— 1 — CINCINNATI BENGALS One Paul Brown Stadium Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-3550 administrative offices (513) 621-3570 administrative fax (513) 621-TDTD (8383) ticket office www.bengals.com WEEKLY NEWS RELEASE DEC. 10, 2013 CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-4) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-8) SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WEEK 15, GAME14 SUNDAY, DEC. 15 AT HEINZ FIELD UP NEXT: WEEK 16, GAME 15 DEC. 22 VS. MINNESOTA GAME NOTES Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. Eastern. Television: NBC Sunday Night Football broadcast with Al Michaels (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst) and Michele Tafoya (sideline reporter). The game will air in the Bengals home market on WLWT-TV (Channel 5) in Cincinnati, WDTN-TV (Channel 2) in Dayton and WLEX-TV (Channel 18) in Lexington, Ky. Radio: Coverage on the Bengals Radio Network, led by a triple-cast on Cincinnati flagship stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530; all sports) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst). The game will also be aired to a national audience on affiliates of WestwoodOne Sports. Announcers are Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), James Lofton (analyst) and Steve Tasker (sideline reporter). Setting the scene: The Bengals have won three straight. They have scored 40-plus points in three straight home games for the first time in franchise history. They have clinched a third straight winning season for the second time in club annals. “But really, I feel the best is still ahead,” offensive line stalwart Andrew Whitworth said, when met by media with a string of superlatives after last week’s 42-28 home win over Indianapolis. “We’re playing together with a lot of focus and the confidence is strong. Not over-confident, we know any opponent is capable of a great game, but we know we have a great defense, and our young offense just keeps getting better with every snap they play. We can create matchup problems, and in any alignment against any defense, I’ll take us to win the play.” The Bengals take their hot show to a national prime-time audience this week, traveling to Pittsburgh for NBC’s Sunday Night Football. They can’t clinch the AFC North Division title on Sunday night, but if they win or even tie, they can clinch it on Monday when Baltimore plays at Detroit. If they gain ground on Baltimore in any fashion this week, even a half-game due to a tie, they’ll be more than two games ahead with only two games to play. Also, the Bengals can clinch at least a Wild Card playoff spot on Sunday if they gain any ground on 7-6 Miami, which hosts New England on Sunday afternoon. But the Bengals are also interested in chasing the Patriots for a possible No. 2 playoff seed, so the rooting issues for fans are a bit murky there (more details are in the “Playoff scenarios” item on page 3 of this release). The Steelers are fighting for their last shred of playoff life. They are two games behind both Baltimore and Miami, which currently are tied for the second AFC Wild Card spot at 7-6. But the Steelers are assured of still having playoff hopes at kickoff Sunday night, not subject to elimination by the afternoon’s results. Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger is third in the AFC in passer rating (94.1), and the Steelers are seventh in the NFL in fewest passing yards allowed per game (221.8). In defeating Pittsburgh 20-10 at Paul Brown Stadium in Week 2 and evening their then-overall record to 1-1, the Bengals led 407-278 in net yards, held the Steelers to 44 rushing yards (fewest of the season against Cincinnati) and posted a 2-0 edge in turnovers. “We’ve got to start getting ready for the Steelers,” head coach Marvin Lewis told his players just minutes after last week’s win over the Colts. “We’ve got to start getting ready for the Steelers right away. Keep working. Keep getting better. That’s the only way to wind up where we want to be at the end of all this.” The Bengals never trailed last week in a showdown of 8-4 division leaders at Paul Brown Stadium. They stayed on top by 14 points or more from the 3:05 mark of the third quarter, when the second of Andy Dalton’s three TD passes — he had no INTs and also ran for a score — put Cincinnati up by 28-14. “I was pleased with our performance,” Lewis said. “We were able to run the ball (155 yards), we threw it efficiently (120.5 passer rating for Dalton) and we were able to protect the quarterback (no sacks allowed for the third straight game). Defensively, we played really well on third down (Colts converted only two of 10 chances). Overall, I thought our effort, energy and execution were pretty good.” The Bengals last week moved ahead of Indianapolis into what, after 13 games, would be the No. 3 seed for the AFC playoffs. But Cincinnati was denied conditional possession of the No. 2 seed when, shortly after their win, New England registered a late comeback win over Cleveland. Cincinnati is one game behind New England (10-3) in the race to claim one of two first-round playoff byes, but the Bengals hold a potential head-to-head tiebreaker advantage due to their Oct. 6 home win over the Patriots. “We try not to think about what other teams are doing at this point,” said WR A.J. Green. “We’re a team that’s going to keep getting better each week — that’s the biggest thing. These last four weeks (including the Indianapolis game) can set us up for a possible (playoff) bye, and that’s what we’re playing for.” The series: The Steelers lead, 53-34, including 1-0 in postseason, but the Bengals have won the last two meetings. Cincinnati prevailed 20-10 at Paul Brown Stadium on Monday Night Football on Sept. 16 of this season, and the Bengals took a key 13-10 win in their last visit to Pittsburgh, on Dec. 23 of last season. The Bengals secured a playoff berth and eliminated the Steelers from postseason contention. Pittsburgh leads the series as the home team, 27-15, but only by 7-5 at Heinz Field. The only postseason game in series history was in 2005 at Paul Brown Stadium, the Steelers winning 31-17 in a Wild Card round contest. The Bengals have played more games against the Steelers (87) than any other foe. Cleveland is second in that category at 81, and Tennessee (formerly Houston Oilers) is third at 73. Team bests from the series: Bengals — MOST POINTS: 42, in a 42-7 win at Riverfront Stadium in 1988. LARGEST VICTORY MARGIN: 35, from the 1988 home win. FEWEST POINTS ALLOWED: 3, in a 27-3 win at Riverfront in 1990. Steelers — MOST POINTS: 49, in a 49-31 victory at Riverfront Stadium in 1995. LARGEST VICTORY MARGIN: 28 (twice), most recently in a 35-7 win in 2011 at Pittsburgh. FEWEST POINTS ALLOWED: 0 (twice), most recently in a 15-0 win at Three Rivers Stadium in 2000. The last meeting: A complete summary of the last Bengals-Steelers meeting — on Sept. 16 at Paul Brown Stadium — is on page 18 of this release. More than ready for P.T.: This season marks the first time for the Bengals to play both their games against a division opponent in prime time on national television. This week’s NBC Sunday Night Football broadcast was preceded by an ESPN Monday Night Football telecast of the Sept. 16 Bengals- Steelers game at Paul Brown Stadium. There has been, however, one previous instance of the Bengals twice playing an opponent on national television. It was the Steelers. In 1977, the Bengals played at Pittsburgh on ABC Monday Night Football and later hosted the Steelers in a nationally aired Saturday afternoon game on NBC.
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
— 1 —
CINCINNATI BENGALS One Paul Brown Stadium Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-3550 administrative offices (513) 621-3570 administrative fax (513) 621-TDTD (8383) ticket office www.bengals.com
WEEKLY NEWS RELEASE DEC. 10, 2013
CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-4) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-8)
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WEEK 15, GAME14
SUNDAY, DEC. 15 AT HEINZ FIELD
UP NEXT: WEEK 16, GAME 15 DEC. 22 VS. MINNESOTA
GAME NOTES Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. Eastern. Television: NBC Sunday Night Football broadcast with Al Michaels (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst) and Michele Tafoya (sideline reporter). The game will air in the Bengals home market on WLWT-TV (Channel 5) in Cincinnati, WDTN-TV (Channel 2) in Dayton and WLEX-TV (Channel 18) in Lexington, Ky. Radio: Coverage on the Bengals Radio Network, led by a triple-cast on Cincinnati flagship stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530; all sports) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst). The game will also be aired to a national audience on affiliates of WestwoodOne Sports. Announcers are Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), James Lofton (analyst) and Steve Tasker (sideline reporter). Setting the scene: The Bengals have won three straight. They have scored 40-plus points in three straight home games for the first time in franchise history. They have clinched a third straight winning season for the second time in club annals. “But really, I feel the best is still ahead,” offensive line stalwart Andrew Whitworth said, when met by media with a string of superlatives after last week’s 42-28 home win over Indianapolis. “We’re playing together with a lot of focus and the confidence is strong. Not over-confident, we know any opponent is capable of a great game, but we know we have a great defense, and our young offense just keeps getting better with every snap they play. We can create matchup problems, and in any alignment against any defense, I’ll take us to win the play.” The Bengals take their hot show to a national prime-time audience this week, traveling to Pittsburgh for NBC’s Sunday Night Football. They can’t clinch the AFC North Division title on Sunday night, but if they win or even tie, they can clinch it on Monday when Baltimore plays at Detroit. If they gain ground on Baltimore in any fashion this week, even a half-game due to a tie, they’ll be more than two games ahead with only two games to play. Also, the Bengals can clinch at least a Wild Card playoff spot on Sunday if they gain any ground on 7-6 Miami, which hosts New England on Sunday afternoon. But the Bengals are also interested in chasing the Patriots for a possible No. 2 playoff seed, so the rooting issues for fans are a bit murky there (more details are in the “Playoff scenarios” item on page 3 of this release). The Steelers are fighting for their last shred of playoff life. They are two games behind both Baltimore and Miami, which currently are tied for the second AFC Wild Card spot at 7-6. But the Steelers are assured of still having playoff hopes at kickoff Sunday night, not subject to elimination by the afternoon’s results. Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger is third in the AFC in passer rating (94.1), and the Steelers are seventh in the NFL in fewest passing yards allowed per game (221.8). In defeating Pittsburgh 20-10 at Paul Brown Stadium in Week 2 and evening their then-overall record to 1-1, the Bengals led 407-278 in net yards, held the Steelers to 44 rushing yards (fewest of the season against Cincinnati) and posted a 2-0 edge in turnovers. “We’ve got to start getting ready for the Steelers,” head coach Marvin Lewis told his players just minutes after last week’s win over the Colts. “We’ve got to start getting ready for the Steelers right away. Keep working. Keep getting better. That’s the only way to wind up where we want to be at the end of all this.” The Bengals never trailed last week in a showdown of 8-4 division leaders at Paul Brown Stadium. They stayed on top by 14 points or more from the 3:05
mark of the third quarter, when the second of Andy Dalton’s three TD passes — he had no INTs and also ran for a score — put Cincinnati up by 28-14. “I was pleased with our performance,” Lewis said. “We were able to run the ball (155 yards), we threw it efficiently (120.5 passer rating for Dalton) and we were able to protect the quarterback (no sacks allowed for the third straight game). Defensively, we played really well on third down (Colts converted only two of 10 chances). Overall, I thought our effort, energy and execution were pretty good.” The Bengals last week moved ahead of Indianapolis into what, after 13 games, would be the No. 3 seed for the AFC playoffs. But Cincinnati was denied conditional possession of the No. 2 seed when, shortly after their win, New England registered a late comeback win over Cleveland. Cincinnati is one game behind New England (10-3) in the race to claim one of two first-round playoff byes, but the Bengals hold a potential head-to-head tiebreaker advantage due to their Oct. 6 home win over the Patriots. “We try not to think about what other teams are doing at this point,” said WR A.J. Green. “We’re a team that’s going to keep getting better each week — that’s the biggest thing. These last four weeks (including the Indianapolis game) can set us up for a possible (playoff) bye, and that’s what we’re playing for.” The series: The Steelers lead, 53-34, including 1-0 in postseason, but the Bengals have won the last two meetings. Cincinnati prevailed 20-10 at Paul Brown Stadium on Monday Night Football on Sept. 16 of this season, and the Bengals took a key 13-10 win in their last visit to Pittsburgh, on Dec. 23 of last season. The Bengals secured a playoff berth and eliminated the Steelers from postseason contention. Pittsburgh leads the series as the home team, 27-15, but only by 7-5 at Heinz Field. The only postseason game in series history was in 2005 at Paul Brown Stadium, the Steelers winning 31-17 in a Wild Card round contest. The Bengals have played more games against the Steelers (87) than any other foe. Cleveland is second in that category at 81, and Tennessee (formerly Houston Oilers) is third at 73. Team bests from the series: Bengals — MOST POINTS: 42, in a 42-7 win at Riverfront Stadium in 1988. LARGEST VICTORY MARGIN: 35, from the 1988 home win. FEWEST POINTS ALLOWED: 3, in a 27-3 win at Riverfront in 1990. Steelers — MOST POINTS: 49, in a 49-31 victory at Riverfront Stadium in 1995. LARGEST VICTORY MARGIN: 28 (twice), most recently in a 35-7 win in 2011 at Pittsburgh. FEWEST POINTS ALLOWED: 0 (twice), most recently in a 15-0 win at Three Rivers Stadium in 2000. The last meeting: A complete summary of the last Bengals-Steelers meeting — on Sept. 16 at Paul Brown Stadium — is on page 18 of this release. More than ready for P.T.: This season marks the first time for the Bengals to play both their games against a division opponent in prime time on national television. This week’s NBC Sunday Night Football broadcast was preceded by an ESPN Monday Night Football telecast of the Sept. 16 Bengals-Steelers game at Paul Brown Stadium. There has been, however, one previous instance of the Bengals twice playing an opponent on national television. It was the Steelers. In 1977, the Bengals played at Pittsburgh on ABC Monday Night Football and later hosted the Steelers in a nationally aired Saturday afternoon game on NBC.
— 2 —
(Game notes, continued)
Bengals vs. Big Ben: Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger has an 85.9 passer rating in 20 career games against the Bengals (including postseason). His won-lost record is 14-5. Roethlisberger has totaled 592 passes against Cincinnati, with 372 completions (62.8 percent) for 4403 yards (220.2 yards per game) with 27 TDs and 21 INTs. Roethlisberger has passed for 300 yards only once against Cincinnati — a 386-yarder on Dec. 4, 2005 at Pittsburgh. But as is often the case with big passing numbers, the Steelers lost, 38-31. Tough to tie 13: A bit more than 15 years ago, in a victory over Pittsburgh on Oct. 11, 1998 at Cinergy Field, Bengals WR Carl Pickens had a team-record 13 receptions (for 204 yards). He surpassed a mark of 12 that had been set twice (once by James Brooks and once by himself). And since he caught the 13, there have been seven other instances of a Bengal catching 12 in a game. But Pickens’ 13-catch game still stands alone. Other Bengals records involving the Steelers include: ● On Oct. 19, 1995, the Bengals allowed the most yards in franchise history (468) without allowing a TD in a 27-9 win vs. Pittsburgh at Three Rivers Stadium. ● On Dec. 20, 1998 at Pittsburgh, HB Brandon Bennett set the Bengals record for most receiving yards in a game by a RB, with 119 on three catches. ● On Oct. 28, 1973, Pittsburgh S Mike Wagner became the first opponent to intercept three passes in a game against the Bengals. Four players have tied that mark since. ● On Oct. 15, 2000, Pittsburgh’s Josh Miller tied for the most punts ever against the Bengals with 12. Individually vs. Steelers: In the last Bengals visit to Pittsburgh, a 13-10 playoff-clinching win last season, WR A.J. Green was Cincinnati’s offensive leader, leading both sides in receptions (10), receiving yards (116) and yards from scrimmage (116). Green’s career totals against Pittsburgh (five games) are 25 catches for 288 yards with three TDs. Green also has one 15-yard rushing gain against Pittsburgh. Other current Bengals’ past offensive performances for Cincinnati against Pittsburgh include: ● QB Andy Dalton: Five games; 89-for-168 passing (53.0 percent) for 968 yards (average of 193.6 yards per game), with five TDs and five INTs (rating of 67.8); Dalton’s 278 passing yards in last season’s win at Pittsburgh is his career-best against the Steelers. ● HB BenJarvus Green-Ellis: Three games; 55 rushes for 158 yards (2.9); Four receptions for two yards (0.5). ● HB Giovani Bernard: One game; Eight rushes for 38 yards (4.8) with one TD; One reception for 27 receiving with one TD; Bernard scored both Bengals TDs in his debut against the Steelers on Sept. 16 of this season, and he became the first Bengals rookie to score both a rushing and a receiving TD in the same game since FB Craig Taylor in 1989. ● HB Cedric Peerman: Five games; One rush for five yards with one TD; Peerman scored his first NFL TD on a five-yard run in last season’s game at Cincinnati. ● FB Chris Pressley (PUP): Four games; No offensive statistics. ● WR Andrew Hawkins: Four games; 11 catches for 111 yards (10.1); One rush for four yards. ● WR Ryan Whalen: Three games; Five catches for 37 yards (7.4). ● WR Brandon Tate: Five games; Two catches for 26 yards (13.0). ● WR Marvin Jones: Three games; Eight receptions for 100 yards (12.5); Jones was injured on the opening kickoff of last year’s first game vs. Pittsburgh, so he has played only two games against the Steelers on offense. ● WR Mohamed Sanu: Two games; Eight catches for 67 yards (8.4); One rush for seven yards. ● TE Jermaine Gresham: Seven games; 21 catches for 194 yards (9.2), with one TD; Gresham tied for the Bengals’ receiving yards lead (66) in this year’s first game against the Steelers. ● TE Tyler Eifert: One game; Three catches for 66 yards (22.0); Eifert tied for the Bengals’ receiving yards lead in his debut against the Steelers on Sept. 16 of this year, and his 61-yard reception against Pittsburgh was the longest by a Bengals TE since 2004. ● H-back Orson Charles: Three games; No offensive statistics. On Sunday night: The Bengals are looking for only their second win in a Sunday night road game. The first instance was in 1992 at Chicago on
ESPN’s Sunday Night Football, a 31-28 win in overtime. The Bengals are 3-11 in Sunday night games overall and 1-7 on the road. The Bengals are 1-2 against Pittsburgh on Sunday night. In the last Sunday night meeting, last season at Paul Brown Stadium, the Steelers won 24-17. The only previous Bengals-Steelers Sunday night road game was in 2007, won 24-10 by Pittsburgh. The Bengals defeated Pittsburgh 27-3 at Riverfront Stadium in a Sunday night game in 1990. Also at night: The Bengals are 5-3 playing on Thursday night, 0-1 on Friday night, 0-2 on Saturday night and 10-20 on Monday night.
BENGALS-STEELERS NFL RANKINGS BENGALS STEELERS SCORING (AVERAGE POINTS): Points scored................................................ T-9th(25.7) 19th (22.4) Points allowed ................................................ 6th (18.8) 15th (24.0) NET OFFENSE (AVERAGE YARDS): Total ........................................................... 10th (368.8) 16th (344.2) Rushing ...................................................... 14th (115.8) 31st(77.4) Passing ....................................................... 12th (252.9) 7th (266.8) NET DEFENSE (AVERAGE YARDS): Total ............................................................. 8th (320.5) 12th (342.0) Rushing .......................................................... 5th (98.2) 24th (120.2) Passing ...................................................... T-8th (222.4) 7th (221.8) TURNOVERS: Differential ........................................... T-16th (minus-1) T-23rd (minus-4) Red-zone reports: The Bengals offense had a royal flush of sorts in the red zone against Indianapolis, scoring five touchdowns on five opportunities. Cincinnati remains in third place in the NFL in touchdown percentage, now at 69.4. The Bengals have scored TDs on 25 of 36 opportunities. Denver is first in TD percentage at 78.9 and Dallas is second at 70.7. The Bengals and Steelers are both a bit above average in defensive TD percentage, Pittsburgh ranking 12th and Cincinnati 13th. Pittsburgh is tied for 24th offensively.
BENGALS RED-ZONE REPORT OFFENSE DEFENSE Inside-20 poss.: 36 Inside-20 poss.: 28 Total scores: 30 (83.3%) Total scores: 23 (82.1%) TDs: 25 (69.4%) TDs: 15 (53.6%) FGs: 5 (13.9%) FGs: 8 (28.6%) TD% rank: 3rd TD% rank: 13th No scores: 6 (16.7%) No scores: 5 (17.9%)
STEELERS RED-ZONE REPORT Inside-20 poss.: 40 Inside-20 poss.: 45 Total scores: 36 (90.0%) Total scores: 42 (93.3%) TDs: 20 (50.0%) TDs: 24 (53.3%) FGs: 16 (40.0%) FGs: 18 (40.0%) TD% rank: T-24th TD% rank: 12th No scores: 4 (10.0%) No scores: 3 (6.7%) Bengals-Steelers connections: Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis grew up in McDonald, Pa., near Pittsburgh. Lewis’ first NFL coaching job was with the Steelers as LBs coach from 1992-95 under head coach Bill Cowher. He also coached at the University of Pittsburgh from 1990-91 ... Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was a Bengals assistant coach from 1980-91 and ’97-2000, and was Bengals head coach from Game 4 of ’00 through ’02. LeBeau is from London, Ohio, and played at Ohio State ... Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was defensive backs coach for the University of Cincinnati from 1999-2000 ... Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is from Cory Rawson, Ohio (Findlay HS) and played in college at Miami (Ohio) ... Bengals LB James Harrison played for the Steelers from 2002-12 and was Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year in ’08 ... Steelers QB Bruce Gradkowski played for the Bengals from 2011-12 and played collegiately at Toledo ... Bengals WR Andrew Hawkins is from Johnstown, Pa. ... Steelers OT Mike Adams, CB Will Allen and DE Cameron Heyward played at Ohio State; Adams went to high school in the Columbus, Ohio area (Dublin Coffman), and Allen is from Dayton, Ohio (Wayne HS) ... Bengals DT Devon Still played at Penn State ... Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is from Reynoldsburg, Ohio ... Steelers CB William Gay played at Louisville ... Steelers K Shaun Suisham played at Bowling Green
— 3 —
(Bengals-Steelers connections, continued)
... Steelers FB Will Johnson is from Dayton, Ohio (Centerville HS) ... Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes and Bengals tight ends coach Jonathan Hayes are brothers who grew up in South Fayette, Pa. Jonathan Hayes played TE for the Steelers from 1994-96, and Jay Hayes was on the Steelers coaching staff
from ’99-01 ... Bengals wide receivers coach James Urban is from Mechanicsburg, Pa., and coached at Clarion University from 1997-98 ... Bengals assistant head coach/offensive line coach Paul Alexander coached at Penn State from 1983-84 ... Bengals strength and conditioning coach Chip Morton coached at Penn State from 1987-91 ... Steelers wide receivers coach Richard Mann coached at Louisville from 1980-81.
THE HEAD COACHES Marvin Lewis in 2013 extends his Bengals record for head coaching tenure to 11 seasons. He has led the team to the postseason in three of the last four seasons, making the Bengals one of only seven teams to make three or more playoff trips in that span. Lewis has 88 career victories, 24 more than any other Bengals head coach (Sam Wyche ranks second at 64). The Bengals went 10-6 in the regular season in 2012, tying eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore for best record in the AFC North. Cincinnati was a Wild Card playoff entry for the second straight year, rocketing into the playoffs with a 7-1 record in the season’s second half. The resilient outfit stands as one of only nine of 131 teams since 1990 to rise to the playoffs after a 3-5 start. Lewis was the consensus choice as NFL Coach of the Year in 2009, when the Bengals won the AFC North title while sweeping all six division games. Lewis also led Cincinnati to an AFC North title in 2005. Lewis’ record is 88-84-1 in regular season, and 88-88-1 including postseason. Lewis has risen to second in the NFL for longest current head coaching tenure with one team, trailing only New England’s Bill Belichick, who is in his 14th Patriots season in 2013. In the category of most seasons as head coach with any team, Lewis in ’13 ranks seventh among active coaches. Lewis was named the ninth head coach in Bengals history on Jan. 14, 2003. In 2002, he directed the NFL’s fifth-ranked defense with Washington, serving as assistant head coach in addition to his role as defensive coordinator. Prior to his year with the Redskins, he was a record-setting defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. His six seasons (1996-2001) with the Ravens included a Super Bowl victory following the ’00 season. In the ’00 regular season, Lewis’ Baltimore defense set the NFL record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game campaign (165), and the ’00 Ravens are always included in discussions of the best single-season NFL defenses of all time. Lewis entered the NFL as linebackers coach with Pittsburgh from 1993-95, guiding the careers of Pro Bowl selections Kevin Greene, Chad Brown, Levon
Kirkland and Greg Lloyd. Born Sept. 23, 1958, in McDonald, Pa., near Pittsburgh, Lewis played linebacker at Idaho State and earned All-Big Sky Conference honors in each of his three seasons (‘78-80). He began his coaching career as an assistant at Idaho State University in 1981. Mike Tomlin is in his seventh season as Steelers head coach. His record is 73-44, including 5-3 in postseason. Last year the Steelers missed the playoffs for only the second time under Tomlin. In 2011, Tomlin led the Steelers to a 12-4 record and a Wild Card playoff berth. In 2010, his club won the AFC North championship and reached the second Super Bowl of his tenure. The Steelers lost that Super Bowl to Green Bay, but they defeated Arizona under Tomlin in Super Bowl XLIII, after the 2008 season. In that game, Tomlin became the youngest head coach (36 years, 323 days) to win a Super Bowl. He is the only head coach in Steelers history to win a division title in each of his first two seasons. In 2006, Tomlin was defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, directing a unit that ranked eighth in the NFL in fewest yards allowed and first in fewest rushing yards. He spent the previous five seasons (2001-05) as defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His secondary recorded four interceptions in Tampa Bay’s victory over Oakland in Super Bowl XXXVII. Tomlin has a Cincinnati connection, having coached DBs for the University of Cincinnati in 1999-2000. A native of Hampton, Va., he played WR at William & Mary from 1990-94 and caught a school-record 20 TD passes. Lewis vs. Steelers: Steelers lead, 15-7. Lewis vs. Tomlin: Tomlin leads, 9-4. Tomlin vs. Bengals: Tomlin leads, 9-4.
BENGALS NOTES Bengals by two: For the third straight week, the Bengals have a two-game lead in the AFC North Division. They are two up on Baltimore, while Pittsburgh and Cleveland have been eliminated from title contention. Cincinnati has division games remaining against the Steelers and Ravens, playing at Pittsburgh this week and hosting Baltimore in the Dec. 29 season finale. The Bengals defeated Pittsburgh at home on Sept. 16 and lost in overtime at Baltimore on Nov. 10. Here’s a look at the 2013 division race, and the teams’ schedules the next two weeks:
TEAM W-L DIVISION NEXT TWO WEEKS Cincinnati ......... 9-4 .................. 2-2 ..........at Pittsburgh (Sun. night); vs. Minnesota Baltimore .......... 7-6 .................. 3-2 ................... at Detroit (Mon.); vs. New England Pittsburgh ......... 5-8 .................. 2-2 ......... vs. Cincinnati (Sun. night); at Green Bay Cleveland ......... 4-9 .................. 2-3 .................................. vs. Chicago; at N.Y. Jets Playoff scenarios: The 9-4 Bengals can clinch their third AFC North title under head coach Marvin Lewis if they gain any ground on 7-6 Baltimore this week. If Cincinnati wins at Pittsburgh, the Ravens must win at Detroit on Monday night to stay alive. Detroit is 7-6 and battling for the NFC North title. The Lions are 4-2 this season at Ford Field. Should the Bengals tie at Pittsburgh, they could still clinch the division on Monday if Baltimore loses. Either scenario would put Cincinnati more than two games ahead with just two to play. Though the Bengals can’t have a division-title celebration in the post-game locker room at Pittsburgh, they could clinch at least a Wild Card playoff spot on Sunday night. If they gain any ground on 7-6 Miami, which hosts New England on Sunday afternoon, they’ll be assured of reaching the postseason for the fourth time in the last five years. With their win last week vs. Indianapolis, the Bengals moved past the Colts for what would be the No. 3 AFC through 13 games. But the big prize is the No. 2 seed, with its first-round playoff bye, and the Bengals thought they would have that over New England when word came down that Cleveland led the Patriots
26-14 late in the fourth quarter at Foxboro, Mass. But New England rallied for a 27-26 win, and so stayed a game ahead of Cincinnati at 10-3. Should the Bengals and Patriots tie at season’s end however, Cincinnati owns the two-team tiebreaker with its 13-6 victory vs. New England on Oct. 6. Indianapolis is still mathematically alive for a No. 2 seed, but both the Bengals and Patriots would have to significantly stumble. Denver currently holds the No. 1 AFC seed with an 11-2 record. Kansas City (10-3) also has a better record than Cincinnati, but as long as the Chiefs are second behind Denver in the AFC West, they can do no better than a No. 5 seed as the first Wild Card team. The Nos. 1-2 seeds will have byes in the Wild Card round of the playoffs and will play at home in the Divisional round. The Nos. 3-4 seeds will host games in the Wild Card round, paired against the Wild Card qualifiers. Let’s do depth: All teams encounter injury problems, but not all teams have the depth to effectively deal with them. The Bengals in 2013 are proving they’re a team that can. While injuries have developed at several spots, the team has been posting a 7-2 record after splitting its first four games. Here’s a roundup of injuries and reinforcements: ● CB Leon Hall, a cornerstone in defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s plans, was lost Oct. 20 to a season-ending Achilles tear. He’s been replaced by seventh-year pro Adam Jones, a confident and notably fearless performer who has two INTs, 13 passes defensed (second on team), two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He had two third-down passes defensed last week, forcing Indianapolis punts. ● All-Pro DT Geno Atkins was lost to torn ACL on Oct. 31. Playing in his stead, depending on situation, are the young and very strong Brandon Thompson and the consistently disruptive Wallace Gilberry. ● When MLB Rey Maualuga missed Games 9-11 with knee and concussion issues, third-year pro Vincent Rey averaged double-digit tackles and became the first Bengal ever with three sacks and an INT in a game. ● Starting RG Kevin Zeitler has been out the last three games with a foot
— 4 —
(Let’s do depth, continued)
injury, but Mike Pollak, a free agent acquisition with 41 NFL starts, was there to take over. Pollak seemed an afterthought early in the year, missing time with knee rehab, but he has answered the bell admirably of late. ● Sixth-year pro Anthony Collins has done notable work at LOT, neutralizing top rushers such as Chicago’s Julius Peppers and Indianapolis’ Robert Mathis. Collins filled in at times earlier in the season when LOT Andrew Whitworth was down, and now he has taken over as starting LOT. Whitworth has moved to the LG spot to replace Clint Boling (ACL suffered Dec. 1), and the Bengals have rolled for two big rushing games with this alignment. ● Starting CB Terence Newman’s status for Pittsburgh is undetermined, due to a knee injury suffered last week, but if Newman can’t go, the Bengals have confidence that 2012 first-round draft choice Dre Kirkpatrick is ready to fill in. Kirkpatrick had a rocky first season, dogged by injuries and a few mistakes, but he’s had several big plays recently in an increasingly active reserve role. “Losing those guys is no excuse,” says Gilberry, the sixth-year DE. “At the end of the day we all come in here as men and have a job to do. If you are getting the job done (as a replacement), we are going to roll with you.” “The expectation never drops,” said Rey. “The standard is very high at each position. The entire defense is counting on me to do my job, so that’s what I’ve got to do.” Regarding the starter absences, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer says: “It’s a challenge, it’s an opportunity. We have other good players in the locker room, and we pride ourselves on playing good team defense. I can’t reiterate that enough. That’s what we do, that’s what we’ve always done, and hopefully we’ll continue to do that.” ‘Jungle’ coming to life: The Bengals are 6-0 at home for the first time since 1988, when the eventual AFC Champions ran the table in the regular season (8-0) and the playoffs (2-0). And OT Andrew Whitworth says Cincinnati fans can take a bow for that. “There’s no question we’re starting to create this as a tough place to come win, and you can see it,” Whitworth says. “Offenses are struggling to come in here and play well because not only is it a good defense, the atmosphere is loud and it affects your calls and makes it hard when you want to get the ball out quick. Your timing can be off. It’s like what we deal with going to Pittsburgh and Baltimore. “When you start creating that environment, it gives you a chance, honestly, to be that much better as a team. Because every single team has to worry about coming into a tough environment, and they’ve also got to play you.” The Bengals have home games remaining on Dec. 22 vs. Minnesota and Dec. 29 vs. Baltimore. In addition to 1988, the Bengals have been unbeaten at home twice in the regular season. They were 4-0 in strike-shortened ’82 and 7-0 in ’73. The Bengals have won seven home games in a row, dating back to last year’s season finale vs. Baltimore. That establishes a team-high in the Marvin Lewis era (2003-present), as well as the Paul Brown Stadium era (2000-present). The club record for consecutive home games won is 10, comprising the 8-0 mark in 1988 and the first two games of ’89. The official record does not include postseason games, but the team won 12 in a row at home including the two 1988 postseason wins. “We have a 12th man,” HB BenJarvus Green-Ellis said of the 2013 club. “The fans are doing a real good job making it hard on our opponents, and we’ve done a good job feeding off their energy.” Rush game still rolling: The Bengals rushed for 155 yards last week vs. Indianapolis, averaging 4.4 yards on 35 carries. HBs Giovani Bernard and BenJarvus Green-Ellis combined for 147 yards on 29 carries, a 5.1 average. Cincinnati has topped the 100-yard rushing mark for five straight games, and three of those have featured totals of more than 150. Cincinnati does not have a 100-yard individual rusher on the season and has not had a full season without one since 1996. But the balance in carries between Green-Ellis and Bernard has much to do with that. The team average of 115.8, if held through 16 games, would be the highest since 2009, when Cincinnati’s last divisional championship club averaged 128.5. Bernard had 99 yards on just 12 carries in the Colts game, and Green-Ellis, who more often runs in heavy-traffic situations, scored two TDs while going 17-for-48. Green-Ellis had posted what was a team season-high the previous week at San Diego, gaining 92 yards on the ground. The rushing game has stayed strong despite a season-ending knee injury to starting LG Clint Boling in the San Diego game, plus an absence now at three games by RG Kevin Zeitler (knee). LOT Andrew Whitworth has moved into
Boling’s spot, with Anthony Collins manning LOT. Veteran reserve Mike Pollak has filled in solidly for Zeitler, who has a chance to return to action in the Pittsburgh game. “I love it in there,” Whitworth said of the move to guard. “It’s a chance to really set the tone physically, to be the big bulldozer. We’re being who we want to be. We want to solidify the fact that we can run the ball effectively late in the season and in the playoffs. If you keep making those four and five-yard gains, you put the passing game in position to pick its spots and throw the ball over people’s heads. As good as throwing the ball is, you can’t take away the emotion of being able to run it effectively. It lifts the whole team. It gives a sense of empowerment.” Sharing the load at HB: It’s no huge surprise, given preseason forecasts for the offense, but the Bengals indeed are showing notable balance this season in terms of rushing attempts from the HB position. BenJarvus Green-Ellis has 193 carries, on pace for 238 over 16 games, and Giovani Bernard has 131, on pace for 161. The significance is in Bernard’s number, because in the last 21 full seasons (since 1992), the Bengals had two rushers with 161 or more carries only once. That was in 2007, when Kenny Watson had 178 and Rudi Johnson had 170. Last season, Green-Ellis had 278 carries, and the HB with the second most — Cedric Peerman — had only 36. It’s a situation the Bengals wanted to change for 2013. “I think 85 or 90 percent of the teams in the league have two or three running backs that they use,” said offensive coordinator Jay Gruden. “It’s important to have two or three. These games are physical, man. These 16 games ... I mean, it’s nonstop, especially with a Thursday game in there for everybody and most teams having a Monday.” Bernard, the rookie second-round draft choice, has the better per-carry average thus far, at 4.7 to Green-Ellis’ 3.4, but Gruden says the offense depends on the 5-11, 220-pound veteran Green-Ellis to take on more of the grinding duty while Bernard is saved more for potentially ripe situations. “He has different carries that Gio has,” Gruden said of Green-Ellis. “He has a lot of the first-down carries and a lot of short-yardage carries, so maybe his numbers are skewed a little bit. But he’s a tough runner inside and does a good job with pass protection. People see the flash runs that Gio gets us, but the meat-and-potatoes runs that Benny has, he’s had good runs also. You don’t want to discount Benny just because Gio had a couple of really special runs.” Bernard tops 1000: Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati’s rookie second-round draft choice, continues to shine as a new element in the offense. Bernard had a personal high of 148 yards from scrimmage last week vs. Indianapolis, leading the team for the fifth time. He had a team season-high of 99 rushing yards, on just 12 attempts (8.3 average), and he had four receptions for 49 yards, tied for his second-most in receiving yards. He went over the 1000 mark last week in yards from scrimmage, to 1023, as he is 131-for-620 rushing and 47-for-403 receiving. He ranks second for the season in scrimmage yards behind WR A.J. Green (1175). Bernard’s five team leads in scrimmage yards do not include a pair of 100-yard games in which he finished second to Green, a 104 on Oct. 31 at Miami (79 rushing, 25 receiving) and 100 on Oct. 13 at Buffalo (28 rushing, 72 receiving). Bernard is third on the team in touchdowns with seven (four rushing and three receiving), and he’s just one behind co-leaders Green and Marvin Jones. Bernard is second behind HB BenJarvus Green-Ellis in offensive touches (178) and ranks second on the team in receptions (47). Bernard’s 22 offensive touches on Nov. 10 vs. Baltimore is the team’s season high, and that was quite significant in the toughness category, because he had been limited in practice all week due to painful bruised ribs suffered Oct. 31 at Miami. Before being injured in the Miami game, Bernard made a play that was one of the leading NFL highlights of the week. In the third quarter, starting out on a sweep to the right from the Miami 35, he found himself looking at at five-yard loss, with no holes in sight at the Miami 40. No matter, though. He reversed field all the way to the left side, and with help from blockers that included QB Andy Dalton, he zigged and zagged his way back to the middle of the field and scored. He broke or eluded five good tackle possibilities by Miami on the way. Bernard is short of stature at 5-9, but carries a solid 208 pounds with speed and moves. His height is seen to work to his advantage in traffic. “He’s hard to find and hard to tackle,” said G/OT Andrew Whitworth. “And if you do get a shot on him, he’ll make you miss. He’s one of those guys, you just get him in the middle of guys and let him do the rest.” Bernard was asked after the Colts game if he senses he gives defenders fits. Recalling a 22-yard gain with a short pass against Indy, Bernard recounted:
— 5 —
(Bernard tops 1000, continued)
“When I got the ball, I could hear No. 50 (LB Jerrell Freeman) say, ‘Oh, crap.’ Then 51 (LB Pat Angerer) said, “ ‘You’re a shifty dude.’ ” Bernard was the first running back selected in the 2013 draft, taken by the Bengals in the second round (37th overall). As a receiver, he has consistently impressed with his ability to take a short, easy-to-complete pass in the flat and use his acceleration to produce a long gain. “You can just kick it out to him and let him run,” says QB Andy Dalton. “That’s what he’s really good at.” Marvin makes the comparison: Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis often shies from comparing players to one another. But after watching rookie Giovani Bernard produce 148 scrimmage yards against Indianapolis last week, Lewis was asked if Bernard reminds him of anyone he’s seen over his coaching career. “I think back to 2008, when (Baltimore’s) Ray Rice was a rookie,” Lewis said. “Some of his runs — low to the ground with his hands down — that’s who we kind of likened Gio to as we evaluated him out of college.” Rice is a three-time Pro Bowler who led the NFL in scrimmage yards (2068) in 2011. Rice is listed at 5-foot-8 and 212 pounds, Bernard at 5-9 and 208. “It’s always great to be compared to somebody who has the achievements of a Ray Rice,” Bernard said. “But I try just to be myself, play my game without trying to pattern it after anybody. Compared to earlier this year, I think I’m a little more relaxed. You don’t want to try to force big runs. You just let ’em happen.” Gio’s paces: With seven touchdowns in 13 games (four rushing and three receiving), Bengals rookie HB Giovani Bernard is on pace for nine touchdowns on the season. That would be the most by a Bengals rookie since 1988, when FB Ickey Woods set the team rookie record of 15 (all rushing). The only other Bengals rookie to top nine TDs in a season was RB Stan Fritts, who scored 10 in 1975 (eight rushing and two receiving). Bernard is on pace for 496 receiving yards over 16 games, which would be third-most in Bengals history for a running back. The only RB to top 496 has been James Brooks, who had 686 receiving yards in 1986 and 576 in 1985. The current third-best total for a RB is 427 yards by Derrick Fenner in 1993. Bernard is on pace for 1307 yards from scrimmage (811 rushing, 496 receiving), which would be the most scrimmage yards for a Bengals rookie since 1997, when HB Corey Dillon had 1388 (1129 rushing, 259 receiving). Defense gets it done: Cincinnati’s defense dipped from sixth to eighth in the NFL yardage rankings last week, now allowing 320.5 yards per game. But the Bengals have no need at this point to sweat those kind of numbers. The team is winning, the defense has acquired solid credentials for talent and depth, and there’s confidence that strong statistical numbers will be there if all hands remain focused on working harder with each successive week. Indianapolis piled up 389 yards last week, and the defense had no takeaways for the first time in six games. But the Colts didn’t score in the first half, they had a meager 117 yards at intermission, and they were zero-fox-six on third down. “We gave up some big-play scores in the second half, and we have some corrections to make,” said head coach Marvin Lewis, “but that happens sometimes when you’re protecting a lead. We have some stuff (on tape) that we can coach from, and we’ll get on it.” The Bengals also didn’t have a sack last week, but again, the bottom line was success. “Our defense knows that we can play with anybody,” said NT Domata Peko. “We just have to get our game plan right and keep on listening to (defensive coordinator Mike) Zimmer, because Zimmer’s a hell of a coach. He’s been doing a great job of calling plays, and we’ve been doing a great job of running them. So if we just keep executing like we have, we should be fine.” The Colts got four second-half TD passes from Andrew Luck, but they were in full catch-up mode after intermission. The Bengals allowed only 63 rushing yards, their second-smallest yield of the season, and Luck had 29 of those on a scramble. RBs Trent Richardson and Donald Brown combined for just 31 yards on 10 carries. “Our goal was to make them one-dimensional,” said LB Rey Maualuga, “and we came out and did a good job in the first half.” But Maualuga is not expecting a full diet of praise in meetings this week. “In the second half, we kind of slid away from what our main focus was, and if we’d have lost the game, it would have been the defense’s fault,” he said. “Hats off to our offense. They kept moving the ball and putting points on the board.
