Cincinnati Bengals

The national sports media, while still not paying much attention to the playoff-contending Cincinnati Bengals, are finally acknowledging the team’s existence. Now, at least, words like “NFL’s worst” and “sure-fire 0-16″ are replaced with “tough-minded” and “up and coming.” It still makes me wonder how nary one expert could predict the Bengals as a possible “team to watch.” A 7-4 team – no. But c’mon dudes, from the dozens and dozens and dozens of you highly paid experts, how can not a one predict Cincinnati as at least a surprise 8-8? No one?

Ooops, spill’t the soup:

Cleveland wrap up. Is it just me, or did Bengals running back Cedric Benson run harder, longer and faster Sunday against the Cleveland Browns? I commented more than once during the game to my blow-up doll girlfriend, Louise, that it was like the good old ’08 and ’09 Benson. As an ardent critic of Benson lately, I was hearted by his improved speed and balance. But I still want to see more of Bernard Scott.

The Geen Ladder versus Joe Haden. NFL, please stop with the TV commercials that feature players from different teams. Why? Because that’s how they become friends. Remember former Browns’ DB Thom Darden’s hit on Bengals’ WR-P Pat McInally, and the Steelers’ L.C. Greenwood nearly tearing off the head of former Bengals’ QB Ken Anderson? I love it when teams and players hate each other, which is sadly rare in today’s P.C. NFL. Hopefully, though, the boiling competition between A.J. Green and Cleveland’s damn-good DB Joe Haden will eventually blossom into full-blown hate and loathing, as it should be. We need a reason to again hate the Browns.

Dominating at the end. Got this from Bengals.com – impressive. Damn impressive. ”Before this season in the 130 games under Lewis, the Bengals had erased fourth-quarter deficits to post wins 14 times. After Sunday’s fifth fourth-quarter comeback of the season against the Browns at Paul Brown Stadium, the 2011 Bengals have nearly halved it with five games to play. With 103 fourth-quarter points, the Bengals have already scored as many or more points in the final 15 minutes than in six of Lewis’ previous eight seasons and they are just 16 points from topping the high of 116 set last season and in 2006.”

Unleash Jermaine Gresham. Please. Hey, I don’t want Marvin Lewis and Jay Gruden blogging about decisions I make at my job as a strip club bouncer, so forgive me men – but when are we going to unleash the Bengals’ third-most potent offensive weapon (1., A.J. Green, 2., Andy Dalton, 3., Gresham)? I fully understand that a lot of the Bengals’ offensive is predicated on what defenses give us. Well, I say start giving defenses heavy doses of Gresham, who’s as talented as Hall of Fame TE Kellen Winslow. When drafted, I called Gresham the most important Bengals’ acquisition since Palmer was taken No. 1 in ’03. Gresham can be the NFL’s best TE. Let’s let him show it, okay?

Was Superman ever 3-8? No, never. Hey, I understand endzone dancing is look at me-me-me show-off Ocho time, and a lot of players do it. Some people like it. Some don’t. I don’t. Via my grossly overpriced NFL Ticket, I see a lot of Cam Newton, and Panther losing. A lot of losing. But each week Cam keeps smiling, and doing his “revealing ‘S’ Superman” thing after scoring. At 3-8, and considered one of the worst teams in the NFL, what’s to smile at - unless the me-me-me show-off Ocho time is as (or more) rewarding to a player than winning. Just saying. Image what Dick Butkus would do to his QB for celebrating and smiling if the 1965 Bears were 3-8.

Next Up. Pittsburgh. Nuff said. Hey, Bengals coaches … gotta watch that Steelers-Chiefs game video tape like a Girls Gone Wild dvd in a darkened college dorm. The Steelers’ offense produced a season-low 290 yards, including Mike Wallace’s measley two receptions for 17 yards. While the Pittsburgh D set up the offense with good field position several times, Roethlisberger & Co. kept failing to capitalize. Steelers convert just one of three trips inside the Kansas City 20-yard line into a touchdown. Bengals, there’s the blueprint.

Carson Palmer. Have you seen Palmer’s play in Oakland? Thanks to my afore-mentioned grossly overpriced NFL Ticket, I have. Pretty damned impressive, too – almost 2005-like. Looks more and more like this trade gets the Raiders to the postseason for the first time since 2002. Palmer was the difference in Sunday’s 25-20 victory over Chicago, and without significant players like running back Darren McFadden and receivers-kick returners Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore. The ex-Bengal threw for 301-yards, putting the Raiders in position for six field goals and one touchdown. That’s what Palmer gives the Raiders – a quarterback who can still make all the throws, and carry an offense when he has to. Hmmmmm, smell a Bengals vs. Raiders playoff game in the air? How sweet would that be?

A Six-Game Season. NFL Playoff watch. I’ve always said the NFL season starts after Week 10, because it’s all about the last six games – crunch time. After Week 10 the Bengals are 1-1 and smack-dab in the middle of the playoff race. On Sunday, the New England Patriots, Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers won to improve to 8-3 and force a four-way tie atop the conference with the Ravens (technically, the Ravens are the No. 3 seed right now behind the Texans and Patriots because conference record is the tie-breaker). The Texans are 7-2 in the AFC and the Patriots are 6-2. The Ravens are 5-2 (plus they own a head-to-head win over the Texans). At 7-4, the Bengals right now own the 6-seed playoff spot, while three AFC teams are at 6-5, including the Tim Tebow-led Denver Broncos who beat San Diego. The Tennessee Titans defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the New York Jets kept hope alive with a win over the Bills, who have now lost four straight games.