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DDN

Bengals offensive line suffers another setback

Left tackle Levi Jones needs arthroscopic surgery and won't play against Carolina.


By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer

Tuesday, October 17, 2006


CINCINNATI ? The news on the injury front just keeps getting worse for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Head coach Marvin Lewis ruled left offensive tackle Levi Jones out of Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers with a left knee injury that will require arthroscopic surgery.
Jones got hurt in the second quarter of the Bengals' 14-13 loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday.
"I basically planted on it wrong," Jones said in Monday's open locker room. "I stayed in the game after I initially felt it, but the pain just started radiating in the wrong direction. So I came out."
Wide receiver Kelley Washington suffered a pulled hamstring, so he joins center Rich Braham (knee), wide receiver Tab Perry (hip), backup quarterback Anthony Wright (appendectomy) and Jones on the list of sidelined players.
"We'll go as we finished (the game)," said Lewis, meaning left tackle Andrew Whitworth, left guard Eric Steinbach and center Eric Ghiaciuc will start against the Panthers. "We have a different group than we started with last week, but we feel confident with those guys. We've got to settle in, get together and play."
The lack of continuity on the line has disrupted the offense's rhythm. Quarterback Carson Palmer threw for 261 yards and a touchdown against the Buccaneers, but tailback Rudi Johnson was held to 52 yards on 17 carries, a 3.1 average.
Palmer has been sacked 17 times in five games after going down just 21 times last season, and the Bengals have been held to 13 points for two straight games.
"It seems like every week somebody goes down," Palmer said. "We're shuffling offensive linemen left and right. It's tough for those guys up front to get used to each other and to understand where each other is going to be.
"Hopefully, we can get some consistency and we can get back to the way we used to run the ball."

C
ontact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or
cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.
 
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DDN

BENGALS NOTES
Palmer, Lewis defend play-caller


By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer

Thursday, October 19, 2006

CINCINNATI ? The Bengals rushed to offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski's defense Wednesday in the wake of heavy public criticism during the club's two-game losing streak.
Fans are calling radio talk shows and bashing Bratkowski for his play-calling.
"Brat is getting thrown under the bus. It's ridiculous," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "It's a lot of people talking who don't know football. It's funny to us as players when you hear some of the stuff. When you lose, you're the bum. When you win, you're the hero."
Is the criticism unfair?
"Oh, yeah," head coach Marvin Lewis said.
"Criticize me. I'm the one that's in charge of this place. It's not Bob's fault. It's my fault when we don't win."
Bratkowski takes the heat in stride. "It goes with the territory," he said. "You're only good week to week."
Throw it ... deep
That's what wide receiver Chad Johnson wants Palmer to do ? even if Johnson's not open.
"That's what we did last year all the time," Johnson said. "Carson didn't care what defensive back or safety was over the top. We were going to make the play anyway. I haven't said anything about it because it's early."
Lewis said Johnson "has a very tainted view of things, which is fine. Greed is good. We would all like to make sure we continue to be aggressive. But we're not going to be careless or foolish."
Injury report
Left offensive tackle Levi Jones underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery and is out indefinitely.
Center Rich Braham (knee), wide receivers Tab Perry (hip) and Kelley Washington (hamstring), and quarterback Anthony Wright (appendectomy) are also out for Sunday's game against Carolina.
Middle linebacker Brian Simmons said his sore neck has improved, but he's listed as questionable along with strong safety Dexter Jackson, outside linebacker Rashad Jeanty and tailback Chris Perry.
"I'm encouraged," Simmons said.
Hairy situation
Rookie defensive tackle Domata Peko, a native of American Samoa, doesn't like to have his long hair pulled by the opposition. "Every once in a while, an O-lineman accidentally pulls it," he said.
"It just gets me more ticked off. The next play, I'm coming after them even harder."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253
or cludwig@daytondailynews.com
 
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Dispatch

No talking, Johnson says, when he can?t back it up on field
Passive passing offense bothers receiver