Best since ’83: The Bengals are now in the sought-after ranks of teams allowing less than 100 rushing yards per game. The opponent average is 98.2, down from a figure of 101.1 entering the Indianapolis game. If held until season’s end. the 98.2 figure would be Cincinnati’s best in 30 years, since the 1093 team held foes to a club-record 93.7. The 2009 divisional championship team came close to 98.2. allowing 98.3 for the season. Could the Bengals make a run at the 1983 franchise record? It would be tough but not impossible. To finish the season with 1498 yards allowed, one fewer than the 1983 team, Cincinnati would have to hold foes to 222 yards over the last three games, an average of 74.0. This week’s opponent, Pittsburgh, ranks only 31st in offensive rushing yards, but the Steelers are still above 74.0, averaging (77.4). Minnesota, on the docket after Pittsburgh, ranks seventh in rushing offense but might be without All-Pro rusher Adrian Peterson, who suffered a foot injury last week. Baltimore, the regular season’s final foe, is currently in 29th place in rushing offense, averaging 82.3 Bengals by 100? Having outscored their opponents by 334-244 through 13 games, the Bengals are on a pace that would have them with a 411-300 advantage through 16 games. That would mark the fourth time in franchise history for Cincinnati to outscore its foes by 100 or more points on the season. The previous instances were 404-285 by the 1989 club that finished 8-8, 448-329 by the ’88 team that went 12-4 and to Super Bowl XXIII, and 335-210 by the 1976 club that finished 10-4 but missed the playoffs. The last Bengals team to score 400 points was the 2005 AFC North championship club, which posted a 421-350 edge. The last Cincinnati club to allow 300 or fewer points was the 2009 division winner, which posted a 305-291 edge. Pardon him, Mr. Rice: A.J. Green’s team-leading 72 receiving yards vs. Indianapolis lifted him to 3582 for his career, pushing him seven yards past Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for third-most by a player in his first three NFL seasons. Green has seemingly little chance to pass Randy Moss (4163) for first on this list, but he could pass second-place Torry Holt (3786) with a reachable 205 more yards. That goal works out to an average of just 68.4 yards per game, and with 1175 yards this season, Green is averaging 90.4 yards per game. Green’s career yards-per-game average is 81.4 A.J. has three games to pad 100-yard record: Heading into the 2013 season, five seemed to be a very stiff limit for 100-yard receiving games in a season for a Bengals player. The mark of five had been hit eight times, by a combined five different players, but none could manage six. This season, however, A.J. Green has reached 100 six times in just 13 games. He actually did it six times in the first 10 games, and has been held to seven, 83 and 72 yards the last three games. His six 100-yarders this season include a streak of five straight games (Games 6-10), which set a franchise mark for consecutive receiving games in triple digits. When Green pushed his streak to five with 151 yards on Nov 10 at Baltimore, he broke a tie with Carl Pickens, who had four straight 100-yard games in 1994. Speaking to the streaky nature of sports, before embarking on his streak of five 100-yarders, Green had averaged only 49.8 yards over four games (Games 2-5). It was the first four-game stretch of Green’s career in which he had not posted any games of at least 70 yards. In 44 career NFL games, Green has 15 of 100-plus receiving yards. That’s an average of one every 2.9 games. The NFL record for 100-yard receiving games in a season is 11, first set by Dallas’ Michael Irvin in 1995 and tied by Detroit’s Calvin Johnson last season. Here’s a look at Green’s 100-yard efforts in 2013:
DATE OPPONENT REC. YDS. TDs Sept. 8 @Chicago ........................................................... 9 162 2 Oct. 13 @Buffalo ............................................................. 6 103 1 Oct. 20 @Detroit .............................................................. 6 155 1 Oct. 27 N.Y. JETS ........................................................... 3 115 0 Oct. 31 @Miami ............................................................. 11 128 0 Nov. 10 @Baltimore ......................................................... 8 151 1 A.J.’s rankings: Bengals WR A.J. Green ranks fifth in the NFL in receptions (78) and sixth in receiving yards (1175). In the AFC, he’s third in receptions and fourth in receiving yards. Green caught six-for-72 last week vs. Indianapolis, with a nine-yard TD.
— 6 —
(A.J.’s rankings, continued)
Prior to the Nov. 17 Cleveland game, Green was first in the NFL in yards per team game as well as in total yards. But opportunities ebb and flow in the varied Bengals’ offensive scheme, and Green is about as far as one can get from being a receiver who would think rankings or complain. “My numbers are going to come over time, it’s not something I think about,” Green said. “The important thing is different guys stepping up every week and us winning games.” “A.J. has a lot more in him,” said head coach Marvin Lewis. “We need him to keep playing better and better and better. He’s, if not our best player, one of our best players. He’s got to play great. We’ve got to keep pushing him to play great.” Only once has a Bengal led the NFL in receiving yards for a full season. That was in 2006, when Chad Johnson’s 1369 yards nosed out Indianapolis’ Marvin Harrison by three for the league crown. The Bengals count six AFC receiving yards titles in their history. Four of those were by Chad Johnson, most recently his 1369 in ’06. No Bengal has won an outright NFL receptions title. The team’s highest finish has been tied for first, in 2007, when T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught a Bengals-record 112 to tie New England’s Wes Welker for the crown. The Bengals count three outright AFC receptions titles in their history, two by Carl Pickens (1995-96) and one by Chad Johnson (2005). Green on record yards pace, barely: After gaining 72 receiving yards last week vs. Indianapolis, Bengals WR A.J. Green is on pace to finish the season with 1446 yards, which would break Chad Johnson’s 2007 franchise record of 1440. Green has 1175 yards through 13 games, an average of 90.4 per contest. Green’s 78 receptions this season, which include a career game-high of 11 on Oct. 31 at Miami, project to 96 over 16 games. That would be one below his career-best 97 of last season and would rank sixth in club history. The receptions record is 112, set by T.J. Houshmandzadeh in 2007. Another benchmark for A.J.: Last season, Bengals WR A.J. Green became the only player in NFL history to reach the triple benchmark of 100 receptions, 1500 yards and 10 TDs in the first 20 games of his career. He hit the 20-game mark after Game 5 of last season, with 101 catches, 1550 yards and 11 TDs. This season, Green has come to share a triple benchmark with a Hall of Famer, Tom Fears of the 1948-56 Los Angeles Rams. Green played his 38th game on Oct. 20 at Detroit, and he emerged having passed the round numbers of 200 receptions, 3000 yards and 20 TDs. His totals at that point were 205 catches, 3026 yards and 23 TDs. Fears is the only other player to hit the 200-3000-20 standard through 38 games. His 38-game totals were 224 receptions, 3034 yards and 20 TDs. Dalton revisits triple-digit territory: Bengals QB Andy Dalton posted a 120.5 passer rating last week vs. Indianapolis, completing 24-of-35 for 275 yards with three TDs and no INTs. It was his fifth 100-plus game of the season, one short of the personal record of six he set in 2012. The Bengals have won all five of Dalton’s triple-digit games this season, and they are now 14-1 in all games with Dalton at 100-plus. Their only loss with Dalton in triple digits was in the second game of his career, in 2011, when he hit 107.0 in a 24-22 loss at Denver. “I felt like I did some good things today,” Dalton said after the Colts game. “I was consistent getting completions, I was finding the open guy, and guys were making plays. There were a lot of good runs after catches. I have to keep playing like I did today, and if I do, good things will happen for us.” Dalton’s season passer rating is 87.7, just a hair ahead of the career-best 87.4 he posted last season. It hasn’t been an overall smooth year for the third-year pro from TCU. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for October, averaging a 116.8 rating for the four qualifying games, but he was under 85.0 for the four games preceding Indianapolis, and three of those were under 63.0. But still he directed victories in two of those four games, and the other two were overtime losses on the road. Through it all, Dalton has shown repeatedly that he refuses to be dragged down by struggles and is usually at his best when the game is on the line. “He seems to do better when you guys doubt him,” C Kyle Cook observed to reporters after the Colts game, “so just keep doubting him.” “He’s our quarterback,” said WR A.J. Green. “He takes a lot of heat, it comes with the position, but he’s our guy. He’s going to take us to that next level.”
Of his ability to rebound, Dalton says: “It’s kind of how I’ve been, and how I am. I try not to get too high or too low with whatever’s going on in the game. I don’t let it affect me and I do my best not to let it affect the other guys. We keep going and keep believing good things will happen.” “We know Andy is unflappable,” says head coach Marvin Lewis. “He continues to show that week in and week out. He really settles and plays. He may have a play that he’d want back, but he lets it go. He moves on to the next one, and that’s it. He understands it’s one play at a time. He has great personality and makeup that way. There is nothing that happens out there that he can’t handle. He’s a great leader.” Adds Green: “Andy doesn’t let anything get to him. He’s got ice in his veins. We don’t say anything to him when something goes bad, because we know he’s going from there and making the next play.” Against Indianapolis, Dalton also had an eight-yard TD run on a scramble, putting the Bengals up 42-21 in the fourth quarter. Just Andy and Peyton: Andy Dalton went over the 3000-yard passing mark for the season on Dec. 1 at San Diego, and he’s at 3419 after a 275-yard output last week vs. Indianapolis. He ranks ninth in the NFL, and he has become only the second passer in NFL history, along with future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, to top the 3000-yard mark in each of his first three seasons. “It’s an honor to be mentioned with a guy like Peyton, who has been one of the best in the league for a long time,” Dalton said. “To do something only he has done is big. The bigger thing is that we keep winning games, but yeah, it’s a cool thing.” Here’s a look at the first three seasons for both Manning and Dalton:
— Manning — SEASON TEAM COMP. ATT. YARDS 1998 Colts .......................................................... 326 575 3739 1999 Colts .......................................................... 331 533 4135 2000 Colts .......................................................... 357 571 4413
— Dalton — SEASON TEAM COMP. ATT. YARDS 2011 Bengals ..................................................... 300 516 3398 2012 Bengals ..................................................... 329 528 3669 2013 Bengals ................................................... *290 *468 *3419
* — totals through 13 games. More marks and awards for Dalton: Bengals QB Andy Dalton set a Bengals record over Games 6-9 with four consecutive 300-yard passing games. The previous record of three had been posted only once, by Ken Anderson in Games 1-3 of 1984. Dalton’s totals for his record streak were 337 on Oct. 13 at Buffalo, 372 on Oct. 20 at Detroit, 325 on Oct. 27 vs. the New York Jets and 338 on Oct. 31 at Miami. Also this season, Dalton has become the first Bengal to throw 11 TD passes over a span of three games. He did it with three on at Buffalo, three at Detroit and a career-high five vs. the Jets. No other Bengal has had more than nine TD passes in three games. Nine has been achieved many times, including by Dalton in Games 9-11 of last season. The last Bengal besides Dalton to hit nine was Carson Palmer in Games 1-3 of 2007. Dalton was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for October, when he posted a 116.8 passer rating as the Bengals went 4-0 in games that qualified for the award. Cincinnati’s Oct. 31 game at Miami, on Thursday night, did not count towards the award because all other NFL games that week were played in November. Andy needs seven: With 25 TD passes on the season, including three last week vs. Indianapolis, Bengals QB Andy Dalton needs seven more over the last three games to tie Carson Palmer’s club record of 32, set in 2005. Dalton is averaging 1.92 TD passes per game and would need to average 2.3 over the final three games. The second-most TD passes in Bengals history is 29, by Ken Anderson in 1981. The Bengals have had four performances of 28 TD passes. Dalton’s high for his first two seasons is 27, posted last year. Dalton ranks third in the AFC and sixth in the NFL in TD passes. Denver’s Peyton Manning is the runaway AFC and NFL leader at 45, but Dalton is just one behind San Diego’s Philip Rivers, who’s second in the AFC at 26.
— 7 —
(Bengals notes, continued)
Record yards pace for Dalton: Andy Dalton is on pace to post a Bengals record for passing yards in a full season. His 3419 yards through 13 games projects to 4208 over 16 games. The current club record of 4131, set by Carson Palmer in 2007. Dalton has averaged 263.0 passing yards per game. He could average as little as 237.7 over the final three games and still set the team record at 4132 yards. Dalton hits 50: Bengals QB Andy Dalton fired a pair of TD passes in the red zone last week, giving him 50 TD passes for his career on snaps inside the opponent 20-yard line. Dalton has suffered only two red-zone interceptions, and for the fifth straight week he ranks third among active NFL passers in ratio of red-zone TDs to INTs (minimum of 25 red-zone TDs). The leader in the category is Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay, and Russell Wilson of Seattle is second. “Andy’s performance in this area is the type of thing we’ve come to expect from him,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “He’s not only a fine talent, but a smart player who is going to avoid the big mistake. We’ve got a lot of confidence in Andy when we get the ball into scoring range.” Here are the active NFL leaders in the category of TDs to INTs on red-zone plays (minimum 25 TDs):
PLAYER, CURRENT TEAM TD INT RATIO Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay .......................................... 119 3 39.7-to-1 Russell Wilson, Seattle ................................................... 34 1 34.0-to-1 Andy Dalton, Cincinnati .................................................. 50 2 25.0-to-1 Tom Brady, New England ............................................. 248 13 19.1-to-1 Matt Cassel, Minnesota .................................................. 60 4 15.0-to-1 Alex Smith, Kansas City ................................................. 60 4 15.0-to-1 Let’s talk wins: QB Andy Dalton has a .622 career winning percentage as Cincinnati’s starter, with a 28-17 record. His win percentage is the best in franchise history for any QB with 10 more starts. Ken Anderson stands second at .529 (91-81). The only Bengals QB to post a better win percentage than .622 had only seven starts to his credit. That was Turk Schonert, who in eight seasons between 1980 and 1989 went 5-2 for a .714 percentage. Third time would be a rare charm: If Andy Dalton can lead the Bengals back to the playoffs in 2013 — and he presently has them in a two-and-one-half-game lead in the AFC North — he’ll become only the fifth starting QB in NFL history to reach the playoffs in each of his first three seasons. To date, the only starting QBs to achieve the feat have been Pat Haden of the Rams (1976-78), Dan Marino of the Dolphins (1983-85), Bernie Kosar of the Browns (1985-87) and Joe Flacco of the Ravens (2008-10). In Haden’s case, the three seasons were not his first three seasons as a pro, because he played in the World Football League prior to joining the Rams. More on Dalton and history: While shooting to become only the fifth starting QB to take his club to the playoffs in his first three seasons (see information in the previous item), Andy Dalton already has some brushes with history on record: In 2011, he became the first NFL rookie QB to start as many as eight wins and throw for 20 or more TDs (started nine wins and had 20 TDs). Also in 2011, he became the first rookie QB not drafted in the first round to start every game in a 16-game season. He is one of just three QBs to throw 43 or more TD passes in his first two seasons. The No. 1 spot is held by Hall of Famer Dan Marino (68). No. 2 is future Hall of Fame Peyton Manning (52), and Dalton is third (47). In fourth place behind Dalton is Jeff Garcia at 42. ‘Tacklin’ Tez’ lives up to nickname again: LB Vontaze Burfict leads the Bengals in tackles on the season by a prohibitive margin, with 169 compared to 91 for second-place Rey Maualuga. Burfict has logged five of the team’s top six tackle totals for a game on the season, led by 18 on Nov. 17 vs. Cleveland. Burfict also has the top three solo tackles games by a Bengal, led by 15 in the Cleveland contest. His solo tackle total of 116 is more than twice the 54 posted by the second-place Maualuga, who has missed three games due to injury. Burfict led the team with 10 tackles last week vs. Indianapolis, and he also tied for the team lead in passes defensed (two). He has 10 passes defensed on
the season, third on the team and first among the front seven. He’s tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries (two), and he has one INT and one forced fumble. In the win Nov. 17 over Cleveland, the second-year pro forced a fumble by RB Chris Ogbonnaya and returned it 13 yards for his first career touchdown, giving the Bengals a 28-13 lead in the second quarter. This season, Burfict has led the team in tackles in 10 games, tied for the lead once, finished second once and tied for second once. Though it wasn’t one of his top games for tackles, the Dec. 1 contest at San Diego may have been Burfict’s most impressive performance of the year. The second-year star twisted an ankle during practice the Friday before the game, and the team’s medical staff wasn’t sure he’d be able to play until giving him a somewhat tentative clearance after a pregame Sunday workout at Qualcomm Stadium. But one could have excused the Chargers for believing that Burfict’s injury was just a tall tale. He was all over the field and characteristically fiery once kickoff time arrived, leading the Bengals in tackles (13) and tying for the lead in QB pressures (two). He also had a key third-down pass defensed, forcing a Chargers punt early in the fourth quarter when he broke up a throw to TE Ladarius Green near the Cincinnati 30-yard line. Asked after the game about Burfict, head coach Marvin Lewis smiled and said he had not shared the concern about Burfict’s condition. “I never thought he wouldn’t play,” Lewis said. “The injury was bad, but I think he’s just got special powers, and he used them all. There’s no doubt in my mind, most people wouldn’t have been able to play. But he went sideline-to-sideline, just like he always does.” Burfict told a slightly different story. He said that when Lewis asked him how he felt, following the Sunday morning workout, he sensed concern on the coach’s part. “He was second-guessing himself,” Burfict said. “I said, ‘Just trust me.’ “ Burfict a teammate’s teammate: Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict has been racking up more than just tackles lately. “Tacklin’ Tez” has also been collecting praise from teammates — for being a great teammate. “His demeanor is something that’s contagious,” says S Taylor Mays. “It makes you want to play that style of football. You don’t want to let a guy like that down.” “He’s the real deal,” says Maualuga. “It’s always about competition. Who is going to get to the ball first? Being able to play alongside him with that fire, that energy that he wants to get to the ball first, that makes everything that much easier for me. Flat out, he’s what you want in a linebacker. One, he’s mean. Two, he can walk the walk and talk the talk. He’s not mean to us, he’s mean to the opponents. He’s a great teammate.” Occasionally Burfict can play with a bit too much fire and be penalty prone. It’s something his coaches try to keep toned down, but they don’t want to inhibit his playing style. “He’s a good kid; he’s the kind of football player you like,” says defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. “He’s got a little edge to him, but he’s a smart guy, too. He just has to be smart and not do stupid things. He’s a smart guy, and he just needs to play football.” As a rookie last season, the once nationally touted Arizona State star defied the judgment of NFL teams who had passed him over in the draft, due to reports that he was too undisciplined and could not stay in shape. After signing with the Bengals as a college free agent, he was handed an opening due to an early injury to starter Thomas Howard, and he went on to lead the team in tackles (174), logging the most starts (14) in team history by a CFA in his rookie season. More on Burfict: Though LB Vontaze Burfict is proving to be a tackles machine for the second straight year (see previous item), this year that’s not enough. “There’s more weighing on me now,” Burfict says. “I feel like I need to make more plays than I did last year because I’m not a rookie anymore. Plays that I missed last year, I need to improve, particularly in coverage and blitzing.” But there’s more than just self-improvement at work. Head coach Marvin Lewis, who marvels at Burfict’s natural football instincts as well as at his ability, has given Burfict a major role in making calls for the defense. “I set the huddle and tell them the huddle call, and Rey (MLB Rey Maualuga) sets the front,” Burfict says. “It’s a team game. Me and Rey take full responsibility to whatever happens out there and the communication. I have to tell the safeties, the corner, the d-line what the play is.” Burfict is also a mentor of sorts this season. The Bengals had another CFA make the team this year at LB — Jayson DiManche of Southern Illinois. “It was great to be able to tell him ‘congratulations,’ “ Burfict says. “I watched on ‘Hard Knocks,’ when they had the camera with him and he got the call that
— 8 —
(More on Burfict, continued)
he’d made the team. I was almost going to cry for him. Because I was in the same boat. When I got the call, I cried, but there weren’t any cameras around. If there were cameras around, I wouldn’t have cried.” The long arm(s) of Carlos: Fourth-year Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap is a playmaker, pure and simple. Last week vs. Indianapolis, the 6-6, 280-pounder tied for the line lead in tackles (five), tied for the lead in QB pressures (three) and had one pass defensed along with one tackle-for-loss on a rushing play. And that was only a mid-level example of his disruptive abilities almost weekly. On Nov. 17 vs. Cleveland, Dunlap had a team-leading seventh sack of the season and was credited by coaches with eight QB pressures, tying the team’s game-high for the season. In addition to leading the team in sacks, Dunlap leads the line in tackles (58). He’s tied for the team lead with DE Michael Johnson in QB pressures (29), and he leads the team lead in tackles for loss on running plays (seven). He also leads the team in forced fumbles (four). He has no fumble recoveries this year, but in the combined category of fumbles forced and recovered, his four leads the team by one over CB Adam Jones and LB Vontaze Burfict (each at three). Last season, Dunlap had seven fumbles forced and/or recovered, leading the team by three. On Nov. 10 at Baltimore, Dunlap had two sacks of Joe Flacco for 17 yards, and the second one caused a fourth-quarter fumble that teammate James Harrison recovered at midfield, preserving a chance that Cincinnati later cashed for a tying TD that sent the game into overtime. Dunlap tied for the line lead in total tackles (seven), and he had a QB pressure that helped lead to an interception against Flacco by LB Vincent Rey in the second quarter. On Oct. 31 at Miami, Dunlap had a particularly impressive forced fumble, running down fleet Dolphins RB Lamar Miller at the Bengals 11 after a 41-yard gain. Dunlap not only stopped Miller, he used a swipe of his long right arm to separate Miller from the ball. The force from the blow was such at the ball shot into the end zone, where CB Adam Jones picked it up on a bounce and made a 43-yard return. “It was a tremendous effort play by Carlos,” said head coach Marvin Lewis. “He didn’t give up on the play, he used the speed he’s got, and he definitely has the knack for getting to the ball.” Dunlap retains the overall athletic ability and speed that led his high school coaches in North Charleston, S.C. to use him occasionally as a kickoff returner, as a 240-pound defensive end. He had a 95-yard return for a TD in high school. Don’t forget the special teams: In addition to his many defensive exploits this season (see previous item), Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap has two blocked field goal attempts. He’s the first Bengal with two blocked kicks of any kind since 1991, when CB Eric Thomas blocked three (all field goals). Dunlap’s first one came on Sept. 29 against the Browns, when he tipped a 51-yard try by Billy Cundiff. His second, on Oct. 20 at Detroit, was a key momentum-turner in an eventual Bengals win. With the Lions ahead 10-7 in the second quarter, he cleanly blocked a 34-yard David Akers attempt. The Bengals returned the ball to the Lions 40, and drove from there for a TD and a 14-10 lead. More on Carlos: The Bengals showed their faith in DE Carlos Dunlap (featured in previous items) on July 16, when they signed him to a five-year contract extension through 2018. As his play this season has shown, Dunlap says that the deal has not left him complacent, that he wants both more honors on the field and another big contract later in his career. “Yeah, I want more in both respects,” Dunlap said. “Like a dog when he tastes blood, he wants more and more. Or a vampire, he wants more and more. There’s no hiding that, I want more. They gave me a little taste, and now I know what it’s like, and I know what it takes to get more.” Marv, Mo and Hawk: Entering the Pittsburgh game, second-year pro Marvin Jones has the edge in the quest for a wide receiver to establish himself as the Bengals’ most effective pass-catcher to complement franchise flagship A.J. Green. Jones caught three-for-60 vs. Indianapolis, with a pair of impressive 29-yarders. The first produced the first score of the game, as he kept a radar-lock on a high-arching throw from Andy Dalton. When the ball just cleared a hovering Colts defender, Jones cradled it while falling to the end-zone turf. Early in the fourth quarter, Jones showed great timing and leaping ability as he rose for a contested catch at the Colts 11. The grab setting up a TD for a 35-14 lead. Jones is tied with Green for the team lead in touchdowns (eight, all
receiving), and he’s second on the team in receiving yards (518). He also has 59 yards on six rushing attempts. Jones is third among the WRs in receptions, four behind Mohamed Sanu (39). A fellow 2012 draftee of Jones, selected two rounds ahead of Jones in Round 3, Sanu has 388 yards and one TD. Also in the WR picture for the finishing stretch is third-year pro Andrew Hawkins. Out for the season’s first eight games with an ankle injury, Hawkins has played in the last five contests. He was held to one catch for seven yards vs. Indianapolis, but in the previous game, Dec. 1 at San Diego, he showed the speed and quickness that last year made him No. 2 among the WRs in catches and receiving yards. Hawkins turned a short pass from Andy Dalton into a 50-yard gain at San Diego and finished three-for-65. He also had a six-yard rush. Recapping Marv’s big breakout: A review of WR Marvin Jones’ four-TD reception performance on Oct. 27 vs. the New York Jets: ● It was a Bengals record for receiving TDs in a game, coming in the franchise’s 700th regular-season contest. Three receiving TDs in a game had been accomplished 11 times, most recently by Chad Johnson vs. Tennessee on Nov. 25, 2007. ● It tied the club record for most TDs of any kind in a game, the third instance in club history. FB Larry Kinnebrew had three rushing TDs and one receiving score on Oct. 28, 1984 at Houston, and HB Corey Dillon had four rushing scores on Dec. 4, 1997 vs. Tennessee. ● Jones became the first player on any NFL team to get four receiving TDs in a game since Nov. 18, 2007, when New England’s Randy Moss and Dallas’ Terrell Owens each had four. He’s still just Mike: DE Michael Johnson has come a ways since joining the Bengals in 2009 as a third-round draft choice with high potential but a somewhat inconsistent college resume from Georgia Tech. He has missed only one game and has steadily improved his overall play. Last year he posted 11.5 sacks, second most by a Bengal since 1983, and copped an AFC Defensive Player of the Week award. This season he has 3.0 sacks, 29 QB pressures (tied for team lead), a line-leading eight passes defensed, and he’s tied for second on the team in forced fumbles (two). Johnson’s original contract expired after last season, and the team for 2013 named him its “franchise player.” As a result, he is playing this season on a one-year contract, and the franchise-player formula in the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, based on top defensive end salaries across the league, has netted for him a salary upwards of $11 million. Although the franchise player designation is indeed a product of bargaining between the NFL and the players’ union, more than a few players over the years have proclaimed the tag a mixed blessing at best, as it effectively keeps them out of the free agent market. But Johnson, always known to the team and fans as a bright and down-to-earth individual, has shown no signs of a personality change since earning his windfall and also not reaching agreement with the team on the option of signing a longer-term deal. “That just isn’t the way I was taught,” said Johnson. “I was raised to believe that you show up for work, you go to work, and you do your best. You don’t gripe about stuff that you don’t have control over. I’m going to go out there, work, and then see how things play out. I pray on the situation — me and my family — that things will work out for the best, and obviously this is best for both sides. “Man, I’m from Selma, Alabama. I didn’t have everything that I wanted growing up, but I had everything that I needed. It taught me that you don’t have to have the world to be happy and blessed. Sure, you want to get as much as you can out of this game, but I’m thankful for the opportunity, and I’m going to go out and do what I love to do and make the most of it. It’s a nice sum for one year, and a whole lot of people don’t see something like that in their whole lifetime. I’m going to continue to work my tail off.” Rare six-pack still possible: At three points this season, through Weeks 6-7 and 12, the Bengals have been on pace for an historic accomplishment in balanced pass receiving numbers. They projected to have six receivers at 500 or more yards for the full season, matching a feat accomplished only once previously in NFL history. Through last week’s win vs. Indianapolis, three of the six have fallen behind a 500-yard pace, but none of them by much. HB Giovani Bernard is on pace for 496, TE Jermaine Gresham for 479 and WR Mohamed Sanu for 478. Though it’s tough to spread the ball around enough for six players to hit 500, particularly with TE Tyler Eifert just dead-on for 500 yards, this six-player feat is certainly within the realm of the possible. The only NFL team to finish a season with six 500-yard receivers has been the 2011 New Orleans Saints, who perhaps not coincidentally finished as a
— 9 —
(Rare six-pack still possible, continued)
division champion with a 13-3 record. With Drew Brees throwing virtually all the team’s passes, the Saints’ 500-yard receivers were TE Jimmy Graham (1310), WR Marques Colston (1143), RB Darren Sproles (710), WR Lance Moore (627), WR Robert Meachem (620) and WR Devery Henderson (503). A receiver must average 31.25 yards per game to hit 500 for 16 games. Two players, WRs A.J. Green and Marvin Jones, are already over .500. This week at Pittsburgh, Eifert needs 32 yards to stay on a 500 pace. Bernard needs 35 yards to get there, Gresham needs 49 and Sanu needs 50. Below are the six Bengals on pace to top or threaten the 500 mark:
PLAYER POSITION CURRENT YDS. PROJECTION A.J. Green ........................ WR ........................................ 1175 ........................ 1446 Marvin Jones ................... WR .......................................... 518 .......................... 638 Tyler Eifert ....................... TE ........................................... 406 .......................... 500 Giovani Bernard ............... HB ........................................... 403 .......................... 496 Jermaine Gresham .......... TE ........................................... 389 .......................... 479 Mohamed Sanu ............... WR .......................................... 388 .......................... 478
