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Underdog · 10-02-2008, 01:51 PM

Here Are The Cincinnati Bengals

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IRVING, Texas - The Cincinnati Bengals have averaged just 13 points per game this season, are 0-4 and have tallied just four yards per play this year. Oh, and by the way, their starting quarterback, Carson Palmer, still is questionable for Sunday's game because of an inflamed elbow. Sounds like the perfect situation for the Cowboys to pick up a victory against the Bengals, right? Not exactly. While the Bengals may be in the midst of an abysmal four-game losing streak, Cincinnati will still bring an offense headlined by Pro Bowlers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Ocho Cinco to Sunday's 3:15 p.m. (CDT) matchup at Texas Stadium.

What's Up?

Taking a deeper look into the Bengals 0-4 start this season, it's easy to see why such a talented team has failed to record a win this year. Their schedule thus far has included the Tennessee Titans (4-0), New York Giants (3-0), Baltimore Ravens (2-1) and Cleveland Browns (1-3). To make matters worse for the Bengals, Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer could miss more time than just last weekend's game with an elbow injury, even if he is insisting he will play on Sunday. In his absence, the Bengals offense looked nothing short of anemic against the Browns, throwing for just 142 yards and getting intercepted three times.

Facing a struggling Bengals team may cure what ails the Cowboys after a tough loss to the Redskins last weekend at Texas Stadium. Washington ran for 161 yards and possessed the ball for more than 38 minutes in its two-point victory over the Cowboys. Dallas failed to record an interception again Sunday, but will attempt to change that against Bengal quarterbacks who have already thrown six in four games.

Statistical View

*As bad as the Bengals defense has looked this year, the longest play the team has allowed this season went for just 31 yards to Giants receiver Amani Toomer. With the Cowboys boasting longs of 72 (Terrell Owens), 63 (Miles Austin) and 42 yards (Jason Witten), something's got to give in Sunday's matchup.

*Neither the Bengals nor the Cowboys have been effective this season at stopping opponents from scoring when reaching the red zone. Cowboys opponents have scored on all 16 trips to the red zone, while the Bengals defense has allowed scores on 12-of-13 red-zone visits.

*Former NFC East linebacker Dhani Jones, who played with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles from 2000-2006, has resurrected his career with the Bengals. Jones leads the Bengals with 53 tackles.

*After only recording two turnovers in the first four games this season, the Cowboys may be in trouble if they fail to record another takeaway this weekend. The Bengals are 1,357-338-1 all-time when on the plus-side of the turnover margin. Cincinnati is tied with the Cowboys for 30th in NFL turnover differential at minus-4.

Chalk Talk

After Marion Barber was bottled up last weekend against the Redskins, don't expect the hard-nosed running back to have back-to-back poor rushing performances against the Bengals Sunday. Cincinnati's defense is allowing 164.3 yards per game this season on the ground, including a whopping 229 yards to a Willis McGahee-less Baltimore Ravens squad in Week Two. In 12 career games against AFC opponents, Barber has piled up 620 yards and nine touchdowns on 122 carries, and will attempt to do more of the same against the Bengals this weekend.

If there has been one consistent chink in the armor of the Cowboys defense this year, it has been their secondary. The Cowboys are giving up 210.8 passing yards per game this season, ranking 18th in the NFL. With Pro Bowlers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson coming to town Sunday, their jobs won't get any easier. While Houshmanzadeh and Ocho Cinco are having down years by their standards, the duo still has caught 35 balls for 382 yards and two scores this season.

Connections

Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer spent 13 seasons with the Cowboys (1994-06), first as the secondary coach and then the defensive coordinator from 2000-06 . . . Cowboys tight ends coach John Garrett has been a part of the Bengals organization for a large portion of his football career, playing wide receiver for them in 1989 as well as coaching with them from 1995-98 and 2000-01.

Miscellaneous

With the Bengals beat up at running back, having to place third-guy DeDe Dorsey (hamstring) on injured reserve this week and backup Kenny Watson nursing a hamstring injury, they just signed former Chicago running back Cedric Benson. Just five days ago a Grand Jury in Travis County (Texas) declined to indict Benson on two charges, which when first filed caused the Bears to release their former first-round pick . . . While the Cowboys lead the all-time series 5-4, the home team has dominated most of the matchups. The Bengals are 3-1 when playing the Cowboys in Cincinnati and the Cowboys are 4-1 against the Bengals at Texas Stadium … Bengals receiver Ocho Cinco has recorded a catch in 96 straight games . . . A loss would give the Cowboys back-to-back defeats for the first time since Weeks 16 and 17 of the 2006 season . . . The AFC North is the only division the Cowboys don't have a winning record against, holding a 32-37 all-time record.

