Landon, Geathers, Madieu lead battle cry, while Graham just cries

By Adam Kiefaber

The Stars

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.

They came up short and lost.