Sunday, December 20, 2009

GAMEDAY!!! Bengals vs. Chargers!!

(You're Welcome!)
RECAP
Well if everything below isn't enough for you let me just say that this one hurt. Badly. I can't remember being so invested in a Bengals game since the 2005 playoff game. I wanted this one bad and we came up just a bit short. Give the Bengals credit though. They had several chances to lay down and die, and they didn't do it. They fought till the very end and just came up short. I thought the coaches did a great job, and aside from the stupid penalties and a couple other dumb decisions, the players played a hell of a game. SD hasn't lost in December in 27 years.. or something, and they were at home. Great effort Bengals and I'm sure Henry would be proud. Hopefully we'll get another crack at them in the playoffs.

On another note: If you liked what we did today for the game let us know in the comments section. Too much? Let us know. And if you are enjoying the blog tell your family and friends!

- Brian "Cintucky sports are forcing me into a life of alcoholism. I think i like it." Reinhart

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4th Quarter
We need a miracle.
- Bengals have the ball and are looking at a 3rd and 6 after two going-through-the-motions Benson runs. Bad pass to the flats to Leonard. Bengals punt. I'll report this quarter, but don't expect much excitement.
- WOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!! Gates drops one right into LB Keith Rivers arms!!!! Bengals ball on the 33. Here is our chance!!!!!!!!!!!! MUST GET A TD!! BEAUTIFUL RUN BY OCHO DOWN TO THE 10!!!!! 1ST AND GOAL DOWN TO THE 2 TO THE FULLBACK JEREMY JOHNSON. COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 M*THER F*CKING TIME!!!!! TOUCHDOWN COLES!!!!!!!!!!! WERE BACK IN IT!!!!!! I will stop pouting now. We must go for 2 here. I know its early, but ya go for it in the 4th quarter here. RUN BY PALMER GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! BENGALS WITHIN 3!!! Eat that sh*t Norv!!!! Chargers 24, Bengals 21.
- So basically we gave them one w/ Palmer's pick, and they gave us one back w/ the Rivers to Rivers completion. Back to where we were at the beginning of the half. LETS GO D!!!!!!!!!!
- Chargers to start from the 20. Rivers to Jackson again.. for 15 this time. It's official. I hate Vincent Jackson. Illegal contact on Cincy after an 8 yard sack on 2nd and 18. We shoot ourselves over and over. Its hard to watch. Rivers to Floyd and they're into Cincy territory. DEFENSE WAKE UP! SD takes a time out w/ a HUGE 3rd and 6. Biggest down of the game so far for Cincy which is kind of a stupid comment since they only get bigger as the game goes on, but I'm going to say it anyway. So there. I need a shot. Ahhhh, thank you Mr. Jim Beam. Incomplete out of bounds. Huge stop for the Bengals. Chargers to punt. What else is new. God hates the Bengals and the ball bounces sideways out of bounds at the 5.

- We don't need to score here, but we must gain a few first downs to change the field position for the final drive. Although a score would be nice. Holding on first down. Shocking. GREAT CATCH BY FOSCHI TO MAKE UP FOR HIS HOLD!!! 1st down on the 24 and were out of jail. A couple of passes later and its 3rd and 4 from the 30 yard line. Brian Leonard anyone? Nope... over the middle to Cosby for the 1st!!!!! Keep it moving Bengals!!!! Palmer to Foschi and were out to the 50!!! Great job by Palmer stepping up and avoiding the rush on that completion. He looks relaxed. I do not. Completion to Benson for 12 more. Another beautiful job by Palmer moving out of the pocket. Completion to Benson and Palmer moves over 300 yards. Benson looks like he gives a sh*t now. 3:20 left in the game. BIG RUN BY BENSON FOR 12!!!! Looked like he was going to get stopped and BUSTED IT!! Down to the 20. False start on Cincy. It was almost going too well. Screen pass fumbled.. Palmer somehow recovered it but we lost 20. Back to the 45 yard line for 2nd and 35. 2 minute warning. Bengals need to worry about getting BACK into field goal range now. I can't take this sh*t. Time for another shot. 3rd and 30 coming up. Need about 10 for a realistic field goal try. CATCH BY COSBY TO THE 16!!! HUGE PLAY!!! Ok Graham, just make the field goal please. 34 yarder by Graham GOOD!!!

