Bengals Drop Another - Pats Up Next

By Adam Kiefaber

Things don’t look good for Cincinnati, as the team’s record sunk to 1-2 after its 21-24 loss to Seattle, and things don’t appear to be getting any better anytime soon.

Up next are the New England Patriots, who come to town for a Monday night slate right before the Bengals’ bye week.

The ‘cheaters’ have beat up on their first three opponents by the score of 114-35.

While the Pats have cruised to their victories, the Bengals’ games have all been emotional wrecks.

After a 27-20 win over Baltimore, Cincinnati had its fan base believing in great things.

All that jubilation came to a screeching halt when the Bengals dropped a 45-51 shootout against the lowly Cleveland Browns.

Now it seems like the Bengals can lose to anyone, but can they beat anyone?

Currently, the Patriots lead the NFL in total offense. The Bengals, on the other hand, are one of the NFL’s best at giving up offense. Their defense currently ranks 29th, while the Patriots’ defense is the NFL’s best.

Through three games, New England is averaging 441 yards of total offense and allowing only 207 on defense.

The latest loss

The Bengals got off to a horrible start. Rookie Josh Wilson returned the opening kickoff 72 yards all the way to the Cincinnati 24.

Then on third down, Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Engram, who ran by rookie cornerback Leon Hall.

The Bengals marched down the field on a 14-play touchdown drive where they converted four third downs. The drive ended on a 35-yard pass to wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (left) from QB Carson Palmer.

After a Seattle punt, Houshmandzadeh fumbled and the Seahawks took over inside Cincinnati’s 40.

Then Hasselbeck’s pass was tipped and Hall got his first NFL interception. The Bengals would get a field goal, making the score 10-7.

After a couple of punts, safety Deon Grant just got his feet in bounds and picked off Palmer. That led to a 42-yard touchdown pass from Hasselbeck to WR Deion Branch. Branch blew by CB Johnthan Joseph on the play, making the score 10-14.

-HALFTIME-

Then on the Seahawks’ first drive, Lemar Marshall sacked Hasselbeck in the end zone. The Bengals got the ball inside the 50, but Palmer was intercepted in the end zone by Brian Russell. Palmer over threw Chad Johnson on the play.

After a few punts, Hasselbeck was intercepted again, this time by safety Madieu Williams. That led to another Shayne Graham field goal, giving the Bengals a 15-14 lead.

Seattle drove down the field and settled for a short field goal. One play before the field goal, WR Nate Burleson almost had a touchdown, but couldn’t hang on. Bengals trail 15-17.

A couple of Palmer to C. Johnson plays later, running back Kenny Watson dove into the end zone on an eight-yard run. After a failed two-point try, the Bengals led 21-17.

Graham kicked it out of bounds on the kickoff, giving Seattle the ball at the 40 with 2:42 left in the game. RB Shaun Alexander (right) gained 14 yards on a fourth-and-one on Cincinnati’s 36. On the next play, Hasselbeck found Burleson for a 22-yard touchdown. Bengals trail again 21-24 with exactly a minute to play.

Glenn Holt fumbles the kickoff and the Seahawks run out the clock.

I will break down the positives and the many negatives to this game and preview the next game later this week