“As everybody can see, we have lots of options,” said QB Andy Dalton. “We have a lot of guys catching balls and making plays. My job is to spread it out.” In their previous 45 seasons, the Bengals have never had more than four players reach 500 receiving yards, and only twice has the total hit four. Both of the teams with four receivers at 500-plus had double-digit win totals. The 1986 team, with TE Rodney Holman fourth at 570, went 10-6. The 1981 team, with WR Steve Kreider fourth at 520, went 12-4 and advanced to Super Bowl XVI. Bengals get distance from fumble bug: The Bengals had no fumbles last week, and they have only two lost fumbles in the last eight games (Games 6-13).. It has been a good turnaround. In just three games prior to Game 6, Cincinnati lost five fumbles. On the season, the Bengals have fumbled 16 times with eight lost, and their opponents have fumbled 15 times with 10 lost. The Colts fumbled once last week, but recovered it. In each of their last two full seasons, in which they earned playoff berths, the Bengals had fewer fumbles and fewer lost fumbles than their opponents. Over 2011-12, Cincinnati fumbled only 36 times compared to its opponents’ 52, and the Bengals lost only 18 compared to their foes’ 28. “Any time you have the ball in your hands, you need to be accountable for your actions,” said Jay Gruden, the team’s offensive coordinator for the last three seasons. “You need to protect. There’s been a lot of great players who never made it in the NFL because they had ball security issues. That’s very important for coaches’ careers, for seasons, for Super Bowl runs, playoff runs. They can end a season.” Nugent dabbles with history: Bengals K Mike Nugent had no field goal attempts last week vs. Indianapolis, but he’s having a fine overall season, including a most memorable stretch over Games 6-9. For a precious few minutes in Game 9, at Miami on Oct. 31, it seemed he would have a game-winning field goal for the third time in four weeks. His 54-yarder with 1:24 to play gave the Bengals a 20-17 lead. Two weeks earlier, he had connected from 54 yards as time expired to give the Bengals a 27-24 win at Detroit, and three weeks earlier, his 43-yarder in overtime had sealed a 27-24 win at Buffalo. But the Dolphins denied Nugent another week of glory, tying the game with a Caleb Sturgis FG at 0:11 and winning on overtime on a safety. Nugent’s 54-yarder at Miami, like his 54-yarder at Detroit, would have tied the Bengals record for longest game-winner inside two minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime. The only previous instance was a 54-yarder by Doug Pelfrey that beat Philadelphia at Riverfront Stadium on Christmas Eve 1994. In the Buffalo and Detroit games, Nugent also became the first Cincinnati kicker to win games on the last play in back-to-back games since Pelfrey did it in that same 1994 season, on Nov. 6 in overtime at Seattle and on Nov. 13 in regulation vs. Houston. A ninth-year NFL veteran who’s in his fourth year with the Bengals, Nugent holds team records for most field goals (33) and points (132) in a season, both set in 2011. He shares the mark for longest Bengals field goal, with a 55-yarder last year on Nov. 25 vs. Oakland. Is it the pep talks? Cincinnati’s 17-10 win on Dec. 1 at San Diego lifted the Bengals to an 11-2 record under Marvin Lewis when a game is tied at halftime. The Bengals are 3-0 this season when tied at halftime, as they also
took down Pittsburgh in Game 2 and New England in Game 5 after intermission deadlocks. This week’s foe, Pittsburgh, is one of the two foes to top a Lewis Bengals team after a halftime tie. The Steelers did that on Oct. 21 of last season. Here is Cincinnati’s history under Lewis in such games:
DATE OPPONENT HALF FINAL RESULT 9-14-03 @Oakland ........................................... 10-10 20-23 L 9-28-03 @Cleveland ........................................ 14-14 21-14 W 10-26-03 SEATTLE ............................................ 17-17 27-24 W 11-9-03 HOUSTON .......................................... 17-17 34-27 W 11-16-03 KANSAS CITY ........................................ 3-3 24-19 W 9-20-09 @Green Bay ....................................... 21-21 31-24 W 12-27-09 KANSAS CITY ........................................ 3-3 17-10 W 10-9-11 @Jacksonville ..................................... 13-13 30-20 W 10-21-12 PITTSBURGH ..................................... 14-14 17-24 L 12-30-12 BALTIMORE ........................................... 7-7 23-17 W 9-16-13 PITTSBURGH ..................................... 10-10 20-10 W 10-6-13 NEW ENGLAND ..................................... 3-3 13-6 W 12-1-13 @San Diego ........................................... 7-7 17-10 W
Additional notes include: ● The Bengals played to five halftime ties in 2003, Lewis’ first season, and did not have another until ’09. ● Lewis’ first victory from a halftime tie was also his first Bengals win, a 21-14 decision at Cleveland in Game 4 of ’03. ● The Bengals are 60-22-1 under Lewis when leading at halftime but stand only 18-60-0 when trailing. Long-distance movers: In their 13 games this season, the Bengals have mounted 16 TD drives of 80 or more yards, and six of those have been from 90 or more. Cincinnati has exceeded its total of 80-yarders from both the full 2011 season (nine) and the full ’12 campaign (10). As for TD drives of 90-plus, the Bengals had only one each in ’11 and ’12. The Bengals had two 80-yard scoring drives last week. Here’s a recap of this year’s long TD marches: ● Sept. 8 at Chicago: 97 yards in nine plays, capped by two-yard pass from Andy Dalton to A.J. Green in first quarter. ● Chicago: 91 yards in eight plays, capped by 45-yard pass from Dalton to A.J. Green in second quarter. ● Chicago: 80 yards in 12 plays, capped by five-yard BenJarvus Green-Ellis rush in third quarter. ● Sept. 16 vs. Pittsburgh: 87 yards in five plays, capped by seven-yard Giovani Bernard rush in first quarter. ● Sept. 22 vs. Green Bay: 80 yards in 10 plays, capped by three-yard Giovani Bernard rush in first quarter. ● Green Bay: 95 yards in seven plays, capped by 11-yard pass from Dalton to Marvin Jones in fourth quarter. ● Oct. 6 vs. New England: 93 yards in 14 plays, capped by one-yard BenJarvus Green-Ellis rush in fourth quarter. ● Oct. 13 at Buffalo: 83 yards in eight plays, capped by 18-yard pass from Dalton to A.J. Green in first quarter. ● Buffalo: 98 yards in nine plays, capped by 20-yard pass from Dalton to Giovani Bernard in second quarter. ● Oct. 20 at Detroit: 90 yards in three plays, with the last 82 coming on a Dalton-to-Green pass in the first quarter. ● Detroit: 80 yards in nine plays, capped by 32-yard pass from Dalton to Tyler Eifert in third quarter. ● Oct. 27 vs. N.Y. Jets: 80 yards in 10 plays, capped by nine-yard pass from Dalton to Marvin Jones in first quarter. ● N.Y. Jets: 86 yards in eight plays, capped by six-yard pass from Dalton to Marvin Jones in second quarter. ● Oct. 31 at Miami: 80 yards in 12 plays, capped by three-yard Giovani Bernard rush in third quarter. ● Dec. 8 vs. Indianapolis: 83 yards in 10 plays, capped by 29-yard pass from Dalton to Marvin Jones in first quarter. ● Indianapolis: 80 yards in nine plays, capped by one-yard BenJarvus Green-Ellis rush in third quarter. The Bengals’ 98-yard TD drive in the second quarter at Buffalo was the team’s first drive of 98 or more yards since Dec. 27, 2009 vs. Kansas City. Polian plugs Eifert: Bill Polian, former Indianapolis Colts president and now an analyst for Sirius NFL Radio, sings the praises of TE Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati’s first-round selection in the 2013 draft. Eifert has 35 receptions for
— 10 —
(Polian plugs Eifert, continued)
406 yards and one TD through 13 games. He had a superb end-zone catch against tight coverage for a 32-yard TD on Oct. 20 at Detroit, and his 61-yard reception on Sept. 16 vs. Pittsburgh was the longest by a Bengals TE since Matt Schobel had a 74-yarder in 2004. Polian agrees with observers who have said that Eifert, a pass-catcher extraordinaire at Notre Dame, has the potential for a career like that of one of Polian’s former Colts players, Pro Bowl TE Dallas Clark. “Absolutely,” Polian said. “(Eifert) was one of the few guys in this draft that I said is can’t-miss, and obviously he’s had a big effect on this offense.” The Bengals already have a two-time Pro Bowl TE in Jermaine Gresham (see previous item), but Eifert is envisioned as more of a complement to Gresham than a competitor, based mostly on those exceptional receiving skills. “(Eifert) has excellent hands, an excellent feel for route-running,” Polian said. “His speed is comparable to Dallas. The hands are in the same ballpark. He’s more of a rebounder than Dallas in his style of catching. But he makes as many spectacular grabs.” By “rebounder,” Polian means Eifert uses his body to win contested balls. “He’ll go up and fight DBs for balls and out-jump them,” Polian said. “He’s got long arms and a long body. He’s a good jumper and he can make catches in the air, which is hard for people to do. Dallas could do that, too. He can get off the ground and catch the ball exceptionally well. At the college level he won the vast majority of contested balls that were thrown to him. He’s unique in that way.” Dalton on the draft dandies: QB Andy Dalton, on rookies Tyler Eifert and Giovani Bernard: “Giovani’s done a really good job. We drafted him to be a guy that’s versatile; a guy that we can move around, who can catch the ball out of the backfield and make big plays. That’s exactly what we’ve gotten out of him. It’s exciting to see him come out and play big in games like he has. Tyler, he’s so versatile. He can move all around — outside, inside and line up at the regular tight end spot. We feel like we’ve got matchups with both of our tight ends. Those guys have done a lot of really good things for us. We’re going to do all the things we can to get matchups with those guys.” Gresham needs slight push to tie Ditka: Bengals TE Jermaine Gresham needs 10 catches in the final three games to finish the year at 50, in which case he’d join Hall of Famer Mike Ditka as the only TEs in NFL history to catch 50 or more in each of their first four seasons in the league. To get to 50, Gresham will have to just slightly exceed his pace of the first 13 games. With 40 catches, he’s averaging 3.08 per game. To get to 50, he’ll have to average 3.34 over the final three games. Gresham had five catches last week vs. Indianapolis, including a one-yard TD. Here’s a look at the first four NFL seasons for Ditka and Gresham, with Gresham’s 2013 numbers projected to 16 games:
— Ditka — SEASON TEAM REC. YDS. TDs 1961 Chicago .............................................................. 56 1076 12 1962 Chicago .............................................................. 58 904 5 1963 Chicago .............................................................. 59 794 8 1964 Chicago .............................................................. 75 897 5
— Gresham — SEASON TEAM REC. YDS. TDs 2010 Cincinnati ........................................................... 52 471 4 2011 Cincinnati ........................................................... 56 596 6 2012 Cincinnati ........................................................... 64 737 5 2013 Cincinnati ......................................................... *49 *479 *4
* — projections for 16 games. Make way for Andre: LOT Andrew Whitworth deservedly garnered top honors on the Bengals’ offensive line last season, becoming the first Cincinnati offensive lineman in the Pro Bowl since OT Willie Anderson in 2006. This season, however, the team is more sure than ever that it has another Pro Bowl-worthy blocker in ROT Andre Smith, the fifth-year pro selected sixth overall by Cincinnati in the 2009 draft. A consensus All-American at Alabama, rated among the most powerful run blockers in Southeastern Conference history, Smith did not enjoy instant success as a pro. He missed essentially all of his first preseason, due to protracted contract negotiations, and he suffered a foot fracture in his first week of practice. He had trouble controlling his weight as a young player, and he totaled only 13
games with five starts in his first two seasons. But his maturing process — both mentally and physically — has moved steadily ahead since 2011. He played and started 30 of the 32 games in 2011-12, helping lead Cincinnati to a pair of postseason berths. This year, he re-signed with Cincinnati as an unrestricted free agent, and he has played injury-free in all 13 games, with 12 starts. “He looked in great shape right when he showed up,” said assistant head coach/offensive line coach Paul Alexander. “He looks light on his feet and he’s playing with intensity. You used to see it in spurts, but now you see it routinely. I used to use his tape sometimes (in meetings), but now I use it more consistently. I’ll say, ‘Watch Andre do this.’ It’s a nice sign. It’s all coming together for him.” Bengals radio analyst Dave Lapham, a 10-year Bengals offensive lineman (1974-83), says: “Andre seems pretty much at peace. He’s playing, not thinking too much. There’s no hesitation, no uncertainty. He’s playing at a really high level.” And Smith confirms Lapham’s analysis. “I’m just having fun, getting back to basics,” Smith said. “Do what I’ve been doing since I was a little kid. Run around and have fun and dominate.” Who needs the draft? The Bengals were the NFL’s No. 6 defense last season. Expectations for the 2013 defense are again high, and the unit currently ranks eighth in the league. And the team isn’t at all worried that at linebacker, five of the seven players on the roster entered the NFL as college free agents, passed over in the draft. Two are running in No. 1 spots on the depth chart: ● SLB James Harrison, signed this year as a free agent, is widely known as a Pittsburgh Steelers standout who made five Pro Bowls and is a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year. But some may have forgotten, or never knew, that Harrison was undrafted out of Kent State in 2002. He played in only one game over 2002 and ’03. He spent much of those two years on the Pittsburgh practice squad, and he was not in the NFL at all in the second half of ’03, having been released from the Steelers practice squad in October. He was re-signed by the Steelers just before 2004 training camp, after having been signed and later cut by Baltimore in the offseason. He finally won the confidence of Steelers coaches in the ’04 camp and played in every regular-season game in ’04. Harrison has played in all 13 games this season, with nine starts, and he has 36 tackles with two sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery. On Nov. 17 at Cleveland, his late first-quarter interception was cited by head coach Marvin Lewis as “a turnaround play that got things going for us.” It started the Bengals on the road from a 13-0 deficit to a 31-13 halftime lead. In the Oct. 13 overtime win at Buffalo, Harrison made two key plays on a goal-line stand. He is also playing some snaps on special teams, and on Carlos Dunlap’s key blocked FG on Oct. 20 at Detroit, it was Harrison’s penetration against his blocker that opened up a lane for Dunlap. ● WLB Vontaze Burfict was a Bengals college free agent signee last year and went on to lead the team in tackles (174). He beat a rap from his Arizona State career that said despite having great talent, he was too undisciplined and out of shape to be worthy of a draft selection. Burfict last year set a Bengals record for most starts (14) in a rookie season by a college free agent. He leads the team in tackles again this season, with 169 through 13 games. No other player has more than 91 tackles. Original college free agents in No. 2 spots on the depth chart are third-year player Vincent Rey (MLB) and rookie Jayson DiManche (SLB), and Rey proved himself a starting quality player while subbing for the injured Maualuga in Games 9-11. Rey averaged 12 tackles per outing in the three games, second on the team to Burfict, and he also had three sacks, one INT and three total passes defensed. On Nov. 10 at Baltimore, Rey became the first player in Bengals history to get as many as three sacks plus an interception in one game. Running in a No. 3 depth chart spot is first-year pro J.K. Schaffer, who also entered the NFL as a CFA. The Bengals had another valued prospect who was a college free agent, Emmanuel Lamur, but he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the final preseason game. The only LBs on the current roster who entered the NFL through the draft are Maualuga (second round, Bengals, 2009) and reserve WLB Michael Boley (fifth round, Atlanta, ’05). On-site inspiration: The success of former college free agents with the Bengals LB corps (see previous item) served as fuel for the successful bid of rookie college free agent Jayson DiManche of Southern Illinois. He was the only rookie CFA to make the opening 53-player roster. “You see the guys who are established here, like James (Harrison) and Vontaze (Burfict),” DiManche says, “so it’s more than just saying you have a chance. It holds true from the people you are seeing.”
— 11 —
(On-site inspiration, continued)
DiManche, 23, grew up watching the exploits of Harrison, 35, who has been to five Pro Bowls and was once named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. “It’s crazy,” DiManche says. “For the longest time, he was one of my favorite linebackers ever to play the game. I’ve followed him since I started watching football. I try to model a lot of moves after him. The way he plays with that leverage. That power and speed around that edge. And the physical force he is. A lot of guys look up to him. It’s an honor to be on the team with him.” DiManche has played in all 13 games. Last week vs. Indianapolis, he tied for the special teams lead in tackles (two), and for the season he’s tied for second in special teams tackles (10), two off the lead. On Dec. 1 at San Diego, he teamed with CB Dre Kirkpatrick to down a 75-yard Kevin Huber punt at the Chargers four. On Nov. 17 vs. Cleveland, he blocked a punt that teammate Tony Dye returned for a touchdown. Huber fifth in net: For the second straight week, Bengals punter Kevin Huber ranks fifth in the NFL in net average, at 41.6 Huber averaged 42.6 net on five punts last week vs. Indianapolis, with a 50.6 gross average. He had a 70-yard punt for the second straight game, hitting a 70 after tying the team record with a 75 the week before at San Diego. Huber was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the San Diego game, the first Bengals punter to win the honor. He finished his day with career game-highs for gross punting average (55.5) and net average (also 55.5). His four kicks went for a total of 222 yards. Huber ranks only 18th in the NFL in gross punting average (45.3), but that is not a concern to head coach Marvin Lewis. “Kevin has had a really good year,” Lewis says. “We’re asking Kevin to do special things with the ball, and he’s delivering. Every time you see the returner catch a ball on the boundary and step out of bounds, Kevin’s done his job again. That’s what we want all the time. We want that ball pinned to the boundary as much as we can. He doesn’t get the opportunity like some guys just to stand back there and boom the football. We want that ball put in certain spots all the time. It’s important when we do that.” Huber’s ability to pin the opposition was crucial in Bengals wins on Oct. 13 at Buffalo and Oct. 20 at Detroit. In the Buffalo game, he pinned the Bills at their seven-yard line in overtime, helping set up field position for Mike Nugent’s game-winning 43-yard field goal on the next Cincinnati possession. At Detroit, he pinned the Lions at their six late in the fourth quarter, helping set up field position for Nugent’s 54-yard game-winner. And Huber, it’s worth noting, was the holder for both field goals, continuing the role he has held since his rookie year of 2009. For the season, Huber has 24 inside-20s against just four touchbacks, for a differential of plus-20. His differential is tied for 11th in the NFL. The leader is Dave Zastudil of Arizona at plus-26 (31-5). Huber holds the Bengals franchise’s best career ratio of inside-20s to touchbacks. His ratio is 3.69-to-1 (133-36). Second in that category is Kyle Larson, who punted for Cincinnati from 2004-08 and finished with a ratio of 3.41-to-1 (109-32). A fifth-year Bengal, Huber did not test the unrestricted free agent market this past offseason, re-signing with Cincinnati just before the new league year began. Huber set Bengals season records last year for gross punting average (46.6 yards) and net average (42.0), and in so doing he qualified for the franchise’s career leads in gross and net average. He still holds those career leads entering the Pittsburgh game, with a 44.2 gross average and a 39.3 net. Second to Huber in Bengals annals for career gross average is Dave Lewis (1970-73) at 43.7. Lewis is also second to Huber in all-time net average, at 38.4. Tate makes up ground: With an average of 18.3 yards on four punt returns last week, including a 43-yarder to the Indy 19 to set up a TD, Cincinnati’s Brandon Tate gained ground in his bid to regain the club’s all-time lead in punt return average. Tate now has a 9.94 average, with 1014 yards on 101 returns, dating to 2011. He’s less than a tenth of a yard behind all-time leader Quan Cosby, who averaged 9.99 yards in a Bengals career covering 2009 and 2010. Cosby had 699 yards on 70 returns. Last week, Tate raised his average from what had been a 9.60 mark, and at 9.94 he has gone back ahead of Mike Martin, whose 9.86 norm is now third-best. Tate was the Bengals’ all-time leader entering this season, and he led as recently as through the Oct. 20 Detroit game. For this season, Tate is averaging 9.4 yards on 29 returns, ranked seventh in the AFC. A total of 50 punt returns is required to qualify for the Bengals’ all-time lead
in return average. Another current Bengal, CB Adam Jones, has an 11.11-yard average for Cincinnati, but Jones has only 44 career returns as a Bengal (for 489 yards). Jones did not have a return vs. Indianapolis and has 11 for the season. Tate is averaging 26.0 yards on 27 kickoff returns, ranked sixth in the AFC. Streaks and service leaders: NT Domata Peko claims the current roster’s longest streak for consecutive Bengals starts (64). The current roster’s longest streak of consecutive Bengals games played is 80, by P Kevin Huber. For non-kickers, the team’s longest streak of consecutive Bengals games played is now held by Peko at 64. The above streaks are also the longest on the Cincinnati roster for all NFL games. Peko has the most total Bengals games played on the current roster (123), and G/OT Andrew Whitworth has the most Bengals starts (116). The player with the most total NFL games (167) and starts (165) is CB Terence Newman. All streaks and totals above include regular-season and postseason games. Turnover tables are turned: Over the tenure of head coach Marvin Lewis (2003-present), the Bengals rank tied for fifth in the NFL in turnover differential, at plus-35. Prior to Lewis’ tenure, the Bengals had posted a minus turnover differential for five straight years (1998-2002). Since 2003, NFL teams with just a plus-one differential have won 69.5 percent of their games. At plus-two the percentage has been 83.8. Teams with any plus from one to five have won 80.0 percent of the time. Here are the top six teams in differential since 2003:
TEAM TAKEAWAYS GIVEAWAYS DIFFERENTIAL New England............................. 348 .......................... 221 ............................... +127 Indianapolis ............................... 284 .......................... 229 ................................. +55 Baltimore ................................... 325 .......................... 285 ................................. +40 Atlanta ....................................... 295 .......................... 259 ................................. +36 Cincinnati .................................. 320 .......................... 285 ................................. +35 Carolina ..................................... 322 .......................... 287 ................................. +35
Since 2003, the Bengals rank fifth in the NFL in most takeaways (320) and third in points off turnovers (1001). A stat that matters: For the Bengals term of coach Marvin Lewis (2003-present), a plus-differential in turnovers reflects a big plus in the win column. And the reverse has gone for a minus. The Bengals are 54-13-1 in the regular season under Lewis with a plus, for an .801 winning percentage. But the Bengals are 11-54 under Lewis when posting a minus differential. “It makes a huge difference,” Lewis says. “You see it game after game in the NFL. You’ve got to possess the football. If you possess the football, good things can happen. If you turn the ball over to them, you’ve got a harder night.” The Bengals’ experience with turnovers under Lewis is backed up by league numbers. Since the start of the 2003 season, here are the records of teams with varying turnover differentials (NOTE: Minus differentials are not included because they are the exact reverse of the plus figure for the same numbers):
DIFFERENTIAL W-L-T PCT. Plus-1 .............................................................................. 678-297-2 .695 Plus-2 .............................................................................. 539-104-0 .838 Plus-3 ................................................................................ 299-32-1 .902 Plus-4 .................................................................................. 169-5-0 .971 Plus-5 or more ...................................................................... 83-3-0 .965
Week 14 play in the NFL saw teams with a plus-differential post a 7-2 record. Plus teams are 37-5-1 over the last four weeks. Since 2003, NFL teams with any plus have a combined winning percentage of .800. The combined W-L record is 1766-441-3. And when it’s even? The Bengals are now 23-17 in head coach Marvin Lewis’ full tenure in games when the turnover differential has been even, for a winning percentage of .575. The total includes last week’s win over Indianapolis, in which neither side had a turnover. The Bengals have won six of their last seven with even differential, dating back to 2012. Unique scores: The Bengals’ 49-9 victory over the Jets on Oct. 27 is the only game in NFL history to end by that score, Elias Sports Bureau has confirmed. In 2011, the Bengals played in the only 13-8 game in NFL history, losing at home to San Francisco.
— 12 —
(Bengals notes, continued)
Second time ever: The Bengals won Games 6 and 7 of this season by the same score — 27-24 (at Buffalo and Detroit) — and yes, that’s unusual. It’s only the second time in franchise history for the team to win or lose consecutive games by the same score in the same season. The only previous instance was in 2009, when Cincinnati posted consecutive 23-20 wins vs. Pittsburgh and at Cleveland in Weeks 3 and 4. How about the same score being repeated in a season with different sides winning? That has happened only once. In October of 1996, the Bengals followed a 28-21 loss at San Francisco with a 28-21 win vs. Jacksonville. Uniform watch: The Bengals are scheduled to wear white jerseys and black pants in the Pittsburgh game. Since 2004, when the Bengals made their last significant uniform redesign, the team has had a number of color options for jerseys and pants. Below are the records (regular season plus postseason) for the different combinations:
JERSEY PANTS W-L-T PCT. Orange* Black ...................................................................... 3-0-0 1.000 Orange* White ................................................................... 12-5-0 .706 Black Black .................................................................... 11-9-1 .548 Black White ................................................................. 23-25-0 .479 White Black .................................................................. 18-21-0 .462 White White ................................................................. 13-20-0 .394
* — Orange is designated as a “specialty jersey” with the NFL and can be worn for only two games per year. Lopsided wins: The Bengals’ 40-point winning margin on Oct. 27 vs. the Jets was the fourth-largest in franchise history. The three largest all came against the Houston Oilers, and the next two have both been against the Jets. Here’s a look at the five largest winning margins by the Bengals:
DATE OPPONENT SCORE MARGIN 12-17-89 HOUSTON ............................................................ 61-7 54 12-17-72 @Houston ........................................................... 61-17 44 11-6-83 @Houston ........................................................... 55-14 41 10-27-13 N.Y. JETS ............................................................. 49-9 40 12-12-76 @N.Y. Jets ........................................................... 42-3 39 TV streak bound for 133: In each of the last 132 Cincinnati TV ratings weeks that have included a Bengals regular-season or postseason broadcast — dating back to the 2004 season — the Bengals have ruled the Cincinnati airwaves. They have been the top-rated show among all programming in the Cincinnati market, and usually by a wide margin. And the streak is almost certain to hit 133 later this week, when local rankings are announced for week of Dec. 2-8. The Bengals’ Dec. 8 game vs. Indianapolis drew a local rating of 37.4, a figure no non-Bengals programs have approached in recent years. The rating number indicates the percentage of market households tuned to the game — including those not watching TV at the time. The streak began on Dec. 5, 2004, when a wild Bengals win at Baltimore outpolled all other programs. The highest local Bengals rating during the streak has been 45.5 for a home playoff game vs. Pittsburgh on Jan. 8, 2006. The high rating of Bengals games has occurred despite the fact most games are played in the afternoon, when overall TV viewership is not as high as it is during the evening. Lewis’ Bengals bad news for NFC North: Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis sports a 9-2 record against teams from the NFC North Division. His clubs are 3-0 against Detroit and Green Bay, are 2-1 against Chicago and are 1-1 against Minnesota. Under the NFL’s schedule rotation, the Bengals are playing all four NFC North teams this season. Cincinnati lost at Chicago in the opener, won vs. Green Bay on Sept. 22 and won at Detroit on Oct. 20. The Bengals will close out their NFC North assignment against Minnesota on Dec. 22 at Paul Brown Stadium. Now that’s fast: On Sept. 22 vs. Green Bay, the Bengals scored two TDs in 12 seconds of elapsed clock time. HB Giovani Bernard scored on a three-yard run with 9:20 left in the first quarter and BenJarvus Green-Ellis scored on a two-yarder at 9:08. A Packers lost fumble on a kickoff return separated the pair. The last time the Bengals had scored two TDs in as little as 0:12 was more than 40 years ago, on Dec. 17, 1972, in a 61-17 win at Houston (tied for most
Bengals points in a game). With 14:19 left in the fourth quarter of that contest, Ken Anderson threw a 20-yard TD pass to Doug Dressler. And at 14:07, CB Lemar Parrish scored on a 25-yard INT return. The Georgia connection: The Bengals opened this season with seven players — 13.2 percent of the 53-player roster — hailing from the University of Georgia. The number now is down to four, as DT Geno Atkins, G Clint Boling and DE Robert Geathers have been lost for the season with injuries, but it’s believed the season-opening total of seven established a Bengals franchise-high for most players on the roster at one time from one school. The four former Georgia players still on the active roster are H-B Orson Charles, WR A.J. Green, OT Dennis Roland and S Shawn Williams. The only other school with more than two former players on the current Bengals roster is Alabama, which claims three in DE Wallace Gilberry, CB Dre Kirkpatrick and OT Andre Smith. When asked about the connection with Georgia, coach Marvin Lewis said: “I would just say that the coaching staff there, under Coach Mark Richt, has done a great job teaching their guys to play aggressive, attacking football. Whether it be offense or defense, they’re all no-nonsense guys. So we really like their work ethic, how they handle and carry themselves as people, and that says a lot about the program. I think you guys (media) would agree that they’re personable players. They’re always approachable, they’ve been trained the right way, and the Georgia people just do a great job of that.” Georgia’s pipeline to the Bengals has been a relatively recent connection. On the Bengals’ Alumni List, Georgia ranks only tied for ninth among schools in most players to have made the Cincinnati all-time roster. The Bulldog total is 14. The runaway leader for producing Bengals is Ohio State, at 26 entering this season. The University of Florida is second at 18, and third place at 16 is shared by the University of Cincinnati, Michigan, Penn State and West Virginia. Bengal bites: For the first time in franchise history, the Bengals have posted victories in three straight games played in the Pacific Time Zone. Their Dec. 1 win at San Diego followed a 2012 win at San Diego and a 2011 win at Seattle. Including the two-game streak they took last week to San Diego, the had three times won two in a row in PT games. The Bengals are now 15-34 all-time in PT games, which include contests in San Diego, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco and Seattle ... The Bengals have three blocked kicks this season, their most since the 1991 team had four. DE Carlos Dunlap has two blocked field goals and LB Jayson DiManche has a blocked punt ... On Nov. 10 at Baltimore, LB Vincent Rey became the only player in Bengals history with three sacks and an INT in a game ... Cincinnati’s defense ranks fourth in the NFL in fewest yards allowed per play (4.8) ... Bengals QB Andy Dalton has 15 career games with a passer rating of 100 or above, and the Bengals have won 14 of those. Cincinnati’s only loss with Dalton in triple digits was in the second game of his career, in 2011, when he posted a 107.0 in a 24-22 loss at Denver ... On Oct. 27 vs. the Jets, the Bengals had two INT returns for TDs (S Chris Crocker 32 yards, CB Adam Jones 60) for the first time since Dec. 16, 1984 vs. Buffalo, when S John Simmons had a 43-yarder and S James Griffin scored from 57 ... There have been no two-point conversion attempts in Bengals games this season. Since 1994, when the two-point conversion was added to the NFL rules, the Bengals are 17-for-46 (37.0 percent) and their opponents are 18-for-43 (41.9 percent) ... On Oct. 13 at Buffalo, the Bengals converted a fourth-down-and-15 play in the third quarter, on a 23-yard pass from Andy Dalton to Dane Sanzenbacher. It was the first Bengals fourth-down conversion of 15 or more yards since Nov. 7, 1999, when QB Jeff Blake rushed for 16 yards on a fourth-and-16 at Seattle ... On Sept. 22 against Green Bay, Cincinnati overcame its biggest deficit in a game — 16 points at 30-14 — since rallying from 17 down (20-3) in a 27-26 win at Baltimore on Dec. 5, 2004 ... The 58-yard field goal kicked by Chicago’s Robbie Gould against the Bengals on Sept. 8 stood as the longest in the NFL this season for 13 weeks, but it was eclipsed last week when Denver’s Matt Prater broke the league record with a 64-yarder vs. Tennessee ... QB Andy Dalton posted a career-best completion percentage on Sept. 8 at Chicago, completing 26-of-33 for a 78.7 percent reading. His previous high had been 78.1, on 25-of-32 on Oct. 16, 2011 vs. Indianapolis. ... Dalton on Sept. 8 led the offense on two TD drives of 90 or more yards (97 and 91), marking the first game in which the Bengals had two 90-yard TD drives since Boomer Esiason led two on Sept. 22, 1991 vs. Washington ... The oldest Bengal on the 53-player roster is LB James Harrison at 35 (born 5-4-78, four months earlier than CB Terence Newman, who also is 35); the youngest Bengal is HB Giovani Bernard at 22 (born 11-22-91) ... The tallest Bengal on the roster is OT Dennis Roland, standing 6-9; the shortest is WR Andrew Hawkins at 5-7 ... The heaviest Bengals on the roster are OTs Andre Smith and Andrew Whitworth, both at 335; the lightest Bengal is CB Adam Jones at 180.
