CNATI: Cincinnati OH Sports Journalism

Cincinnati Bengals

Preview: Bengals vs. Broncos

By Scott Priestle, CNATI.com Posted September 11, 2009 1:36 PM ET

Where: Paul Brown Stadium

When: 1 p.m. Sunday

TV: WKRC Channel 12 in Cincinnati

Radio: 1530-AM, 102.7-FM

Storyline: The Bengals have a skeptical fanbase, a reconstructed offense and two tough games to come. They are at home this week against a team with a rookie head coach, two injured quarterbacks, a disgruntled star and a rebuilt defense. There is more than a little urgency to open the season with a win.

Spotlight on ... Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph

Hall was arguably the Bengals best player last season, certainly their best defensive player, in part because he was one of the few who made it through the year healthy. He shut down Plaxico Burress and Braylon Edwards and slowed Terrell Owens early in the season, and when Joseph went on injured reserve, teams often took the opportunity to avoid Hall, instead picking on Jamar Fletcher, Geoffrey Pope and Simeon Castille at the opposite corner.

"I never paid attention to that too much," Hall said. "My thing is, if I do my thing, if I perform well, it will allow the defense a better chance. If I don't have my stuff together, it doesn't matter what's going on on the other side."

Joseph has recovered from the ankle and foot injuries that hampered him last season, and he and Hall should benefit from an improved pass-rush. "When I'm healthy, I've played well," Joseph said.

The cornerback duo will face a tough test today in Denver receivers Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, who finished third and sixth, respectively, in the AFC in catches last season.

Bengals injury report: out--CB David Jones (foot), OL Andre Smith (foot); questionable--OL Scott Kooistra (knee); probable--WR Chris Henry (thigh), QB Carson Palmer (elbow), S Roy Williams (thigh)

Broncos injury report: out--S Josh Barrett (shoulder), DL Le Kevin Smith (knee); questionable -- WR Jabar Gafney (finger), G Chris Kuper (ankle), RB Knowshon Moreno (knee), QB Kyle Orton (right finger), QB Chris Simms (ankle); probable--S Brian Dawkins (hand).

Notable: The Bengals averaged 5.1 yards per carry and 175 rushing yards per game in the preseason. Each of the four halfbacks on the current roster had a run of at least 23 yards. ... Kicker Shayne Graham missed the final three exhibition games because of a groin injury but practiced throughout the week and will play Sunday. "Shayne had a good week," coach Marvin Lewis said. ... The Broncos were one of only three teams that failed to score 20 points in any preseason game. In addition to playing a chunk of the preseason without Orton and Simms, they were without Marshall, who served a team-imposed suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. He was reinstated last Sunday. ... The Broncos have switched from a base 4-3 defense to a 3-4, as has next week's opponent, the Green Bay Packers. New defensive coordinator Mike Nolan previously filled the same position for the Baltimore Ravens, so the Bengals are familiar with his schemes. "But you know they had to hang onto some stuff they didn't want on film that they've been working on since March or April," quarterback Carson Palmer said, "so we really have to be in tune with one another. Our communication has to be great, and expect the unexpected." ... Chad Ochocinco has caught at least one pass in 105 consecutive games, a club record. ... Ochocinco and long-snapper Brad St. Louis are the only players who were on the roster before coach Marvin Lewis arrived in 2003. ... Denver coach Josh McDaniels is an Ohio native, son of Thom McDaniels, a longtime high school coach in northeast Ohio.

Scott's prediction: Bengals, 23-13.

C. Trent's prediction: Bengals, 24-21.

 

Categories: Cincinnati Bengals, Featured Stories, Features

Tags: Bengals, Broncos, Johnathan Joseph, Leon Hall