- We are all tied up with 54 seconds remaining. SD has no timeouts. I apologize for the length of that last paragraph but wow what an exciting drive! DO NOT KICK THE BALL TO SPROLES. Well they did, but it was deep enough for him to take a knee. SD at the 20. Here we go. Ut-oh. They completed a good one and got out of bounds with 8 seconds to go. 52 yarder from Kaeding, one of the best kickers in the league is...................................... perfect. Chargers lead 27-24.

Game over.

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3rd Quarter
- Bengals have the ball to start the half, and will do such from the 25. The Bengals have picked up a couple first downs, but one thing that looks off to me is Benson. I don't know if its the LJ presence, a lingering injury or what, but he appears hesitant and isn't running near as angry as he had been in the first half of the season. 10 yards worth of penalties stall the Bengals drive and force a punt. As usual they are stupid penalties: delay of game, illegal formation, etc.
- Huber puts it into the endzone, Rivers and company take over at the 20. A 3 and out here would be huge for the field position battle. 3rd and 11 for SD and the heat forces a bad Rivers throw. The crybaby is b*tching at the refs. Shocker. Does anyone whine and b*tch like a schoolgirl more than Rivers? There was the 3 and out I asked for. Great job by the D. As predicted the Bengals have GREAT field position and take over at midfield.
- Benson just ran out of bounds a yard short of the first down on 2nd down. Four weeks ago he takes the hit head on, gets the 1st down, pops up and does it again. Something isn't right with him. You heard it here first. Incomplete on 3rd. This one is on Benson's shoulders. As much as I would like to see us go for this we don't need to risk it. Keep winning the field position battle and try to pin them deep. SON OF A B*TCH. That should have been downed on the 1. Instead Johnson slips into the endzone for a touchback. Just pure bad luck.
- SD takes over on the 20. QB sneak on 3rd down that the Bengals stand up and it appears to be short. IT IS SHORT!!!! Chargers to punt. Big punt there, Cincy takes over around the 26.
- Jammer picks off Palmer on the first play of the drive. Could have been another 15 tacked on for a facemask. It felt like the Bengals were building some momentum and putting some things together and just like that TD to Vincent Jackson who is absolutely having his way with Leon Hall. Turnovers will kill you. End of story. SD has all the momentum in the world, and if the Bengals don't sustain a drive here they will be in serious trouble.
- Another false start. F*cking kill me now please. Delay of game. Seriously, kill me. Please? 1st and 25. Timeout Bengals. Ok screw you, I'll do it myself. Looking for rope. Palmer/Benson miscommunication and were looking at 3rd and 19. We have derailed. Just punt it now. Foschi for 9. Bengals punt. We needed a big one there and got a pretty good one. SD takes over at the 27.
- Tomlinson screen pass for a lot. Don't really care how many. 20 yards to Jackson who continues to sh*t on our secondary. Amazing break up by Leon Hall on the much taller Jackson on a perfect ball from Rivers. Chargers make the field goal. 24 - 13 SD.
- Cosby is a bad returner. He doesn't run hard. He doesn't hit the hole. He dances until he's tackled and it is f*cking infuriating. Bengals ball on the 25. End of the quarter.

What can you say about that quarter. It sucked. Chargers 24, Bengals 13.

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2nd Quarter
- Leonard is huge on 3rd down. Every game. The Bengals' offense is controlled, relaxed, and are making the plays when they need to. BOMB TO CHAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 50 YARDER HITS OCHO IN STRIDE!!!!!!!!!! What do ya know? Throw it long. Good things happen.
- Chad Ochocinco looks pretty emotional on the sideline. Tears coming off the field. You can tell that he is truly hurting and this means a lot to him. That catch takes him over 1,000 yards on the season, his 7th time doing that. Congrats, sir.
- The D is doing great against the run. Unfortunately when Rivers has time in the pocket, we can't stop him. We will need to bring pressure all day and live with the results. Hall and Joseph are doing everything they can on these huge Charger WR's. 3rd and 9 and we bring 8 guys!!! 8!! Perfect dial up by Zimmer causing the Joseph INT, which brings him to 6 for 1246 on catches this season. Bengals take over at the 25.
- After moving 14 yards in the wrong direction the Bengals complete one to Cosby on 3rd down and punt.
- Every time Sproles touches the ball I hold my breath. You just never know when he is going to break one. Chargers take over at the 28. The Rivers/Gates connection is starting to heat up. On a huge 3rd and 5, Rivers dumps it to Sproles in the flats for the first down. I guess we didn't learn jack sh*t from the first drive. 22 yarder from Rivers to Jackson for the TD. Perfect ball by Rivers as Hall got beat on a post-corner route. Chargers take a 14-10 lead.
- Bengals pick up a first down on a couple LJ runs, and will look to their 2 minute offense to take the lead before halftime. Big 26 yard run by LJ after the initial hole was covered. He slips inbounds though keeping the clock going. Carson to Coles for 20 more and the Bengals take a time out. Great job by LJ picking up the blitz. The Bengals had to burn a TO early in the game to save a delay of game penalty. Lets hope that doesn't bite us in the a$$ on this drive. Cincy drives it to the 7 and spikes it. 22 seconds left, 1 TO. Carson gets away with one on 2nd down. Jammer should have picked that one. Incomplete on 3rd and the Bengals will have to settle for another FG. Looked like a pass interference on the Chargers to me. Graham makes the 25 yarder with 7 seconds left in the half.