— 13 —
BENGALS QUOTES QB Andy Dalton, on the state of the team, which has a three-game winning streak following a pair of road overtime losses: “We are playing with a lot of confidence right now. We know what we’re capable of doing. It’s about going out and performing each week. We have a lot of momentum. We have to keep it going through these last few games. Everything is there for us to accomplish but we haven’t accomplished anything yet.” Head coach Marvin Lewis, on the Bengals standing 5-1 in games in which the turnover differential has been even: “We’ve done some good things in other areas when that edge hasn’t been a factor. But if you look at the 256 games that will be played in the NFL this year, that turnover margin will always play the biggest part in the wins and losses.” Lewis, on TE Jermaine Gresham’s play vs. Indianapolis: “He did a good job again. He had a big catch, a big third-down catch where he gets the guy off him. The guy was grabbing him and holding him, and he’s able to press away and make a big catch. He got us in position a couple times by making plays. He scored a (one-yard) TD. He blocked well at the line of scrimmage. He had to protect a couple of times against their outside rushers, and did a good job.” S Chris Crocker, on seeing increased action in pure-cover situations: “I had to reinvent myself this year a little bit. I can still play safety, but my main job lately has been to cover. I feel really good and I think I’m playing well. It’s a new mindset because essentially you’re the third corner. You have to think like a corner. Your mindset isn’t as aggressive. Just that’s the job. That’s the hardest thing is mentally, that you have to prepare a different way.” Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, on S Chris Crocker becoming essentially a third CB: “He’s smart. He understands concepts, and teams’ favorite plays and routes. A lot of the good nickel backs that are older in age, they are crafty in there, and he’s showing he’s one of them.” Lewis, on the injury-related line shuffle that has Anthony Collins becoming the No. 1 LOT and OT Andrew Whitworth switching to LG: “Andrew will do whatever we want him to do, and he’s up for it all. That’s the kind of team player and team leader he is, an invaluable guy on the field and an invaluable guy in the locker room. As for Anthony Collins, we’ve got great confidence in A.C.” Lewis, comparing second-year LB Vontaze Burfict with a young Ray Lewis: “I think they have a uniqueness of leadership. I think as a young player, Vontaze is very parallel to where Ray was. Right away there’s just an air. Once they hit campus, they showed special qualities of leadership that most young players don’t have, but yet a humbleness and a knowing where their place is. Getting behind the veteran players, learning from them, being a fly on the wall with them but yet, when their time comes as a player, to not be shy, to really hold up their end of the bargain.” HB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, on splitting carries with rookie Giovani Bernard: “In a perfect world, that would be the plan. Hopefully we take some of the wear and tear off both of our bodies. That’s the ultimate goal when you get around this time of year, that we’re still fresh and the defenses are not as fresh. Other teams aren’t as fresh as we are, so even their backs are taking more of the load, and hopefully they’re wearing down and we’re still good to go.” Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, on the team’s varied weapons, and on players having periods of less statistical production: “I like the diversity. I like keeping people fresh. If you have a number of guys that can help you, then we should never have a guy say he’s tired. So we can sub guys in and out and guys can be fresh and playing fast. Sometimes, in the course of the game, some people will get shut out, so to speak, not because of their lack of playing good. It’s just maybe the ball’s not getting there.” Gruden, on TEs Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert: “I don’t think a lot of people have two tight ends like we have. We are just trying to make it hard for the poor coach on the other team to break us down (in
game-planning). We’re just scratching the surface here, but I think we’re throwing a lot at defensive coordinators and making them work a little bit.” TE Jermaine Gresham, on rookie TE Tyler Eifert: “Tyler’s a stud in all aspects. Run and pass block, and you know he can run routes. Watch him more and more, and you see he’s a complete tight end.” Lewis, QB Andy Dalton needing to show leadership and also get support from the rest of the offense: “The quarterback’s got to play care-free, where he can deliver the ball and know where the receiver is going to be. It can’t be happenstance. He’s got to know it. I tell Andy (Dalton), you’ve got to get those guys to play to your standard. You’ve got to get them right, and it’s up to you that if they’re not right, you’ve got to make the corrections. That’s what his job is. As coaches we’ve got to make sure that he’s not having the brunt on his shoulders all the time. We’ve got to get him protected, we can’t get him jostled around and get beaten right away.” Green-Ellis, on aiding QB Andy Dalton as a team leader: “I want to lead by example, and when guys ask questions, just answer them. Obviously, it’s a quarterback-driven league, so Andy is going to be a natural leader, but we also have to have guys in place around him. As you know, if you build any company it all starts from the top, but you also have to have good managers to manage each and every group for things to go on.” Lewis, on the positive team influence of LB James Harrison: “His professionalism, how he prepares, how he practices. His just not wanting to ever be wrong, to make a mistake. He wants to be in the right spot and to understand what his responsibilities are, I think that rubs off. He understands that breakdowns and mental errors get you beat. Sometimes people dismiss that too easily. He doesn’t dismiss that. He wants to be right.” Running backs coach Hue Jackson, on ramping up the running game for the finishing stretch of the season: “I truly believe that as you go through the rest of the season, that’s what’s going to have a chance to carry you. We can keep continuing to build that part of the offense so when that time comes, we can dictate what we want to do rather than people dictating to us. We have two fine runners, and at the end of the day we’re going to have to ride them both.” Jackson, on rookie HB Giovani Bernard: “He’s a good football player. He’s a tough football player. That’s why we brought him here. I try not to give all these accolades, because at the end of the day, that’s what they’re here for: to play good. He knows that. But the thing I’m most impressed by in him is that the season is two-thirds over and he hasn’t missed a beat. So we got the right guy. At the end of the day, that’s what you want to feel good about. We knew it when we drafted him.” Gruden, on HB Giovani Bernard making a great reverse-field play on Oct. 31 at Miami but also losing crucial extra yards when he tried to reverse in OT in the next game at Baltimore: “As soon as you start telling a guy like that where to run and how to run, you put handcuffs on him and he becomes ordinary. We will take the bad with the good, and hopefully great comes out of it.” WR A.J. Green, on having dropped a few easy catches this season: “Coming into this year, the whole thing I was thinking about was getting more yards after the catch. But on the easy ones, I’ve tended to take my head out and run before I catch it. I can’t do that. It’s easy to make the hard catch look easy, but I’ve got to concentrate more when I’m wide open.” HB Giovani Bernard, on success gaining yards after short receptions: “He (Andy Dalton) is throwing it to me for a reason, that I can run away from people. Sometimes there are safeties that come down, but most of the time it’s linebackers that are a little bit delayed, because they have to read so much inside and it kind of slows them down. But I’m full speed out of the backfield.” Zimmer, on his pre-game routine: “This is going to sound stupid. Every week I’ve got this little prayer I say. ‘Let me make the right calls with the right adjustments. Let the players play smart and
— 14 —
(Bengals quotes, continued)
with great unity.’ As long as they do that, I’m good. I say it about 100 times. Because I’m a nervous son of a gun, it helps calm me a little bit.” DE Wallace Gilberry, on his success in Cincinnati after being cut last year by Tampa Bay: “The Bengals gave me an opportunity. It’s different. If Coach Marvin (Lewis) tells you something, it’s what he means. When he brought me in and told me about the opportunity, he said, ‘It’s what you do with it. It’s up to you.’ And they have given me the opportunity and I made the best of it. Here I am now a year (from signing) and I’m still in the same position. I’ll do anything I can to help this team win. I’ll do anything I can to help this defense win. Anything I can to help my D-line win, that’s what I’ll do.” WR Marvin Jones, on seeing action as both an offensive player and a special teams player: “It’s what I do; I can run. I can run all day. Conditioning has never been a problem for me. I can play on an 11-, 12-, 14-play drive and then go down and cover a punt.” Lewis, on veteran players mentoring younger ones: “Veteran guys want to win. They know the clock is running and you only have so many chances. And you only have so many players, so sooner or later those young guys are going to be called on. You want to make sure they are ready to go when they step in that huddle with you. The mentoring of the young guys, and creating mentoring depth on the football team is very, very important.”
OT Andrew Whitworth, on emphasizing the rushing game: “The one thing about the running game is, the only way to stop it once a team gets rolling is to adjust. And if you have to adjust, most times it means coverage-wise, and you lose the good coverages you like to be in. That’s when receivers start to get open.” Dalton, on the Bengals defense: “It’s definitely fun to watch those guys go out and play. They’re doing so many good things, and to see what they do to a guy like Tom Brady ... And what they’ve done to a lot of these quarterbacks — they’re some of the best in the league; they’re playing unbelievable.” ESPN NFL analyst and six-time NFL Executive of the Year Bill Polian, on Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, speaking on ESPN’s “NFL Insiders”: “Marvin Lewis is one of the great developers of young people and the characters of young people in this game. He’s in the mold of Tony Dungy. He’s a terrific role model, as well as a terrific coach. ... This is the best team that nobody knows.” CB Adam Jones, on special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons: “He’s helped me a lot. About ball control and going up and making hard catches. Just believing in myself to make the play for the team. I’m not going to say I was lacking a little bit, but he’s got tremendous confidence in me. His preparation for the opponent is unbelievable. If anyone is half-decent on special teams, Darrin knows about him. He does a good job breaking down film and making sure everyone understands what they need to do.”
POSITION BY POSITION Quarterbacks: After suffering slow starts in each of his previous four games, Andy Dalton charged out of the gate with an opening-drive touchdown pass against Indianapolis. He didn’t stop there, finishing at 24-for-35 passing (68.6 percent) for 275 yards with three TDs and no INTs, good for a passer rating of 120.5. He also added an eight-yard TD run, finishing five-for-11 rushing. Dalton’s TD passes went for 29 yards to Marvin Jones, one yard to Jermaine Gresham and nine yards to A.J. Green. For the season, Dalton has thrown 290-for-468 (62 percent) for 3419 yards with 25 TDs and 16 INTs, good for a passer rating of 87.7. He has rushed 50-for-130 with two TDs. Last season, Dalton became the first QB to lead the Bengals to playoff appearances in his first two seasons; and this season, he is looking to become only the fifth starting QB in NFL history to reach the playoffs in his first three seasons. No. 2 QB Josh Johnson was Active-DNP vs. Indianapolis, as he was in Games 1-7 and 9-12. He has played in one game this season, Oct. 27 vs. the Jets, and did not attempt a pass while rushing three-for-17 (5.7). He posted an 83.3 passer rating for the preseason, on 27-for-49 for 275 yards, with three TDs and one INT. Johnson finished preseason with an 11.9-yard rushing average (12-for-143). He joined the Bengals for 2013 as an unrestricted free agent. He has 28 games of NFL experience with five starts, having seen most of his action with Tampa Bay. Running backs: The Bengals rushing attack was effective for the second week in a row, totaling 155 yards on 35 carries vs. Indianapolis. Giovani Bernard led the way with a team season-high 99 yards on 12 carries (8.3). Bernard also caught four-for-49 to lead the Bengals in scrimmage yards with 148. It was his fifth time leading the Bengals in scrimmage yards this season. For the season, Bernard has rushed 131-for-620 with four TDs, and has caught 47-for-403 with three TDs. He ranks second on the team in scrimmage yards (1023) and receptions (47), and third on the team in TDs (seven). BenJarvus Green-Ellis was not as efficient as Bernard with yards-per-carry, but he was able to power his way into the end zone on two occasions. Green-Ellis ran 17-for-48 (2.8) with two TDs. It was Green-Ellis’ first two-TD game since 1-1-12 vs. Buffalo, while a member of the New England Patriots. For the season, Green-Ellis has rushed 193-for-662 (3.4) with six TDs and has caught three-for-12. Cedric Peerman is the No. 3 HB. He played on special teams vs. Indianapolis, tying for the team lead with two tackles. Peerman has rushed six-for-11 on the season, all against the N.Y. Jets, while remaining a special teams stalwart. Rookie Rex Burkhead was inactive (coaches’ decision) vs. Indianapolis. He has been inactive for 12 of the first 13 contests. He made his NFL debut on special teams in Game 10 at Baltimore (no statistics). He was slowed by a hamstring injury for the first half of the season. In preseason, Burkhead rushed 28-for-130 (4.6) with one TD and caught five passes for 39 yards. Wide receivers: Bengals flagship WR A.J. Green caught six-for-72 with a touchdown vs. Indianapolis. His TD went for nine yards in the corner of the end zone, his eighth of the season (tied for team high). Green has six 100-yard receiving games on the season, including five in a row (both club records). For
the season, Green has caught 78-for-1175 with eight TDs (tied for team lead). He is fifth in the NFL in receptions and sixth in receiving yards. Marvin Jones exhibited his big play ability vs. Indianapolis, catching three-for-60 with a TD. On his TD he went for 29 yards, streaking down the sideline on the Bengals opening offensive possession. Jones has caught 35-for-518 with eight TDs (tied for team lead) on the season, and has rushed six-for-59. He set a club record for receiving TDs with four on Oct. 27 vs. the N.Y. Jets, and he ranks second in receiving yards. Second-year pro Mohamed Sanu started his 11th game of the season vs. Indianapolis, and caught two-for-26. For the season, he has caught 39-for-388 with a TD. Andrew Hawkins played in his fifth game of the year in the Indianapolis contest and caught one-for-seven. For the season, he has caught six-for-88 and has rushed two-for-three. Hawkins had a key 50-yard catch on Dec. 1 vs. San Diego to set up a field goal and make it a two-score game. He missed Games 1-8 with an ankle injury. Fifth-year pro Brandon Tate did not play on offense in the Indianapolis contest but served as the primary kickoff and punt returner. He has one catch for six yards on the season. Third-year pro Dane Sanzenbacher was inactive (coaches’ decision) vs. Indianapolis. He has played in nine games this season and has caught five-for-54, including a key catch in the final seconds on Oct. 20 at Detroit to help set up the winning field goal. Third-year pro Ryan Whalen was inactive for the Indianapolis contest. He has been active for four games and was a game-day inactive for the other nine. He does not have a reception. Tight ends/H-back: After failing to record a catch in the previous game, Jermaine Gresham got back on track against Indianapolis. He caught five-for-41 with a TD. His TD went for one yard in the third quarter, halting 14 unanswered points by the Colts. Gresham has played in 12 games this season, having missed the Nov. 10 game at Baltimore with a groin injury. He has caught 40-for-389 with three TDs on the season. He ranks third on the team in receptions and tied for third in receiving TDs. Rookie TE Tyler Eifert caught three-for-20 vs. Indianapolis and has caught 35-for-406 with a TD on the season. He has started every game and ranks third on the team in receiving yards. Third TE Alex Smith did not have a catch vs. Indianapolis, but Smith has played in every game this season (one start). He has two catches for five yards, with a TD catch in the Nov. 17 win vs. Cleveland. H-back Orson Charles was inactive (coaches’ decision) for the Indianapolis contest. He has played in 11 games. He has no offensive statistics, but ranks fifth on the team in special teams tackles (seven). Offensive linemen: Against Indianapolis, the line helped keep QB Andy Dalton sack-free for the third straight game, and its blocking helped power the offense to 155 rushing yards, the second consecutive game over 150 yards on the ground. The line again played with a shuffled lineup due to the season-ending injury to starting LG Clint Boling in the Dec. 1 San Diego game. Andrew Whitworth moved from his LOT spot to Boling’s LG spot, with Anthony Collins playing LOT. Collins, a sixth-year pro, has been a valuable and often-used No. 3
— 15 —
(Position by position, continued)
OT. He has four starts this season and has played in 12 games. At RG, sixth-year pro Mike Pollak started for the third straight game, replacing Kevin Zeitler, who has missed the last three contests with a foot injury. Zeitler was active for the Indianapolis contest but did not play. A Pro Bowler at OT in 2012, Whitworth has started 10 games at LOT this season and one at LG, missing two with injuries. ROT Andre Smith has played in all 13 games and started 12. Smith was a major Bengals re-signing for 2013, allowing the team to concentrate on other positions early in the draft. He’s a solid pass protector and has the ability to gain recognition as one of the league’s most powerful run-blockers. C Kyle Cook has started all 13 games and is en route to being back in a starting role for a full season after missing the first 12 games of last season with an ankle injury. Cook had entered 2012 with a streak of 50 consecutive Bengals starts. Back after a promising rookie season at C is Trevor Robinson, who played 13 games with seven starts in 2012. Robinson played on special teams vs. Indianapolis, and he saw some action at center on Nov. 17 vs. Cleveland. Robinson was active-DNP for Games 1-6 this season and had been inactive (coaches’ decision) for Games 7-10. G Tanner Hawkinson, a rookie fifth-round draft pick from Kansas, has been on the roster all season but is looking for his first game action. He has been active-DNP for Games 1, 3, 9 and 13 and inactive for Games 2 and 4-8 and 10-12. OT Dennis Roland, re-signed as a free agent on Dec. 3, was inactive (coaches’ decision) for the Indianapolis contest. Roland played in Games 1-3 before being released prior to Game 4. Defensive linemen: The Bengals defensive line became recognized last season as one of the NFL’s best, but has had to deal with a season-ending injury (ACL tear) to All-Pro DT Geno Atkins. Second-year pro Brandon Thompson has taken the place of Atkins as the starting DT. He has played in every game on the season and started the last four. Thompson recorded one tackle vs. Indianapolis. On the season, Thompson has 38 tackles, with 1.5 sacks. He also has three QB pressures. Cincinnati’s other interior line starter is NT Domata Peko, a locker room leader who is back for his eighth season. He logged two tackles, including one for a loss, and one QB pressure vs. Indianapolis. On the season, Peko has 55 tackles, 2.5 sacks and four QB pressures. He led the line last season in tackles (80), his fourth time to lead in the last five seasons. At DE, the Bengals present their greatest sack potential in many years. Michael Johnson returns as the starting RDE after logging 11.5 sacks last season, second-most by a Bengal since 1983. He was designated as Cincinnati’s franchise player for 2013. Against Indianapolis, Johnson had five tackles (tied for line lead), one pass defensed and three QB pressures. For the season, Johnson has 56 tackles (second on line), 3.0 sacks, eight passes defensed (leads line), an interception, two forced fumbles and a tied-for-team-high 29 QB pressures. At LDE, fourth-year pro Carlos Dunlap has hit 2013 on the heels of signing a five-year contract extension (through 2018). At San Diego, Dunlap recorded five tackles (tied for line lead), including one for a loss, a pass defensed and three QB pressures. For the season, Dunlap leads the line with 58 tackles, has a team-leading four forced fumbles, six passes defensed, is tied for the team lead with 29 QB pressures and leads with seven tackles-for-loss. Cincinnati’s talent at DE goes still further, as sixth-year pro Wallace Gilberry returns after posting 6.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries last season. Gilberry was a major pleasant surprise last season after being picked up in September as a free agent, and he has picked up where he left off last season. Gilberry has played in every game (two starts) but did not post any statistics in the Indianapolis contest. On the season he has 31 tackles, 6.5 sacks (second on team), a forced fumble, two passes defensed and 16 QB pressures. Second-year DT Devon Still played his second consecutive contest vs. Indianapolis after missing four games with an elbow injury. He did not record a tackle but did have a pass defensed. For the season, Still has five tackles and three passes defensed. Rookie DE Margus Hunt was active for his seventh game of the season vs. Indianapolis. He did not record any official statistics but was credited with three QB pressures by the coaches, tied for the team lead. Hunt has played in Games 5 and 8-13, and has two tackles and five QB pressures. He was inactive (coaches’ decision) for Games 1-4 and 6-7. A native of the northern European country of Estonia, Hunt never played football until at Southern Methodist University, where he initially enrolled as a world-class track thrower. DT Christo Bilukidi was inactive for the Indianapolis contest for his second game on the roster. He was signed as a free agent on Nov. 20. Linebackers: WLB Vontaze Burfict has started every game, and he led the team with 10 tackles vs. Indianapolis. It was his 10th time in 13 games to either lead the team or share the team lead in tackles. He also had two passes defensed. Burfict leads the team with 169 tackles on the season, 78 ahead of his nearest competition. He had an interception on Sept. 8 at Chicago and has 10 passes defensed on the season, tops among the front seven and third on the
team. He also has one sack, two fumble recoveries and eight QB pressures and is tied for second on the team with six tackles-for-loss. Last year, he produced arguably the best rookie season in Bengals history by a college free agent, leading the team with 174 tackles. In 12 games this season, Burfict has led the team in tackles nine times, tied for the lead once, finished second once and tied for second once. No. 1 MLB Rey Maualuga started for the second straight game in the Indianapolis contest, after missing three games with a knee injury and a concussion. He recorded four tackles vs. Indianapolis. Despite his missed time, Maualuga is second on the team with 91 tackles on the season. Maualuga re-signed with the Bengals for 2013 as an unrestricted free agent. He was second on the team last season in tackles (152). Vincent Rey, a third-year pro in 2013, ranked second on the team with six tackles vs. Indianapolis. Rey has played in every game this season (three starts) has 49 tackles, including six for losses (tied for second on team). He has 3.0 sacks, three passes defensed, an interception, a fumble recovery, three QB pressures and is tied for second on the team with 10 special teams tackles. On Nov. 10 at Baltimore, Rey became the first player in Bengals history with three sacks and an INT in the same game. The team has a major free agent addition in former Steeler James Harrison, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Harrison has played in Games 1-13 (nine starts) and had one tackle and one QB pressure vs. Indianapolis. For the season, Harrison has 36 tackles, including four for-loss, 2.0 sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and seven QB pressures. One college free agent — Jayson DiManche of Northern Illinois — survived the initial roster cut to 53. DiManche played briefly on defense and on special teams vs. Indianapolis and tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles. DiManche has played in every game and has recorded three tackles on defense and is tied for second on the team with 10 special teams tackles. DiManche had a key play on Nov. 17 vs. Cleveland as he blocked a Spencer Lanning punt that was recovered by the Bengals and returned for a TD. Ninth-year pro Michael Boley, signed Oct. 1 as a free agent, has played Games 5-8 and 11-13 and has five tackles on defense and one on special teams for the season. His lone special teams tackle came vs. Indianapolis. First-year player J.K. Schaffer played in his fifth consecutive contest in the Colts game. He played on special teams with one tackle. For the season, Schaffer has three tackles on defense and three on special teams. Defensive backs: Terence Newman has started every game at LCB, and he recorded four tackles vs. Indianapolis, but Newman left the game in the fourth quarter due to a knee injury. His status for the Pittsburgh game is undetermined. On the season, Newman has 51 tackles (second in secondary), two INTs and a team-leading 14 passes defensed. Newman scored Cincinnati’s winning TD on Sept. 22 vs. Green Bay, as he ran 58 yards in the fourth quarter with a ball originally recovered but subsequently fumbled by the Bengals. Adam Jones has taken over the starting RCB job, following the Achilles injury that ended Leon Hall’s season on Oct. 20 at Detroit. Jones had three tackles and two passes defensed in the Indianapolis contest. Both of his passes defensed were on third down, forcing punts. He has played in all 13 games this season (10 starts), and has 47 tackles, two interceptions (one returned for a TD), 13 passes defensed (second on team), a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries (tied for team lead). Starting FS Reggie Nelson had one tackle and one pass defensed vs. Indianapolis. Nelson is tied for the team in fumble recoveries (two) and INTs (two) and has 41 tackles on defense and four on special teams. He also has one sack, five passes defensed and three QB pressures. His first INT helped preserve the Game 2 victory over Pittsburgh. The top spot on the depth chart at SS is held by second-year pro George Iloka of Boise State, who had three tackles vs. Indianapolis. He left the game in the third quarter after suffering a hit to the head. He starts the week under the concussion protocol but could have a chance to play at Pittsburgh. Iloka leads the secondary with 59 tackles on the season (third on team), and he has five passes defensed and two forced fumbles. Eleventh-year pro Chris Crocker re-joined the Bengals as a free agent on Sept. 25 and has played in Games 4-10 and 12-13 (two starts). He was inactive in Game 11 due to a hamstring injury. Crocker played in the Indianapolis contest but did not record any statistics. For the season, he has 27 tackles, six passes defensed, one INT (returned for a TD) and a shared sack. Second-year CB Dre Kirkpatrick saw increased snaps vs. Indianapolis after the injuries in the secondary. Kirkpatrick led the secondary with five tackles and had one special teams stop. He has played in 11 games, with 15 tackles on defense and four on special teams. He also has one sack, an INT and one pass defensed. His first career interception occurred at San Diego when he won a contested ball from Chargers TE Antonio Gates. Fourth-year CB Brandon Ghee played in his sixth consecutive game vs. Indianapolis after being inactive for Games 5-7 with a thigh injury. He played briefly on defense but did not record any statistics. Ghee missed the first three games due to a concussion. He has six tackles and four passes defensed on the season. Rookie S Shawn Williams, a third-round draft
— 16 —
(Position by position, continued)
pick from Georgia, has played in Games 1-13 and leads the team with 12 special teams tackles. He tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles vs. Indianapolis. He made a crucial play on special teams on Nov. 17 Cleveland, as he deflected a punt that ended up going only nine yards. The Bengals followed up with a five-play TD drive. S Tony Dye was inactive (coaches’ decision) for the Indianapolis game. In his NFL debut on Nov. 17 vs. Cleveland, Dye scooped up LB Jayson DiManche’s blocked punt and returned in 24 yards for a TD. Special teams: WR Brandon Tate enjoyed a big day in the return game vs. Indianapolis, breaking both a long kick return and punt return. Tate returned a third quarter kickoff 44 yards to help set up for a Bengals touchdown. In the fourth, he broke a punt return 43 yards to help set up another score. It was his and the team’s longest punt return of the season. Tate averaged 28.7 yards on three kickoff returns and 18.3 yards on four punt returns against the Colts. For the season, Tate is averaging 26.0 yards on 27 kickoff returns, good for sixth in the AFC. He is averaging 9.4 yards on 29 punt returns, ranking seventh in the AFC. Following the Indianapolis game, Tate has moved from third to second in franchise history in punt return average, raising from 9.60 to 9.94 (1014 yards on 101 returns). After booming a career-long 75-yard punt the previous week at San Diego, P Kevin Huber hit a 70-yard punt vs. Indianapolis. He also connected on a 65-yard punt, and finished with five punts for 253 yards, good for a gross of 50.6. His net average was 42.6, and he had one inside-20 kick and two touchbacks. For the season, Huber has a gross average of 45.3 with a net of 41.6, and has 24 inside-20s and four touchbacks. His 41.6 net average ranks
fifth in the NFL, and he ranks tied for 11th in ratio of inside-20s to touchbacks at plus-20. Huber had an outstanding 2012 campaign, setting club records for gross punting average (46.6 yards) and net average (42.0). The fifth-year pro also has qualified as the franchise career leader in gross (now 44.2) and net (now 39.3). K Mike Nugent did not attempt a field goal vs. Indianapolis, but did convert on all six of his extra point opportunities. Nugent has made two game winning FGs on the season, a 54-yarder at the fourth-quarter gun on Oct. 20 at Detroit and a 43-yarder in overtime on Oct. 13 at Buffalo. Nugent is 16-for-20 this season on FGs and 40-for-41 on PATs, having had a PAT blocked vs. Green Bay due to a protection breakdown. In 2011, Nugent set club records for field goals (33) and points (132), and in 2012 he tied the Bengals record for longest field goal, with a 55-yarder. He re-signed with Cincinnati this past offseason as an unrestricted free agent. On 68 kickoffs this season, Nugent has reached the end zone 54 times, with 27 going for touchbacks. LS Clark Harris has played in every Bengals game since joining the team in October of 2009, and he has had no unplayable snaps. His Bengals snap total through the San Diego game is at 677 (362 punts and 315 placekicks). He has three special teams tackles, and he had a key downed punt in the Oct. 20 win at Detroit, pinning the Lions at their six to help set field position for Cincinnati’s winning field goal. CB Adam Jones did not have a punt return vs. Indianapolis and is averaging 8.0 yards on 11 punt returns for the season. Jones has five career punt returns for TDs, including one as a Bengal. On coverage teams vs. Indianapolis, S Shawn Williams, LB Jayson DiManche and HB Cedric Peerman all recorded two tackles. Williams leads the team in special teams tackles (12), and DiManche ranks tied for second with LB Vincent Rey (10). Peerman is fourth on the team with eight.
— 17 —
IMPORTANT DATES 2013
Dec. 27 — Deadline for waiver requests in 2013, except for “special waiver requests,” which have a 10-day claiming period, with termination or assignment delayed until after the Super Bowl. Dec. 30 — Clubs may begin signing free-agent players for the 2014 season.
2014 Jan. 4-5 — Wild Card Playoff Games. Jan. 11-12 — Divisional Playoff Games. Jan. 19 — AFC and NFC Championship Games. Jan. 26 — Pro Bowl, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Feb. 2 — Super Bowl XLVIII, MetLife Stadium, New York-New Jersey.
2015 Feb. 1 — Super Bowl XLIX, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona.
2016 Feb. 7* — Super Bowl L, Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco.
2017 Feb. 5* — Super Bowl LI, Reliant Stadium, Houston.
* NOTE: Date is tentative.
— 18 —
2013 GAME SUMMARIES
WEEK 1, GAME 1 Chicago Bears 24, Cincinnati Bengals 21
Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013 at Soldier Field The Bengals were on the wrong end of the seesaw at the conclusion of their season opener. Cincinnati rose to a 21-10 third-quarter lead after trailing 7-0, but the Bears came back to get the last two scores on TD drives of 80 yards in the third quarter and 81 yards in the fourth. The Bengals lost after leading through three quarters for only the 13th time in 75 opponent opportunities under head coach Marvin Lewis. The Bengals were burdened by a minus-two turnover differential. Bengals WR A.J. Green had nine receptions for 162 yards and two TDs, and he also drew a 34-yard pass interference penalty. His yardage total was the highest in Bengals history for a receiver in a season opener. Bengals QB Andy Dalton posted a 97.2 passer rating, and would have topped 100 had one well-thrown ball not been deflected of Green’s hands for a Chicago INT.
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 OT PTS. Cincinnati................................................... 7 7 7 0 — 21 Chicago ..................................................... 7 3 7 7 — 24
TEAM — SCORING PLAY QTR.-LEFT Chi. — M.Bennett 8 pass from J.Cutler (R.Gould kick) ............................................. 1-9:52 Cin. — A.Green 2 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) ............................................ 1-2:34 Cin. — A.Green 45 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) .......................................... 2-2:53 Chi. — R.Gould 58 field goal ..................................................................................... 2-0:11 Cin. — B.Green-Ellis 5 run (M.Nugent kick) .............................................................. 3-7:52 Chi. — M.Forte 1 run (R.Gould kick) ......................................................................... 3-3:22 Chi. — B.Marshall 19 pass from J.Cutler (R.Gould kick) .......................................... 4-7:58 Missed FGs: None. Attendance: 62,213. Time: 2:54.
TEAM STATISTICS CIN. CHI. First downs ..................................................................................................... 18 17 Third down conversions-attempts ............................................................... 7-11 6-14 Total net yards ............................................................................................. 340 323 Net yards rushing ........................................................................................... 63 81 Net yards passing ........................................................................................ 277 242 Pass attempts-completions-interceptions .............................................. 33-26-2 33-21-1 Sacks against-yards lost ............................................................................... 1-5 0-0 Punts-average .......................................................................................... 4-48.3 5-46.4 Punt returns-yards ....................................................................................... 1-13 2-1 Kickoff returns-yards ..................................................................................... 0-0 1-31 Penalties-yards ........................................................................................... 8-84 4-59 Fumbles-lost .................................................................................................. 2-1 0-0 Time of possession ................................................................................... 28:30 31:30
RUSHING CIN. ATT YDS LG TD CHI. ATT YDS LG TD B.Green-Ellis 14 25 10 1 M.Forte 19 50 9 1 G.Bernard 4 22 7 0 J.Cutler 3 16 18 0 M.Jones 1 14 14 0 M.Bush 6 15 7 0 A.Dalton 2 2 3 0 TOTALS 21 63 14 1 TOTALS 28 81 18 1
PASSING CIN. ATT CMP YDS TD-I CHI. ATT CMP YDS TD-I A.Dalton 33 26 282 2-2 J.Cutler 33 21 242 2-1 TOTALS 33 26 282 2-2 TOTALS 33 21 242 2-1
RECEIVING CIN. NO YDS LG TD CHI. NO YDS LG TD A.Green 9 162 45t 2 B.Marshall 8 104 38 1 T.Eifert 5 47 17 0 A.Jeffery 5 42 18 0 J.Gresham 5 35 12 0 M.Forte 4 41 24 0 M.Sanu 4 19 8 0 M.Bennett 3 49 30 1 G.Bernard 1 8 8 0 E.Bennett 1 6 5 0 M.Jones 1 7 7 0 B.Green-Ellis 1 4 4 0 TOTALS 26 282 45t 2 TOTALS 21 242 38 2
DEFENSE Cincinnati (coaches’ stats) — ST-AT-TT: V.Burfict 8-6-14, R.Maualuga 6-3-9, L.Hall 6-1-7, M.Johnson 2-3-5, G.Iloka 3-1-4, T.Newman 3-1-4, A.Jones 3-0-3, J.Harrison 2-1-3, T.Mays 2-1-3, G.Atkins 1-2-3, C.Dunlap 1-2-3, D.Peko 2-0-2, R.Nelson 1-0-1, B.Thompson 1-0-1, R.Geathers 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: None. INT.-YDS.: V.Burfict 1-12. PD: L.Hall 2, V.Burfict 1, C.Dunlap 1, D.Still 1. FF: None. FR-YDS.: None. Chicago (press box stats) — ST-AT-TT: T.Jennings 6-2-8, C.Tillman 5-2-7, L.Briggs 4-3-7, M.Wright 3-4-7, S.Paea 2-5-7, Ja.Anderson 3-2-5, I.Frey 3-1-4, S.McClellin 1-3-4, D.Williams 1-2-3, C.Wootton 0-2-2, C.Conte 1-0-1, N.Collins 0-1-1, H.Melton 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: S.McClellin 0.5-2.5, S.Paea 0.5-2.5. INT.-YDS.: C.Tillman 2-41. PD: Ja.Anderson 2, C.Tillman 2, L.Briggs 1. FF: T.Jennings 2. FR-YDS.: T.Jennings 1-0.