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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CINCINNATI ? It?s so bad for the Bengals offense these days that Chad Johnson can?t even bring himself to talk trash.
The receiver finally caught a long pass Sunday ? a 51-yarder that was 33 yards longer than his previous season high ? but that was hardly worth celebrating in light of Cincinnati?s second straight 13-point performance and his diminished production.
Heading into a game Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, Johnson has six fewer catches and 124 fewer yards than at the same point in 2005.
"I can?t be the aggressor with this right here," he said, pointing to his mouth, "when my approach and my game play out there on Sunday is not aggressive at all."
Johnson is trying hard to be a company man, but he acknowledged he is tired of the offense settling for what defenses are allowing.
"Last year, I could be aggressive (talking) because I knew when I got up on Sunday we were going to be the aggressive opponent," Johnson said. "But right now I can?t take an aggressive approach with you (media) guys and then go out there and be a sitting duck and a decoration."
Johnson said he understands offenses must react to a defense?s strategy, but he said it?s time for the Bengals to impose their will as well.
"We can?t allow teams to dictate what we can do," he said. "We need to start dictating what we want to do."
Johnson attended Santa Monica (Calif.) Junior College with Panthers receiver Steve Smith. Like Johnson, Smith is used to having opponents? game plans geared against him.
But Smith has proved to be a game-breaker anyway. The former teammates remain close, and when they talked earlier this week, Smith gave Johnson tough love.
"I told him, ?Welcome to my life and quit complaining,? " Smith said in a conference call. "He?s just got to work harder at it. There?s nothing he can do, nothing he can change."
There are reasons beyond opponents? game plans for the lack of big plays. The injuryracked offensive line has not protected well, and a once-deep receiving corps has been hit by injuries (Tab Perry, Kelley Washington) and suspension (Chris Henry).
Yet from coach Marvin Lewis down to the players, the Bengals refuse to use injuries as an excuse.
Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski pointed to the Bengals? feeble 32.3 third-down conversion percentage as the key problem. Last year, Cincinnati converted 42.9 percent on third down.
"We need to get those thirddown conversions," Bratkowski said. "That allows us to stay on the field and get Rudi (Johnson) to get more runs and Chad to catch more passes and T.J. (Houshmandzadeh) to catch more passes."
Lewis said there?s enough blame to go around, including receivers running improper routes, but he took Johnson?s criticisms in stride.
"I don?t necessarily agree, because Chad has a very tainted view of things all the time," Lewis said with a laugh.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com
 
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Dispatch

BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Perry might make season debut Sunday

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




CINCINNATI ? Running back Chris Perry practiced yesterday for the first time this season and might play Sunday against Carolina.
"I hope so," Perry said.
Perry, coming off the physically-unable-to-perform list, had offseason knee and ankle surgeries. The ankle has been slow to heal.
He is listed as questionable, but Bengals coach Marvin Lewis was noncommittal when asked whether the 2004 first-round pick would play. Perry is an elusive runner with excellent hands as a pass-catcher. In 2005, he ran for 279 yards (4.6 per carry) and caught 51 passes for 328 yards (6.4 per reception).
"He gives us another playmaker, and we miss him," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said.
Jones has surgery

Left tackle Levi Jones had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee yesterday, Lewis said.
Rookie Andrew Whitworth will start in Jones? place against the Panthers, who feature two of the NFL?s top defensive ends: Mike Rucker and Julius Peppers.
Lewis asks , won?t tell

The Bengals asked the NFL for clarification of the controversial unnecessary roughness penalty called on defensive end Justin Smith against Tampa Bay.
The Bengals were irate Sunday, believing the call could have cost them the game. Lewis mockingly said pass-rushers would have to "cuddle" quarterbacks to the ground.
Yesterday, Lewis was more philosophical. He declined to say what the league told the Bengals, other than that it would be helpful in the future.
"That (referee) has to make a split-second decision," Lewis said. "They?re going to err on the side of safety whether it be a defenseless receiver or quarterback. We understand that."
Injury report

Center Rich Braham (tibia fracture), quarterback Anthony Wright (appendix) and receivers Kelley Washington (hamstring) and Tab Perry (hip) are listed as out.
Linebackers Brian Simmons (neck) and Rashad Jeanty (foot) are questionable. They did not participate in team drills. Simmons said his neck is "a little bit" better than Sunday, when he was deactivated from the Tampa Bay game.
Defensive tackle Sam Adams (knee), receiver Chad Johnson (shoulder) and cornerback Greg Brooks (knee) are probable. Only Brooks participated in all of practice.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com
 
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Cincy

Bengals notebook
Wilson move opens a spot on the roster; RB's release may signal Perry return

