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BENGALS NOTES
Backups have solid performances against Saints
Monday, November 20, 2006
NEW ORLEANS — Bengals strong safety Kevin Kaesviharn had just turned in the performance of his life — two sacks and an interception — and he was taking it all in stride.
"We understood the preparation it would take to get back on track," he said after the Bengals ended a three-game losing streak with a 31-16 victory over the Saints. "It was up to all the guys, especially the coaches, to make sure whoever was going to play was going to be ready.
Extras
"If you're a backup, you better be ready because someone got hurt. We were able to do that."
Subbing for the injured Dexter Jackson (Achilles tendon), Kaesviharn's end-zone interception came on the Saints' final play of the first half, preserving the Bengals' 10-7 halftime lead. Quarterback Drew Brees was aiming for tight end Mark Campbell, but Kaesviharn got in the way.
"We were playing zone," Kaesviharn said. "The tight end runs an out-and-up, and tries to get the linebacker to jump the out-route and free him on the inside. I just kind of read it and jumped it."
Run, Rudi, run
Rudi Johnson ran 27 times for 111 yards, pushing his season totals to 826 yards on 205 carries and 7 TDs.
Johnson's most impressive run came with 4:07 to go when, on third and 9 at the Bengals' 40-yard line, he gained 10 yards for a clock-killing first down.
"That run should've been nothing," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "It should been negative yards. I'm looking forward to seeing that play on film because he must have broken four or five tackles. He's a beast in the backfield and tough to bring down. When you think you've got him, he squirts out of an arm tackle here, he runs over a safety there, and then he's got a first down."
Miller time
Caleb Miller started at middle linebacker in place of injured Brian Simmons (neck) and backup Ahmad Brooks, and responded with a game-high 14 tackles (12 solos).
"We just felt like Caleb was better for us to be the starting middle linebacker," coach Marvin Lewis said.
Was Brooks benched for disciplinary reasons?
"No," Lewis said.
Makeshift line
Stacy Andrews filled in admirably for right guard Bobbie Williams, who underwent an emergency appendectomy last week.
The line helped the Bengals offense account for 385 yards and allowed only one sack.
"The whole week I was very excited," Andrews said. "I had to call my brother (Philadelphia Eagles star Shawn Andrews) and have him calm me down. But after the first two plays, I started taking deep breaths, and everything fell into place."
Colston injured
The Saints suffered a major setback when rookie wide receiver Marques Colston exited at 11:41 of the first quarter with a severely sprained ankle.
Colston entered the game with a league-best 869 receiving yards. Devery Henderson picked up the slack with nine catches for 169 yards.
Quick hitters
• Chad Johnson registered 482 receiving yards the first eight games, and 450 the past two. His season totals: 57 catches, 932 yards, 7 TDs.
• The Bengals are 5-0 on the road against NFC teams when Rudi Johnson posts 20-plus carries.
• Joe Horn's 72-yard catch was the 50th TD of his Saints career. He joined Dalton Hilliard (53) as the only Saints with 50 career TDs.
• Chad Johnson (hamstring strain), linebacker Rashad Jeanty (cramps) and cornerback Keiwan Ratliff (bruised ribs) were injured in the game.
Quote machine
"Most people would say after (Brees) threw for 510 yards, 'Oh, they probably won.' They didn't. That's just the way it goes sometimes. I don't care if he throws for 1,000 yards. The only thing that matters is the scoreboard." — Kevin Kaesviharn
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.