WEEK 2, GAME 2 Cincinnati Bengals 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 10
Monday, Sept. 16, 2013 at Paul Brown Stadium The Bengals emerged from an unsteady first half and rolled from a 10-10 intermission tie to a convincing win over the Steelers. During the third quarter and the early fourth quarter, while the Bengals were going from the 10-10 tie to their 20-10 lead, they gained 168 offensive yards while holding the Steelers to a net of minus-two. Rookie HB Giovani Bernard scored both Cincinnati TDs, on a seven-yard run in the first quarter and on a 27-yard reception in the third period. The Cincinnati defense, led by LBs Rey Maualuga (12 tackles) and Vontaze Burfict (11), held the Steelers to 44 rushing yards, Pittsburgh’s lowest total against the Bengals since 26 on Sept. 19, 1982. The Bengals improved to 1-1, while the Steelers fell to 0-2.
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 OT PTS. Pittsburgh .................................................. 3 7 0 0 — 10 Cincinnati ................................................... 7 3 7 3 — 20
TEAM — SCORING PLAY QTR.-LEFT Pitt. — S.Suisham 44 field goal ............................................................................... 1-10:42 Cin. — G.Bernard 7 run (M.Nugent kick) ................................................................... 1-0:57 Cin. — M.Nugent 41 field goal ................................................................................. 2-13:16 Pitt. — D.Moye 1 pass from B.Roethlisberger (S.Suisham kick) .............................. 2-1:54 Cin. — G.Bernard 27 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) ....................................... 3-6:08 Cin. — M.Nugent 25 field goal ................................................................................... 4-7:51 Missed FGs: None. Attendance: 64,585. Time: 3:09.
TEAM STATISTICS PITT. CIN. First downs ..................................................................................................... 14 22 Third down conversions-attempts ............................................................... 3-12 7-17 Total net yards .............................................................................................. 278 407 Net yards rushing ........................................................................................... 44 127 Net yards passing ......................................................................................... 234 280 Pass attempts-completions-interceptions .............................................. 37-20-1 45-25-0 Sacks against-yards lost ............................................................................. 2-17 0-0 Punts-average .......................................................................................... 7-46.6 7-46.6 Punt returns-yards ....................................................................................... 2-37 5-27 Kickoff returns-yards ................................................................................... 2-54 1-17 Penalties-yards ............................................................................................ 3-29 9-84 Fumbles-lost .................................................................................................. 1-1 0-0 Time of possession ................................................................................... 24:26 35:34
RUSHING PITT. ATT YDS LG TD CIN. ATT YDS LG TD F.Jones 10 37 14 0 B.Green-Ellis 22 75 14 0 B.Roethlisberger 1 6 6 0 G.Bernard 8 38 8 1 I.Redman 3 4 2 0 A.Dalton 3 10 4 0 J.Dwyer 1 2 2 0 M.Sanu 1 4 4 0 J.Cotchery 1 -5 -5 0 TOTALS 16 44 14 0 TOTALS 34 127 14 1
PASSING PITT. ATT CMP YDS TD-I CIN. ATT CMP YDS TD-I B.Roethlisberger 37 20 251 1-1 A.Dalton 45 25 280 1-0 TOTALS 37 20 251 1-1 TOTALS 45 25 280 1-0
RECEIVING PITT. NO YDS LG TD CIN. NO YDS LG TD A.Brown 6 57 18 0 J.Gresham 6 66 26 0 E.Sanders 5 78 43 0 A.Green 6 41 10 0 J.Cotchery 3 59 31 0 M.Sanu 5 40 14 0 D.Paulson 3 49 34 0 T.Eifert 3 66 61 0 I.Redman 2 7 6 0 M.Jones 3 35 16 0 D.Moye 1 1 1t 1 G.Bernard 1 27 27t 1 B.Green-Ellis 1 5 5 0 TOTALS 20 251 43 1 TOTALS 25 280 61 1
DEFENSE Pittsburgh (press box stats) — ST-AT-TT: T.Polamalu 4-5-9, L.Timmons 4-4-8, R.Clark 4-3-7, V.Williams 4-3-7, J.Jones 6-0-6, I.Taylor 6-0-6, E.Hood 4-2-6, W.Gay 4-1-5, S.Thomas 3-1-4, K.Wilson 2-2-4, L.Woodley 2-1-3, B.Keisel 1-2-3, S.McLendon 0-2-2, J.Worilds 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: None. INT.-YDS.: None. PD: C.Heyward 1, B.Keisel 1, T.Polamalu 1, I.Taylor 1. FF: None. FR-YDS.: None. Cincinnati (coaches’ stats) — ST-AT-TT: R.Maualuga 8-4-12, V.Burfict 5-6-11, T.Newman 5-1-6, A.Jones 5-0-5, L.Hall 2-3-5, W.Gilberry 1-2-3, G.Iloka 1-2-3, C.Dunlap 1-1-2, M.Johnson 1-1-2, T.Mays 1-1-2, D.Peko 1-1-2, B.Thompson 0-2-2. SKS.-YDS.: G.Atkins 1-11, C.Dunlap 0.5-3, D.Peko 0.5-3. INT.-YDS.: R.Nelson 1-0. PD: T.Newman 2, L.Hall 1, R.Nelson 1. FF: A.Jones 1. FR-YDS.: A.Jones 1-0.
— 19 —
(2013 game summaries, continued)
WEEK 3, GAME 3 Cincinnati Bengals 34, Green Bay Packers 30
Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013 at Paul Brown Stadium In one of the wilder games of the Bengals’ 46-season annals, Cincinnati led 14-0, only to trail 30-14, only to come back for a four-point win. Cincinnati became the first NFL team since Dallas in 1999 (at Washington) to give up 30 or more unanswered points in a contest and win. The Packers appeared close to holding on for a victory near the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter, when they led 30-27 and gained an apparent first down at the Cincinnati 29-yard line. But Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis challenged the play, and a reversal put Green Bay facing fourth-and-one at the 30. On fourth-and-one, not only was RB Johnathan Franklin stopped for no gain by DE Michael Johnson, Johnson forced a fumble that S Reggie Nelson returned six yards to the 35. Then Nelson fumbled, hit by TE Andrew Quarless, but Bengals CB Terence Newman recovered at the Cincinnati 42 and ran 58 yards untouched to the end zone. The Packers drove to a first down at the Cincinnati 25 with 1:40 remaining, but Packers QB Aaron Rodgers managed only a five-yard completion and three incompletions on the next four plays. The Bengals improved to 2-1, while Green Bay fell to 1-2.
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 OT PTS. Green Bay ................................................. 0 16 14 0 — 30 Cincinnati................................................. 14 0 7 13 — 34
TEAM — SCORING PLAY QTR.-LEFT Cin. — G.Bernard 3 run (M.Nugent kick) ................................................................... 1-9:20 Cin. — B.Green-Ellis 2 run (M.Nugent kick) .............................................................. 1-9:08 G.B. — M.Crosby 41 field goal ................................................................................. 1-14:57 G.B. — M.Jennings 24 fumble return (M.Crosby kick) ............................................. 2-11:22 G.B. — M.Crosby 19 field goal ................................................................................... 2-6:32 G.B. — M.Crosby 26 field goal ................................................................................... 2-0:00 G.B. — J.Franklin 2 run (M.Crosby kick) .................................................................. 3-11:40 G.B. — J.Jones 7 pass from A.Rodgers (M.Crosby kick) .......................................... 3-5:30 Cin. — A.Green 20 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) .......................................... 3-3:50 Cin. — M.Jones 11 pass from A.Dalton (kick blocked) ........................................... 4-10:55 Cin. — T.Newman 58 own fumble return (M.Nugent kick) ........................................ 4-3:47 Missed FGs: M.Nugent (52WL). Attendance: 64,633. Time: 3:17.
TEAM STATISTICS G.B. CIN. First downs ..................................................................................................... 27 19 Third down conversions-attempts ............................................................... 4-13 4-11 Total net yards ............................................................................................. 399 297 Net yards rushing ......................................................................................... 182 82 Net yards passing ........................................................................................ 217 215 Pass attempts-completions-interceptions .............................................. 43-26-2 28-20-1 Sacks against-yards lost ............................................................................. 4-27 4-20 Punts-average .......................................................................................... 3-43.3 3-43.7 Punt returns-yards ......................................................................................... 0-0 0-0 Kickoff returns-yards ................................................................................... 2-21 4-111 Penalties-yards ........................................................................................... 4-55 5-43 Fumbles-lost .................................................................................................. 2-2 5-3 Time of possession ................................................................................... 31:51 28:09
RUSHING G.B. ATT YDS LG TD CIN. ATT YDS LG TD J.Franklin 13 103 51 1 G.Bernard 10 50 17 1 J.Starks 14 55 13 0 B.Green-Ellis 10 29 10 1 A.Rodgers 3 24 18 0 A.Dalton 4 3 4 0 TOTALS 30 182 51 1 TOTALS 24 82 17 2
PASSING G.B. ATT CMP YDS TD-I CIN. ATT CMP YDS TD-I A.Rodgers 43 26 244 1-2 A.Dalton 28 20 235 2-1 TOTALS 43 26 244 1-2 TOTALS 28 20 235 2-1
RECEIVING G.B. NO YDS LG TD CIN. NO YDS LG TD J.Nelson 8 93 30 0 M.Sanu 4 68 32 0 R.Cobb 5 54 26 0 G.Bernard 4 49 31 0 J.Jones 4 34 13 1 A.Green 4 46 20t 1 J.Franklin 3 23 10 0 J.Gresham 4 27 11 0 A.Quarless 3 21 10 0 J.Jones 3 38 22 1 R.Taylor 2 11 8 0 T.Eifert 1 7 7 0 J.Ross 1 8 8 0 TOTALS 26 244 30 1 TOTALS 20 235 32 2
DEFENSE Green Bay (press box stats) — ST-AT-TT: B.Jones 9-2-11, A.Hawk 6-3-9, T.Williams 3-3-6, M.Jennings 3-1-4, S.Shields 3-1-4, N.Perry 2-1-3, C.Banjo 2-0-2, M.Daniels 2-0-2, C.Matthews 2-0-2, M.Hyde 1-1-2, D.House 1-0-1, J.Jolly 1-0-1, R.Pickett 1-0-1. SKS.-YDS.: T.Williams 1-8, C.Matthews 1-5, M.Jennings 1-4, M.Daniels 1-3. INT.-YDS.: S.Shields 1-1. PD: J.McMillian 1, R.Pickett 1, S.Shields 1. FF: C.Matthews 2, B.Jones 1. FR-YDS.: M.Jennings 1-24, B.Jones 1-3, A.Hawk 1-0. Cincinnati (coaches’ stats) — ST-AT-TT: V.Burfict 10-3-13, R.Maualuga 9-2-11, M.Johnson 5-2-7, T.Newman 6-0-6, C.Dunlap 5-0-5, A.Jones 4-0-4, L.Hall 3-1-4, W.Gilberry, 2-2-4, D.Peko 3-0-3, G.Iloka 2-1-3, R.Nelson 1-2-3, G.Atkins 0-3-3, B.Thompson 0-3-3, T.Mays 2-0-2, D.Still 1-0-1. SKS.-YDS.: M.Johnson 1.5-9, C.Dunlap 1-8, D.Peko 1-6, W.Gilberry 0.5-4. INT.-YDS.: T.Newman 1-9, L.Hall 1-0. PD: L.Hall 3, C.Dunlap 2, G.Iloka 1, M.Johnson 1, T.Newman 1. FF: M.Johnson 1. FR-YDS.: R.Nelson 1-6.
WEEK 4, GAME 4 Cleveland Browns 17, Cincinnati Bengals 6
Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013 at FirstEnergy Stadium The Bengals gave up a 12-play, 95-yard TD drive to the Browns in the first quarter and trailed the rest of the way. They failed to score a TD for the first time since Game 3 of 2011. Cincinnati appeared on the verge of taking a 10-7 lead with just over six minutes left in the second quarter, enjoying a first down at the Cleveland 16-yard line, but the Browns forced a fourth-down-and-one try from their seven and stuffed HB BenJarvus Green-Ellis for a two-yard loss. The play was emblematic of missed Bengals opportunities, as Cincinnati converted only one of three fourth-down tries and four of 14 on third down. The Browns were the team that made plays when it counted most, hitting a more than respectable 50 percent on third-down tries (nine-of-18) and outgaining Cincinnati 336-266 in net yards. The Browns, who had the usually crucial edge in turnover differential (plus-two), put the game on ice with a 91-yard TD drive in the fourth quarter. Both teams exited the contest, the 80th renewal of the “Battle of Ohio,” with 2-2 records.
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 OT PTS. Cincinnati ................................................... 0 3 3 0 — 6 Cleveland................................................... 7 0 3 7 — 17
TEAM — SCORING PLAY QTR.-LEFT Cle. — J.Cameron 2 pass from B.Hoyer (B.Cundiff kick) .......................................... 1-2:13 Cin. — M.Nugent 25 field goal ................................................................................. 2-10:48 Cle. — B.Cundiff 51 field goal .................................................................................... 3-5:10 Cin. — M.Nugent 43 field goal ................................................................................... 3-0:37 Cle. — C.Ogbonnaya 1 pass from B.Hoyer (B.Cundiff kick) ..................................... 4-4:54 Missed FGs: B.Cundiff (37WL, 49B). Attendance: 71,481. Time: 3:04.
TEAM STATISTICS CIN. CLE. First downs ..................................................................................................... 16 18 Third down conversions-attempts ............................................................... 4-14 9-18 Total net yards .............................................................................................. 266 336 Net yards rushing ........................................................................................... 63 89 Net yards passing ......................................................................................... 203 247 Pass attempts-completions-interceptions .............................................. 42-23-1 38-25-0 Sacks against-yards lost ............................................................................... 2-3 3-22 Punts-average .......................................................................................... 4-38.8 5-42.8 Punt returns-yards ....................................................................................... 2-15 1-7 Kickoff returns-yards ................................................................................... 3-60 2-60 Penalties-yards ............................................................................................ 3-25 5-80 Fumbles-lost .................................................................................................. 2-1 0-0 Time of possession ................................................................................... 28:51 31:09
RUSHING CIN. ATT YDS LG TD CLE. ATT YDS LG TD G.Bernard 10 37 6 0 W.McGahee 15 46 9 0 B.Green-Ellis 6 13 4 0 C.Ogbonnaya 5 27 11 0 A.Dalton 4 13 10 0 B.Rainey 6 9 4 0 B.Hoyer 4 7 8 0 TOTALS 20 63 10 0 TOTALS 30 89 11 0
PASSING CIN. ATT CMP YDS TD-I CLE. ATT CMP YDS TD-I A.Dalton 42 23 206 0-1 B.Hoyer 38 25 269 2-0 TOTALS 42 23 206 0-1 TOTALS 38 25 269 2-0
RECEIVING CIN. NO YDS LG TD CLE. NO YDS LG TD A.Green 7 51 16 0 J.Cameron 10 91 31 1 G.Bernard 6 38 10 0 C.Ogbonnaya 5 21 8 1 J.Gresham 3 53 26 0 J.Gordon 4 71 33 0 T.Eifert 3 39 29 0 D.Bess 2 25 17 0 M.Sanu 3 19 10 0 B.Rainey 2 20 15 0 D.Sanzenbacher 1 6 6 0 T.Benjamin 1 39 39 0 G.Barnidge 1 2 2 0 TOTALS 23 206 29 0 TOTALS 25 269 39 2
DEFENSE Cincinnati (coaches’ stats) — ST-AT-TT: V.Burfict 8-6-14, R.Maualuga 6-8-14, D.Peko 3-4-7, G.Iloka 5-1-6, C.Dunlap 4-2-6, T.Newman 4-2-6, G.Atkins 2-3-5, J.Harrison 3-1-4, T.Mays 3-1-4, B.Thompson 3-0-3, B.Ghee 2-1-3, A.Jones 1-2-3, M.Johnson 0-3-3, W.Gilberry 1-1-2, C.Crocker 1-0-1, V.Rey 1-0-1, D.Still 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: G.Atkins 1.5-14, C.Dunlap 1.5-8. INT.-YDS.: None. PD: G.Iloka 2, V.Burfict 1. FF: None. FR-YDS.: None. Cleveland (press box stats) — ST-AT-TT: D.Jackson 7-3-10, C.Robertson 5-4-9, T.Gipson 3-3-6, T.Ward 4-1-5, J.Haden 4-0-4, A.Rubin 4-0-4, B.Mingo 3-1-4, D.Bryant 0-4-4, C.Owens 2-0-2, B.Skrine 2-0-2, P.Taylor 2-0-2, P.Kruger 0-2-2. SKS.-YDS.: C.Owens 1-2, B.Mingo 1-1. INT.-YDS.: B.Skrine 1-5. PD: T.Gipson 3, B.Skrine 3, J.Haden 2, D.Jackson 1, P.Kruger 1. FF: C.Owens 1. FR-YDS.: C.Owens 1-0.
— 20 —
(2013 game summaries, continued)
WEEK 5, GAME 5 Cincinnati Bengals 13, New England Patriots 6
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013 at Paul Brown Stadium The Bengals’ defense took the starring role as Cincinnati knocked off an unbeaten New England team. The Patriots were limited to 248 net yards and converted just one of 12 third downs. New England failed to score a TD for the first time in 67 games, and QB Tom Brady was held without a TD pass for the first time in 53 games. The Patriots threatened late for a tying TD, gaining a first down at the Cincinnati 27 with 26 seconds left, but CB Adam Jones, starting in place of injured CB Leon Hall, made an acrobatic INT at the Bengals’ three-yard line to ice the win. Cincinnati’s offense didn’t have big point production, but the rushing game totaled 162 yards, and the offense drove 93 yards for the game’s only TD on a 14-play march spanning the third and fourth quarters. The big play of the drive was a 28-yard pass from QB Andy Dalton to WR Marvin Jones on a third-and-15 play from the Bengals’ two-yard line. The Bengals converted two more third downs on the drive, and they scored the TD on a rush by HB BenJarvus Green-Ellis on fourth-and-goal from the one. The Bengals improved to 3-2 on the season, staying in a tie with Baltimore and Cleveland for the AFC North Division lead. The Patriots fell to 4-1.
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 OT PTS. New England ............................................. 0 3 0 3 — 6 Cincinnati................................................... 0 3 3 7 — 13
TEAM — SCORING PLAY QTR.-LEFT Cin. — M.Nugent 39 field goal ................................................................................... 2-3:12 N.E. — S.Gostkowski 42 field goal ............................................................................ 2-0:08 Cin. — M.Nugent 50 field goal ................................................................................... 3-5:43 Cin. — B.Green-Ellis 1 run (M.Nugent kick) .............................................................. 4-9:21 N.E. — S.Gostkowski 19 field goal ............................................................................ 4-6:28 Missed FGs: None. Attendance: 64,259. Time: 2:56.
TEAM STATISTICS N.E. CIN. First downs ..................................................................................................... 15 21 Third down conversions-attempts ............................................................... 1-12 6-15 Total net yards ............................................................................................. 248 341 Net yards rushing ........................................................................................... 82 162 Net yards passing ........................................................................................ 166 179 Pass attempts-completions-interceptions .............................................. 38-18-1 27-20-1 Sacks against-yards lost ............................................................................. 4-31 4-33 Punts-average .......................................................................................... 8-44.1 6-45.8 Punt returns-yards ....................................................................................... 4-43 3-17 Kickoff returns-yards ................................................................................... 4-93 1-29 Penalties-yards ............................................................................................. 0-0 7-59 Fumbles-lost .................................................................................................. 4-1 1-1 Time of possession ................................................................................... 25:44 34:16
RUSHING N.E. ATT YDS LG TD CIN. ATT YDS LG TD L.Blount 12 51 10 0 B.Green-Ellis 19 67 13 1 B.Bolden 5 24 12 0 G.Bernard 13 62 28 0 J.Edelman 1 7 7 0 A.Dalton 6 25 9 0 M.Jones 1 8 8 0 TOTALS 18 82 12 0 TOTALS 39 162 28 1
PASSING N.E. ATT CMP YDS TD-I CIN. ATT CMP YDS TD-I T.Brady 38 18 197 0-1 A.Dalton 27 20 212 0-1 TOTALS 38 18 197 0-1 TOTALS 27 20 212 0-1
RECEIVING N.E. NO YDS LG TD CIN. NO YDS LG TD B.Bolden 6 40 14 0 A.Green 5 61 18 0 D.Amendola 4 55 21 0 T.Eifert 5 53 22 0 K.Thompkins 3 16 6 0 J.Gresham 4 24 12 0 A.Dobson 2 49 53 0 M.Jones 2 39 28 0 J.Edelman 2 35 18 0 M.Sanu 2 28 17 0 M.Hoomanawanui 1 2 2 0 G.Bernard 2 7 6 0 TOTALS 18 197 53 0 TOTALS 20 212 28 0
DEFENSE New England (press box stats) — ST-AT-TT: D.McCourty 8-4-12, B.Spikes 7-5-12, J.Mayo 7-4-11, S.Gregory 6-1-7, A.Talib 5-0-5, K.Arrington 4-0-4, Chr.Jones 4-0-4, Cha.Jones 1-3-4, T.Kelly 2-1-3, R.Ninkovich 1-2-3, J.Vellano 1-2-3, A.Dennard 1-1-2, D.Hightower 1-1-2, D.Harmon 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: Chr.Jones 1.5-13, T.Kelly 1-8, Cha.Jones 0.5-4, J.Mayo 0.5-4, R.Ninkovich 0.5-4. INT.-YDS.: B.Spikes 1-3. PD: J.Mayo 1, B.Spikes 1, A.Talib 1. FF: D.McCourty 1. FR-YDS.: J.Mayo 1-2. Cincinnati (coaches’ stats) — ST-AT-TT: V.Burfict 7-4-11, R.Maualuga 6-4-10, C.Crocker 4-4-8, C.Dunlap 5-1-6, G.Atkins 4-2-6, W.Gilberry 2-3-5, A.Jones 3-0-3, G.Iloka 1-2-3, D.Peko 0-3-3, T.Mays 2-0-2, T.Newman 2-0-2, J.Harrison 1-1-2, R.Nelson 0-1-1, V.Rey 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: W.Gilberry 1.5-10.5, V.Burfict 1-10, G.Atkins 1-8, C.Crocker 0.5-2.5. INT.-YDS.: A.Jones 1-0. PD: C.Crocker 2, A.Jones 2, T.Newman 1. FF: C.Dunlap 1, W.Gilberry 1, G.Iloka 1. FR-YDS.: R.Nelson 1-6.
WEEK 6, GAME 6 Cincinnati Bengals 27, Buffalo Bills 24 (OT)
Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013 at Ralph Wilson Stadium After the Bengals squandered a 14-point lead after three quarters, K Mike Nugent’s 43-yard FG with 6:44 remaining in OT lifted Cincinnati to victory. Cincinnati seemed on the verge of going ahead 27-10 or even 31-10 late in the third quarter after moving to a first down at the Buffalo six-yard line. But the Bills turned the Bengals away with a missed FG and then tied the score at 24-all on a pair of fourth-quarter TD passes by QB Thad Lewis, who was playing in only his second NFL game. A 29-yard punt return in OT by WR Brandon Tate put the Bengals at the Buffalo 33, and the Bengals ran three rushing plays for eight yards before bringing on Nugent for the game-winning kick. Cincinnati rolled for 483 yards of net offense, with three players reaching 100 yards from scrimmage — WR Marvin Jones (105), WR A.J. Green (103) and HB Giovani Bernard (100). QB Andy Dalton connected on 26 of 40 passes for 337 yards, three TDs and one INT (105.9 passer rating), earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. The Bengals broke a six-game losing streak at Buffalo, winning there for the first time since 1985. Cincinnati improved to 4-2 and took sole possession of first place in the AFC North Division. The Bills fell to 2-4.
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 OT PTS. Cincinnati ................................................. 10 7 7 0 3 27 Buffalo ....................................................... 7 3 0 14 0 24
TEAM — SCORING PLAY QTR.-LEFT Cin. — M.Nugent 46 field goal ................................................................................. 1-12:14 Buff. — T.Lewis 3 run (D.Carpenter kick) ................................................................. 1-10:01 Cin. — A.Green 18 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) .......................................... 1-5:26 Cin. — G.Bernard 20 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) ....................................... 2-8:34 Buff. — D.Carpenter 51 field goal ............................................................................... 2-4:14 Cin. — M.Jones 10 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) ........................................ 3-10:49 Buff. — S.Chandler 22 pass from .Lewis (D.Carpenter kick) ................................... 4-10:13 Buff. — M.Goodwin 40 pass from T.Lewis (D.Carpenter kick) ................................... 4-1:08 Cin. — M.Nugent 43 field goal ................................................................................... 5-6:44 Missed FGs: M.Nugent (34WR). Attendance: 67,739. Time: 3:19.
TEAM STATISTICS CIN. BUFF. First downs ..................................................................................................... 26 20 Third down conversions-attempts ............................................................... 7-18 8-17 Total net yards .............................................................................................. 483 322 Net yards rushing ......................................................................................... 165 130 Net yards passing ......................................................................................... 318 192 Pass attempts-completions-interceptions .............................................. 40-26-1 32-19-0 Sacks against-yards lost ............................................................................. 3-19 5-24 Punts-average .......................................................................................... 5-41.2 5-48.8 Punt returns-yards ....................................................................................... 3-34 2-10 Kickoff returns-yards ................................................................................. 4-103 5-101 Penalties-yards ............................................................................................ 8-78 4-27 Fumbles-lost .................................................................................................. 0-0 1-1 Time of possession ................................................................................... 42:52 25:24
RUSHING CIN. ATT YDS LG TD BUFF. ATT YDS LG TD B.Green-Ellis 18 86 25 0 C.Spiller 10 55 19 0 M.Jones 1 34 34 0 F.Jackson 10 35 11 0 G.Bernard 15 28 7 0 T.Choice 4 24 13 0 A.Dalton 7 17 6 0 T.Lewis 7 17 5 1 M.Goodwin 1 -1 -1 0 TOTALS 41 165 34 0 TOTALS 32 130 19 1
PASSING CIN. ATT CMP YDS TD-I BUFF. ATT CMP YDS TD-I A.Dalton 40 26 337 3-1 T.Lewis 32 19 216 2-0 TOTALS 40 26 337 3-1 TOTALS 32 19 216 2-0
RECEIVING CIN. NO YDS LG TD BUFF. NO YDS LG TD A.Green 6 103 54 1 T.Graham 4 74 47 0 G.Bernard 6 72 23 1 F.Jackson 4 13 9 0 M.Sanu 5 44 14 0 M.Goodwin 2 51 40t 1 M.Jones 3 71 42 1 S.Chandler 2 47 25 1 T.Eifert 2 13 10 0 C.Spiller 2 11 8 0 J.Gresham 2 5 4 0 R.Woods 2 9 6 0 D.Sanzenbacher 1 23 23 0 T.Choice 2 9 5 0 B.Tate 1 6 6 0 C.Hogan 1 2 2 0 TOTALS 26 337 54 3 TOTALS 19 216 47 2
DEFENSE Cincinnati (coaches’ stats) — ST-AT-TT: V.Burfict 7-6-13, G.Iloka 4-4-8, A.Jones 5-1-6, R.Maualuga 2-4-6, W.Gilberry 5-0-5, C.Dunlap 3-2-5, G.Atkins 2-3-5, M.Johnson 3-1-4, T.Newman 3-1-4, D.Peko 2-2-4, J.Harrison 1-3-4, L.Hall 3-0-3, R.Nelson 3-0-3, T.Mays 1-1-2, B.Thompson 1-1-2, V.Rey 0-2-2, D.Still 1-0-1. SKS.-YDS.: W.Gilberry 1-7, D.Peko 1-7, C.Dunlap 1-2, J.Harrison 1-1, G.Atkins 0.5-3.5, B.Thompson 0.5-3.5. INT.-YDS.: None. PD: T.Newman 2, W.Gilberry 1, M.Johnson 1, A.Jones 1. FF: C.Dunlap 1. FR-YDS.: V.Burfict 1-0. Buffalo (press box stats) — ST-AT-TT: K.Alonso 9-13-22, D.Searcy 13-3-16, J.Hughes 5-4-9, L.McKelvin 7-1-8, A.Branch 6-0-6, N.Bradham 3-3-6, K.Williams 2-4-6, A.Moats 2-3-5, M.Dareus 4-0-4, J.Byrd 2-2-4, J.Leonhard 2-2-4, S.Gilmore 2-1-3, M.Lawson 2-1-3, A.Williams 1-1-2, C.Bryant 1-0-1, N.Robey 1-0-1, J.Westerman 0-1-1, M.Williams 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: D.Searcy 1-10, M.Dareus 1-7, K.Williams 0.5-1, M.Williams 0.5-1. INT.-YDS.: J.Leonhard 1-41. PD: J.Byrd 1, J.Hughes 1, J.Leonhard 1, L.McKelvin 1, A.Williams 1. FF: None. FR-YDS.: None.
— 21 —
(2013 game summaries, continued)
WEEK 7, GAME 7 Cincinnati Bengals 27, Detroit Lions 24
Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013 at Ford Field For the second straight week on the road, the Bengals ended a victory with a FG by K Mike Nugent. At Detroit, the offense used two short pass completions in the waning seconds to put the ball at the Lions’ 36-yard line with four seconds left, and Nugent responded with a 54-yarder. It was one yard short of the two FGs tied for longest in Bengals history — both 55-yarders, by Nugent in 2012 and former K Chris Bahr in 1979 — and it tied for the longest game-ending FG in franchise history (former K Doug Pelfrey also had a 54-yard game winner in ’95). The special teams were instrumental in setting up Nugent’s winning kick. Late in the fourth quarter, P Kevin Huber pinned the Lions at their six-yard line with a 45-yard punt, and after the defense forced a Lions punt, Detroit P Sam Martin managed only a 28-yarder to the Cincinnati 49, giving the Bengals’ offense the chance to quickly move into position for Nugent. Nugent’s kick ended a back-and-forth contest that saw the Bengals lead 7-0, trail 10-7, lead 21-10 and then allow the Lions to tie 24-24. QB Andy Dalton completed 24 of 34 passes for 372 yards, three TDs and no INTs to post a career-high 135.9 passer rating. WR A.J. Green had 155 yards on six receptions, including a career-long catch of 82 yards for a TD. The Bengals improved to 5-2 and took a two-game lead in the AFC North Division race. The Lions fell to 4-3.
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 OT PTS. Cincinnati................................................... 7 7 10 3 — 27 Detroit ........................................................ 7 3 7 7 — 24
TEAM — SCORING PLAY QTR.-LEFT Cin. — A.Green 82 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) ........................................ 1-10:59 Det. — B.Pettigrew 3 pass from M.Stafford (D.Akers kick) ....................................... 1-3:02 Det. — D.Akers 36 field goal .................................................................................... 2-11:43 Cin. — M.Jones 12 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) .......................................... 2-0:41 Cin. — T.Eifert 32 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) .......................................... 3-10:42 Det. — C.Johnson 27 pass from M.Stafford (D.Akers kick) ...................................... 3-8:17 Cin. — M.Nugent 48 field goal ................................................................................... 3-3:37 Det. — C.Johnson 50 pass from M.Stafford (D.Akers kick) .................................... 4-11:59 Cin. — M.Nugent 54 field goal ................................................................................... 4-0:00 Missed FGs: M.Nugent (47WL), D.Akers (34B). Attendance: 63,207. Time: 3:13.
TEAM STATISTICS CIN. DET. First downs ..................................................................................................... 18 22 Third down conversions-attempts ............................................................... 4-10 13-19 Total net yards ............................................................................................. 421 434 Net yards rushing ........................................................................................... 57 77 Net yards passing ........................................................................................ 364 357 Pass attempts-completions-interceptions .............................................. 34-24-0 51-28-0 Sacks against-yards lost ............................................................................... 1-8 0-0 Punts-average .......................................................................................... 4-47.3 4-43.3 Punt returns-yards ......................................................................................... 1-8 2-1 Kickoff returns-yards ................................................................................... 1-21 1-35 Penalties-yards ........................................................................................... 6-50 4-30 Fumbles-lost .................................................................................................. 1-0 0-0 Time of possession ................................................................................... 25:29 34:31
RUSHING CIN. ATT YDS LG TD DET. ATT YDS LG TD G.Bernard 7 27 7 0 R.Bush 20 50 7 0 B.Green-Ellis 10 24 11 0 J.Bell 5 27 13 0 A.Dalton 1 6 6 0 TOTALS 18 57 11 0 TOTALS 25 77 13 0
PASSING CIN. ATT CMP YDS TD-I DET. ATT CMP YDS TD-I A.Dalton 34 24 372 3-0 M.Stafford 51 28 357 3-0 TOTALS 34 24 372 3-0 TOTALS 51 28 357 3-0
RECEIVING CIN. NO YDS LG TD DET. NO YDS LG TD A.Green 6 155 82t 1 C.Johnson 9 155 50t 2 G.Bernard 5 32 8 0 K.Durham 5 41 14 0 J.Gresham 4 64 30 0 R.Bush 3 44 27 0 M.Jones 4 57 18 1 J.Bell 3 29 18 0 T.Eifert 3 45 32t 1 B.Pettigrew 3 7 6 1 M.Sanu 1 12 12 0 K.Ogletree 2 50 43 0 D.Sanzenbacher 1 7 7 0 R.Broyles 2 16 9 0 J.Fauria 1 15 15 0 TOTALS 24 372 82 3 TOTALS 28 357 50 3
DEFENSE Cincinnati (coaches’ stats) — ST-AT-TT: V.Burfict 13-4-17, R.Maualuga 6-4-10, G.Iloka 6-1-7, C.Dunlap 4-2-6, D.Peko 2-4-6, T.Newman 5-0-5, T.Mays 2-3-5, M.Johnson 1-4-5, R.Nelson 3-1-4, C.Crocker 2-0-2, D.Kirkpatrick 2-0-2, B.Thompson 2-0-2, G.Atkins 1-1-2, D.Still 1-1-2, W.Gilberry 0-2-2, J.Harrison 1-0-1, A.Jones 1-0-1, L.Hall 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: None. INT.-YDS.: None. PD: T.Newman 3, V.Burfict 2, T.Mays 2, C.Crocker 1, L.Hall 1, M.Johnson 1, R.Maualuga 1, R.Nelson 1. FF: None. FR-YDS.: None. Detroit (press box stats) — ST-AT-TT: S.Tulloch 9-3-12, D.Levy 7-1-8, D.Slay 4-1-5, A.Palmer 3-2-5, L.Delmas 4-0-4, N.Suh 3-0-3, D.Taylor 1-1-2, W.Young 1-1-2, A.Fluellen 1-0-1, C.Houston 1-0-1, R.Mathis 1-0-1, G.Quin 1-0-1, D.Bentley 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: N.Suh 1-8. INT.-YDS.: None. PD: R.Mathis 3, L.Delmas 1, N.Fairley 1, D.Levy 1, G.Quin 1. FF: None. FR-YDS.: None.
