Extreme High to Extreme Low

By Adam Kiefaber

Highlights of the game from NFL Network

After the Bengals 27-20 win over the Ravens on Monday night, the city was buzzing about an imminent playoff run.

Now a playoff run seems unlikely, after making what everyone thought to be the worst franchise in all of professional sports look like an offensive juggernaut.

On Tuesday, the Browns traded away their opening-day starting quarterback Charlie Frye and named Derek Anderson, who had a career rating of under 65 prior to game, the starter. On Sunday, Anderson threw for 328 yards and five touchdowns against a defense that knocked up Steve McNair the previous week. Anderson finished the game with a rating of 121 and completed 20 of 33 of his passes.

Even though making Anderson look a pro-bowl quarterback is an impressive feat, the defense’s biggest accomplishment had to be letting Jamal Lewis look like a pro-bowl speed back. Lewis rushed for 218 yards, which included runs of 66 and 47 yards. Lewis’ 218 yards was his second highest total in his career, which was supposed to be a career that was winding down.

Wide receiver Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow had the best games of their NFL careers. Edwards caught eight passes for 146 yards and had two touchdowns. Winslow finished with six catches, one for a touchdown, and had his first career 100-yard game.

So, what can you say?

The Ravens were banged up and the Brownies played the game of their lives?

Maybe you got to sleep by saying, the Bengals are going to be pissed off and will take it out on Seattle next week. However, Seattle lost a heartbreaker to the Arizona Cardinals, 23-20. So, you would have to think that they will be angry as well?

-Ok, the defense was terrible-

At least the Bengals’ offensive was almost good enough to get a comeback win.

Quarterback Carson Palmer threw for a team-record six touchdowns. Palmer finished with 401 yards, completing 33 of 50 passes and had two interceptions.

Running back Rudi Johnson rushed for 118 yards on 23 carries. Rudi also caught four passes for 33 yards and scored a touchdown. However, Rudi fumbled for the second week in a row.

Wide receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh each had two touchdowns. Houshmandzadeh finished with eight catches for 69 yards, but had a few drops. Ocho Cinco was spectacular yet again, he caught 11 passes for 209 yards. On Chad Johnson’s first touchdown reception, he broke the club’s all-time receiving-yardage record. On CJ’s second touchdown he jumped into the Dawg Pound.

Interview with Chad Johnson after the game on Chad’s Corner