DaytonDailyNews.com

Triple threat

The Bengals had a 4,000-yard passer in Carson Palmer (4,131) and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Chad Johnson (1,440) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (1,143).

Young studs

The emergence of rookie safeties Chinedum Ndukwe and Marvin White, rookie cornerback Leon Hall and second-year corner Johnathan Joseph. They comprise the secondary of the future.

Pass protection

The Bengals set a club record for fewest sacks allowed (17). They hit the nine-game mark with 13, then tightened up.

Turning point

It was the 51-45 meltdown at Cleveland on Sept. 16. CARSON Palmer threw a club-record six TD passes — and lost. The Bengals never recovered.

The defense

The inconsistent offense must shoulder some blame, but the bottom line is this: The defense finished the season ranked 27th, yielding 348.8 yards a game. It's the fourth time in five years the defense was 27th or lower.

Rush hour

Kenny Watson (178 carries, 763 yards, 7 TDs) was terrific, but the club averaged only 3.7 yards a carry and got out-rushed by 337 yards (1,893-1,556).

Bellyaching

Cornerback Deltha O'Neal complained that his contract wasn't restructured after his 2005 Pro Bowl season. He lost his starting job at midseason and was relegated to nickel back.

Lacking sacks

The Bengals registered only 22 sacks. After Robert Geathers's 10.5 in 2006, he was limited to a team-high 3.5 in '07 because he was switched to strong-side linebacker for four games. Justin Smith was paid $8.6 million. He had 2 sacks for minus-6 yards.

Pink slips

Defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan and linebackers coach Ricky Hunley were fired, victims of an injury-plagued unit. Five of the seven linebackers on the roster for the final game didn't join the team until after preseason ended.