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

The Bengals are clearing the way for the return of running back Chris Perry.
The Bengals waived tailback Quincy Wilson Thursday, opening the 53rd spot on the active roster. Perry would need a spot to play Sunday against Carolina.
Perry practiced Thursday for the second consecutive day but remained listed as questionable on the official injury report.
He said he has felt good.
"No, not really," Perry said when asked if he needed to play himself into football shape after being on the physically unable to perform list all season. "To be honest, it kind of feels easy. You don't have any preconceived thoughts or notions about how to run a play. You just go out there and play football. ... The act of playing football is easy."
The Bengals have struggled offensively, scoring just 13 total points in the past two games - both losses - and converting just 32.3 percent of their third-down plays into first downs.
"I've been watching the team and thinking maybe I could help take some pressure off some guys," said Perry, who caught 51 passes last season.
Asked about his specialty on third down, Perry said, "I think I give them another option to throw to or hand it to."
Wilson played in three games this season, with two rushes for 2 yards and one special teams tackle.
HENRY CASE: The DUI case involving Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was continued to Nov. 27 in Clermont Municipal Court. The prosecution asked for the continuance.
Henry will complete a two-game suspension Sunday for violations of the NFL substance-abuse and personal-conduct policies. He will be eligible to return Oct. 29 against Atlanta at Paul Brown Stadium.
BUM KNEE: Defensive tackle Sam Adams has played this season with a knee injury he said will require postseason surgery.
He injured the knee in his preseason debut Aug. 28 against Green Bay.
Adams did say the knee is feeling better, and as a sign of his improved condition, he practiced Thursday for the first time in six game-week Thursdays this season.
"There are probably some games I shouldn't have played, but that goes back to being a professional and not letting people down," said Adams, who has played in all six games and has six total tackles and one deflected pass.
The Bengals have allowed 532 rushing yards in the past three games. The Bengals signed Adams in the hopes he would help improve the run defense.
"Well, I've been hurt and I haven't necessarily made 50 million plays, but I never made 50 million plays," he said.
Adams clearly has played through pain.
"I'm going to definitely have surgery on the knee after the season," he said. "It never crossed my mind (to have it during the season). I try not to miss games. Sometimes you have to. But if I can move, I'm going to play."
Adams (knee) remained probable for the game Sunday against Carolina, an offense that prefers to run first, though its pass game has improved this season.
INJURY UPDATES: Linebacker Rashad Jeanty (foot) was downgraded to doubtful for Sunday. He did not practice.
Cornerback Greg Brooks (knee) was downgraded to questionable and did not practice.
Linebacker Brian Simmons (neck) remained questionable and did not practice for the second day in a row.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com
 
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Dispatch

Adams? impact hasn?t been felt by Bengals yet
Friday, October 20, 2006
Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



CINCINNATI ? When the Bengals signed Sam Adams in April, the mammoth defensive tackle was viewed as a crucial piece to the team?s run defense puzzle.
Five games into the season, the run defense ranks 25 th in the NFL and Adams has been credited with only six tackles. Only three were solo tackles, all Sept. 17 against Cleveland.
"Well, I?ve been hurt and I haven?t necessarily made 50 million plays, but I never made 50 million plays," Adams said yesterday.
Adams hurt a knee against Green Bay in his first exhibition game and has been trying to play through it. The 360-pounder doesn?t play on likely passing downs and often labors as he waddles to the sideline. He will have arthroscopic surgery after the season.
"I can walk without extreme pain," he said. "There are probably some games I shouldn?t have played, but that goes back to being a professional and not letting people down. You want to be able to do as much as you can."
Adams is hoping the game Sunday against Carolina will be a breakthrough of sorts. Yesterday was the first time this season he practiced before Friday.
"This is huge for him," defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan said. "Even watching as much tape as he watches doesn?t get him fitting with his teammates. That?s the feel the guys behind him have to get. He fits differently than a smaller guy."
Unlike most of Cincinnati?s previous opponents, Carolina uses a north-south running game that could make Adams a bigger factor.
"A lot of teams have been hitting us outside, off-tackle, cutting back and those types of things," he said. "When they do that kind of thing, then you?re not going to have a big impact at tackle.
"Pittsburgh is traditionally a pounding team. They?re not like that anymore. They?re going to bob and weave and misdirect like New England did. This team we?re playing this week is going downhill."
Bresnahan at first declined to assess Adams? play, but then said it would be unfair to pin the Bengals? difficulty stopping the run on him.
"You can look at him and look at the big runs and he may be accountable for one here, but he certainly hasn?t been a problem with the run defense," Bresnahan said.
Adams was not signed to pile up impressive statistics. His career high in solo tackles is 37. His main value is in occupying offensive linemen and disrupting blocking schemes.
Breakdowns in recent games have made the run defense often look like it did in 2005.
"I know a lot of people think I haven?t been doing my job," Adams said. "None of us have."
In the past three games, Cincinnati has given up 532 rushing yards.
"I think we?re all frustrated, not just Sam," defensive end Bryan Robinson said. "It pretty much goes down the whole defensive line. I definitely feel Sam?s pain because I feel the same way. They brought us both here to be integral parts in stopping the run, and it?s not getting done like we want it to right now."
brabinowitz@dispatch.com
 
