Quarterback: The Brownies don’t know what they are doing - start Charlie Frye - sit Frye - trade Frye - start Derek Anderson. The only question that remains is, when will Brady Quinn (below-right) play? Cincinnati, on the other hand, has one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Carson Palmer – ADVANTAGE BENGALS Running Back: Jamal Lewis is that power back that Cincinnati has never been able to stop. However, with all the other problems on this offense, the Bengals should be able to focus on stopping Lewis, who didn’t look good (11 carries for 35 yards) in his first game as a Brownie against Pittsburgh. Jason Wright is seldom used and Lawrence Vickers is a solid fullback. Rudi Johnson is a consistent scoring machine, who should find the endzone at least once in this game. Backup Kenny Watson is a smart player and fullback Jeremi Johnson is one of the best in the AFC. - ADVANTAGE BENGALS
Wide Receivers: Joe Jurevicius is solid. Braylon Edwards could develop into a great receiver, but drops a bunch of balls. The only advantage the Brownies have in the passing game is at tight end with Kellen “I’m a solider” Winslow over the Bengals Reggie Kelly. However, Kelly is a great blocker while Winslow is worried about his numbers. Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh make up one the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. – ADVANTAGE BENGALS
Offensive Line: The Bengals’ o-line is banged up. No one quite knows the health of OT Willie Anderson. OT Levi Jones has been hurt this preseason and looks to have lost a step. The patchwork o-line kept the pressure off of Carson Palmer, who was only sacked once against the Ravens. The Brownies did everything they could to improve one of the worst o-lines in the league. Cleveland added OT Joe Thomas and OG Eric Steinbach in the offseason. On paper, this could be an even matchup considering the Bengals’ injury woes, but when watching the Brownies last weekend, you could see that they couldn’t run or pass against the Steelers – ADVANTAGE BENGALS
Defensive Line: I was critized when I wrote that the Ravens and Bengals d-lines were even. I don’t like to brag, but Robert Geathers (below-left) emerged as the greatest defensive end in recent Bengals’ memory on Monday night. DTs Domata Peko, John Thornton and Michael Myers played well. DE Justin Smith looked amazing this preseason, but was very quiet on Monday night. This weekend he goes up against the rookie, Joe Thomas. The Brownies run a 3-4, which makes the comparison harder to make, but Orpheus Roye, Ted Washington and Robaire Smith (might not play due to injury) are average at best. Although I must say that the 34 year old Roye is extremely underrated – ADVANTAGE BENGALS
Linebackers: I really like the Brownies’ linebackers. OLBs Antwan Peek (might not play due to injury) and Kamerion Wimbley are young promising pass rushers. Also, ILBs Andra Davis and D’Qwell Jackson are good players. The Bengals’ linebackers looked good on Monday night. Ahmad Brooks was good, Landon Johnson was amazing. Lemar Marshall and Caleb Miller provided solid depth. However, on paper I give the edge to the Browns at this position. The Bengals will be without Rashad Jeanty again - ADVANTAGE BROWNS
Secondary: You had to be surprised at the Bengals’ secondary on Monday night. Madieu Williams was fantastic, so was Dexter Jackson, who was playing banged up. The Ravens threw away from CB Johnathan Joseph. CBs Deltha O’Neal and Leon Hall were solid, not great, but solid. Seventh-round pick Chinedum Ndukwe came in and played solid right away. Browns’ DBs Leigh Bodden and Gary Baxter are banged up. A rookie Eric Wright and improving safeties Sean Jones and Brodney make up the rest of Cleveland’s secondary. Here’s the plus, the Browns gave up only 161 yards passing from Ben Roethlisberger last weekend. Here’s the minus, he had four touchdown passes – ADVANTAGE BENGALS
Who cares about special teams? EVEN - unless Shayne Graham (needs to stop crying and the Bengals’ media needs to stop treating him like a hero) can’t play, also both teams have good returners.
OVERALL BREAKDOWN:
A Bengals loss has the same odds in my book as the Reds making the playoffs.
If the Brownies win, the upset will be right up there with Appalachian State beating Michigan.
Somehow the real odds are Bengals -7, meaning Cincinnati are favored by only seven points. If I was a betting man I would bet the savings on that.
Cornerback Deltha O’Neal’s Rottweiler bit a 23-year-old woman and her 3 year old son this morning, just a couple days away before the Bengals head up to the dawg pound.
O’Neal drove Jasmie Risco and her son, Jaiden, to Anderson Mercy Hospital after they were bitten on their legs and buttocks.
As Bengal fans, I know we are supposed to love Bootsy Collins. Also, we are not allowed to hate Nick Lachey.
