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Know Your Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals

Written by Danielle Peterson
Friday, 05 September 2008
The Cincinnati Bengals travel to Baltimore looking to tie their franchise record of four straight season-opening wins. Once a destination of heartache for the Bengals, Baltimore has recently become quite the home away from home. The Bengals may be hesitant to call Sunday's game against a Ravens team that appears to be still coming together a "must-win," but Cincinnati has won their home opener in seven of the eight seasons in which they qualified for postseason play, including the last six instances. The Bengals will also have extra incentive to win. Sunday's game will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bengals founder and former head coach Paul Brown. Helping Cincinnati attempt to improve from its 27th spot in the NFL’s defensive rankings is No. 1 choice Keith Rivers, the outstanding LB from Southern Cal. The Bengals’ defense also features a duo of top corners: starters Jonathan Joseph (’06) and Leon Hall (’07), a pair of first round draftees. The offense is directed by Pro Bowl QB Carson Palmer, who missed Cincy’s preseason finale because of a broken nose. Palmer’s targets include a pair of 2007 Pro Bowl standouts, the receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson and WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The Bengals added free agent TE Ben Utecht (Colts) and brought back WR Chris Henry to give them a receiving quartet as good as any in the NFL (Henry is suspended for the 1st 4 games of the season). A veteran O-Line is led by a pair of outstanding tackles: Levi Jones on the left side and Stacy Andrews on the right. When Cincy is in scoring range, they can trot out K Shayne Graham, who is considered one of the best in the business. Series History The Ravens lead, 13-11 overall and 8-4 in Baltimore, but the Bengals have won six of the last seven meetings overall and three of the last four in Baltimore. Last season, the Bengals swept the Ravens for the second time in three years, winning 27-20 in the season opener at Cincinnati and 21-7 in Baltimore on Nov. 11. The Bengals have held the Ravens to fewer than 10 points in three of the last six meetings. Bengals vs. Ravens In Review Week 1, Game 1: Bengals 27, Ravens 20 Monday night, Sept. 10, at Paul Brown Stadium In the first Monday night season opener in Bengals history, Cincinnati outlasted defending AFC North champ Baltimore in a physical, intense and sometimes ugly struggle. The Bengals managed only 236 net offensive yards, but the defense collected six takeaways (two INTs, four FRs) and limited Baltimore to two-for-13 on third-down conversions. LB Landon Johnson had a 34-yard fumble return for a TD, and 17 of Cincinnati’s other 20 points came after takeaways. DE Robert Geathers had an INT, a sack, a FF and a FR. The Ravens had eight consecutive snaps in goal-to-go situations late in the fourth quarter, bidding for a tying score, but the defense held firm and ended the game on DT Michael Myers’ INT on a third-and-goal play from the two with just over a minute to play. The Bengals got offensive TDs from WRs Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (on passes from Carson Palmer). The Bengals won their seventh straight September game and won for the fifth time in the last six vs. Baltimore. Week 10, Game 9: Bengals 21, Ravens 7 Sunday, Nov. 11, at M&T Bank Stadium For the second time in their season series with Baltimore, the Bengals blasted the Ravens in the turnover department. Cincinnati tied the club record for differential at plus-six, posting six takeaways and no giveaways. The defense had two INTs and three FRs, and the special teams had a FR on kickoff coverage. The takeaways led to almost continuous good field position, and with the Ravens’ offense struggling, the Bengals’ offense played conservatively in the red zone. Cincinnati wound up getting its 21 points “the hard way,” on a club record seven FGs by Shayne Graham. The seven FGs tied for second-most in a game in NFL history. The game was the fourth in Bengals history in which Cincinnati has won without scoring a TD. The Ravens averted being shut out by scoring the game’s only TD on a Willis McGahee run with 1:56 left in the fourth quarter. The Bengals improved to 3-6 on the season, winning for the third time in their last four trips to Baltimore. The Ravens fell to 4-5 on the year. Carson Palmer, Quarterback Palmer is the cornerstone of the Bengals roster, a two-time Pro Bowl selection who last season re-set his own Bengals records for passing yards (4131) and completions (373). Also last season, Palmer became the fifth-fastest passer in NFL history to reach 100 TDs, hitting the century mark in his 59th game played. He was the only NFL QB to play every offensive snap for his team in 2007, and his list of club records also includes career marks for passer rating (90.1) and completion percentage (64.1) as well as season marks for TD passes (32) and passer rating (101.1). Chris Perry, Running Back Perry made his third straight start in the Indianapolis game, and his 20 rushing yards on nine carries included a five-yard gain for the first Bengals TD. Seeing his first game action this preseason since November 2006, when he suffered a dislocated ankle against Cleveland, the oft-injured former first-round draft choice appears set for a productive 2008. Perry led the team in preseason rushes (39), rushing yards (121) and rushing TDs (two). He also led the RBs in receptions (seven) and receiving yards (26), tying for third on the team in catches. Injuries limited Perry to just 22 games and three starts over his first four seasons. Kenny Watson, Running Back Veteran Kenny Watson played in all four preseason games, rushing 19-for-71 (3.7) and adding four receptions for 18 yards. Watson led the Bengals last season with a career-high 763 rushing yards and also posted career bests in receptions (52), receiving yards (374) and TDs (seven). His 52 catches were just three short of the team record for a RB. T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson, Wide Receivers The Bengals have, for several years, boasted one of the NFL’s best starting duos in Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. They return for 2008 after both making the Pro Bowl—the first time in franchise history that two Bengals WRs were selected for the annual all-star showcase. It’s hoped they will both be in the starting lineup at Baltimore, but they were not factors in the just completed preseason. Houshmandzadeh was rested for all four games while rehabbing a hamstring pull, and Johnson missed the last two games due to a shoulder injury suffered Aug. 17 vs. Detroit. Houshmandzadeh tied New England’s Wes Welker last season for the NFL receptions lead (112), becoming the first Bengal to lead or share the league lead, and his 112 catches were a franchise record. His 1143 receiving yards was a career high and he led the team with 12 TDs. Houshmandzadeh has been voted by his teammates as a 2008 team captain. Johnson played in his fifth straight Pro Bowl last season after resetting his own Bengals record with 1440 receiving yards. He had 93 catches last season, and became the franchise’s all-time leader in catches (559) and receiving yards (8365). Bengals-Ravens Connections Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis will always be noted as the leader of the Ravens’ 2000 Super Bowl defense and was Baltimore’s defensive coordinator from 1996-2001. Bengals wide receivers coach Mike Sheppard served in the same position for Baltimore during the 1996 season. Special teams coach Darrin Simmons was the Ravens’ assistant special teams and strength and conditioning coach in 1998. Chip Morton, Cincinnati’s current strength coach, was an assistant for Baltimore from 1999-2001. Bengals linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald directed the Ravens’ linebackers from 2004-2007. Ravens quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson recruited and helped develop Carson Palmer while serving as USC’s offensive coordinator from 1997-2000. Ravens’ defensive tackle Kelly Gregg was originally a Bengals’ 6th-round draft choice in 1999. Cincinnati safety Dexter Jackson teamed up on defense with Ravens cornerback Corey Ivy on the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl XXXVII winning team. Bengals safety Dexter Jackson and Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle were teammates at Florida State from 1995-97. Bengals linebacker Corey Mays, safety Chinedum Ndukwe and center Dan Santucci played with Ravens rookie safety Tom Zbikowski at Notre Dame during the 2004 season.
Last Updated ( Friday, 05 September 2008 )