Solid first half for both teams. The real difference is Cincy having to settle for two FG's in the red zone instead of TD's. This game could easily be 21-14 but after that first drive by San Diego, I'll take a 14-13 deficit at the half.

Halftime: Chargers 14, Bengals 13

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1st Quarter
- They had a moment of silence before the game... very classy act on the part of San Diego, and I think I can speak for all Bengals fans when I say thank you. Broncos' WR Brandon Marshall is paying tribute to his friend by wearing "Henry" on the back of his jersey in place of his name.
- Phil Simms is calling the game. I hate my life.

- Opening Kickoff: Bengals kick to Sproles for God knows what reason. He takes it to midfield and was one leg tackle from going the distance.
- Tom Nelson is getting the start at safety for the Bengals. He is an undrafted rookie out of Illinois St. and was the last player to make the roster in training camp. Needless to say, the injuries to the Bengals secondary are starting to have an impact.
- San Diego drives it straight down our throat pounding the flats w/ LT, and caps it off with a three yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Gates. The D looked flat, didn't blitz, and showed zero heart. All week we wondered if they would come out with insane intensity to honor Henry, or if they would lay down due to their loss. That drive gave us our answer. Confirming this... just got a text from Greg: "This games over." We better find our heart... and fast.
- Nice return from Quan Cosby out to the 40. First play on offense we take a shot deep. Palmer over threw Caldwell, but he had a step on the corner, and I love the shot. HUGE pickup on 3rd down from Palmer to Caldwell. A 3 and out there would have been disastrous. Bengals get a bullsh*t chop block called on first, but after a long completion to Caldwell and a 3rd down pass to Chad, they make up for it and pick up the first down after first and 25. Solid drive from Cincy stalls out on the 10, but it was huge to get some points on the board. The 26 yarder by Graham is good.
- Big boot sends the kickoff out of the endzone. Return that Sproles. B*tch. Chargers take over at the 20. Johnathan Joseph is hitting people. Hard. Ask Malcolm Floyd's teeth if you don't believe me. COVERAGE SACK ON 3rd and 5!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great job by the defense. There was the heart we were looking for (The blitzes helped too as Rivers had to rush his 2nd down pass. Please keep this up Zim). Cosby fair catches the punt. Bengals ball at the 22.
- 2nd and 3 becomes 3rd and 13 after Benson misses a block and Palmer takes the sack. Nice RAC from J.P. Foschi to pick up the first down.

End of the 1st Quarter. Bengals have the ball. Chargers 7, Bengals 3.

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Today at 4pm our beloved Bengals carry their heavy hearts into San Diego to battle the Chargers who are led by ProBowl QB, and number 1 jacka$$ Phillip "Poor Man's Eli Manning who still hasn't been able to lead one of the most talented group of players to a Super Bowl" Rivers. As of today the 10-3 Chargers own the #2 seed in the AFC playoffs, while we would have #3. This means we wouldn't get the BYE that I think everyone watching this team knows we DESPERATELY need. A win today changes all of that and allows us to control our own playoff destiny. To say this game is huge, is a gross understatement.

San Diego will come fully loaded with a stout D, the soon to be Hall of Famer LT, and lightning in a bottle Darren Sproles. Keeping these two under control will dictate whether the Bengals stand a chance or not. Also look for Antonio Gates, who in my opinion is the best pure athlete in the NFL, to see a lot of double coverage today.

As mentioned above the game starts at 4pm. I will be doing quarter by quarter updates to keep you informed on all of the action so be sure to check back in at kickoff and throughout the game!!

1 comment:

  1. this is greg - opening drive defense looks porous.

    ReplyDelete