WEEK 8, GAME 8 Cincinnati Bengals 49, N.Y. Jets 9
Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013 at Paul Brown Stadium WR Marvin Jones posted a Bengals-record four receiving TDs and QB Andy Dalton threw for a career-best five as the Bengals posted the fourth-largest winning margin in franchise history. The Bengals scored on their first two possessions for a 14-0 lead. They also scored on their last two possessions of the first half for a 28-6 advantage at intermission. Two of Cincinnati’s three second-half TDs half came on INT returns — one each by S Chris Crocker and CB Adam Jones — and it marked the first time since Dec. 16, 1984 vs. Buffalo that Cincinnati had logged two pick-sixes in the same game. Elias Sports Bureau confirmed that the game was the first one in NFL history with a 49-9 final score. The Bengals improved to 6-2 and took a two-and-one-half game lead in the AFC North Division. The Jets fell to 4-4.
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 OT PTS. N.Y. Jets .................................................... 0 6 3 0 — 9 Cincinnati ................................................. 14 14 14 7 — 49
TEAM — SCORING PLAY QTR.-LEFT Cin. — M.Jones 9 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) ............................................ 1-9:59 Cin. — J.Gresham 4 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) ........................................ 1-4:21 NYJ — N.Folk 45 field goal ........................................................................................ 2-9:09 Cin. — M.Jones 6 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) ............................................ 2-6:13 NYJ — N.Folk 47 field goal ........................................................................................ 2-1:08 Cin. — M.Jones 14 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) .......................................... 2-0:16 Cin. — C.Crocker 32 interception return (M.Nugent kick) ....................................... 3-14:45 NYJ — N.Folk 50 field goal ........................................................................................ 3-4:49 Cin. — M.Jones 6 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) ............................................ 3-1:13 Cin. — A.Jones 60 interception return (M.Nugent kick) .......................................... 4-13:09 Missed FGs: None. Attendance: 62,576. Time: 2:58.
TEAM STATISTICS NYJ CIN. First downs ..................................................................................................... 15 20 Third down conversions-attempts ............................................................... 6-15 6-11 Total net yards .............................................................................................. 240 402 Net yards rushing ...................................................................................... 24-93 25-79 Net yards passing ......................................................................................... 147 323 Pass attempts-completions-interceptions .............................................. 37-23-2 30-19-1 Sacks against-yards lost ............................................................................. 4-29 1-2 Punts-average .......................................................................................... 5-49.6 3-53.7 Punt returns-yards ....................................................................................... 2-10 4-20 Kickoff returns-yards ................................................................................. 6-139 4-133 Penalties-yards ............................................................................................ 4-69 4-45 Fumbles-lost .................................................................................................. 0-0 2-0 Time of possession ................................................................................... 33:17 26;43
RUSHING NYJ ATT YDS LG TD CIN. ATT YDS LG TD M.Simms 3 35 22 0 B.Green-Ellis 11 33 6 0 A.Green 3 20 9 0 G.Bernard 5 18 35 0 B.Powell 10 19 7 0 J.Johnson 3 17 10 0 C.Ivory 6 11 5 0 C.Peerman 6 11 5 0 G.Smith 2 8 5 0 TOTALS 24 93 22 0 TOTALS 25 79 10 0
PASSING NYJ ATT CMP YDS TD-I CIN. ATT CMP YDS TD-I G.Smith 30 20 159 0-2 A.Dalton 30 19 325 5-1 M.Simms 7 3 17 0-0 TOTALS 37 23 176 0-2 TOTALS 30 19 325 5-1
RECEIVING NYJ NO YDS LG TD CIN. NO YDS LG TD D.Nelson 8 80 26 0 M.Jones 8 122 45 4 S.Hill 4 23 8 0 A.Green 3 115 53 0 B.Powell 4 20 17 0 T.Eifert 2 23 16 0 J.Kerley 3 27 14 0 D.Sanzenbacher 2 18 9 0 Z.Sudfeld 2 10 5 0 J.Gresham 2 14 10 1 J.Cumberland 1 9 9 0 M.Sanu 1 24 24 0 A.Green 1 7 7 0 G.Bernard 1 9 9 0 TOTALS 23 176 26 0 TOTALS 19 325 53 5
DEFENSE N.Y. Jets (press box stats) — ST-AT-TT: A.Allen 4-3-7, D.Harrison 3-4-7, Q.Coples 2-3-5, D.Landry 2-3-5, C.Pace 4-0-4, M.Wilkerson 2-2-4, J.Bush 2-1-3, D.Davis 1-2-3, A.Cromartie 2-0-2, G.McIntyre 2-0-2, D.Milliner 2-0-2, S.Richardson 0-2-2, D.Walls 0-2-2, J.Jarrett 1-0-1, K.Wilson 1-0-1, K.Ellis 0-1-1, D.Harris 0-1-1, E.Lankster 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: M.Wilkerson 1-2. INT.-YDS.: M.Wilkerson 1-6. PD: D.Landry 2, A.Cromartie 1, M.Wilkerson 1. FF: None. FR-YDS.: None. Cincinnati (coaches’ stats) — ST-AT-TT: V.Burfict 9-4-13, A.Jones 6-1-7, B.Thompson 3-3-6, J.Harrison 2-4-6, M.Boley 4-1-5, C.Crocker 4-1-5, M.Johnson 3-2-5, M.Johnson 3-2-5, R.Maualuga 2-3-5, D.Peko 1-3-4, T.Newman 3-0-3, G.Atkins 2-0-2, R.Nelson 2-0-2, J.DiManche 1-1-2, B.Ghee 1-1-2, G.Iloka 1-1-2, D.Kirkpatrick 1-1-2, S.Williams 1-1-2, C.Dunlap 1-0-1, M.Hunt 1-0-1, T.Mays 1-0-1, V.Rey 1-0-1. SKS.-YDS.: R.Nelson 1-11, B.Thompson 1-9, G.Atkins 1-8, J.Harrison 1-1. INT.-YDS.: A.Jones 1-60, C.Crocker 1-32. PD: A.Jones 2, B.Ghee 2, V.Burfict 1, C.Crocker 1, C.Dunlap 1, G.Iloka 1, M.Johnson 1. FF: None. FR-YDS.: None.
— 22 —
(2013 game summaries, continued)
WEEK 9, GAME 9 Miami Dolphins 22, Cincinnati Bengals 20 (OT)
Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013 at Sun Life Stadium The Bengals entered the Halloween night Thursday game with four straight wins, and Miami entered with four straight losses. But despite a valiant second-half comeback, turning a 17-3 deficit into a 20-17 lead, Cincinnati wound up on the losing end of only the third OT game in NFL history to be decided by a safety. After K Mike Nugent put the Bengals ahead 20-17 with a 54-yard FG with 1:24 left, the Dolphins tied the score with 11 seconds remaining on a 44-yarder by K Caleb Sturgis. Each team had the ball twice in OT, but Cincinnati’s second possession ended when Dolphins DE Cameron Wake sacked QB Andy Dalton just over the goal-line for an eight-yard loss. Bengals WR A.J. Green had a career-best 11 catches, and his 128 receiving yards marked his fourth straight at 100 or more, tying the franchise record set by Carl Pickens in 1994. Dalton set a Bengals record with his fourth straight game of 300 or more passing yards (338). The Bengals dropped to 6-3 on the season, but when the season’s Week 9 concluded, they still led the AFC North by two games over Cleveland. The Dolphins improved to 4-4.
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 OT PTS. Cincinnati................................................... 0 3 7 10 0 20 Miami ......................................................... 0 10 7 3 3 22
TEAM — SCORING PLAY QTR.-LEFT Cin. — M.Nugent 31 field goal ................................................................................. 2-11:56 Mia. — R.Tannehill 1 run (C.Sturgis kick) .................................................................. 2-2:39 Mia. — C.Sturgis 36 field goal .................................................................................... 2-0:06 Mia. — B.Grimes 94 interception return (C.Sturgis kick) ........................................... 3-7:37 Cin. — G.Bernard 3 run (M.Nugent kick) ................................................................... 3-2:10 Cin. — G.Bernard 35 run (M.Nugent kick) ............................................................... 4-12:37 Cin. — M.Nugent 54 field goal ................................................................................... 4-1:24 Mia. — C.Sturgis 44 field goal .................................................................................... 4-0:11 Mia. — C.Wake sacked A.Dalton in end zone for safety ........................................... 5-6:38 Missed FGs: C.Sturgis (34WL). Attendance: 52,388. Time: 3:27.
TEAM STATISTICS CIN. MIA. First downs ..................................................................................................... 28 15 Third down conversions-attempts ............................................................. 10-20 3-14 Total net yards ............................................................................................. 465 345 Net yards rushing ......................................................................................... 163 157 Net yards passing ........................................................................................ 302 188 Pass attempts-completions-interceptions .............................................. 53-32-3 28-20-0 Sacks against-yards lost ............................................................................. 5-36 3-20 Punts-average .......................................................................................... 4-38.5 8-48.9 Punt returns-yards ....................................................................................... 6-49 0-0 Kickoff returns-yards ................................................................................... 3-45 3-79 Penalties-yards ........................................................................................... 3-63 2-25 Fumbles-lost .................................................................................................. 1-1 1-1 Time of possession ................................................................................... 40:02 28:20
RUSHING CIN. ATT YDS LG TD MIA. ATT YDS LG TD G.Bernard 9 79 35t 2 L.Miller 16 105 41 0 B.Green-Ellis 21 72 14 0 D.Thomas 12 38 9 0 A.Dalton 5 12 10 0 C.Clay 1 13 13 0 R.Tannehill 1 1 1t 1 TOTALS 35 163 35t 2 TOTALS 30 157 41 1
PASSING CIN. ATT CMP YDS TD-I MIA. ATT CMP YDS TD-I A.Dalton 53 32 338 0-3 R.Tannehill 28 20 208 0-0 TOTALS 53 32 338 0-3 TOTALS 28 20 208 0-0
RECEIVING CIN. NO YDS LG TD MIA. NO YDS LG TD A.Green 11 128 21 0 M.Wallace 6 82 40 0 M.Sanu 6 62 21 0 L.Miller 4 24 9 0 M.Jones 4 66 26 0 B.Hartline 3 39 21 0 G.Bernard 4 25 10 0 C.Clay 3 22 9 0 J.Gresham 3 33 16 0 R.Matthews 2 24 16 0 T.Eifert 3 14 5 0 M.Egnew 1 13 13 0 A.Hawkins 1 10 10 0 D.Thomas 1 4 4 0 TOTALS 32 338 26 0 TOTALS 20 208 40 0
DEFENSE Cincinnati (coaches’ stats) — ST-AT-TT: V.Rey 10-0-10, V.Burfict 4-3-7, B.Thompson 3-4-7, G.Iloka 6-0-6, R.Nelson 5-1-6, M.Johnson 4-1-5, J.Harrison 3-2-5, D.Peko 1-4-5, C.Crocker 3-0-3, T.Newman 3-0-3, C.Dunlap 1-2-3, A.Jones 1-2-3, G.Atkins 2-0-2, W.Gilberry 2-0-2, D.Kirkpatrick 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: G.Atkins 1-8, M.Johnson 1-7, W.Gilberry 1-5. INT.-YDS.: None. PD: A.Jones 2, T.Newman 1. FF: C.Dunlap 1. FR-YDS.: A.Jones 1-43. Miami (press box stats) — ST-AT-TT: C.Clemons 8-1-9, D.Patterson 8-0-8, P.Wheeler 7-0-7, R.Starks 6-1-7, R.Jones 5-1-6, B.Grimes 5-0-5, C.Wake 5-0-5, K.Misi 4-1-5, D.Ellerbe 4-0-4, O.Vernon 3-1-4, P.Soliai 3-0-3, J.Wilson 2-0-2, D.Jordan 1-1-2, D.Shelby 1-1-2, J.Trusnik 1-1-2, J.Odrick 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: C.Wake 3-23, P.Soliai 1-9, J.Odrick 0.5-2, D.Shelby 0.5-2. INT.-YDS.: B.Grimes 1-94, D.Ellerbe 1-9, D.Patterson 1-3. PD: D.Ellerbe 4, B.Grimes 1, D.Patterson 1, P.Soliai 1. FF: C.Wake 1. FR-YDS.: C.Wake 1-0.
WEEK 10, GAME 10 Baltimore Ravens 20, Cincinnati Bengals 17 (OT)
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013 at M&T Bank Stadium As the regulation time clock ran out, the Bengals tied the game in spectacular fashion — on a 51-yard Hail Mary pass by QB Andy Dalton that was tipped once by each team before falling into WR A.J. Green’s hands in the end zone. But in OT, the opening possession saw the Bengals give up the ball on downs at the Ravens’ 44-yard line, and Baltimore drove 28 yards in seven plays to set up a 46-yard FG by K Justin Tucker. The Bengals rallied from at 17-0 halftime deficit. Cincinnati, which played consecutive OT games for the first time in franchise history, lost its previous outing in OT at Miami. The Baltimore game was the third OT game of the season for the Bengals, most in club history. Green’s 151-yard receiving day gave him sole possession of two club records — most 100-yard receiving games in a season (six) and most consecutive 100-yard receiving games (five). The Bengals nearly doubled Baltimore in net yards from scrimmage (364 to 189), but Cincinnati drew nine penalties for a club-record 134 yards. The Bengals fell to 6-4, but still remained in first place in the AFC North, one-and-one-half games ahead of both Baltimore (4-5) and Cleveland (4-5).
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 OT PTS. Cincinnati ................................................... 0 0 3 14 0 17 Baltimore ................................................. 10 7 0 0 3 20
TEAM — SCORING PLAY QTR.-LEFT Balt. — D.Clark 1 pass from J.Flacco (J.Tucker kick) ................................................ 1-9:42 Balt. — J.Tucker 36 field goal ..................................................................................... 1-4:39 Balt. — T.Smith 7 pass from J.Flacco (J.Tucker kick)................................................ 2-6:30 Cin. — M.Nugent 32 field goal ................................................................................. 3-10:37 Cin. — G.Bernard 18 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) ....................................... 4-8:22 Cin. — A.Green 51 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) .......................................... 4-0:00 Balt. — J.Tucker 46 field goal ..................................................................................... 5-5:27 Missed FGs: M.Nugent (42WL). Attendance: 70,992. Time: 3:41.
TEAM STATISTICS CIN. BALT. First downs ..................................................................................................... 21 18 Third down conversions-attempts ............................................................... 5-19 3-16 Total net yards .............................................................................................. 364 189 Net yards rushing ......................................................................................... 120 85 Net yards passing ......................................................................................... 244 104 Pass attempts-completions-interceptions .............................................. 51-24-3 36-20-2 Sacks against-yards lost ............................................................................. 5-30 5-36 Punts-average .......................................................................................... 6-37.2 8-44.4 Punt returns-yards ....................................................................................... 6-62 3-17 Kickoff returns-yards ................................................................................... 2-50 2-41 Penalties-yards .......................................................................................... 9-134 8-65 Fumbles-lost .................................................................................................. 1-0 1-1 Time of possession ................................................................................... 37:58 37:02
RUSHING CIN. ATT YDS LG TD BALT. ATT YDS LG TD G.Bernard 14 58 18 0 B.Pierce 8 31 9 0 B.Green-Ellis 9 36 7 0 R.Rice 18 30 5 0 A.Dalton 6 22 12 0 T.Taylor 1 18 18 0 M.Jones 1 7 7 0 J.Flacco 1 4 4 0 A.Hawkins 1 -3 -3 0 V.Leach 2 2 1 0 TOTALS 31 120 18 0 TOTALS 30 85 18 0
PASSING CIN. ATT CMP YDS TD-I BALT. ATT CMP YDS TD-I A.Dalton 51 24 274 2-3 J.Flacco 36 20 140 2-2 TOTALS 51 24 274 2-3 TOTALS 36 20 140 2-2
RECEIVING CIN. NO YDS LG TD BALT. NO YDS LG TD A.Green 8 151 51t 1 R.Rice 6 26 13 0 G.Bernard 8 37 18t 1 T.Smith 5 46 18 1 T.Eifert 3 55 40 0 E.Dickson 3 28 14 0 M.Sanu 3 26 14 0 J.Jones 2 17 9 0 Al.Smith 1 3 3 0 B.Pierce 2 12 12 0 M.Jones 1 2 2 0 M.Brown 1 10 10 0 D.Clark 1 1 1t 1 TOTALS 24 274 51t 2 TOTALS 20 140 18 2
DEFENSE Cincinnati (coaches’ stats) — ST-AT-TT: V.Burfict 13-2-15, V.Rey 9-4-13, B.Thompson 4-3-7, C.Dunlap 3-4-7, M.Johnson 6-0-6, C.Crocker 4-1-5, T.Newman 4-1-5, D.Peko 2-3-5, R.Nelson 3-1-4, G.Iloka 2-2-4, J.Schaffer 0-3-3, W.Gilberry 1-0-1, J.Harrison 1-0-1, A.Jones 1-0-1, J.DiManche 0-1-1, D.Kirkpatrick 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: V.Rey 3-19, C.Dunlap 2-17. INT.-YDS.: V.Rey 1-4, T.Newman 1-(-1). PD: V.Rey 3, A.Jones 2, T.Newman 2, V.Burfict 1, C.Crocker 1, M.Johnson 1. FF: C.Dunlap 1. FR-YDS.: J.Harrison 1-0. Baltimore (press box stats) — ST-AT-TT: J.Ihedigbo 6-3-9, D.Smith 3-6-9, J.Smith 4-1-5, L.Webb 2-3-5, C.Graham 2-3-5, H.Ngata 1-4-5, C.Upshaw 4-0-4, A.Brown 2-2-4, J.McClain 2-2-4, T.Suggs 2-2-4, A.Jones 1-3-4, E.Dumervil 3-0-3, M.Elam 2-1-3, D.Tyson 2-0-2, J.Bynes 1-1-2, C.Canty 1-1-2, T.Cody 1-0-1, Ch.Brown 0-1-1, P.McPhee 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: E.Dumervil 3-21, A.Jones 1-5, D.Tyson 1-4. INT.-YDS.: J.Ihedigbo 2-46, L.Webb 1-0. PD: L.Webb 6, J.Ihedigbo 3, D.Smith 2, J.Smith 2, E.Dumervil 1, M.Elam 1, H.Ngata 1, C.Upshaw 1. FF: None. FR-YDS.: None.
— 23 —
(2013 game summaries, continued)
WEEK 11, GAME 11 Cincinnati Bengals 41, Cleveland Browns 20
Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013 at Paul Brown Stadium The Bengals trailed 13-0 after one quarter, but it could have been worse. On two early penetrations of the Cincinnati red zone, one via an INT, the Browns were held to FGs. And in the second quarter, the Bengals wiped out the deficit with 31 points, their highest-scoring quarter ever, taking a 31-13 lead. The Cincinnati record for points in a quarter had been 28, set three times. LB James Harrison started the second-quarter onslaught with an INT late in the first quarter that set up a second-quarter scoring pass of 25 yards from QB Andy Dalton to TE Jermaine Gresham. Also in the record second period, Dalton passed six yards to WR Mohamed Sanu for a TD, LB Jayson DiManche blocked a punt that S Tony Dye returned for a TD, LB Vontaze Burfict forced a fumble and returned it 13 yards for a TD, and Mike Nugent added a 41-yard FG. The Bengals improved to 7-4 and took a two-and-one-half game lead over the rest of the AFC North Division. Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Baltimore all finished the weekend at 4-6.
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 OT PTS. Cleveland ................................................ 13 0 7 0 — 20 Cincinnati................................................... 0 31 0 10 — 41
TEAM — SCORING PLAY QTR.-LEFT Cle. — B.Cundiff 20 field goal .................................................................................... 1-4:10 Cle. — B.Cundiff 28 field goal .................................................................................... 1-3:04 Cle. — J.Haden 29 interception return (B.Cundiff kick) ............................................ 1-2:19 Cin. — J.Gresham 25 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) .................................... 2-14:52 Cin. — M.Sanu 6 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) ........................................... 2-11:49 Cin. — T.Dye 24 blocked punt return (M.Nugent kick) .............................................. 2-4:35 Cin. — V.Burfict 13 fumble return (M.Nugent kick) ................................................... 2-2:45 Cin. — M.Nugent 41 field goal ................................................................................... 2-0:01 Cle. — J.Gordon 74 pass from J.Campbell (B.Cundiff kick) ..................................... 3-9:29 Cin. — Al.Smith 2 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) .......................................... 4-11:50 Cin. — M.Nugent 38 field goal ................................................................................... 4-8:04 Missed FGs: None. Attendance: 63,856. Time: 3:28.
TEAM STATISTICS CLE. CIN. First downs ..................................................................................................... 15 10 Third down conversions-attempts ............................................................... 4-18 1-14 Total net yards ............................................................................................. 330 224 Net yards rushing ......................................................................................... 102 106 Net yards passing ........................................................................................ 228 118 Pass attempts-completions-interceptions .............................................. 56-27-3 28-14-2 Sacks against-yards lost ............................................................................. 4-20 0-0 Punts-average .......................................................................................... 7-33.0 9-45.3 Punt returns-yards ....................................................................................... 3-25 3-39 Kickoff returns-yards ................................................................................... 2-42 0-0 Penalties-yards ........................................................................................... 5-40 8-64 Fumbles-lost .................................................................................................. 2-1 0-0 Time of possession ................................................................................... 32:24 27:36
RUSHING CLE. ATT YDS LG TD CIN. ATT YDS LG TD C.Ogbonnaya 8 69 43 0 B.Green-Ellis 16 62 18 0 F.Whittaker 4 20 7 0 G.Bernard 10 45 13 0 W.McGahee 6 13 6 0 A.Dalton 4 0 1 0 A.Edwards 1 0 0 0 M.Jones 1 -1 -1 0 TOTALS 19 102 43 0 TOTALS 31 106 18 0
PASSING CLE. ATT CMP YDS TD-I CIN. ATT CMP YDS TD-I J.Campbell 56 27 248 1-3 A.Dalton 27 13 93 3-2 M.Sanu 1 1 25 0-0 TOTALS 56 27 248 1-3 TOTALS 28 14 118 3-2
RECEIVING CLE. NO YDS LG TD CIN. NO YDS LG TD C.Ogbonnaya 6 30 12 0 G.Bernard 4 41 25 0 J.Cameron 6 29 8 0 J.Gresham 2 27 25t 1 J.Gordon 5 125 74t 1 M.Sanu 2 11 6t 1 F.Whittaker 5 41 11 0 A.Green 2 7 4 0 W.McGahee 2 4 3 0 T.Eifert 1 15 15 0 G.Barnidge 1 12 12 0 M.Jones 1 9 9 0 G.Little 1 4 4 0 A.Hawkins 1 6 6 0 D.Bess 1 3 3 0 Al.Smith 1 2 2t 1 TOTALS 27 248 74t 1 TOTALS 14 118 25t 3
DEFENSE Cleveland (press box stats) — ST-AT-TT: D.Jackson 1-8-9, T.Carder 2-5-7, T.Gipson 4-1-5, B.Skrine 2-3-5, J.Hughes 0-5-5, T.Ward 2-2-4, A.Rubin 1-3-4, J.Sheard 2-1-3, C.Robertson 1-2-3, C.Owens 2-0-2, B.Mingo 1-1-2, J.Haden 0-2-2, P.Kruger 0-2-2, P.Taylor 0-2-2, A.Bryant 1-0-1, B.Winn 1-0-1, D.Bryant 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: None. INT.-YDS.: J.Haden 2-44. PD: J.Haden 2, J.Hughes 1, B.Skrine 1. FF: None. FR-YDS.: None. Cincinnati (coaches’ stats) — ST-AT-TT: V.Burfict 15-3-18, V.Rey 12-1-13, R.Nelson 5-4-9, J.Harrison 5-2-7, C.Dunlap 2-3-5, M.Johnson 2-3-5, D.Peko 2-3-5, W.Gilberry 3-1-4, G.Iloka 1-3-4, A.Jones 2-0-2, D.Kirkpatrick 2-0-2, T.Newman 2-0-2, B.Ghee 1-0-1, M.Hunt 0-1-1, B.Thompson 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: W.Gilberry 1.5-14, C.Dunlap 1-2, D.Kirkpatrick 1-1, M.Johnson 0.5-3. INT.-YDS.: J.Harrison 1-9, M.Johnson 1-7, R.Nelson 1-0. PD: B.Ghee 2, M.Johnson 2, R.Nelson 2, T.Newman 2, V.Burfict 1, G.Iloka 1, A.Jones 1. FF: V.Burfict 1, M.Johnson 1. FR-YDS.: V.Burfict 1-13.
WEEK 13, GAME 12 Cincinnati Bengals 17, San Diego Chargers 10
Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013 at Qualcomm Stadium The Bengals were classic in putting down the Chargers, relying on a strong defense and rushing game. Three takeaways (two fumble recoveries and one INT) kept the San Diego offense at bay, and the Bengals rushed for 164 yards, their second-highest total of the season. The teams were tied 7-7 at halftime, but Cincinnati turned aside a San Diego bid for the lead when CB Dre Kirkpatrick outfought Pro Bowl TE Antonio Gates for a third-quarter INT at the Cincinnati 25-yard line, and the offense responded with a 75-yard TD drive, going ahead 14-7 on a 21-yard pass from QB Andy Dalton to WR A.J. Green. San Diego closed a 17-7 gap to 17-10 with a 48-yard FG, but the Bengals ran out the fourth-quarter clock on their next possession, with Dalton kneeling with the ball twice after the offense had reached a first down at the San Diego three-yard line. The Bengals won a third straight game on the West Coast for the first time in franchise history. Cincinnati improved to 8-4, two games ahead of second-place Baltimore in the AFC Central Division. The Chargers, who entered the game in a multiple tie for the final AFC Wild Card playoff spot, fell to 5-7.
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 OT PTS. Cincinnati ................................................... 0 7 7 3 — 17 San Diego .................................................. 0 7 0 3 — 10
TEAM — SCORING PLAY QTR.-LEFT Cin. — B.Green-Ellis 4 run (M.Nugent kick) ............................................................ 2-14:56 S.D. — L.Green 30 pass from P.Rivers (N.Novak kick) ........................................... 2-11:11 Cin. — A.Green 21 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) .......................................... 3-1:42 Cin. — M.Nugent 46 field goal ................................................................................... 4-9:16 S.D. — N.Novak 48 field goal ..................................................................................... 4-4:43 Missed FGs: None. Attendance: 61,536. Time: 2:54.
TEAM STATISTICS CIN. S.D. First downs ..................................................................................................... 19 19 Third down conversions-attempts ............................................................... 6-12 6-13 Total net yards .............................................................................................. 354 334 Net yards rushing ......................................................................................... 164 91 Net yards passing ......................................................................................... 190 243 Pass attempts-completions-interceptions .............................................. 23-14-1 37-23-1 Sacks against-yards lost ............................................................................... 0-0 2-9 Punts-average .......................................................................................... 4-55.5 4-39.3 Punt returns-yards ......................................................................................... 2-5 1-0 Kickoff returns-yards ................................................................................... 3-67 2-36 Penalties-yards ............................................................................................ 3-30 5-45 Fumbles-lost .................................................................................................. 1-1 2-2 Time of possession ................................................................................... 29:40 30:20
RUSHING CIN. ATT YDS LG TD S.D. ATT YDS LG TD B.Green-Ellis 20 92 13 1 R.Mathews 14 61 13 0 G.Bernard 14 57 19 0 D.Woodhead 7 22 7 0 A.Dalton 3 9 11 0 P.Rivers 1 4 4 0 A.Hawkins 1 6 5 0 R.Brown 1 3 3 0 L.McClain 1 1 1 0 TOTALS 38 164 19 1 TOTALS 24 91 13 0
PASSING CIN. ATT CMP YDS TD-I S.D. ATT CMP YDS TD-I A.Dalton 23 14 190 1-1 P.Rivers 37 23 252 1-1 TOTALS 23 14 190 1-1 TOTALS 37 23 252 1-1
RECEIVING CIN. NO YDS LG TD S.D. NO YDS LG TD A.Green 5 83 28 1 K.Allen 8 106 22 0 A.Hawkins 3 65 50 0 A.Gates 5 41 13 0 M.Jones 2 12 9 0 R.Mathews 5 31 17 0 M.Sanu 1 9 9 0 L.Green 2 45 30t 1 T.Eifert 1 9 9 0 D.Woodhead 2 13 9 0 G.Bernard 1 9 9 0 V.Brown 1 16 16 0 B.Green-Ellis 1 3 3 0 TOTALS 14 190 50 1 TOTALS 23 252 30t 1
DEFENSE Cincinnati (coaches’ stats) — ST-AT-TT: V.Burfict 10-3-13, R.Maualuga 6-4-10, D.Peko 4-3-7, R.Nelson 6-0-6, G.Iloka 4-2-6, A.Jones 4-2-6, C.Dunlap 2-2-4, M.Johnson 2-2-4, C.Crocker 2-1-3, W.Gilberry 1-2-3, B.Thompson 0-3-3, V.Rey 1-1-2, J.Harrison 0-2-2, D.Kirkpatrick 1-0-1, T.Newman 1-0-1. SKS.-YDS.: W.Gilberry 1-9, R.Maualuga 1-0. INT.-YDS.: D.Kirkpatrick 1-0. PD: V.Burfict 1, C.Crocker 1, C.Dunlap 1, W.Gilberry 1, A.Jones 1, D.Kirkpatrick 1, D.Still 1. FF: G.Iloka 1, R.Nelson 1. FR-YDS.: G.Iloka 1-0, V.Rey 1-0. San Diego (press box stats) — ST-AT-TT: D.Butler 9-1-10, R.Marshall 6-2-8, R.Walker 5-1-6, E.Weddle 5-1-6, M.Gilchrist 4-1-5, M.Te’o 3-2-5, S.Lissemore 3-1-4, C.Liuget 3-0-3, L.Guy 2-1-3, K.Reyes 2-1-3, C.Thomas 2-0-2, T.Williams 2-0-2, J.Addae 1-1-2, S.Wright 1-0-1, T.Keiser 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: None. INT.-YDS.: E.Weddle 1-21. PD: R.Marshall 1, M.Te’o 1, E.Weddle 1. FF: M.Gilchrist 1.FR-YDS.: E.Weddle 1-27.
— 24 —
(2013 game summaries, continued)
WEEK 14, GAME 13 Cincinnati Bengals 42, Indianapolis Colts 28
Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013 at Paul Brown Stadium The Bengals broke on top with a 29-yard TD pass from QB Andy Dalton to WR Marvin Jones midway through the first quarter, and they led the rest of the way in outscoring Indianapolis, a fellow AFC Division leader. Dalton posted a 120.5 passer rating, with three TDs and no INTs, and HB Giovani Bernard had a team season-high to date of 99 rushing yards en route to a team-leading 148 yards from scrimmage. The Bengals held 21-point leads in the second half at 21-0, 35-14 and 42-21. Cincinnati got a key TD late in the first half to go up 14-0. Officials ruled initially that HB BenJarvus Green-Ellis had been stopped on a fourth-and-goal rush from the one-yard line, but the replay booth called for a review (a coach’s challenge was inapplicable). Upon review, referee Jeff Triplette ruled that Green-Ellis was never touched down before falling at the one and then bouncing into the end zone. It was one of two TDs for Green-Ellis, his first multiple-TD game as a Bengal. Cincinnati improved to 9-4 and maintained a two-game lead over Baltimore in the AFC North Division. Though the Colts fell to 8-5, they clinched the AFC South title later in the day when Tennessee lost at Denver.
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 OT PTS. Indianapolis ............................................... 0 0 14 14 — 28 Cincinnati................................................... 7 7 14 14 — 42
TEAM — SCORING PLAY QTR.-LEFT Cin. — M.Jones 29 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) .......................................... 1-8:03 Cin. — B.Green-Ellis 1 run (M.Nugent kick) .............................................................. 2-1:06 Cin. — B.Green-Ellis 1 run (M.Nugent kick) ............................................................ 3-10:41 Ind. — D.Rogers 69 pass from A.Luck (A.Vinatieri kick) .......................................... 3-9:57 Ind. — L.Brazill 19 pass from A.Luck (A.Vinatieri kick) ............................................. 3-6:20 Cin. — J.Gresham 1 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) ........................................ 3-3:05 Cin. — A.Green 9 pass from A.Dalton (M.Nugent kick) .......................................... 4-13:25 Ind. — L.Brazill 29 pass from A.Luck (A.Vinatieri kick) ............................................. 4-9:48 Cin. — A.Dalton 8 run (M.Nugent kick) ..................................................................... 4-4:03 Ind. — D.Rogers 2 pass from A.Luck (A.Vinatieri kick) ............................................ 4-1:20 Missed FGs: A.Vinatieri (44WR). Attendance: 62,507. Time: 3:11.
