Sports feeds
E-mail sports alerts
DDN sports mobile
Sports TwitterLewis looking at benching Perry for Benson, Watson
Monday, October 13, 2008
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Is Bengals starting tailback Chris Perry about to get benched in favor of Cedric Benson or Kenny Watson?
Sure sounds like it.
Perry rushed 11 times for 14 yards (1.3) with a long gain of four yards.
"We're going to look at all that," head coach Marvin Lewis said in the aftermath of the Bengals' 26-14 loss to the New York Jets.
"We need to look at it and take a hard look, and see what's the best thing for us to go forward. It's a combination of things. I'm not going to sit here and elaborate much on it now. We've got to do better. It's not good enough."
Fumble-itis
Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick committed the Bengals' only turnover — a fumble on a sack by Jets safety Hank Poteat that linebacker Calvin Pace recovered at the Bengals' 24-yard line at 9:18 of the second quarter with Cincinnati trailing 10-7.
Three plays later, Thomas Jones scored on a 7-yard run for a 17-7 Jets' lead.
"I was rearing back to throw a deep ball to Chris (Henry)," Fitzpatrick said. "I rolled out of the pocket (near the right sideline) and there was a guy on the backside (Poteat) I didn't see."
Sack, fumble, TD
Bengals defensive tackle Antwan Odom turned in the first big play of the game.
He sacked Jets quarterback Brett Favre, who fumbled, on the opening drive. Strong safety Chinedum Ndukwe grabbed the ball and raced 15 yards into the end zone for a 7-0 lead. But the Jets responded with 17 straight points.
"It was a good play," said Odom, who was credited with a sack and forced fumble. "But we've got to keep getting back there, keep getting to the quarterback and keep causing turnovers."
No payoff
Free safeties Marvin White and Corey Lynch intercepted Favre. Unfortunately for the Bengals, both picks came in the shadow of their goal line and the ensuing drives resulted in punts.
"For whatever reason, we just couldn't get it going," Fitzpatrick said. "Going into halftime (trailing 17-14), we thought we had pretty good momentum coming back out. We thought we were in a good position, but nothing really materialized in the second half."
Field position
The Jets' average drive start on 11 possessions was their 46-yard line. The Bengals had 10 possessions. Their average drive start was their 20-yard line.
"The field position (battle) got leveled the other way," Lewis said. "We didn't get the ball punted out of there deeply enough.
"We weren't able to flip the field position at all, which made a big difference. The defense was playing on a short field almost the entire first half and then most of the third quarter."
Quick hitters
• Favre completed 25 of 33 passes for 189 yards, one TD and two interceptions.
"He's fun to watch with the enthusiasm he plays with," Fitzpatrick said. "He is still loving the game and that's something I definitely respect and admire."
• Chad Ocho Cinco played in his 100th career game. He had five catches for 57 yards (11.4), including a 16-yard catch — the Bengals' longest play from scrimmage.
• T.J. Houshmandzadeh (7 catches, 49 yards) twisted his left ankle at 9:50 of the second quarter, but was able to return.
• Cornerback Jamar Fletcher and safety Herana-Daze Jones suffered hamstring injuries that could keep them sidelined against Pittsburgh.
Quote machine
"I love to stockpile victories, but I don't think that you can assume any game will be easy. Never can anyone, especially us, take anyone for granted." — Brett Favre.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.
