Bellbrook graduation 2012
Fairfield Senior 2012 graduation
Kroger Aquatic Center opens
Bengals now rooting for the lowly Raiders
To get a playoff berth, Cincinnati must beat the Steelers and hope the Jets lose to 2-13 Oakland.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
CINCINNATI — The Bengals are moonlighting as cheerleaders these days. They just became huge fans of the Oakland Raiders.
They need the Raiders to do Sunday what the Miami Dolphins couldn't do Monday night: upset the New York Jets. If that mission gets accomplished, Cincinnati can claim an AFC wild card berth with a victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Extras
The Bengals' 24-23 loss at Denver damaged their playoff hopes, but didn't knock 'em out. They just lost control of their destiny, and need help from their new best friend, Oakland, which visits the Jets at the Meadowlands on Sunday. Cincinnati has another longshot playoff possibility. It advances with a win and losses by the Broncos and Jaguars on Sunday.
Kickoff time
According to Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan, the Bengals-Steelers game will remain at 1 p.m. as a result of the Jets' victory.
NFL spokesman Dan Masonson said the league's "flexible scheduling" plan is designed "to put games with playoff implications in the TV windows which can be seen by the most fans.
"The widest windows, as far as reach to fans, are 4:15 and 8:15," Masonson said. "One o'clock has more regionalized games, so the 4:15 games (and
8:15) go to wider audiences."
Mistake prone
The Bengals committed four turnovers — two interceptions and two fumbles — plus eight penalties at Denver. Other mistakes doomed them, too.
"There were missed throws, dropped balls and we were just out of sync," said head coach Marvin Lewis, who spent part of Christmas Day in his office at Paul Brown Stadium, dissecting film of his team's sins at Denver and game planning for Pittsburgh.
"I didn't feel like we played well enough to win. For us to get over these humps and don't implode on ourselves, we can't turn the ball over. Those things hurt you."
Streak ends
Gone is the Bengals' unblemished record (17-0) when tailback Rudi Johnson rushes at least 25 times. He carried 30 times for 129 yards and a TD on Sunday.
"We fought for four quarters, and to come out on the short end of the stick hurts," Johnson said. "We are two playoff-caliber teams, and they just came out on top."
Double trouble
For the second time this year, a rookie quarterback beat the Bengals by a point. Bruce Gradkowski led Tampa Bay to a 14-13 win on Oct. 15. It was Jay Cutler's turn at Denver. He threw for 179 yards and two TDs.