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Dispatch

BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Brooks passes his first test
Friday, October 20, 2006
Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



CINCINNATI ? In an ideal world, the Bengals would have eased Ahmad Brooks into NFL action.
Taken in the supplemental draft less than three weeks before training camp, Brooks didn?t have time to learn the nuances of the Bengals defense. Though his physical skills were obvious in training camp, his inexperience was just as glaring.
But Brooks? apprenticeship lasted only four games. Brian Simmons? neck injury forced the Bengals to start Brooks last week against Tampa Bay.
"For his first time out, I thought he did extremely well," Bengals linebackers coach Ricky Hunley said. "He played fast. He played physical. He got in on 14 tackles. Hopefully, he can continue to build on what he has started."
Hunley acknowledged he was worried how Brooks would do in his first game, just as he would about anyone?s debut.
"But he?s a different player when the lights are on," he said. "It?s just that (I have to) demand from (him) the same type of intensity in practice as in the game."
Coaches gave Brooks a grade of 76, equivalent to a C or C-plus. He said he had a couple of plays where he was a step away from making a big play. He did well in the run game, he said, but needs improvement against the pass.
Simmons remains questionable for the game Sunday against Carolina after not practicing yesterday.
Backing Bratkowski

When a high-powered offense slumps, the offensive coordinator has a bull?s-eye on his back. Such is life for the Bengals? Bob Bratkowski, a target for barbs on Internet message boards and talk radio.
"The only criticism I worry about is from Marvin (Lewis) and Mike Brown," Bratkowski said. "If they come to me and talk to me about something, I certainly listen and will do anything they want us to do."
There?s no sign that Lewis, the coach, or Brown, the team owner, is unhappy.
"Criticize me," Lewis said. "I?m the one that?s in charge of this place. It?s not Bob?s fault. It?s my fault when we don?t win."
Quarterback Carson Palmer said, " ?Brat? is getting thrown under the bus. It?s ridiculous. It?s a lot of people talking who don?t know football, obviously. When you lose, you?re the bum. When you win, you?re the hero."
Funny first impressions

Carolina receiver Steve Smith chuckled when asked about his first impressions of Bengals receiver Chad Johnson. The two played together at Santa Monica Junior College.
"Oh, man, who?s this cat? " Smith said. "He was from Florida and being in L.A., with his mentality and his style, he looked like a tourist. He still does when he goes back home, but that?s the part of Chad that?s irreplaceable. There?s no other guy like Chad."
Jeanty doubtful

Linebacker Rashad Jeanty (foot) was downgraded to doubtful after not practicing yesterday. ?The Bengals waived running back Quincy Wilson, presumably to make room for Chris Perry later in the week.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com
 
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Dispatch

It?s only a matter of time before Bengals rookie cornerback Jonathan Joseph takes the starting job from veteran Tory James. Joseph, the team?s firstround pick out of South Carolina, is solid, levelheaded and the best tackler in the secondary. On the other hand, James is 33 and his physical skills appear to be declining. He knows that for him to make plays, he has to take chances and he often gets burned.
James is expected to hold onto his starting job this week against Carolina because veteran Keyshawn Johnson is tall and lanky like James, and should be a good matchup for him. Because of his experience, James isn?t as likely to be fooled by some of the stuff Johnson throws at him as Joseph would be. This also could be James? last start.
 