TEAM STATISTICS IND. CIN. First downs ..................................................................................................... 21 28 Third down conversions-attempts ............................................................... 2-10 6-12 Total net yards ............................................................................................. 389 430 Net yards rushing ........................................................................................... 63 155 Net yards passing ........................................................................................ 326 275 Pass attempts-completions-interceptions .............................................. 46-29-0 35-24-0 Sacks against-yards lost ............................................................................... 0-0 0-0 Punts-average .......................................................................................... 7-47.6 5-50.6 Punt returns-yards ......................................................................................... 1-0 4-73 Kickoff returns-yards ................................................................................. 7-140 3-86 Penalties-yards ........................................................................................... 6-47 7-60 Fumbles-lost .................................................................................................. 1-0 0-0 Time of possession ................................................................................... 22:15 37:45
RUSHING IND. ATT YDS LG TD CIN. ATT YDS LG TD A.Luck 2 32 29 0 G.Bernard 12 99 20 0 T.Richardson 6 20 8 0 B.Green-Ellis 17 48 6 2 D.Brown 4 11 5 0 A.Dalton 5 11 8t 1 M.Jones 1 -3 -3 0 TOTALS 12 63 29 0 TOTALS 35 155 20 3
PASSING IND. ATT CMP YDS TD-I CIN. ATT CMP YDS TD-I A.Luck 46 29 326 4-0 A.Dalton 35 24 275 3-0 TOTALS 46 29 326 4-0 TOTALS 35 24 275 3-0
RECEIVING IND. NO YDS LG TD CIN. NO YDS LG TD D.Rogers 6 107 69t 2 A.Green 6 72 22 1 T.Richardson 5 68 22 0 J.Gresham 5 41 16 1 C.Fleener 5 31 13 0 G.Bernard 4 49 22 0 D.Brown 4 18 9 0 M.Jones 3 60 29t 1 L.Brazill 3 53 29t 2 T.Eifert 3 20 11 0 D.Heyward-Bey 2 23 12 0 M.Sanu 2 26 15 0 T.Hilton 2 7 4 0 A.Hawkins 1 7 7 0 W.Saunders 1 11 11 0 J.Doyle 1 8 8 0 TOTALS 29 326 69t 4 TOTALS 24 275 29t 3
DEFENSE Indianapolis (press box stats) — ST-AT-TT: A.Bethea 10-7-17, J.Freeman 4-5-9, L.Landry 4-5-9, D.Butler 4-2-6, K.Sheppard 1-4-5, E.Walden 1-3-4, V.Davis 2-0-2, A.Franklin 1-1-2, J.McNary 1-1-2, F.Moala 0-2-2, J.Chapman 1-0-1, M.Hughes 1-0-1, R.Mathews 1-0-1, C.Redding 1-0-1, C.Vaughn 1-0-1, B.Werner 1-0-1, P.Angerer 0-1-1, R.Mathis 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: None. INT.-YDS.: None. PD: V.Davis 1, L.Landry 1, A.Studebaker 1, B.Werner 1. FF: None. FR-YDS.: None. Cincinnati (coaches’ stats) — ST-AT-TT: V.Burfict 7-3-10, V.Rey 5-1-6, D.Kirkpatrick 5-0-5, C.Dunlap 4-1-5, M.Johnson 3-2-5, R.Maualuga 3-1-4, T.Newman 3-1-4, G.Iloka 2-1-3, A.Jones 1-2-3, D.Peko 1-1-2, R.Nelson 1-0-1, B.Thompson 1-0-1, J.Harrison 0-1-1. SKS.-YDS.: None. INT.-YDS.: None. PD: V.Burfict 2, A.Jones 2, C.Dunlap 1, M.Johnson 1, R.Nelson 1, D.Still 1. FF: None. FR-YDS.: None.
— 25 —
THE BENGALS ARE:
IN 2013 6-0 at home 3-4 on the road 7-1 when scoring first 2-3 when opponent scored first 2-3 in games decided by three points or fewer 5-3 in games decided by seven points or fewer 5-1 when leading at halftime 3-0 when tied at halftime 1-3 when trailing at halftime 8-1 when leading after three quarters 0-0 when tied after three quarters 1-3 when trailing after three quarters 6-2 when rushing for 100 net yards
6-3 when opponent rushed for less than 100 net yards 4-0 with plus turnover differential 5-1 with even turnover differential 0-3 with minus turnover differential 5-2 when passing for 250 net yards 2-0 when opponent passed for 250 net yards 7-2 when scoring 20 points or more 5-3 when opponent scored 20 points or more 8-4 when game was outdoors (open-air/open retractable roof) 1-0 when game was inside (dome/closed retractable roof) 1-3 on natural grass 8-1 on synthetic surface 3-1 with fewer penalty yards
UNDER MARVIN LEWIS (2003-PRESENT; REGULAR SEASON) 50-35-1 at home 38-49-0 on the road 60-28-1 when scoring first 28-56-0 when opponent scores first 17-18-1 in games decided by three points or fewer 45-41-1 in games decided by seven points or fewer 59-22-1 when leading at halftime 11-2-0 when tied at halftime 18-60-0 when trailing at halftime 69-13-1 when leading after three quarters 6-4-0 when tied after three quarters 13-67-0 when trailing after three quarters 59-32-0 when rushing for 100 net yards
55-21-1 when opponent rushes for less than 100 net yards 54-13-1 with plus turnover differential 23-17-0 with even turnover differential 11-54-0 with minus turnover differential 29-28-0 when passing for 250 net yards 24-28-1 when opponent passes for 250 net yards 69-32-0 when scoring 20 points or more 31-74-0 when opponent scores 20 points or more 84-78-1 when game is outdoors (open-air/open retractable roof) 4-6-0 when game is inside (dome/closed retractable roof) 33-29-0 on natural grass 55-55-1 on synthetic surface 45-43-1 with fewer penalty yards
— 26 —
BEST PERFORMANCES
REGULAR SEASON RUSHING YARDS
99 — Giovani Bernard, Dec. 8 vs. Indianapolis 92 — BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Dec. 1 at San Diego 86 — BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Oct. 13 at Buffalo
RUSHING ATTEMPTS 22 — BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Sept. 16 vs. Pittsburgh 21 — BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Oct. 31 at Miami 20 — BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Dec. 1 at San Diego
LONGEST RUSHES 35 — Giovani Bernard, Oct. 31 at Miami (TD) 34 — Marvin Jones, Oct. 13 at Buffalo 28 — Giovani Bernard, Oct. 6 vs. New England
RECEPTIONS 11 — A.J. Green, Oct. 31 at Miami 9 — A.J. Green, Sept. 8 at Chicago 8 — (three times)
RECEIVING YARDS 162 — A.J. Green, Sept. 8 at Chicago 155 — A.J. Green, Oct. 20 at Detroit 151 — A.J. Green, Nov. 10 at Baltimore
PASSING YARDS 372 — Andy Dalton, Oct. 20 at Detroit 338 — Andy Dalton, Oct. 31 at Miami 337 — Andy Dalton, Oct. 13 at Buffalo
PASS ATTEMPTS 53 — Andy Dalton, Oct. 31 at Miami 51 — Andy Dalton, Nov. 10 at Baltimore 45 — Andy Dalton, Sept. 16 vs. Pittsburgh
PASS COMPLETIONS 32 — Andy Dalton, Oct. 31 at Miami 26 — Andy Dalton, Sept. 8 at Chicago 26 — Andy Dalton, Oct. 13 at Buffalo
LONGEST PASSES 82 — Andy Dalton to A.J. Green, Oct. 20 at Detroit (TD) 61 — Andy Dalton to Tyler Eifert, Sept. 16 vs. Pittsburgh 54 — Andy Dalton to A.J. Green, Oct. 13 at Buffalo
YARDS FROM SCRIMMAGE 162 — A.J. Green, Sept. 8 at Chicago 155 — A.J. Green, Oct. 20 at Detroit 151 — A.J. Green, Nov. 10 at Baltimore
LONGEST KICKOFF RETURNS 71 — Brandon Tate, Oct. 27 vs. N.Y. Jets 44 — Brandon Tate, Dec. 8 vs. Indianapolis 32 — Brandon Tate, Sept. 22 vs. Green Bay
LONGEST PUNT RETURNS 43 — Brandon Tate, Dec. 8 vs. Indianapolis 29 — Brandon Tate, Oct. 13 at Buffalo 27 — Adam Jones, Nov. 17 vs. Cleveland
TOTAL TACKLES* 18 — Vontaze Burfict, Nov. 17 vs. Cleveland 17 — Vontaze Burfict, Oct. 20 at Detroit 15 — Vontaze Burfict, Nov. 10 at Baltimore
SOLO TACKLES* 15 — Vontaze Burfict, Nov. 17 vs. Cleveland 13 — Vontaze Burfict, Oct. 20 at Detroit 13 — Vontaze Burfict, Nov. 10 at Baltimore
*NOTE: The defensive statistics above were compiled by Bengals coaches while reviewing game film and thus may differ from those listed in the statistics books produced at the games.
— 27 —
GAME-BY-GAME TEAM STATISTICS
OFFENSE DATE OPPONENT YDS RUSH-YDS PASS YDS COMP-ATT TD-P/INT SKD-YDS 1D 3D-CONV F-FL POSS Sept. 8 at Chicago 340 21-63 277 26-33 2/2 1-5 18 7-11 2-1 28:30 Sept. 16 PITTSBURGH 407 34-127 280 25-45 1/0 0-0 22 7-17 0-0 35:34 Sept. 22 GREEN BAY 297 24-82 215 20-28 2/1 4-20 19 4-11 5-3 28:09 Sept. 29 at Cleveland 266 20-63 203 23-42 0/1 2-3 16 4-14 2-1 28:51 Oct. 6 NEW ENGLAND 341 39-162 179 20-27 0/1 4-33 21 6-15 1-1 34:16 Oct. 13 at Buffalo 483 41-165 318 26-40 3/1 3-19 26 7-18 0-0 42:52 Oct. 20 at Detroit 421 18-57 364 24-34 3/0 1-8 18 4-10 1-0 25:29 Oct. 27 N.Y. JETS 402 25-79 323 19-30 5/1 1-2 20 6-11 2-0 26:43 Oct. 31 at Miami 465 35-163 302 32-53 0/3 5-36 28 10-20 1-1 40:02 Nov. 10 at Baltimore 364 31-120 244 24-51 2/3 5-30 21 5-19 1-0 37:58 Nov. 17 CLEVELAND 224 31-106 118 14-28 3/2 0-0 10 1-14 0-0 27:36 Nov. 24 — BYE — Dec. 1 at San Diego 354 38-164 190 14-23 1/1 0-0 19 6-12 1-1 29:40 Dec. 8 INDIANAPOLIS 430 35-155 275 24-35 3/0 0-0 28 6-12 0-0 37:45 Dec. 15 at Pittsburgh Dec. 22 MINNESOTA Dec. 29 BALTIMORE 2013 TOTALS 4794 392-1506 3288 291-469 25/16 26-156 266 73-184 16-8 31:31
DEFENSE DATE OPPONENT YDS RUSH-YDS PASS YDS COMP-ATT TD-P/INT SKD-YDS 1D 3D-CONV F-FL POSS Sept. 8 at Chicago 323 28-81 242 21-33 2/1 0-0 17 6-14 0-0 31:30 Sept. 16 PITTSBURGH 278 16-44 234 20-37 1/1 2-17 14 3-12 1-1 24:26 Sept. 22 GREEN BAY 399 30-182 217 26-43 1/2 4-27 27 4-13 2-2 31:51 Sept. 29 at Cleveland 336 30-89 247 25-38 2/0 3-22 18 9-18 0-0 31:09 Oct. 6 NEW ENGLAND 248 18-82 166 18-38 0/1 4-31 15 1-12 4-1 25:44 Oct. 13 at Buffalo 322 32-130 192 19-32 2/0 5-24 20 8-17 1-1 25:24 Oct. 20 at Detroit 434 25-77 357 28-51 3/0 0-0 22 13-19 0-0 34:31 Oct. 27 N.Y. JETS 240 24-93 147 23-37 0/2 4-29 15 6-15 0-0 33:17 Oct. 31 at Miami 345 30-157 188 20-28 0/0 3-20 15 3-14 1-1 28:20 Nov. 10 at Baltimore 189 30-85 104 20-36 2/2 5-36 18 3-16 1-1 37:02 Nov. 17 CLEVELAND 330 19-102 228 27-56 1/3 4-20 15 4-18 2-1 32:24 Nov. 24 — BYE — Dec. 1 at San Diego 334 24-91 243 23-37 1/1 2-9 19 6-13 2-2 30:20 Dec. 8 INDIANAPOLIS 389 12-63 326 29-46 4/0 0-0 21 2-10 1-0 22:15 Dec. 15 at Pittsburgh Dec. 22 MINNESOTA Dec. 29 BALTIMORE 2013 TOTALS 4167 318-1276 2891 299-512 19/13 36-235 236 68-191 15-10 28:29
— 28 —
TRANSACTIONS
(TRANSACTIONS FROM 6-19-12 THROUGH 6-12-13 ARE IN BENGALS 2013 MEDIA GUIDE) June 12, 2013 — Waived S Robert Sands. July 10, 2013 — Terminated the contract of DE Jamaal Anderson. July 15, 2013 — Signed TE Tyler Eifert (D1). July 16, 2013 — Signed DE Carlos Dunlap* to a contract extension. July 22, 2013 — Terminated the contract of G Travelle Wharton. Aug. 1, 2013 — Signed WR Jheranie Boyd (FA); Acquired OT Jason Weaver on waivers from Tampa Bay. Aug. 2, 2013 — Signed DT Vaughn Meatoga (FA). Aug. 7, 2013 — Waived DT Larry Black (injured). Aug. 8,2013 — DT Larry Black cleared waivers and reverted to the Reserve/Injured list. Aug. 10, 2013 — Signed G Otis Hudson (FA). Aug. 18, 2013 — Terminated the contract of LB Aaron Maybin; Waived WR Tyrone Goard and CB Troy Stoudermire. Aug. 25, 2013 — Terminated the contract of TE Richard Quinn; Waived WR Jheranie Boyd, CB Terrence Brown, LB Jordan Campbell, DT Vaughn Meatoga and K/P Quinn Sharp. Aug. 27, 2013 — Placed LB Sean Porter on the Reserve/Injured list; Placed FB Chris Pressley and QB Zac Robinson on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list; Waived G Otis Hudson, LB Brandon Joiner (injured) and OT Jason Weaver. Aug. 28, 2013 — LB Brandon Joiner cleared waivers and reverted to the Reserve/Injured list. Aug. 30, 2013 — Placed DE DeQuin Evans on the Reserve/Suspended by Commissioner list. Aug. 31, 2013 — Placed HB Bernard Scott on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list; Placed LB Emmanuel Lamur on the Reserve/Injured list; Terminated the contract of OT Dennis Roland; Waived the following 18 players: FB John Conner, TE/LS Bryce Davis, S Tony Dye, OT Reid Fragel, WR Cobi Hamilton, HB Daniel Herron, C T.J. Johnson, CB Chris Lewis-Harris, CB Onterio McCalebb, DE Dontay Moch, CB Shaun Prater, WR Taveon Rogers, WR Roy Roundtree, LB J.K. Schaffer, QB John Skelton, DT Terrence Stephens, G John Sullen and LB Bruce Taylor. Sept. 1, 2013 — Signed the following seven players to the practice squad: OT Reid Fragel, WR Cobi Hamilton, HB Daniel Herron, C T.J. Johnson, CB Chris Lewis-Harris, CB Onterio McCalebb and LB J.K. Schaffer. Sept. 2, 2013 — Signed DT Geno Atkins* to a contract extension. Sept. 4, 2013 — Placed WR Andrew Hawkins on the Reserve/Injured list (designated for possible return); Re-signed OT Dennis Roland (FA); Signed QB Greg McElroy (FA) to the practice squad. Sept. 16, 2013 — Signed LB J.K. Schaffer from the practice squad; Waived S Jeromy Miles. Sept. 17, 2013 — Terminated the contract of HB Bernard Scott (Reserve/ Physically Unable to Perform list).
Sept. 18, 2013 — Re-signed S Jeromy Miles (FA); Signed CB Curtis Marsh (FA); Placed DE Robert Geathers on the Reserve/Injured list; Waived LB J.K. Schaffer. Sept. 19, 2013 — Signed LB J.K. Schaffer to the practice squad. Sept. 21, 2013 — Signed CB Chris Lewis-Harris from practice squad; Waived S Jeromy Miles. Sept. 24, 2013 — Signed S Tony Dye to the practice squad. Sept. 25, 2013 — Signed S Chris Crocker; Terminated the contract of OT Dennis Roland. Oct. 1, 2013 — Signed LB Michael Boley (FA); Waived CB Curtis Marsh. Oct. 9, 2013 — HB Daniel Herron (practice squad) signed with Indianapolis. Oct. 15, 2013 — Signed DE Kendrick Adams (FA) to the practice squad. Oct. 22, 2013 — Signed DE David King (FA) to the practice squad; Released DE Kendrick Adams from the practice squad. Oct. 23, 2013 — WR Andrew Hawkins (Reserve/Injured; designated for possible return) returned to practice on a roster exemption. Oct. 28, 2013 — The suspension of DE DeQuin Evans (Reserve/Suspended by Commissioner list) expired and he was granted permission to participate in team activities with a roster exemption of up to one week. Oct. 29, 2013 — Signed LB J.K. Schaffer from the practice squad; Placed CB Leon Hall on the Reserve/Injured list; Waived DE DeQuin Evans. Oct. 30, 2013 — Placed S Taylor Mays on the Reserve/Injured list; OT Reid Fragel (practice squad) signed with Cleveland. Oct. 31, 2013 — Activated WR Andrew Hawkins (Reserve/Injured; designated for possible return) to the 53-player roster; Signed DE DeQuin Evans (FA) to the practice squad. Nov. 4, 2013 — Placed DT Geno Atkins on the Reserve/Injured list; Signed LB Bruce Taylor (FA) to the practice squad. Nov. 5, 2013 — Signed DT Kheeston Randall (FA). Nov. 11, 2013 — Signed DE Aston Whiteside to the practice squad; Released DE DeQuin Evans from the practice squad. Nov. 16, 2013 — Signed S Tony Dye from the practice squad; Waived CB Chris Lewis-Harris. Nov. 19, 2013 — Signed CB Chris Lewis-Harris to the practice squad; Announced that FB Chris Pressley and QB Zac Robinson (Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list) were eligible to return to practice on roster exemptions. Nov. 20, 2013 — Signed DT Christo Bilukidi (FA); Waived DT Kheeston Randall. Dec. 3, 2013 — Signed OT Dennis Roland (FA); Placed G Clint Boling on the Reserve/Injured list; Signed C Scott Wedige to the practice squad; Released DE Aston Whiteside from the practice squad.
* NOTE: Signed a new contract before finishing the final season(s) of existing contract.
— 29 —
PARTICIPATION CHART
LEGEND (NOTE: Position designation indicates start.)
P — played as a substitute DNP — did not play IL — inactive list PS — practice squad
RI — reserve/injured list RPUP — reserve/physically unable to perform list RNFI — reserve/non-football injury list RNF-I — reserve/non-football illness list RSBC — reserve/suspended by commissioner list
RF — reserve/future list REX — roster exemption ^ — reserve/injured player designated for return * — eligible to practice with a roster exemption NWT — not with team
Cin. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 NAME G-S @Chi. PITT. G.B. @Cle. N.E. @Buff. @Det. NYJ @Mia. @Balt. CLE. @S.D. IND. @Pitt. MINN. BALT. Adams, Kendrick ..................... 0-0 NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT PS NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT Atkins, Geno ............................ 9-9 DT DT DT DT DT DT DT DT DT RI RI RI RI Bernard, Giovani ..................... 13-0 P P P P P P P P P P P P P Bilukidi, Christo ....................... 0-0 NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT IL IL Black, Larry ............................. 0-0 RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI Boley, Michael ......................... 7-0 NWT NWT NWT NWT P P P P IL IL P P P Boling, Clint ............................. 12-12 LG LG LG LG LG LG LG LG LG LG LG LG RI Burfict, Vontaze ....................... 13-13 WLB LB LB WLB WLB WLB LB WLB WLB LB WLB WLB WLB Burkhead, Rex ........................ 1-0 IL IL IL IL IL IL IL IL IL P IL IL IL Charles, Orson ........................ 11-0 P IL P P P P P P P P P P IL Collins, Anthony ...................... 12-4 LOT P IL P P P P P LOT P P ROT LOT Cook, Kyle ............................... 13-13 C C C C C C C C C C C C C Crocker, Chris ......................... 9-2 NWT NWT NWT P P P nklDB P P nklDB IL P P Dalton, Andy ............................ 13-13 QB QB QB QB QB QB QB QB QB QB QB QB QB DiManche, Jayson ................... 13-0 P P P P P P P P P P P P P Dunlap, Carlos ........................ 13-12 LDE LDE LDE LDE LDE LDE LDE LDE LDE LDE LDE P LDE Dye, Tony ................................ 1-0 NWT NWT NWT PS PS PS PS PS PS PS P IL IL Eifert, Tyler .............................. 13-13 TE TE TE TE TE TE TE TE TE TE TE TE TE Evans, DeQuin ........................ 0-0 RSBC RSBC RSBC RSBC RSBC RSBC RSBC RSBC PS PS NWT NWT NWT Fragel, Reid ............................. 0-0 PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT Geathers, Robert ..................... 2-0 P P RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI Ghee, Brandon ........................ 7-0 IL IL IL P IL IL IL P P P P P P Gilberry, Wallace ..................... 13-2 P P P P RDE P P P P P P LDE P Green, A.J. .............................. 13-13 WR WR WR WR WR WR WR WR WR WR WR WR WR Green-Ellis, BenJarvus ............ 13-13 HB HB HB HB HB HB HB HB HB HB HB HB HB Gresham, Jermaine ................. 12-12 TE TE TE TE TE TE TE TE TE IL TE TE TE Hall, Leon ................................ 5-5 RCB RCB RCB IL IL RCB RCB IL RI RI RI RI RI Hamilton, Cobi ......................... 0-0 PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS Harris, Clark ............................ 13-0 P P P P P P P P P P P P P Harrison, James ...................... 13-9 SLB P P SLB SLB SLB P SLB SLB P SLB SLB SLB Hawkins, Andrew..................... 5-0 RI^ RI^ RI^ RI^ RI^ RI^ RI^ RI^* P P P P P Hawkinson, Tanner ................. 0-0 DNP IL DNP IL IL IL IL IL DNP IL IL IL DNP Herron, Daniel ......................... 0-0 PS PS PS PS PS NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT Huber, Kevin ........................... 13-0 P P P P P P P P P P P P P Hunt, Margus ........................... 7-0 IL IL IL IL P IL IL P P P P P P Iloka, George ........................... 13-13 SS SS SS SS SS SS SS SS SS SS SS SS SS Johnson, Josh ......................... 1-0 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP P DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP Johnson, Michael .................... 12-12 RDE RDE RDE RDE IL RDE RDE RDE RDE RDE RDE RDE RDE Johnson, T.J. ........................... 0-0 PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS Joiner, Brandon ....................... 0-0 RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI Jones, Adam ........................... 13-10 P nklDB nklDB RCB RCB P P RCB RCB RCB RCB RCB RCB Jones, Marvin .......................... 13-2 P P P P P P P P P P WR WR P King, David .............................. 0-0 NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT PS PS PS PS PS PS Kirkpatrick, Dre ........................ 11-0 P P IL IL P P P P P P P P P Lamur, Emmanuel ................... 0-0 RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI Lewis-Harris, Chris .................. 3-0 PS PS P P P IL IL IL IL IL NWT PS PS Marsh, Curtis ........................... 2-0 NWT NWT P P NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT Maualuga, Rey ........................ 10-10 MLB LB LB MLB MLB MLB LB MLB IL IL IL MLB MLB Mays, Taylor ............................ 8-1 P P P FS P P P P RI RI RI RI RI McCalebb, Onterio .................. 0-0 PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS McElroy, Greg ......................... 0-0 PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS PS Miles, Jeromy .......................... 1-0 P NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT Nelson, Reggie ........................ 12-12 FS FS FS IL FS FS FS FS FS FS FS FS FS Newman, Terence ................... 13-13 LCB LCB LCB LCB LCB LCB LCB LCB LCB LCB LCB LCB LCB Nugent, Mike ........................... 13-0 P P P P P P P P P P P P P Peerman, Cedric ..................... 13-0 P P P P P P P P P P P P P Peko, Domata ......................... 13-13 NT NT NT NT NT NT NT NT NT NT NT NT NT Pollak, Mike ............................. 5-3 IL IL IL IL IL IL DNP P P DNP RG RG RG Porter, Sean ............................ 0-0 RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI RI Pressley, Chris ........................ 0-0 RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP* RPUP* Randall, Kheeston ................... 0-0 NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT DNP DNP NWT NWT Rey, Vincent ............................ 13-3 P P P P P P P P MLB LB MLB P P Robinson, Trevor ..................... 3-0 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP IL IL IL IL P P P Robinson, Zac ......................... 0-0 RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP RPUP* RPUP* Roland, Dennis ........................ 3-0 P P P NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT IL Sanu, Mohamed ...................... 13-11 WR WR WR WR WR WR WR WR WR WR P P WR Sanzenbacher, Dane ............... 9-0 IL IL P P P P P P P P P IL IL Schaffer, J.K. ........................... 6-0 PS P PS PS PS PS PS PS P P P P P Scott, Bernard ......................... 0-0 RPUP RPUP NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT Smith, Alex .............................. 13-1 P P P P P P P P P TE P P P Smith, Andre ........................... 13-12 ROT ROT ROT ROT ROT ROT ROT ROT ROT ROT ROT P ROT Still, Devon .............................. 9-0 P P P P P P P IL IL IL IL P P Tate, Brandon ......................... 13-0 P P P P P P P P P P P P P Taylor, Bruce ........................... 0-0 NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT PS PS PS PS Thompson, Brandon ................ 13-4 P P P P P P P P P DT DT DT DT Wedige, Scott .......................... 0-0 NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT PS Whalen, Ryan .......................... 4-0 IL P IL P IL IL IL IL P P IL IL IL Whiteside, Aston ..................... 0-0 NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT NWT PS PS NWT Whitworth, Andrew .................. 11-11 IL LOT LOT LOT LOT LOT LOT LOT IL LOT LOT LOT LG Williams, Shawn ...................... 13-0 P P P P P P P P P P P P P Zeitler, Kevin ........................... 10-10 RG RG RG RG RG RG RG RG RG RG IL IL DNP
— 30 —
STARTING LINEUPS
OFFENSE DATE OPPONENT WR LOT LG C RG ROT TE TE WR QB HB Sept. 8 at Chicago Sanu Collins Boling Cook Zeitler An.Smith Gresham Eifert Green Dalton Green-Ellis Sept. 16 PITTSBURGH Sanu Whitworth Boling Cook Zeitler An.Smith Gresham Eifert Green Dalton Green-Ellis Sept. 22 GREEN BAY Sanu Whitworth Boling Cook Zeitler An.Smith Gresham Eifert Green Dalton Green-Ellis Sept. 29 at Cleveland Sanu Whitworth Boling Cook Zeitler An.Smith Gresham Eifert Green Dalton Green-Ellis Oct. 6 NEW ENGLAND Sanu Whitworth Boling Cook Zeitler An.Smith Gresham Eifert Green Dalton Green-Ellis Oct. 13 at Buffalo Sanu Whitworth Boling Cook Zeitler An.Smith Gresham Eifert Green Dalton Green-Ellis Oct. 20 at Detroit Sanu Whitworth Boling Cook Zeitler An.Smith Gresham Eifert Green Dalton Green-Ellis Oct. 27 N.Y. JETS Sanu Whitworth Boling Cook Zeitler An.Smith Gresham Eifert Green Dalton Green-Ellis Oct. 31 at Miami Sanu Collins Boling Cook Zeitler An.Smith Gresham Eifert Green Dalton Green-Ellis Nov. 10 at Baltimore Sanu Whitworth Boling Cook Zeitler An.Smith Al.Smith Eifert Green Dalton Green-Ellis Nov. 17 CLEVELAND M.Jones Whitworth Boling Cook Pollak An.Smith Gresham Eifert Green Dalton Green-Ellis Nov. 24 — BYE — Dec. 1 at San Diego M.Jones Whitworth Boling Cook Pollak Collins Gresham Eifert Green Dalton Green-Ellis Dec. 8 INDIANAPOLIS Sanu Collins Whitworth Cook Pollak An.Smith Gresham Eifert Green Dalton Green-Ellis Dec. 15 at Pittsburgh Dec. 22 MINNESOTA Dec. 29 BALTIMORE
DEFENSE DATE OPPONENT LDE NT DT RDE SLB MLB WLB LCB RCB SS FS Sept. 8 at Chicago Dunlap Peko Atkins M.Johnson Harrison Maualuga Burfict Newman Hall Iloka Nelson Sept. 16 PITTSBURGH Dunlap Peko Atkins M.Johnson A.Jones(nickel) Maualuga(LB) Burfict(LB) Newman Hall Iloka Nelson Sept. 22 GREEN BAY Dunlap Peko Atkins M.Johnson A.Jones(nickel) Maualuga(LB) Burfict(LB) Newman Hall Iloka Nelson Sept. 29 at Cleveland Dunlap Peko Atkins M.Johnson Harrison Maualuga Burfict Newman A.Jones Iloka Mays Oct. 6 NEW ENGLAND Dunlap Peko Atkins Gilberry Harrison Maualuga Burfict Newman A.Jones Iloka Nelson Oct. 13 at Buffalo Dunlap Peko Atkins M.Johnson Harrison Maualuga Burfict Newman Hall Iloka Nelson Oct. 20 at Detroit Dunlap Peko Atkins M.Johnson Crocker(nickel) Maualuga(LB) Burfict(LB) Newman Hall Iloka Nelson Oct. 27 N.Y. JETS Dunlap Peko Atkins M.Johnson Harrison Maualuga Burfict Newman A.Jones Iloka Nelson Oct. 31 at Miami Dunlap Peko Atkins M.Johnson Harrison Rey Burfict Newman A.Jones Iloka Nelson Nov. 10 at Baltimore Dunlap Peko Thompson M.Johnson Crocker(nickel) Rey(LB) Burfict(LB) Newman A.Jones Iloka Nelson Nov. 17 CLEVELAND Dunlap Peko Thompson M.Johnson Harrison Rey Burfict Newman A.Jones Iloka Nelson Nov. 24 — BYE — Dec. 1 at San Diego Gilberry Peko Thompson M.Johnson Harrison Maualuga Burfict Newman A.Jones Iloka Nelson Dec. 8 INDIANAPOLIS Dunlap Peko Thompson M.Johnson Harrison Maualuga Burfict Newman A.Jones Iloka Nelson Dec. 15 at Pittsburgh Dec. 22 MINNESOTA Dec. 29 BALTIMORE
— 31 —
DEPTH CHART
DEC. 10, 2013 OFFENSE
WR 12 MOHAMED SANU 82 Marvin Jones 88 Ryan Whalen 16 Andrew Hawkins LOT 73 ANTHONY COLLINS 74 Dennis Roland LG 77 ANDREW WHITWORTH 72 Tanner Hawkinson C 64 KYLE COOK 66 Trevor Robinson RG 68 KEVIN ZEITLER 67 Mike Pollak ROT 71 ANDRE SMITH 74 Dennis Roland TE 84 JERMAINE GRESHAM 81 Alex Smith TE/H-B 85 TYLER EIFERT (TE) 80 Orson Charles (H-back) WR 18 A.J. GREEN 19 Brandon Tate 11 Dane Sanzenbacher QB 14 ANDY DALTON 8 Josh Johnson HB 42 BENJARVUS GREEN-ELLIS 25 Giovani Bernard 30 Cedric Peerman 33 Rex Burkhead
DEFENSE LDE 96 CARLOS DUNLAP 99 Margus Hunt NT 94 DOMATA PEKO 90 Christo Bilukidi DT 98 BRANDON THOMPSON 75 Devon Still RDE 93 MICHAEL JOHNSON 95 Wallace Gilberry SLB 92 JAMES HARRISON 51 Jayson DiManche MLB 58 REY MAUALUGA 57 Vincent Rey 50 J.K. Schaffer WLB 55 VONTAZE BURFICT 53 Michael Boley LCB 23 TERENCE NEWMAN 27 Dre Kirkpatrick RCB 24 ADAM JONES 21 Brandon Ghee SS 43 GEORGE ILOKA 32 Chris Crocker FS 20 REGGIE NELSON 40 Shawn Williams 44 Tony Dye
SPECIAL TEAMS P 10 Kevin Huber K 2 Mike Nugent LS 46 Clark Harris H 10 Kevin Huber PR 19 Brandon Tate 24 Adam Jones 11 Dane Sanzenbacher KOR 19 Brandon Tate 11 Dane Sanzenbacher 24 Adam Jones 30 Cedric Peerman
NOTE: Players whose names are CAPITALIZED are expected to start in the team’s base units. Rookies are underlined.
