There are a lot of reasons NFL teams win and lose football games. But failing to stop the opponent from running the ball equals a slow, painful demise.The Cincinnati Bengals will have this theory tested quite a bit during the 2008 season. Cincy was just 21st against the run and had the 27th ranked overall defense last year. They have one hellacious schedule (8 games against playoff teams; 3 games against teams that just missed the playoffs; 4 games against teams with losing records).
As Chick Ludwig at the Ludwig at Large blog reminds us, the Bengals will also have 13 games against a guy that ran for over 1,000 yards last year.
They will face Willie Parker (Steelers-1,312), Willis McGahee (Ravens-1,207) and Jamal Lewis (Browns-1,304) twice this season. They will also see Brian Westbrook (Eagles-1,333), Clinton Portis (Redskins-1,262), Fred Taylor (Jaguars-1,202), Thomas Jones (Jets-1,119), LenDale White (Titans-1,110), Joseph Addai (Colts-1,072) and Brandon Jacobs (Giants-1,009).
And that didn't even mention Maurice Jones-Drew. Or Steelers rookie Rashard Mendenhall, Ravens rookie Ray Rice, Titans rookie Chris Johnson or Giants' playoff marvel Ahmad Bradshaw. There are also nice complementary backs like Ladell Betts, Correll Buckhalter, Leon Washington or Indy's stable of backs.
Oh, and the three games where they don't face a 1,000-yard rusher? One is against Larry Johnson's Kansas City Chiefs. Another is against the Dallas Cowboys ... who boast bruising runner Marion Barber (who finished with 975 rushing yards) and rookie speedster Felix Jones. LJ had injury issues all last year; Barber didn't start one game during the regular season for the 'Boys.
The only game remaining is against the Houston Texans. Ahman Green is still around, but they also added Chris Brown and drafted Steve Slaton. That's not a horrible committee there.
That means the Bengals face four of the top six rushers from last year (two of them they face twice). Of the top 18 rushers in 2007, the Bengals face 11 of them -- three of them the get twice.
That's quite a daunting task for a team that isn't known for winning too many battles in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball.
