Re: Cincy is terrible
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<!--PRINTER FRIENDLY ARTICLE-->[FONT=verdana,arial]December 1, 2008
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[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Bengals' performance dreary[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Serif]Loss column reaches double digits after rout
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By Mark Curnutte
mcurnutte@enquirer.com [/FONT]On a rainy, gloomy afternoon, befitting the team's performance, the Bengals franchise returned Sunday to all-too familiar ground.
In losing 34-3 to Baltimore, the Bengals dropped to 1-10-1 - their 16th double-digit loss season in 41 years as a franchise.
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The 10-loss season was the first for Marvin Lewis in six years as head coach. The team had not had a double-digit loss season since 2002, when Dick LeBeau's final squad went 2-14.
Between 1991 and 2002, a span of 12 seasons, the Bengals lost 10 or more games nine times.
The Bengals were the first AFC team eliminated from playoff contention last week and are in a battle with winless Detroit for the first overall pick in the April draft.
The Bengals were missing the services of five starters off their 53-man roster: defensive end Antwan Odom, left tackle Levi Jones, safety Chinedum Ndukwe, cornerback David Jones and quarterback Carson Palmer, who is the designated third quarterback.
Also, six Bengals who were in the starting lineup for the opener Sept. 7 at Baltimore are on the injured reserve list and out for the season - including five on defense.
Still, the Ravens came into the game with the same number of players on IR as the Bengals - 15.
The Bengals tied a single-game franchise low with six first downs, last reached in 1992.
"They rubbed it in our face," Bengals right guard Bobbie Williams said.
Lewis pointed to the future without trying to sugar-coat his disappointment in the game.
"Whenever you have a lot of injuries, depth plays a part," Lewis said. "Today, we weren't very good. I got my butt kicked. When you get your head kicked in like we just did, I'm not going to be very happy."
Between 10,000 and 15,000 fans remained in Paul Brown Stadium as the third quarter turned to the fourth. And maybe 1,000 were left at the end from a sellout crowd announced at 63,871.
Fans seem largely apathetic about the Bengals' fortunes this season, as if worn out by the unrelenting losing.
Lewis addressed the team's customers.
"Our football team won't have to go through another season like this - nor will our fans, believe me," Lewis said.
The Bengals' 155 offensive yards were their second lowest total of the season, only one more than in the opener at Baltimore. The 451 yards gained by the Ravens were the most against the Bengals this season in a game.
Baltimore blew the game open in the third quarter.
Wide receiver Mark Clayton was involved in two touchdowns for the Ravens that extended their 13-3 halftime lead.
On Baltimore's second possession of the half, Clayton took a handoff from Joe Flacco, pulled up and tossed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Mason, who had gotten behind cornerback Leon Hall.
"We just have to stay in coverage," Lewis said.
On the next Baltimore possession, Flacco threw deep down the right sideline for Clayton, who had a half-step on Hall. Clayton reached out with one hand to snare the ball. He tucked it in as Hall fell and ran the final 30 yards of what would be a 70-yard touchdown pass.
Clayton had the one touchdown pass and the TD catch among his five receptions for 164 yards.
"They were both good," Clayton said of his two scores. "I'm just glad we were able to put points on the board and win the game."
Once regarded as just a defensive-oriented team, Baltimore has come to life offensively in the first season under coach John Harbaugh, a former University of Cincinnati assistant. He hired former Chargers coordinator Cam Cameron, who was Dolphins head coach a year ago. They have coaxed a big season out of Flacco, their rookie first-round pick, and made an emergency start in the opener against the Bengals and has not let loose of the job.
The Ravens have outscored their opponents 292-190. The Bengals, on the other hand, have been outscored 310-151 this season.
Baltimore had possession for 38:58, compared to 21:02 for Cincinnati. The Bengals punted the first six times they had the ball, and following a 21-yard Shayne Graham field goal at the end of the first half, they punted the next five times they had the ball.
The busiest player on the field for the Bengals might have been punter Kyle Larson. He tied Lee Johnson's franchise record with 11 punts in a single game for the second time. He had 11 in the Nov. 16 game against the Eagles.
In a play that typified that afternoon, the Bengals were third-and-inches at their 29-yard line with less than nine minutes left in the game when tight end Nate Lawrie was whistled for a false start. The Bengals did gain a first down on the next play but ended up punting again.
The Ravens knocked down five Ryan Fitzpatrick passes at the line. Fitzpatrick also fumbled twice and had two balls slip out of his hand as he went to throw on the rainy afternoon.
Jordan Palmer replaced Fitzpatrick late in the fourth quarter. Palmer's first NFL pass attempt was intercepted by safety Jim Leonhard and returned 25 yards for a touchdown.
The Ravens ran 75 offensive plays, compared to 53 for the Bengals.
"They had the opportunity to run a lot of plays," Bengals defensive lineman John Thornton said.
"They dialed up a lot of runs. We got to see their whole playbook."