We have to embrace and cheer on these musicians that are well out of their prime.
In Lachey’s case there isn’t a Bengal fan (that is a guy) in Cincinnati that ever liked like the music he produced in his prime.
But we have to love them - not because we like what they do or know them personally - we have to love them because they are Bengals’ fans.
Sorry, I don’t like Bootsy’s Fear Da Tiger song, but I’m a Bengals’ fan - so I guess I do - this is all too confusing.
Watch the video above - this year they have local rappers, but this version used Bengal players. Take a good look, Duane Clemons and Shaun Smith rap - while the ghost of Odell Thurman can be seen playing the Puff Daddy role (dancing and not rapping in the video)- Tony Stewart is in there. Where are those players now? Not playing for the Bengals, which begs the question is it bad luck to be in the Bootsy video?
Usually a team waits a few weeks before benching the starting quarterback.
Then there might be another period of time before that team trades their QB.
The Cleveland Browns surprised everyone when they decided to bench their opening day starter early in the second quarter of the Pittsburgh game.
Today, they shocked everyone when they traded QB Charlie Frye to the Seattle Seahawks for a sixth-round draft choice.
The Browns re-signed QB Ken Dorsey, who was cut 10 days ago, to a one-year deal.
Dorsey looks to be the main backup behind Derek Anderson for the Browns next game against the Bengals.
Some sources claim that Dorsey has been a solid mentor for the young Brady Quinn.
In no way would it shock me to see Quinn get some playing time in the Bengals’ game, obviously nothing could surprise me about the Brownies’ QB situation anymore.
The Bengals re-signed wide receiver Antonio Chatman today.
The move had to made because WR Tab Perry looked lost on pass patterns Monday night.
The Ravens double-teamed Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh and left Perry with a single cornerback or safety on him. Perry either ran the wrong way or Carson Palmer’s passes to him were way off.
Since the Bengals went out and got Chatman, it makes you believe that it wasn’t the latter.
Landon Johnson looked like Pepper Johnson, Robert Geathers looked like his uncle James Allen “Jumpy” Geathers, Madieu Williams looked like Roy Williams and Shayne Graham looked like Sally Field at the Oscars.
Last year, linebacker Landon Johnson, with 112 total tackles, was quietly the Bengals’ most consistent defensive player.
Last night, he had one of better defensive performances of the week in the entire NFL.
He finished the game with 12 tackles and recovered two fumbles including one that could easily be mistaken for a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Landon was all over the field, including being in the endzone tipping the ball to defensive tackle Michael Myers, who’s interception clinched a Cincinnati win.
On that huge 34-yard fumble return, defensive end Robert Geathers (above) was credited for forcing the ball to pop out of quarterback Steve McNair’s hands. However, don’t forget that safety Madieu Williams deserves some of the credit as well.
Geathers, who just signed a huge contract prior to the season, was spectacular. He finished the game with a forced fumble, fumble recovery, a sack, four tackles, tipped two passes and had a game-changing interception.
Williams had 10 tackles, forced a fumble (two if you give him credit for the Landon Johnson play) and recovered another.
What Happened?
Both teams punted on their first possessions. Then on the Ravens’ second possession, Steve McNair fumbled and Landon Johnson recovered. The Bengals failed to get a first down and sent Shayne Graham on the field to attempt a 53-yard field goal.
Graham, who was injured in the Bengals’ third preseason game, booted an ugly ball that fell well short of the goal posts and into the hands of safety Ed Reed. Graham, who appeared to be fine prior to the kick, limped off the field, slammed his helmet to ground and fell to the ground as though he just got crushed by Ray Lewis.
The Ravens were blessed with great field position, but McNair fumbled again on the first play of the drive. This time, linebacker Ahmad Brooks sacked McNair causing the fumble, which was recovered by Robert Geathers.
The Bengals went for the kill right away- quarterback Carson Palmer threw a perfect pass to Chad Johnson for a 39-yard touchdown. Then Ocho Cinco showed off his first TD celebration of the year. Graham was crying on the sidelines, while punter Kyle Larson’s extra point was blocked, 6-0 Bengals.
Baltimore’s next possession ended with another fumble when the whole defense including linebacker Lemar Marshall, safety Dexter Jackson and Landon Johnson knocked the ball out of Le’Ron McClain’s hands - Madieu Williams recovered. The Bengals drove to the Ravens’ five and settled for a 23-yard field goal by Graham, 9-0 Bengals.
Both teams punted again until the Ravens’ scored on a eight-play 88-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a Musa Smith six-yard run, 9-7 Bengals.
