Just because the Cincinnati Bengals were brave enough to say goodbye to the era of Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco doesn’t make them ready to say hello to becoming a playoff contender again. For now, after consecutive defeats at the hands of best teams in the AFC North, they’re going to have to stick with simply being relevant. Despite a 4-12 season last year, and despite the absence of Palmer and Ochocinco, the Bengals fearlessly leaned on their top draft picks, a playmaking defense and a fortuitous schedule to surge into contention with a five-game winning streak.
The rookie combination of quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green helped Cincinnati stay with Buffalo, and Mike Nugent gave them a game-winning field goal as time expired. The Bengals capitalized on a gaffe-prone Jacksonville to turn a four-point deficit into a 10-point victory in the final two minutes.
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A blocked field goal and a fumble return for a touchdown helped Cincinnati survive against Indianapolis before the Bengals beat up on the Seahwaks. Yet another rally, this time from 10 points down at halftime, gave Cincinnati a 24-17 win over Tennessee.
But the win streak may have been as hollow as the rookie wall is thick.
Dalton threw two fourth-quarter interceptions at home against Pittsburgh on Nov. 13, and against Baltimore on Sunday he was picked off three times and stymied at the goal line with an intentional grounding call and a sack on his final drive.
Of course, all of Dalton’s woes have come without Green (41 receptions, 635 yards, 6 TDs), who injured his right knee making a touchdown catch in the first quarter against the Steelers.
Should Green return, he and Dalton (2,239 passing yards, 15 TDs) will have a chance to continue their assault on the 1971 record of nine touchdowns by a rookie quarterback-receiver combination. With five already, they’re four short of New England duo Jim Plunkett and Randy Vataha.
Plenty of winnable games remain, beginning next weekend against Cleveland, but the Bengals’ season may never reach the feverish heights of two weeks ago. The trick now: prevent a real skid that would cause them to question the legitimate progress they’ve already made.
– Craig Stouffer
