 3-0 lead at home.

Not so.

After that drive, the Chiefs ran just three no-huddle plays until the 4th-quarter, after they’d already fallen behind 28-6. In that span, the Chiefs mustered up just 140 yards of offense on 7 drives. Once they fell behind 28-6, they went back to the no-huddle and picked up 76 yards of offense on three drives, though by then it was far too late. Why Brian Daboll didn’t have Matt Cassel and/or Brady Quinn utilize it more is a question the Bengals were happy they didn’t have to deal with it, as the no-huddle has typically been effective against Mike Zimmer’s defenses.

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January 2, 2011; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga (58) in action against the Baltimore Ravens at M

Bengals middle linebacker Rey Maualuga had another solid performance today, and thanked the fans who came to Kansas City to support the team:

 Good team win! But still a lot to improve on including myself! I will get it fixed! Thanks to the fans that made the trip to KC! Your support was much needed! Who Dey!

Backup QB Bruce Gradkowski had a humerus tweet to share with the fans:

Good win today boys we had our game faces on @andydalton14 twitter.com/bgradkowski5/s…

— Bruce Gradkowski (@bgradkowski5) November 18, 2012

God is Good..Great team win today against the Chiefs. Got to get better on to the next #WHODEY

— Emmanuel Lamur (@EmanLamur) November 18, 2012

Great win Today, Who Dey!!!

— Geno Atkins (@GenoSacks) November 18, 2012

Great Win today Bengals… WhoDey!

— Andrew Hawkins(@YoungBabyHawk) November 18, 2012

God is so Good!! Great win today!! A big WHO DEY to all the Bengals fans! We will keep grinding 1 game @ a time! Up next raiders! Lets go!!

— Domata Peko (@DomataPeko) November 18, 2012

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