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Dispatch

BENGALS
Rookie faces stern test against one of the best
Cincinnati tackle Whitworth will be matched up against Peppers
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
20061022-Pc-E4-0900.jpg

Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers has eight sacks this season.
20061022-Pc-E4-1000.jpg



Andrew Whitworth laughed when told he might be the most-watched left tackle in the NFL today.
"You?re probably right," the Bengals rookie said.
A lot of Bengals players will be in the hot seat when Cincinnati (3-2) plays the Carolina Panthers (4-2) in Paul Brown Stadium.
Cornerback Deltha O?Neal probably will have primary coverage responsibility against Panthers star receiver Steve Smith. Quarterback Carson Palmer must raise the level of his play. Defensive tackle Sam Adams must fight through a bad knee to assert himself against the Panthers? running game.
But the player at most risk for scalding may be Whitworth because of his inexperience and the competition he will face. On most downs, he will face Mike Rucker, a tough, physical player. On passing downs, Carolina is likely to switch its defensive ends so that Whitworth will line up against Julius Peppers, perhaps the NFL?s most dominant pass-rusher. Peppers has eight sacks and twice that many quarterback pressures.
"Peppers is a very tall, rangy athletic guy, all the qualities you really want in a pass rusher and D-end," Whitworth said.
Whitworth is not the fleetest afoot, but he is big and plays with good technique. But perhaps his most valuable trait is atypical poise for a rookie.
"He?s mature beyond his years, not only footballwise but as a human being," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "He?s grown up. He?s a man. He?s not a young kid."
Whitworth may be the most crucial lineman because his job is to protect Palmer?s blind side, but the entire offensive line must play better than it has lately.
"This is the best defensive line, I think, in the NFL right now," Bratkowski said. "Everyone will be challenged, not just Whitworth. (Right tackle) Willie (Anderson) will be challenged. In base situations, Peppers will be on his side. The matchups all the way across the board ? not just Whit ? will be extremely critical."
The Bengals offense has sputtered the past two games, scoring only 13 points each time. The receiving corps has been depleted by injuries, but the presumed return of pass-catching running back Chris Perry should help.
Carolina, a popular Super Bowl pick, has won four straight. With a month of difficult games ahead, Cincinnati should have a sense of urgency.
"We?re well overdue," running back Rudi Johnson said. "This could be the week right here. It will be a great challenge for us, playing against a great defense, a great team. Our work?s cut out for us. It ain?t going to get easier. So we?ve got to lock and load and get ready to go."
brabinowitz@dispatch.com
 
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Who Dey!

I'm pretty surprised they were able to pull it out after basically mailing it in for 20 minutes.

Palmer finally got hot and DelHomo threw a bad one near the end.
Rudi was solid.

The TE was finally used. Shocking!

Chris Sherry didn't do much.
 
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This was a real "get well mentally" game for the Bengals.

They had run up a 3-0 start only to drop 2 losses OOD against the Patriots (at home) and the Bucs (away and with questionable calls).
Perry was back in the line-up, and he helped some, but the real MVPs today were Kelly and on Defense Kaesviharn - whose interception defanged a dangerous drive by Carolina at the goal line.
They are now 4-2 and in possession of 1st place in the AFC North, as a result of a better Divisional record of 2-0 vs 1-0 by the Ravens, whose last loss was at home to ... the Carolina Panthers.
Next up for the Bengals - Atlanta - in the Queen City.
Next up for the Ravens - New Orleans, in the Crescent City
Following which games these two teams meet in Baltimore.
 
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The OL bucked it up big time in this one, from the 2nd quarter on. I'm surprised the D has played as well as it has w/ all the carnage in the LB corp. Whitworth did a pretty good job against Peppers today. CJ's 4th down catch shows what kind of a player he is-and why he was 100% correct in publicly calling for the ball-if it doesn't work going deep to him, things won't be any worse, if he makes the play, it can turn an entire game around.
 
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tibor75;640653; said:
Who Dey!

I'm pretty surprised they were able to pull it out after basically mailing it in for 20 minutes.

Palmer finally got hot and DelHomo threw a bad one near the end.
Rudi was solid.

The TE was finally used. Shocking!

Chris Sherry didn't do much.

No props for your boy Suckviharn? :lol:
 
