That’s Great, But Who Are The Chefs?

By Adam Kiefaber

Great Googly Moogly!

The Bengals are playing the Chefs once again in Kansas City.

Last year, Cincinnati kicked off the season with a 23-10 victory over Kansas City. In that game, defensive end Robert Geathers spiked Trent Green out of commission.

Now, Green is on the Miami Dolphins, where he has suffered two concussions in consecutive weeks.

It makes you wonder if Geathers’ hit ended Green’s career. It is obvious that he hasn’t been the same since.

Before the hit, Green was coming off his third straight 4,000-yard season.

Even though the NFL and the media was quick to dismiss any blame on Geathers, I still think that it was a dirty hit. I don’t think Geathers was intending to injury Green, but I really doubt he was blocked into him. Personally, I think Geathers was a little to eager to make a play. At the time, the Bengals were being regarded as bad boys of the NFL, so I was very surprised to see the media side with Geathers.

Green’s latest concussion, which was a grade three (highest kind), has people believing that he won’t ever play the game again.

Then there is the that one game that seems be the best recent memory for any Bengal fan. Actually, we all need to stop talking about or I do, because it only reminds us how much we have underachieved since. So I guarantee that after today I will never mention the Chiefs @ Bengals game in 2003 ever again.

But now, for historic purposes, let’s review:

Speaking of guarantees, we all remember Chad Johnson guaranteeing a win over the undefeated Chiefs. It was a bold statement and ESPN ate it up. It would be the first of many tricks that Johnson would hand out to the media over the next few years.

After a slow first half, the score was locked at 3-3. The Chiefs took a 6-3 lead in the third quarter before the Bengals would take the lead for the rest of the game on a Jeremi Johnson touchdown pass from Jon Kitna. After the play was reviewed, the play stood, making the score 10-6 Bengals.

Then early in the fourth quarter, wide receiver Peter Warrick returned a punt 68 yards for the touchdown, making the score 17-6.

The Chiefs wouldn’t give up and drove 92 yards down the field and scored on a Trent Green 12-yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez. After a failed two-point try, the Bengals led 24-12.

Cincinnati answered right away when Kitna tossed it deep, despite his baby hands, to Warrick (right) on a 77-yard touchdown bomb.

The Chiefs drove down again and scored, but running back Rudi Johnson and the Bengals were able to run out the rest of the clock for a 24-19 victory.

The game was amazing. Rudi was a new sensation. Warrick had the (NFL) game of his life. Kitna played smart and the defense was stingy.

Rudi finished with 165 yards on 22 carries.

Warrick totaled 212 yards and had two huge touchdowns.

I promise I won’t mention the ‘03 game ever again. However, the Bengals/Chiefs seem to have a lot of history together even though they barely play each other.

What will happen this time?

Hint: The Chiefs might have to start a rookie quarterback, but I will save my preview stuff as this is a historic piece.