10-02-2008, 01:51 PM	#2
Underdog Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 41.21.1 Posts: 36,143	Here Are The Cincinnati Bengals link IRVING, Texas - The Cincinnati Bengals have averaged just 13 points per game this season, are 0-4 and have tallied just four yards per play this year. Oh, and by the way, their starting quarterback, Carson Palmer, still is questionable for Sunday's game because of an inflamed elbow. Sounds like the perfect situation for the Cowboys to pick up a victory against the Bengals, right? Not exactly. While the Bengals may be in the midst of an abysmal four-game losing streak, Cincinnati will still bring an offense headlined by Pro Bowlers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Ocho Cinco to Sunday's 3:15 p.m. (CDT) matchup at Texas Stadium. What's Up? Taking a deeper look into the Bengals 0-4 start this season, it's easy to see why such a talented team has failed to record a win this year. Their schedule thus far has included the Tennessee Titans (4-0), New York Giants (3-0), Baltimore Ravens (2-1) and Cleveland Browns (1-3). To make matters worse for the Bengals, Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer could miss more time than just last weekend's game with an elbow injury, even if he is insisting he will play on Sunday. In his absence, the Bengals offense looked nothing short of anemic against the Browns, throwing for just 142 yards and getting intercepted three times. Facing a struggling Bengals team may cure what ails the Cowboys after a tough loss to the Redskins last weekend at Texas Stadium. Washington ran for 161 yards and possessed the ball for more than 38 minutes in its two-point victory over the Cowboys. Dallas failed to record an interception again Sunday, but will attempt to change that against Bengal quarterbacks who have already thrown six in four games. Statistical View As bad as the Bengals defense has looked this year, the longest play the team has allowed this season went for just 31 yards to Giants receiver Amani Toomer. With the Cowboys boasting longs of 72 (Terrell Owens), 63 (Miles Austin) and 42 yards (Jason Witten), something's got to give in Sunday's matchup. Neither the Bengals nor the Cowboys have been effective this season at stopping opponents from scoring when reaching the red zone. Cowboys opponents have scored on all 16 trips to the red zone, while the Bengals defense has allowed scores on 12-of-13 red-zone visits. Former NFC East linebacker Dhani Jones, who played with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles from 2000-2006, has resurrected his career with the Bengals. Jones leads the Bengals with 53 tackles. After only recording two turnovers in the first four games this season, the Cowboys may be in trouble if they fail to record another takeaway this weekend. The Bengals are 1,357-338-1 all-time when on the plus-side of the turnover margin. Cincinnati is tied with the Cowboys for 30th in NFL turnover differential at minus-4. Chalk Talk After Marion Barber was bottled up last weekend against the Redskins, don't expect the hard-nosed running back to have back-to-back poor rushing performances against the Bengals Sunday. Cincinnati's defense is allowing 164.3 yards per game this season on the ground, including a whopping 229 yards to a Willis McGahee-less Baltimore Ravens squad in Week Two. In 12 career games against AFC opponents, Barber has piled up 620 yards and nine touchdowns on 122 carries, and will attempt to do more of the same against the Bengals this weekend. If there has been one consistent chink in the armor of the Cowboys defense this year, it has been their secondary. The Cowboys are giving up 210.8 passing yards per game this season, ranking 18th in the NFL. With Pro Bowlers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson coming to town Sunday, their jobs won't get any easier. While Houshmanzadeh and Ocho Cinco are having down years by their standards, the duo still has caught 35 balls for 382 yards and two scores this season. Connections Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer spent 13 seasons with the Cowboys (1994-06), first as the secondary coach and then the defensive coordinator from 2000-06 . . . Cowboys tight ends coach John Garrett has been a part of the Bengals organization for a large portion of his football career, playing wide receiver for them in 1989 as well as coaching with them from 1995-98 and 2000-01. Miscellaneous With the Bengals beat up at running back, having to place third-guy DeDe Dorsey (hamstring) on injured reserve this week and backup Kenny Watson nursing a hamstring injury, they just signed former Chicago running back Cedric Benson. Just five days ago a Grand Jury in Travis County (Texas) declined to indict Benson on two charges, which when first filed caused the Bears to release their former first-round pick . . . While the Cowboys lead the all-time series 5-4, the home team has dominated most of the matchups. The Bengals are 3-1 when playing the Cowboys in Cincinnati and the Cowboys are 4-1 against the Bengals at Texas Stadium … Bengals receiver Ocho Cinco has recorded a catch in 96 straight games . . . A loss would give the Cowboys back-to-back defeats for the first time since Weeks 16 and 17 of the 2006 season . . . The AFC North is the only division the Cowboys don't have a winning record against, holding a 32-37 all-time record. __________________ These days being a fan is a competition to see who can be the most upset when your team loses. That proves you love winning more. That's how it works.