Two more punts, before Graham somehow was able to kick a 40-yard field goal. After being exhausted from the field-goal attempt, Graham makes a poor effort to tackle kick returner B.J. Sams. Sams returns it to the Bengals’ 41, while Graham lays out on the sideline as if he just collapsed after running in the Boston Marathon. The Ravens ended up with a 36-yard field goal by longtime kicker Matt Stover, 12-10 Bengals. - HALFTIME -
With under 10 minutes left in third quarter, Madieu and Geathers gather around McNair and force a big fumble. The ball pops out of McNair’s hands and into Landon Johnson’s (below), who returns it 34-yards for a touchdown, 19-10 Bengals.
After a Ravens’ field goal, the Bengals went three-and-out and punted the ball to the dangerous Ed Reed. Reed returned it 63 yards for the touchdown, 20-19 Ravens.
With all the momentum on Baltimore’s side, McNair threw a pass intended for Derrick Mason on a third-and-one. Geathers made a diving pick, which was challenged by the Ravens, but the call stood and Geathers returned the pass for 30 yards down to the Ravens’ 22.
Then the Bengals got a touchdown pass from Palmer to T.J. Houshmandzadeh followed by a two-point conversion from running back Rudi Johnson, 27-20 Bengals.
After a Baltimore punt, Rudi did the un-Rudi and fumbled the football. Ed Reed recovered and returned it six yards to the Bengals’ 24.
Backup QB Kyle Boller came into the game for an injured McNair and completed a 14-yard pass to Mason on a fourth-and-three.
That lead up to a fourth-and-one, Boller dropped back and completed a pass to tight end Todd Heap in the back of the endzone. The play was called back due to an offensive pass interference call - the call was very questionable and it looked like the Bengals got a huge break.
Now, fourth-and-11, Boller tossed a ball up for grabs and Madieu was called for defensive holding - automatic first down - can you say make-up call?
Third-and-two, Boller’s pass to Heap in the endzone bounces off his hands, then off of Landon Johnson’s and into Michael Myers’. GAME OVER - BENGALS WIN 27-20
The Controversy
After the game, Heap and the Ravens complained about the offensive pass interference call. The Ravens were about to score the game-tying touchdown with just under two minutes to play.
Honestly, it was a bad call. However, Heap could have caught a touchdown on the play that Myers had his diving interception. Sure, Boller threw it hard, but he could have made the play.
Also, ‘the call’ led to a fourth-and-11, which was going nowhere until the refs made a equally as bad of a call when they called holding on Madieu Williams.
The Ravens had six opportunties inside the Bengals’ three to score.
First it is a divisional game against the defending AFC North champs, the Baltimore Ravens.
More importantly, a loss could dramatically hurt Cincinnati’s chances at a playoff run this season.
I know it is only the first game and there will be 15 others, but take a closer look at the schedule.
A Bengals’ win tonight could lead to 4-0 or 3-1 record, while a loss could mean a 1-3 or 2-2 record going into the bye week.
Next week, Cincinnati plays the Browns and should easily win. However, the next two weeks aren’t going to be easy. Week Three involves a long plane ride as Cincinnati visits Seattle. Then it’s back home to play the Patriots on Monday Night Football.
Ok, so break it down: Cincinnati wins tonight, then they take care of business in Cleveland and should win at least one of the Seattle/New England games. New England is tough, but they will be missing Rodney Harrison and Richard Seymour. So, if the Bengals win I think they will end up 3-1.
If Cincinnati loses tonight, they should still be able to handle Cleveland, but then I wouldn’t be surprised to see them drop both the Seattle and New England games. So, if the Bengals lose then I think they will end up 1-3.
So, I truely believe a loss tonight just doesn’t mean 0-1. It will probably mean a whole lot more.
The magic number in the AFC could be 10; meaning 10 wins to make the playoffs.
It would be a lot easier to win 10 if Cincinnati has to win seven of the next 12 instead of winning nine.
Last night, Chad Johnson said that he got a call from the President (George Bush) and he said that Bush told him that he’s going to stop running the country for three hours on Monday night just to see what he’s (Ocho Cinco) going to do.
I figured that I would save ole Bushie some time - above is a nine-minute long highlight package of Chad Johnson’s 2006 season.
Again, I apologize about the language
Breaking News
The Bengals cut wide receiver Antonio Chatman and resigned seventh-round pick offensive lineman Dan Santucci.
