If Chuck Bresnahan isn't out of a job after his defense gave up 42 points in a half, then I just don't know that the Cincinnati Bengals are all that interested in fielding an NFL caliber defense.The hit on T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the fourth quarter isn't going to get enough attention because of the epic defensive collapse, but it was one of the dirtiest hits I've ever seen in my life. Marlon McCree deserves a fine and a suspension, but I'll be surprised if he even gets the former. I was seriously disgusted by McCree's incredibly ugly hit, and I'm not alone. This guy agrees with me.
It was great seeing Carson Palmer in 2005 form. I'd forgotten how good the Cincinnati Bengals offense is capable of being. This is a hell of a fun team on one side of the ball.
Anyone who slams Chad Johnson for being a distraction or a detriment to the team is an idiot. Dan Marino did it on HBO's NFL show this past week, and I'm just tired of it. The guy plays his heart out, and he should be recognized for that.
If you needed any more reminder of how much injuries have hurt this team, just look at the fact that Carson Palmer was throwing to Glenn Holt on fourth down with the game on the line in the fourth quarter. This season's gotten surreal.
Seriously, Chuck Bresnahan needs to go. Marvin Lewis came to Cincinnati as a defensive guru, there's no reason why he can't fire Bresnahan and call the defense for the rest of the season. It's looking like the season is toast right now, and I think even the slimmest hope of turning things around has to rest on some drastic action being taken. Let's hope Marvin does the right thing here.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-13-2006 @ 4:48AM
Jeff said...
Just remember that the last several weeks people were calling for Bratkowski's head. After a 500 yard breakout I doubt we will be hearing that again this week. As for Breshnahan, I think perhaps you are right. The Bengals Achilles heel has always been defense. That is the general opinion across the league, that sputtering offenses get healthy quick when they face Cincinnati. So with an already suspect defense to begin with, the team gave up the MOST second half points EVER in team history. More than even the stumbly, bumbly, Bungles of the mid-90s. It was a shameful collapse, probably the worst in team history. If that doesn't qualify for some defensive house-cleaning what would? Must it be even worse than the worst ever to make a change? For that matter, could such a change make matters worse on defense? I doubt it can get any worse. This team needs to be taken by the shoulders and shaken, hard. Maybe getting rid of Breshnahan would be part of this much needed shake! Though the team fancys themselves as playoff contenders, they seem to have forgotten that running, and defense, wins championships. The Bengals seem to be lacking in one, under using the other. No wonder they are not winning 'eh? : )
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11-13-2006 @ 7:52AM
N.M.L Dave said...
That sure was a great game to watch if you love offense ,you just thought whoever had the ball last was going to win,AFC north is one of the toughest divisions in the N.F.L.You can't win it with a weak Defense.Good luck with the Saints next week,another high powered offensive team..
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11-13-2006 @ 8:02AM
N.M.L Dave said...
Just want to add, I would love to have a guy like Chad Johnson on our team.We could use a guy like him right now.Maybe he does jack around a litte to much ,but you seen what he can do when he takes things seriously.
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11-13-2006 @ 9:52AM
Jeff said...
Yeah, I spent a great deal of the week defending Chad to other bloggers who think, among other things, he is over rated! He responded nicely this week, but it didn't get them the W. This season has been very frustrating. I have been saying "wait 'til next week" all season long! Guess I'm gonna have to change it to "wait 'til next year" soon 'eh?
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11-13-2006 @ 10:05AM
sarah said...
That game was fun to watch, I have season tickets to the bengals and I have to tell you the crowd was behind the bengals 100%, however there is no way that the score should have been that high....thats just bad defense for both teams....definitely there needs to be some changes made. We definetly have what it takes to be a playoff team this year but we have to get the defense together
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11-13-2006 @ 2:10PM
rk said...
Was I the only one that got what Chad Johnson was doing when he celebrated on his touchdown? He was acting like he was charged. The commentators were not able to pick it up, i was wondering if anyone else did.
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11-13-2006 @ 12:35PM
marty-o said...
The Bengals are getting robbed by the officials - its time that that the NFL make some new rule changes that allows for a video replay of penalty calls , using the same principal as a challenge for a on the field play. If you have watched the Bengals games this year there has been so many bad calls its just un-acceptable. I think any fan of any team knows that throughout the year officials make terrible calls that affect the outcome of the games way to often! You can not buy a player to fix a game so why not buy a official that makes a lot less money to help determine the outcome. Its time to let the players play the game with the right calls to determine the true test of who the better team is in that given day. Lets take some of the power out of the officials hands and put it back into the hands of the coaches and the players. If you agree with this please post follow up comments!
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11-14-2006 @ 6:59AM
Jeff said...
Marty-0, I do agree that in general the Bengals have been rooked by a lot of bad calls (and a lot of bad non-calls), however, I did not see that influencing their second half collapse against the Chargers. Even if they got three or four bad calls in the second half it still would not have been a sufficient excuse for letting San Diego post 42 points in the second half. I do think bad calls have cost the Bengals at least two games in the last seconds. It is very frustrating to say the least. To be honest, it has not been limited to the Bengals games. This year, across the league, the officiating has been the worst I have ever seen. The inconsistency in their calls is the biggest problem I see. Call it the same way for everybody and the playing field is more level. One QB can take a pounding, while some defenders get called for brushing against the QB after he threw. One flagrant non-call was the Atlanta helmet-to-helmet hit on Ben Roethlisberger. Atrocious non-call!! Bottom line. The officiating is poor, but everyone has to put up with it. The Bengals need to win in spite of it, not to lean on it as an excuse for under performing.
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11-15-2006 @ 10:28AM
mo mike said...
Cincy fans;
A classy city like Cincy should not have to endure the lack of class that the Bengals are showing - but it comes with the territory when a coach is attempting to win (at any cost). The Chiefs were a powerhouse team in the '90's but when things began to decline Marty S. was willing and able to speak to any athlete, irregardless of character, if they could help the Chiefs win. Bad things follow bad people. We in KC pull for Cincy - it is one of the original AFL teams and we have all come a long way. However, the lack of calls on the officals part can be traced back to the "bad boy" image that the Raiders had for years.
Officals are human and they know of the character problems on the Bengals.
TJ is a thug and he acts like he is stuck in the hood and can't get out. Bad things follow bad people. He has in essence put out a hit on San Diego's McCree but the hit that McCree put on TJ was not as flagrant as first thought. McCree's hit on TJ was shoulder to shoulder not helmet to helmet - TJs helmet came off when, as he fell he hit his head on #58's knee. TJ is paid to play football. In football you get hit - part of the game. During the first game of the year (Bengals & Chiefs) Trent Green was hit in the helmet when he was in "the quarterback slide." He has missed 8 games because of that hit and when asked about it he said "The hit was ok -it's part of football." When Larry Johnson was tackled by his facemask in the Arizona game (much worse foul than TJ's) Johnson said "No big deal." It comes back to character. TJ should probably be suspended for the "gang bang hit" comments that he made. His comments were far worse than the hit and the NFL needs to get rid of people with a lack of character like TJ.
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