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Geno Atkins (Reserve/Injured) .................................................................... JEE-no Giovani Bernard ...............................................................................jee-o-VAHN-ee Christo Bilukidi .............................................................. kriss-TOE bill-loo-KEE-dee Vontaze Burfict ..................................... VONN-tez BER-fict(rhymes with “perfect”) Jayson DiManche .............................................................................. dih-MAHNCH Tyler Eifert ........................................................................ IE(rhymes with “tie”)-fert Robert Geathers (Reserve/Injured) ............................... (pronounced as “gathers”) Brandon Ghee .................................................................................................. JEE Jermaine Gresham ................................................................ jer-MAIN GRESH-em Paul Guenther (linebackers coach) .......................................................... GUN-thur Cobi Hamilton (practice squad) ................................................................... KO-bee Margus Hunt ........................................................................................... MAR-guss George Iloka ............................................................... ie(rhymes with “tie”)-LO-kuh
Dre Kirkpatrick ............................................................................................... DRAY Emmanuel Lamur (Reserve/Injured list) .................................................... luh-MER Rey Maualuga ..................................... RAY mow(rhymes with “now”)-uh-LOO-guh Onterio McCalebb (practice squad) .................................................... mc-KAY-lebb Domata Peko ...................................................................... DOE-mah-tah PECK-o Vincent Rey ...................................................................................................... RAY Mohamed Sanu......................................................................................... suh-NOO Dane Sanzenbacher ................................................................. SAHNZ-en-bock-er Devon Still ................................................................................................... DEV-un Scott Wedige (practice squad) ................................................................... WEDD-ij Ken Zampese (quarterbacks coach).................................................. zam-PEE-zee Kevin Zeitler ................................................................................................ ZITE-ler
— 32 —
ALPHABETICAL ROSTER
DEC. 10, 2013 NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. BORN EXP. COLLEGE HOMETOWN HOW ACQ. 25 Bernard, Giovani ............................................ HB 5-9 208 11-22-91 R North Carolina Boca Raton, Fla. D2a’13 90 Bilukidi, Christo ............................................... DT 6-5 320 12-13-89 2 Georgia State Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) FA’13 53 Boley, Michael ................................................ LB 6-3 230 8-24-82 9 Southern Mississippi Elkmont, Ala. FA’13 55 Burfict, Vontaze .............................................. LB 6-1 255 9-24-90 2 Arizona State Corona, Calif. CFA’12 33 Burkhead, Rex ............................................... HB 5-10 218 7-2-90 R Nebraska Plano, Texas D6a’13 80 Charles, Orson.............................................. H-B 6-3 245 1-27-91 2 Georgia Tampa, Fla. D4’12 73 Collins, Anthony ............................................. OT 6-5 315 11-2-85 6 Kansas Beaumont, Texas D4’08 64 Cook, Kyle ........................................................ C 6-3 310 7-25-83 6 Michigan State Macomb, Mich. FA’07 32 Crocker, Chris ................................................... S 5-11 197 3-9-80 11 Marshall Chesapeake, Va. FA’13 14 Dalton, Andy .................................................. QB 6-2 220 10-29-87 3 Texas Christian Katy, Texas D2’11 51 DiManche, Jayson .......................................... LB 6-1 240 9-22-90 R Southern Illinois Hamilton, N.J. CFA’13 96 Dunlap, Carlos ............................................... DE 6-6 280 2-28-89 4 Florida North Charleston, S.C. D2’10 44 Dye, Tony ......................................................... S 5-10 205 2-11-90 2 UCLA Corona, Calif. CFA’12 85 Eifert, Tyler ..................................................... TE 6-6 250 9-8-90 R Notre Dame Fort Wayne, Ind. D1’13 21 Ghee, Brandon .............................................. CB 6-0 200 6-6-87 4 Wake Forest Fayetteville, N.C. D3b’10 95 Gilberry, Wallace ........................................... DE 6-2 275 12-5-84 6 Alabama Bay Minette, Ala. FA’12 18 Green, A.J. .................................................... WR 6-4 207 7-31-88 3 Georgia Summerville, S.C. D1’11 42 Green-Ellis, BenJarvus .................................. HB 5-11 220 7-2-85 6 Mississippi New Orleans, La. UFA(N.E.)’12 84 Gresham, Jermaine ........................................ TE 6-5 260 6-16-88 4 Oklahoma Ardmore, Okla. D1’10 46 Harris, Clark .................................................... LS 6-5 245 7-10-84 5 Rutgers Manahawkin, N.J. FA’09 92 Harrison, James ............................................. LB 6-0 275 5-4-78 10 Kent State Akron, Ohio FA’13 16 Hawkins, Andrew .......................................... WR 5-7 180 3-10-86 3 Toledo Johnstown, Pa. W(StL.)’11 72 Hawkinson, Tanner ........................................... G 6-5 300 5-14-90 R Kansas McPherson, Kan. D5’13 10 Huber, Kevin ..................................................... P 6-1 212 7-16-85 5 Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio D5’09 99 Hunt, Margus ................................................. DE 6-8 280 7-14-87 R Southern Methodist Karksi-Nuia (Estonia) D2b’13 43 Iloka, George .................................................... S 6-4 217 6-20-90 2 Boise State Houston, Texas D5c’12 8 Johnson, Josh................................................ QB 6-3 205 5-15-86 5 San Diego Oakland, Calif. UFA(Cle.)’13 93 Johnson, Michael ........................................... DE 6-7 270 2-7-87 5 Georgia Tech Selma, Ala. D3a’09 24 Jones, Adam .................................................. CB 5-10 180 9-30-83 7 West Virginia Atlanta, Ga. FA’10 82 Jones, Marvin ............................................... WR 6-2 195 3-12-90 2 California Fontana, Calif. D5b’12 27 Kirkpatrick, Dre .............................................. CB 6-2 185 10-26-89 2 Alabama Gadsden, Ala. D1a’12 58 Maualuga, Rey................................................ LB 6-2 255 1-20-87 5 Southern California Eureka, Calif. D2’09 20 Nelson, Reggie ................................................. S 5-11 210 9-21-83 7 Florida Melbourne, Fla. T(Jax.)’10 23 Newman, Terence ......................................... CB 5-10 192 9-4-78 11 Kansas State Salina, Kan. FA’12 2 Nugent, Mike ..................................................... K 5-10 190 3-2-82 9 Ohio State Centerville, Ohio FA’10 30 Peerman, Cedric ............................................ HB 5-10 211 10-10-86 4 Virginia Gladys, Va. W(Det.)’10 94 Peko, Domata ................................................. DT 6-3 322 11-27-84 8 Michigan State Pago Pago (American Samoa) D4’06 67 Pollak, Mike ...................................................... G 6-3 300 2-16-85 6 Arizona State Tempe, Ariz. UFA(Car.)’13 57 Rey, Vincent ................................................... LB 6-2 250 9-6-87 3 Duke Far Rockaway, N.Y. CFA’10 66 Robinson, Trevor .............................................. C 6-5 300 5-16-90 2 Notre Dame Elkhorn, Neb. CFA’12 74 Roland, Dennis .............................................. OT 6-9 315 3-10-83 6 Georgia Bolivar, Mo. FA’13 12 Sanu, Mohamed ........................................... WR 6-2 210 8-22-89 2 Rutgers South Brunswick, N.J. D3a’12 11 Sanzenbacher, Dane .................................... WR 5-11 184 10-13-88 3 Ohio State Toledo, Ohio W(Chi.)’12 50 Schaffer, J.K. .................................................. LB 6-0 232 6-10-90 1 Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio FA’12 81 Smith, Alex ...................................................... TE 6-4 250 5-22-82 9 Stanford Denver, Colo. UFA(Cle.)’13 71 Smith, Andre .................................................. OT 6-4 335 1-25-87 5 Alabama Birmingham, Ala. D1’09 75 Still, Devon ...................................................... DT 6-5 320 7-11-89 2 Penn State Wilmington, Del. D2’12 19 Tate, Brandon ............................................... WR 6-1 195 10-5-87 5 North Carolina Burlington, N.C. W(N.E.)’11 98 Thompson, Brandon ....................................... DT 6-2 325 10-19-89 2 Clemson Thomasville, Ga. D3b’12 88 Whalen, Ryan ............................................... WR 6-1 200 7-26-89 3 Stanford Alamo, Calif. D6’11 77 Whitworth, Andrew ........................................ OT 6-7 335 12-12-81 8 Louisiana State West Monroe, La. D2’06 40 Williams, Shawn ............................................... S 6-0 211 5-13-91 R Georgia Damascus, Ga. D3’13 68 Zeitler, Kevin ..................................................... G 6-4 315 3-8-90 2 Wisconsin Waukesha, Wis. D1b’12
PRACTICE SQUAD (date assigned) 87 Hamilton, Cobi (9-1-13) ................................ WR 6-2 205 11-13-90 R Arkansas Texarkana, Texas D6b’13 60 Johnson, T.J. (9-1-13) ...................................... C 6-4 310 7-17-90 R South Carolina Aynor, S.C. D7b’13 76 King, David (10-22-13) .................................. DE 6-4 285 12-27-89 R Oklahoma Houston, Texas FA’13 37 Lewis-Harris, Chris (11-19-13) ...................... CB 5-10 180 2-11-89 1 Tennessee-Chattanooga Smyrna, Ga. CFA’12 39 McCalebb, Onterio (9-1-13) ........................... CB 5-10 170 8-10-89 R Auburn Fort Meade, Fla. CFA’13 7 McElroy, Greg (9-4-13) .................................. QB 6-2 225 5-10-88 3 Alabama Southlake, Texas FA’13 52 Taylor, Bruce (11-4-13) .................................. LB 6-1 245 12-31-89 R Virginia Tech Riceboro, Ga. FA’13 61 Wedige, Scott (12-3-13) ................................... C 6-4 310 11-20-88 R Northern Illinois Elkhorn, Wis. FA’13
RESERVE/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM (date assigned; injury) 36 + Pressley, Chris (8-27-13; knee) ...................... FB 5-11 260 8-8-86 5 Wisconsin Woodbury, N.J. FA’10 5 + Robinson, Zac (8-27-13; elbow) .................... QB 6-3 208 9-29-86 2 Oklahoma State Littleton, Colo. FA’11
RESERVE/INJURED (date assigned; injury) 97 Atkins, Geno (11-4-13; knee) ......................... DT 6-1 303 3-28-88 4 Georgia Pembroke Pines, Fla. D4a’10 63 Black, Larry (8-8-13; leg/ankle) ...................... DT 6-2 312 12-1-89 R Indiana Cincinnati, Ohio CFA’13 65 Boling, Clint (12-3-13; knee) ............................. G 6-5 311 5-9-89 3 Georgia Alpharetta, Ga. D4’11 91 Geathers, Robert (9-18-13; elbow)................ DE 6-3 280 8-11-83 10 Georgia Georgetown, S.C. D4b’04 29 Hall, Leon (10-29-13; Achilles) ...................... CB 5-11 195 12-9-84 7 Michigan Vista, Calif. D1’07 49 Joiner, Brandon (8-28-13; knee) .................... LB 6-3 240 4-27-89 1 Arkansas State Killeen, Texas CFA’12 59 Lamur, Emmanuel (8-31-13; shoulder) .......... LB 6-4 240 6-8-89 2 Kansas State West Palm Beach, Fla. CFA’12 26 Mays, Taylor (10-30-13; shoulder) ................... S 6-3 220 2-7-88 4 Southern California Seattle, Wash. T(S.F.)’11 56 Porter, Sean (8-27-13; shoulder) .................... LB 6-1 237 1-12-91 R Texas A&M Schertz, Texas D4’13 COACHING STAFF: Head coach: Marvin Lewis. Assistants: Paul Alexander (assistant head coach/offensive line), Mark Carrier (defensive backs), Kyle Caskey (assistant offensive line/quality control), Brayden Coombs (assistant special teams/quality control), Jeff Friday (assistant strength and conditioning), Jay Gruden (offensive coordinator), Paul Guenther (linebackers), Jay Hayes (defensive line), Jonathan Hayes (tight ends), Hue Jackson (special assistant to the head coach/running backs), David Lippincott (assistant linebackers/quality control), Chip Morton (strength and conditioning), Darrin Simmons (special teams coordinator), James Urban (wide receivers), Ken Zampese (quarterbacks), Adam Zimmer (assistant defensive backs), Mike Zimmer (defensive coordinator). NOTE: A plus sign (+) indicates a player on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list who is eligible to practice with a roster exemption.
— 33 —
NUMERICAL ROSTER
DEC. 10, 2013 NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. BORN EXP. COLLEGE HOMETOWN HOW ACQ. 2 Mike Nugent ...................................................... K 5-10 190 3-2-82 9 Ohio State Centerville, Ohio FA’10 8 Josh Johnson................................................. QB 6-3 205 5-15-86 5 San Diego Oakland, Calif. UFA(Cle.)’13 10 Kevin Huber ...................................................... P 6-1 212 7-16-85 5 Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio D5’09 11 Dane Sanzenbacher ..................................... WR 5-11 184 10-13-88 3 Ohio State Toledo, Ohio W(Chi.)’12 12 Mohamed Sanu ............................................ WR 6-2 210 8-22-89 2 Rutgers South Brunswick, N.J. D3a’12 14 Andy Dalton ................................................... QB 6-2 220 10-29-87 3 Texas Christian Katy, Texas D2’11 16 Andrew Hawkins ........................................... WR 5-7 180 3-10-86 3 Toledo Johnstown, Pa. W(StL.)’11 18 A.J. Green ..................................................... WR 6-4 207 7-31-88 3 Georgia Summerville, S.C. D1’11 19 Brandon Tate ................................................ WR 6-1 195 10-5-87 5 North Carolina Burlington, N.C. W(N.E.)’11 20 Reggie Nelson .................................................. S 5-11 210 9-21-83 7 Florida Melbourne, Fla. T(Jax.)’10 21 Brandon Ghee ............................................... CB 6-0 200 6-6-87 4 Wake Forest Fayetteville, N.C. D3b’10 23 Terence Newman .......................................... CB 5-10 192 9-4-78 11 Kansas State Salina, Kan. FA’12 24 Adam Jones ................................................... CB 5-10 180 9-30-83 7 West Virginia Atlanta, Ga. FA’10 25 Giovani Bernard ............................................. HB 5-9 208 11-22-91 R North Carolina Boca Raton, Fla. D2a’13 27 Dre Kirkpatrick ............................................... CB 6-2 185 10-26-89 2 Alabama Gadsden, Ala. D1a’12 30 Cedric Peerman ............................................. HB 5-10 211 10-10-86 4 Virginia Gladys, Va. W(Det.)’10 32 Chris Crocker .................................................... S 5-11 197 3-9-80 11 Marshall Chesapeake, Va. FA’13 33 Rex Burkhead ................................................ HB 5-10 218 7-2-90 R Nebraska Plano, Texas D6a’13 40 Shawn Williams ................................................ S 6-0 211 5-13-91 R Georgia Damascus, Ga. D3’13 42 BenJarvus Green-Ellis ................................... HB 5-11 220 7-2-85 6 Mississippi New Orleans, La. UFA(N.E.)’12 43 George Iloka ..................................................... S 6-4 217 6-20-90 2 Boise State Houston, Texas D5c’12 44 Tony Dye .......................................................... S 5-10 205 2-11-90 2 UCLA Corona, Calif. CFA’12 46 Clark Harris ..................................................... LS 6-5 245 7-10-84 5 Rutgers Manahawkin, N.J. FA’09 50 J.K. Schaffer ................................................... LB 6-0 232 6-10-90 1 Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio FA’12 51 Jayson DiManche ........................................... LB 6-1 240 9-22-90 R Southern Illinois Hamilton, N.J. CFA’13 53 Michael Boley ................................................. LB 6-3 230 8-24-82 9 Southern Mississippi Elkmont, Ala. FA’13 55 Vontaze Burfict ............................................... LB 6-1 255 9-24-90 2 Arizona State Corona, Calif. CFA’12 57 Vincent Rey .................................................... LB 6-2 250 9-6-87 3 Duke Far Rockaway, N.Y. CFA’10 58 Rey Maualuga................................................. LB 6-2 255 1-20-87 5 Southern California Eureka, Calif. D2’09 64 Kyle Cook ......................................................... C 6-3 310 7-25-83 6 Michigan State Macomb, Mich. FA’07 66 Trevor Robinson ............................................... C 6-5 300 5-16-90 2 Notre Dame Elkhorn, Neb. CFA’12 67 Mike Pollak ....................................................... G 6-3 300 2-16-85 6 Arizona State Tempe, Ariz. UFA(Car.)’13 68 Kevin Zeitler ...................................................... G 6-4 315 3-8-90 2 Wisconsin Waukesha, Wis. D1b’12 71 Andre Smith ................................................... OT 6-4 335 1-25-87 5 Alabama Birmingham, Ala. D1’09 72 Tanner Hawkinson ............................................ G 6-5 300 5-14-90 R Kansas McPherson, Kan. D5’13 73 Anthony Collins .............................................. OT 6-5 315 11-2-85 6 Kansas Beaumont, Texas D4’08 74 Dennis Roland ............................................... OT 6-9 315 3-10-83 6 Georgia Bolivar, Mo. FA’13 75 Devon Still ....................................................... DT 6-5 320 7-11-89 2 Penn State Wilmington, Del. D2’12 77 Andrew Whitworth ......................................... OT 6-7 335 12-12-81 8 Louisiana State West Monroe, La. D2’06 80 Orson Charles............................................... H-B 6-3 245 1-27-91 2 Georgia Tampa, Fla. D4’12 81 Alex Smith ....................................................... TE 6-4 250 5-22-82 9 Stanford Denver, Colo. UFA(Cle.)’13 82 Marvin Jones ................................................ WR 6-2 195 3-12-90 2 California Fontana, Calif. D5b’12 84 Jermaine Gresham ......................................... TE 6-5 260 6-16-88 4 Oklahoma Ardmore, Okla. D1’10 85 Tyler Eifert ...................................................... TE 6-6 250 9-8-90 R Notre Dame Fort Wayne, Ind. D1’13 88 Ryan Whalen ................................................ WR 6-1 200 7-26-89 3 Stanford Alamo, Calif. D6’11 90 Christo Bilukidi ................................................ DT 6-5 320 12-13-89 2 Georgia State Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) FA’13 92 James Harrison .............................................. LB 6-0 275 5-4-78 10 Kent State Akron, Ohio FA’13 93 Michael Johnson ............................................ DE 6-7 270 2-7-87 5 Georgia Tech Selma, Ala. D3a’09 94 Domata Peko .................................................. DT 6-3 322 11-27-84 8 Michigan State Pago Pago (American Samoa) D4’06 95 Wallace Gilberry ............................................ DE 6-2 275 12-5-84 6 Alabama Bay Minette, Ala. FA’12 96 Carlos Dunlap ................................................ DE 6-6 280 2-28-89 4 Florida North Charleston, S.C. D2’10 98 Brandon Thompson ........................................ DT 6-2 325 10-19-89 2 Clemson Thomasville, Ga. D3b’12 99 Margus Hunt .................................................. DE 6-8 280 7-14-87 R Southern Methodist Karksi-Nuia (Estonia) D2b’13
PRACTICE SQUAD (date assigned) 7 Greg McElroy (9-4-13) ................................... QB 6-2 225 5-10-88 3 Alabama Southlake, Texas FA’13 37 Chris Lewis-Harris (11-19-13) ....................... CB 5-10 180 2-11-89 1 Tennessee-Chattanooga Smyrna, Ga. CFA’12 39 Onterio McCalebb (9-1-13) ............................ CB 5-10 170 8-10-89 R Auburn Fort Meade, Fla. CFA’13 52 Bruce Taylor (11-4-13) ................................... LB 6-1 245 12-31-89 R Virginia Tech Riceboro, Ga. FA’13 60 T.J. Johnson (9-1-13) ....................................... C 6-4 310 7-17-90 R South Carolina Aynor, S.C. D7b’13 61 Scott Wedige (12-3-13) .................................... C 6-4 310 11-20-88 R Northern Illinois Elkhorn, Wis. FA’13 76 David King (10-22-13) ................................... DE 6-4 285 12-27-89 R Oklahoma Houston, Texas FA’13 87 Cobi Hamilton (9-1-13) ................................. WR 6-2 205 11-13-90 R Arkansas Texarkana, Texas D6b’13
RESERVE/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM (date assigned; injury) 5 + Zac Robinson (8-27-13; elbow) ..................... QB 6-3 208 9-29-86 2 Oklahoma State Littleton, Colo. FA’11 36 + Chris Pressley (8-27-13; knee) ....................... FB 5-11 260 8-8-86 5 Wisconsin Woodbury, N.J. FA’10
RESERVE/INJURED (date assigned; injury) 26 Taylor Mays (10-30-13; shoulder) .................... S 6-3 220 2-7-88 4 Southern California Seattle, Wash. T(S.F.)’11 29 Leon Hall (10-29-13; Achilles) ....................... CB 5-11 195 12-9-84 7 Michigan Vista, Calif. D1’07 49 Brandon Joiner (8-28-13; knee) ..................... LB 6-3 240 4-27-89 1 Arkansas State Killeen, Texas CFA’12 56 Sean Porter (8-27-13; shoulder) ..................... LB 6-1 237 1-12-91 R Texas A&M Schertz, Texas D4’13 59 Emmanuel Lamur (8-31-13; shoulder) ........... LB 6-4 240 6-8-89 2 Kansas State West Palm Beach, Fla. CFA’12 63 Larry Black (8-8-13; leg/ankle) ....................... DT 6-2 312 12-1-89 R Indiana Cincinnati, Ohio CFA’13 65 Clint Boling (12-3-13; knee) .............................. G 6-5 311 5-9-89 3 Georgia Alpharetta, Ga. D4’11 91 Robert Geathers (9-18-13; elbow) ................. DE 6-3 280 8-11-83 10 Georgia Georgetown, S.C. D4b’04 97 Geno Atkins (11-4-13; knee) .......................... DT 6-1 303 3-28-88 4 Georgia Pembroke Pines, Fla. D4a’10 COACHING STAFF: Head coach: Marvin Lewis. Assistants: Paul Alexander (assistant head coach/offensive line), Mark Carrier (defensive backs), Kyle Caskey (assistant offensive line/quality control), Brayden Coombs (assistant special teams/quality control), Jeff Friday (assistant strength and conditioning), Jay Gruden (offensive coordinator), Paul Guenther (linebackers), Jay Hayes (defensive line), Jonathan Hayes (tight ends), Hue Jackson (special assistant to the head coach/running backs), David Lippincott (assistant linebackers/quality control), Chip Morton (strength and conditioning), Darrin Simmons (special teams coordinator), James Urban (wide receivers), Ken Zampese (quarterbacks), Adam Zimmer (assistant defensive backs), Mike Zimmer (defensive coordinator). NOTE: A plus sign (+) indicates a player on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list who is eligible to practice with a roster exemption.
— 34 —
STATISTICS
RECORD: 9-4 DATE W-L SCORE OPPONENT ATTENDANCE 9-8-13 L 21-24 at Chicago 62,213 9-16-13 W 20-10 PITTSBURGH 64,585 9-22-13 W 34-30 GREEN BAY 64,633 9-29-13 L 6-17 at Cleveland 71,481 10-6-13 W 13-6 NEW ENGLAND 64,259 10-13-13 W 27-24 (OT) at Buffalo 67,739 10-20-13 W 27-24 at Detroit 63,207 10-27-13 W 49-9 N.Y. JETS 62,576 10-31-13 L 20-22 (OT) at Miami 52,388 11-10-13 L 17-20 (OT) at Baltimore 70,992 11-17-13 W 41-20 CLEVELAND 63,856 11-24-13 — BYE — 12-1-13 W 17-10 at San Diego 61,536 12-8-13 W 42-28 INDIANAPOLIS 62,507 12-15-13 at Pittsburgh 12-22-13 MINNESOTA 12-29-13 BALTIMORE
TEAM STATISTICS BENGALS OPPONENTS TOTAL FIRST DOWNS ........................................... 266 236 Rushing ............................................................... 85 59 Passing .............................................................. 160 151 Penalty ................................................................. 21 26 3rd Down: Made-Att. .................................... 73-184 68-191 3rd Down Pct. ................................................... 39.7 35.6 4th Down: Made-Att. ........................................ 8-14 3-10 4th Down Pct. ................................................... 57.1 30.0 POSSESSION AVG. ............................................. 31:31 28:29 TOTAL NET YARDS .............................................. 4794 4167 Avg. Per Game ............................................... 368.8 320.5 Total Plays ......................................................... 887 866 Avg. Per Play ...................................................... 5.4 4.8 NET YARDS RUSHING ......................................... 1506 1276 Avg. Per Game ............................................... 115.8 98.2 Total Rushes ...................................................... 392 318 NET YARDS PASSING ......................................... 3288 2891 Avg. Per Game ............................................... 252.9 222.4 Sacked-Yards Lost ...................................... 26-156 36-235 Gross Yards ..................................................... 3444 3126 Att.-Completions ........................................ 469-291 512-299 Completion Pct. ................................................ 62.0 58.4 Had Intercepted ................................................... 16 13 PUNTS-AVG. .................................................... 64-45.3 76-44.6 Net Punting Avg. ......................................... 64-41.6 76-39.5 PENALTIES-YARDS .......................................... 80-819 54-571 FUMBLES-BALLS LOST ....................................... 16-8 15-10 TOUCHDOWNS ........................................................ 41 26 Rushing ............................................................... 11 4 Passing ................................................................ 25 19 Returns .................................................................. 5 3
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 OT PTS BENGALS ............................................. 66 92 89 84 3 334 OPPONENTS ....................................... 54 65 62 58 5 244
SCORING TD TD-R TD-P TD-Rt K-PAT FG S PTS Mike Nugent ................... 0 0 0 0 40-41 16-20 0 88 A.J. Green...................... 8 0 8 0 — — 0 48 Marvin Jones ................. 8 0 8 0 — — 0 48 Giovani Bernard ............. 7 4 3 0 — — 0 42 BenJarvus Green-Ellis ... 6 6 0 0 — — 0 36 Jermaine Gresham ........ 3 0 3 0 — — 0 18 Vontaze Burfict .............. 1 0 0 1 — — 0 6 Chris Crocker ................. 1 0 0 1 — — 0 6 Andy Dalton ................... 1 1 0 0 — — 0 6 Tony Dye ....................... 1 0 0 1 — — 0 6 Tyler Eifert ..................... 1 0 1 0 — — 0 6 Adam Jones ................... 1 0 0 1 — — 0 6 Terence Newman .......... 1 0 0 1 — — 0 6 Mohamed Sanu ............. 1 0 1 0 — — 0 6 Alex Smith...................... 1 0 1 0 — — 0 6 BENGALS .................... 41 11 25 5 40-41 16-20 0 334 OPPONENTS .............. 26 4 19 3 26-26 20-25 1 244 Two-point conversions: None. BENGALS 0-0 (0-0 R, 0-0 P), OPPONENTS 0-0 (0-0 R, 0-0 P). Sacks-yards: Carlos Dunlap 7-40, Wallace Gilberry 6.5-49.5, Geno Atkins 6-52.5, Michael Johnson 3-19, Vincent Rey 3-19, Domata Peko 2.5-16, James Harrison 2-2, Brandon Thompson 1.5-12.5, Reggie Nelson 1-11, Vontaze Burfict 1-10, Dre Kirkpatrick 1-1, Rey Maualuga 1-0, Chris Crocker 0.5-2.5. BENGALS 36-235, OPPONENTS 26-156. Fumbles-lost: Andy Dalton 4-3, BenJarvus Green-Ellis 2-2, Reggie Nelson 2-0, Brandon Tate 2-0, Giovani Bernard 1-1, Jermaine Gresham 1-1, Mohamed Sanu 1-1, A.J. Green 1-0, Andrew Hawkins 1-0, Josh Johnson 1-0. BENGALS 16-8, OPPONENTS 15-10.
RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD BenJarvus Green-Ellis ..................... 193 662 3.4 25 6 Giovani Bernard ............................... 131 620 4.7 35t 4 Andy Dalton ....................................... 50 130 2.6 12 1 Marvin Jones ....................................... 6 59 9.8 34 0 Josh Johnson ...................................... 3 17 5.7 10 0 Cedric Peerman ................................... 6 11 1.8 5 0 Mohamed Sanu ................................... 1 4 4.0 4 0 Andrew Hawkins .................................. 2 3 1.5 6 0 BENGALS ....................................... 392 1506 3.8 35t 11 OPPONENTS .................................. 318 1276 4.0 51 4
RECEIVING REC YDS AVG LG TD
A.J. Green ......................................... 78 1175 15.1 82t 8 Giovani Bernard ................................. 47 403 8.6 31 3 Jermaine Gresham ............................ 40 389 9.7 30 3 Mohamed Sanu ................................. 39 388 9.9 32 1 Marvin Jones ..................................... 35 518 14.8 45 8 Tyler Eifert ......................................... 35 406 11.6 61 1 Andrew Hawkins .................................. 6 88 14.7 50 0 Dane Sanzenbacher ............................ 5 54 10.8 23 0 BenJarvus Green-Ellis ......................... 3 12 4.0 5 0 Alex Smith ........................................... 2 5 2.5 3 1 Brandon Tate ....................................... 1 6 6.0 6 0 BENGALS ....................................... 291 3444 11.8 82t 25 OPPONENTS .................................. 299 3126 10.5 74t 19
INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD
Adam Jones......................................... 2 60 30.0 60t 1 Terence Newman ................................ 2 8 4.0 9 0 Reggie Nelson ..................................... 2 0 0.0 0 0 Chris Crocker ....................................... 1 32 32.0 32t 1 Vontaze Burfict .................................... 1 12 12.0 12 0 James Harrison ................................... 1 9 9.0 9 0 Michael Johnson .................................. 1 7 7.0 7 0 Vincent Rey ......................................... 1 4 4.0 4 0 Leon Hall ............................................. 1 0 0.0 0 0 Dre Kirkpatrick ..................................... 1 0 0.0 0 0 BENGALS ......................................... 13 132 10.2 60t 2 OPPONENTS .................................... 16 314 19.6 94t 2
PUNTING NO YDS AVG NET TB IN-20 LG BLK. Kevin Huber ................ 64 2896 45.3 41.6 4 24 75 0 BENGALS .................. 64 2896 45.3 41.6 4 24 75 0 OPPONENTS ............. 76 3387 44.6 39.5 1 33 65 1
PUNT RETURNS NO FC YDS AVG LG TD Brandon Tate ............................29 13 274 9.4 43 0 Adam Jones..............................11 0 88 8.0 27 0 BENGALS ................................40 13 362 9.1 43 0 OPPONENTS ...........................23 20 151 6.6 40 0
KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD Brandon Tate ..................................... 27 701 26.0 71 0 Cedric Peerman ................................... 2 21 10.5 21 0 BENGALS ......................................... 29 722 24.9 71 0 OPPONENTS .................................... 39 872 22.4 36 0
FIELD GOALS 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ Mike Nugent .............................. 0-0 2-2 4-5 7-9 3-4 BENGALS ................................. 0-0 2-2 4-5 7-9 3-4 OPPONENTS ............................ 2-2 3-3 3-6 8-10 4-4 Mike Nugent: (—), (41G, 25G), (52WL), (25G, 43G), (39G, 50G), (46G, 34WR, 43G), (47WL, 48G, 54G), (—), (31G, 54G), (42WL, 32G), (41G, 38G), (46G), (—). Opponents: (58G), (44G), (41G, 19G, 26G), (37WL, 49B, 51G), (42G, 19G), (51G), (36G, 34B), (45G, 47G, 50G), (34WL, 36G, 44G), (36G, 46G), (20G, 28G), (48G), (44WR).
DEFENSE* ST AT TT SKS-YDS INT-YDS PD FF FR-YDS Vontaze Burfict ....... 116 53 169 1-10 1-12 10 1 2-13 Rey Maualuga .......... 54 37 91 1-0 0-0 1 0 0-0 George Iloka ............. 38 21 59 0-0 0-0 5 2 1-0 Carlos Dunlap........... 36 22 58 7-40 0-0 6 4 0-0 Michael Johnson ...... 32 24 56 3-19 1-7 8 2 0-0 Domata Peko............ 24 31 55 2.5-16 0-0 0 0 0-0 Terence Newman ..... 44 7 51 0-0 2-8 14 0 0-0 Vincent Rey .............. 39 10 49 3-19 1-4 3 0 1-0 Adam Jones ............. 37 10 47 0-0 2-60 13 1 2-43 Reggie Nelson .......... 30 11 41 1-11 2-0 5 1 2-12 Brandon Thompson .. 18 20 38 1.5-12.5 0-0 0 0 0-0 James Harrison ........ 19 17 36 2-2 1-9 1 0 1-0 Wallace Gilberry ....... 18 13 31 6.5-49.5 0-0 2 1 0-0 Geno Atkins .............. 15 14 29 6-52.5 0-0 0 0 0-0 Chris Crocker ........... 20 7 27 0.5-2.5 1-32 6 0 0-0 Taylor Mays .............. 14 7 21 0-0 0-0 2 0 0-0 Leon Hall .................. 14 6 20 0-0 1-0 7 0 0-0 Dre Kirkpatrick .......... 12 3 15 1-1 1-0 1 0 0-0 Brandon Ghee ............ 4 2 6 0-0 0-0 4 0 0-0 Michael Boley ............. 4 1 5 0-0 0-0 0 0 0-0 Devon Still .................. 3 2 5 0-0 0-0 3 0 0-0 Jayson DiManche ....... 1 2 3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0-0 J.K. Schaffer ............... 0 3 3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0-0 Margus Hunt ............... 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0-0 Shawn Williams .......... 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0-0 Robert Geathers ......... 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0-0
SPECIAL TEAMS* ST AT TT FF FR-YDS BP BFG BXP Shawn Williams ..................... 7 5 12 0 0-0 0 0 0 Vincent Rey ........................... 9 1 10 0 0-0 0 0 0 Jayson DiManche .................. 7 3 10 0 0-0 1 0 0 Cedric Peerman .................... 6 2 8 0 0-0 0 0 0 Orson Charles ....................... 3 4 7 0 0-0 0 0 0 Reggie Nelson ....................... 4 1 5 0 0-0 0 0 0 Andrew Hawkins .................... 3 1 4 0 0-0 0 0 0 Marvin Jones ......................... 3 1 4 0 0-0 0 0 0 Dre Kirkpatrick ....................... 3 1 4 0 0-0 0 0 0 Chris Lewis-Harris ................. 3 0 3 0 0-0 0 0 0 J.K. Schaffer .......................... 3 0 3 0 0-0 0 0 0 Clark Harris ........................... 1 2 3 0 0-0 0 0 0 Taylor Mays ........................... 2 0 2 0 1-0 0 0 0 Alex Smith ............................. 1 1 2 0 0-0 0 0 0 Michael Boley ........................ 1 0 1 0 0-0 0 0 0 Tony Dye ............................... 1 0 1 0 0-0 0 0 0 Adam Jones .......................... 1 0 1 0 0-0 0 0 0 Jeromy Miles ......................... 1 0 1 0 0-0 0 0 0 Mike Nugent .......................... 1 0 1 0 0-0 0 0 0 Ryan Whalen ......................... 1 0 1 0 0-0 0 0 0 Carlos Dunlap........................ 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 2 0
* NOTE: The defensive statistics above were compiled by Bengals coaches while reviewing game film. They may differ from the press box defensive statistics produced at the games.
PASSING ATT CMP YDS CMP% YDS/ATT TD TD% INT INT% LG SKD-YDS RAT Andy Dalton ................................... 468 290 3419 62.0 7.31 25 5.3 16 3.4 82t 26-156 87.7 Mohamed Sanu ................................. 1 1 25 100.0 25.00 0 0.0 0 0.0 25 0-0 118.8 BENGALS ...................................... 469 291 3444 62.0 7.34 25 5.3 16 3.4 82t 26-156 87.9 OPPONENTS ................................ 512 299 3126 58.4 6.11 19 3.7 13 2.5 74t 36-235 78.0
Related Documents