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ABJ

Bengals coach mum on Henry's return

JOE KAY

Associated Press

CINCINNATI - Receiver Chris Henry came through a door on one side of the Cincinnati Bengals' football-shaped locker room, saw the media contingent and immediately broke into a brisk jog.
He didn't slow as he passed his locker, didn't even look sideways until he was out of the room and out of range of questions about his return from a two-game suspension, a return that could be a huge boost to an offense that has struggled without him.
Assuming he plays, that is.
Coach Marvin Lewis didn't have much to say Monday about the troubled receiver. Lewis was noncommittal about whether Henry will play next Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
"He gets an opportunity to come back and practice this week," Lewis said. "He could be down (inactive). He could be on our team and be down."
The Bengals (4-2) have been down without him.
They opened the season with the second-year receiver filling in nicely for an injured T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Then, Henry got in trouble - again. He was a passenger in the vehicle when linebacker Odell Thurman was charged with drunken driving after a victory over Pittsburgh moved the Bengals to 3-0.
Lewis benched Henry for the next game, and the NFL suspended him for the next two. In a separate case, Henry has pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and a gun charge, making him subject to the league's discipline.
Cincinnati went 1-2 without him, scoring 13, 13 and 17 points. Injuries to the offensive line were a major factor during that span as well, but Henry was unquestionably missed.
While Henry was out, the Bengals had their receiving corps further thinned by injuries. Kelley Washington is out with a hamstring injury, and Tab Perry will miss the rest of the season with a hip injury. Antonio Chatman suffered an abdominal injury during a 17-14 win over Carolina on Sunday.
Without its usual complement of pass catchers, the offense had to be a little more conservative against Carolina.
"We didn't use any four-wide receiver sets yesterday," Lewis said Monday. "We kept tight ends on the field more than we have in the past, particularly on third down and even on early downs. Normally, it could have been a receiver in that position."
One near-perfect drive saved the day.
The Bengals failed to get a first down on five of their six first-half possessions. They were a little better in the second half, when the offense finally came together during a 13-play drive for the winning touchdown.
Carson Palmer went 8-of-9 for 93 yards, and connected with Chad Johnson on a 32-yard completion on a fourth-and-1 play that set up the score and made the offense feel a lot better about itself.
"The last two weeks, we were in a funk," guard Eric Steinbach said. "I think this is a turnaround game."
It sure changed the mood in the locker room. The Bengals hadn't won in three weeks - they had their bye between losses - and had everyone asking what was wrong with the defending AFC North champions.
"By beating them, we pretty much stopped the abuse we were taking as a team," safety Dexter Jackson said Monday.
The next step is to get some consistency back in an offense missing the big play.
"We scored what, 17 points?" Houshmandzadeh said. "There's a lot of work to be done."
 
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Dispatch

BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Win over quality opponent boosts spirits

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



CINCINNATI ? It was only the sixth of 16 games, and a nonconference one to boot. So really, how big could the Cincinnati Bengals? 17-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers be? Plenty big. Sunday?s win allowed Cincinnati (4-2) to move into a first-place tie with Baltimore in the AFC North and open a two-game cushion on Pittsburgh. Helpful, yes, but this victory was even better for the psyche. Cincinnati had lost two straight. "When you lose so many games, people?s confidence levels aren?t where they need to be," receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh said. "If they tell you it is, they?re lying. You can?t consistently lose two or three games in a row and still have your confidence where it needs to be." Safety Dexter Jackson returned from a stillsore sprained ankle because of the importance of the game. He agreed with Houshmandzadeh that this wasn?t just a typical October victory.
"They?re one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl," Jackson said of the Panthers. "By beating them, we pretty much stopped the abuse we were taking as a team. That?s how you stop it: You play a good, solid team and you win at home."
Home victories over marquee opponents have been rare for the Bengals. They hadn?t beaten a team with a winning record at Paul Brown Stadium since Denver on Oct. 25, 2004. The Bengals had been 0-6 in such games since, including three losses to Pittsburgh and an ugly 38-13 loss to New England on Oct. 1.
With a home game this week against Atlanta (4-2) and upcoming ones against San Diego (4-2) and Baltimore (4-2), it was an important hurdle to overcome.
"It would have been very tough for us as a team to try to dig out of the hole after losing games consistently over and over," Jackson said. "We (the defense) came out and played well. When we play together and play as a unit, we can move mountains. That?s what happened Sunday."
Non - committal about Henry

Chris Henry?s two-game NFL suspension has expired, but coach Marvin Lewis was vague about the troubled receiver?s status.
"He gets an opportunity to come back and practice this week," Lewis said.
Whether that means Henry will play against the Falcons is another matter. Lewis could choose to deactivate him. That?s what he did for the New England game as punishment for Henry accompanying Odell Thurman on a late-night excursion that resulted in a DUI charge against the now-suspended linebacker.
"I?m not going to sit here and tell you and debate you about it," Lewis said. "That?ll be my decision as to what?s best for our team."
Because of injuries to Kelley Washington and Tab Perry, the Bengals have been thin at receiver. And Antonio Chatman has been slowed by a nagging groin injury.
Lewis said Chatman would likely be listed as probable on Wednesday?s injury report with what he described as an abdominal strain.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com
 
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