Quarterback: Baltimore improved the position last year when they went out and signed Steve McNair (below). However, Cincinnati has one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Carson Palmer – ADVANTAGE BENGALS Running Back: The Ravens have always been able to run on Cincinnati. Jamal Lewis is that power back that Cincinnati has never been able to stop. Now, Lewis is a Brownie, but the Ravens went out and traded for running back Willis McGahee. McGahee could be an overall upgrade since he is a better receiver out of the backfield. Backups Mike Anderson and Musa Smith are powerful runners. The Bengals have one of the game’s most consistent running backs in Rudi Johnson. Backup Kenny Watson is a great team player. - EVEN
Wide Receiver: Mark Clayton, Derrick Mason and Demetrius Williams make a solid trio of wide receivers, but it doesn’t compare to the Bengals’ duo. Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh make up one the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. – ADVANTAGE BENGALS
Offensive Line: The Bengals’ o-line is banged up. No one quite knows the health of OT Willie Anderson. OT Levi Jones has been hurt this preseason and looks to have lost a step. The Ravens have the same health concerns. OT Jonathan Ogden has been banged up. Overall, the Bengals have the better o-line right now. The recent additions of rookies Marshal Yanda and Jared Gaither could change that in the future. – ADVANTAGE BENGALS
Defensive Line: The Ravens feature a line that caused much havoc in 2006. DE Trevor Pryce has always been great and DE Terrell Suggs is downright scary. DT Kelly Gregg, a former Bengal, has been stuffing the run for the Ravens for a long time. DT Haloti Ngata was impressive as a rookie last year. The Bengals’ line should be better in 2007. DT Domata Peko has a year of experience under his belt. DT John Thornton is solid. DE Justin Smith looked amazing this preseason and DE Robert Geathers is very fast. – EVEN
Linebackers: The Ravens have Ray Lewis (left). The Bengals have a player (Ahmad Brooks) that they hope will turn into Ray Lewis. Brooks didn’t look that good this preseason. OLBs Bart Scott (Baltimore) and Landon Johnson (Bengals) are solid professionals. – ADVANTAGE RAVENS
Secondary: The Ravens have the secondary every team dreams for – CBs Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle – Safeties Ed Reed and Dawan Landry. Reed could be in a close race between himself and Ray Lewis (or maybe that LB from Chicago) for the best defensive player in the NFL. The Bengals’ secondary is questionable at best – CB Johnathan Joseph was impressive as a rookie, but can he catch the ball? CB Deltha O’Neal was great in 2005 and terrible in 2006, which O’Neal will Cincinnati get in 2007? Can SS Dexter Jackson stay healthy? Will FS Madieu Williams be a better tackler? What role will the new rookies play? – ADVANTAGE RAVENS
OVERALL BREAKDOWN:
The perfect team would consist of the Bengals’ offense and the Ravens’ defense. However, in the world of the salary cap, no team would be able to afford that perfect team.
The Bengals have a huge advantage at the quarterback and wide receiver positions.
The Ravens have a huge advantage at the linebacker position and in the secondary.
Overall, I see the Bengals winning due to the energy of this game and the fact that is at Paul Brown Stadium.
FINAL SCORE – BENGALS 21, RAVENS 17
Who cares about special teams? EVEN - unless Shayne Graham can’t play, also both teams have good returners.
Linebackers: I really like the Brownies’ linebackers. OLBs Antwan Peek (might not play due to injury) and Kamerion Wimbley are young promising pass rushers. Also, ILBs Andra Davis and D’Qwell Jackson are good players. The Bengals’ linebackers looked good on Monday night. Ahmad Brooks was good, Landon Johnson was amazing. Lemar Marshall and Caleb Miller provided solid depth. However, on paper I give the edge to the Browns at this position. The Bengals will be without Rashad Jeanty again - ADVANTAGE BROWNS
Then there might be another period of time before that team trades their QB.
Baltimore’s next possession ended with another fumble when the whole defense including linebacker Lemar Marshall, safety Dexter Jackson and Landon Johnson knocked the ball out of Le’Ron McClain’s hands - Madieu Williams recovered. The Bengals drove to the Ravens’ five and settled for a 23-yard field goal by Graham, 9-0 Bengals.
With all the momentum on Baltimore’s side, McNair threw a pass intended for Derrick Mason on a third-and-one. Geathers made a diving pick, which was challenged by the Ravens, but the call stood and Geathers returned the pass for 30 yards down to the Ravens’ 22. 
Linebackers: The Ravens have Ray Lewis (left). The Bengals have a player (Ahmad Brooks) that they hope will turn into Ray Lewis. Brooks didn’t look that good this preseason. OLBs Bart Scott (Baltimore) and Landon Johnson (Bengals) are solid professionals. – ADVANTAGE RAVENS