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cincinnati 17 | carolina 14
Bengals' aggressive play pays off against Panthers
Cincinnati safety Kevin Kaesviharn's interception of a Jake Delhomme pass in the end zone preserves 17-14 win.
Monday, October 23, 2006
CINCINNATI — How do you stop the bleeding of a two-game losing streak and soar into a first-place tie in the AFC North Division standings?
You make big play after big play after big play.
Extras
The Bengals' 17-14 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in front of 65,964 spectators at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday was as easy as 1-2-3.
Quarterback Carson Palmer's 32-yard pass to Chad Johnson down the right sideline on a gutsy fourth-and-one call from the Panthers' 35 set the stage for Palmer's game-winning, 1-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh with 8:07 to go.
Bengals safety Kevin Kaesviharn then sealed the victory by intercepting Jake Delhomme's pass intended for Keyshawn Johnson in the back of the end zone at 3:50.
The Bengals have plenty of issues to iron out, but they finally placed back-to-back losses to New England and Tampa Bay in their rearview mirror.
"We put a little penicillin on a virus," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "It's still there, but when you win a close game, you've got to enjoy it because it makes everybody feel a little better."
Trailing 14-10 and facing a second-and-20 situation at their 4-yard line after Palmer suffered his only sack, the Bengals' comeback started with tight end Tony Stewart's 19-yard catch and run.
Palmer finished the 13-play drive that covered 96 yards with a 1-yard dart to Houshmandzadeh, who changed shoes during the game because he was slipping so much.
Star of the game
Kaesviharn's interception was his third in four games.
"As soon as (Delhomme's pass) was up in the air, I knew I had it," Kaesviharn said.
Goat of the game
Keyshawn Johnson had four catches for 41 yards, but didn't come up with the big play when the Panthers needed him most.
"He (Kaesviharn) just got lucky, and fell into position," Johnson said.
Turning point
Chad Johnson's 32-yard catch on fourth-and-one to the Panthers' 3, setting up the winning TD.
"We're an aggressive team," Palmer said. "When opportunities present themselves, we've done a good job capitalizing. Chad's done a great job of earning my trust. That's just rhythm and timing between two people. I trusted that he was going to get by the corner (Chris Gamble) and make a play on the ball."
Quote of the day
"Looking back, I think maybe we'll realize that that was a pivotal point in the season." — Palmer on the big play to Johnson.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253
or cludwig@daytondailynews.com.
