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Sports TwitterHow'd they lose that one? Bad play, bad luck did it
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
CINCINNATI — Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh said it best.
After the Bengals littered the field with errors, topped off by a botched extra-point attempt, he put Sunday's 24-23 loss at Denver into perspective.
Extras
"I would have bet my life savings that we would have made that one," he said. "It's just a microcosm of our season. We made mistakes, (The Broncos) are not better than us, but they played better than us. We just gave it away."
Defensive tackle John Thornton's take? "We gift-wrapped it."
Added Dave Lapham, the analyst on the Bengals radio network: "I've never seen anything like it. It was Murphy's Law at its finest. I counted about five touchdown opportunities blown. It was ugly."
Here's a blow-by-blow account of the Bengals' buffoonery:
First quarter
13:56: On third and goal at the Broncos' 6, QB Carson Palmer's pass sails over WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh and gets intercepted by CB Darrent Williams in the end zone.
7:50: On second and 7 at Denver's 29, Palmer gets sacked for a 14-yard loss, taking the Bengals out of field goal range.
7:07: On the ensuing play (third and 21 at Denver's 43), WR Chad Johnson drops a pass at the Broncos' 24. Bengals are forced to punt.
0:58: Ahead 7-0 and facing third and 9 at Bengals' 37, Palmer's pass to Chad Johnson is intercepted by CB Champ Bailey.
Second quarter
15:00: Bengals defense falls asleep as Broncos WR Rod Smith takes direct snap, rolls left, throws lateral to QB Jay Cutler, who completes 36-yard pass to WR Brandon Marshall at Bengals' 1, setting up Cutler's 1-yard TD pass to fourth-string TE Tony Scheffler at 13:24.
12:26: On second and 3 at Bengals' 36, Chad Johnson catches a 13-yard pass, but fumbles on a tackle by SS Dominique Foxworth. Bailey recovers. It's Johnson's first lost fumble of his six-year career.
12:07: On the next play, Bengals' duo of CB Johnathan Joseph and SS Dexter Jackson gets burned by WR Javon Walker for 39-yard TD reception as Broncos take a 14-7 lead.
2:37: On first and 10 at Broncos' 30, Palmer misfires to Houshmandzadeh in the end zone, but rebounds with an 11-yard TD pass to Chris Henry at 0:51 as Bengals take 17-14 halftime lead.
Third quarter
10:44: On fourth and 7 at Denver's 32, Palmer gets hit with 5-yard delay-of-game penalty. Bengals are forced to punt.
10:34: The Broncos, pinned at the 1, drive 99 yards on 14 plays in a 7-minute, 17-second march marked by lousy tackling, poor coverage and no pressure on Cutler. Denver converts three third downs and Mike Bell's 2-yard TD run gives the Broncos the lead (21-17) for good.
2:51: Palmer and Henry hook up for a 75-yard TD, but a 5-yard "illegal shift" penalty nullifies the play. "That took the life out of us," TE Reggie Kelly said.
Fourth quarter
10:50: On first and 10 at Denver's 24, TB Rudi Johnson fumbles on a hit by FS John Lynch. DE Elvis Dumervil recovers.
7:02: On third and 9 at Bengals' 32, Palmer's 13-yard pass to Henry is ruled a catch, but gets reversed by Broncos' replay challenge.
0:41: Bengals pull within 24-23 on Palmer's 10-yard TD pass to Houshmandzadeh, culminating a 12-play, 90-yard drive. But the most automatic play in football, the point-after kick, gets botched when holder Kyle Larson can't handle Brad St. Louis' wide, wobbly snap in the snow.
0:38: Bengals' Tony Stewart recovers Shayne Graham's 16-yard onside kick, but play is nullified by offside penalty on Bengals' Ahmad Brooks.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.
