Ugly but effective once again

Cincinnati Bengals

By Scott Priestle, CNATI.com Posted November 29, 2009 6:53 PM ET

During the final minute of play Sunday, Rey Maualuga grabbed a grease board from the Bengals' bench and scribbled "We Believe," then waved it to any fans and cameras within sight. It is doubtful the Bengals won over any doubters with their performance in the 59 minutes prior, but neither did they suffer an embarrassing loss.

It was just another ugly game for a team that seems completely comfortable in such a setting.

Maualuga and the defense stuffed the struggling Cleveland Browns, backup running backs Larry Johnson and Bernard Scott chewed up yards and time, and the Bengals ground out a 16-7 win that secured their place atop the AFC North.

Larry Johnson

What the Bengals lacked in style points, they made up in self-confidence and self-awareness. Johnson, in only his second week with the team, carried the ball 16 times in the second half while quarterback Carson Palmer, the face of the franchise, threw only nine passes.

"There are no tosses or loop-di-loop plays. It's basically, `Line up and go after it,' " Johnson said. "That's what I appreciate about the offensive coordinator: When it's time to run the clock out, that's what we do. That's the type of game I love."

The Bengals finished with 210 rushing yards -- 107 from Johnson, 87 from the rookie Scott -- and allowed only 169 total yards. They held the ball for nearly two-thirds of the game.

Because the Bengals passing game was not sharp and the offense again misfired in the red zone, the Browns remained within striking distance until the final two minutes. But the well-rested Cincinnati defense did not allow Cleveland quarterback Brady Quinn to orchestrate the type of comeback that Oakland QB Bruce Gradkowski pulled off a week earlier.

Leon Hall

"That's how we expect to play week to week," cornerback Leon Hall said. "We have confidence in the play-calling and our abilities. We just have to play within the defense, and we expect to play that well every week."

Quinn completed only 15 of 34 passes for 100 yards. He threw deep a few times but never connected.

Cleveland's most electric player -- receiver, kick returner and part-time quarterback Joshua Cribbs -- gained only 45 yards: 38 on kick returns, seven on three catches and none on his only carry. Running back Jamal Lewis managed 40 yards, but the Browns converted only 4 of 14 third-down plays into first downs.

"The defensive line, those guys were in the backfield all day today, which made our job easier," cornerback Johnathan Joseph said.

The defensive game plan was to stuff the run, force the Browns to pass (which in turn would slow Cleveland's no-huddle offense), then pressure Quinn. Rookie defensive back Morgan Trent said he blitzed five times, an unusually high number.

While defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer attacked from all angles, Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski directed a concentrated charge: Scott or Johnson between the tackles, often with the help of a fullback, a second tight end or an extra lineman.

The Bengals committed 10 penalties and scored only one touchdown on three trips inside the red zone, but they controlled the field position and never trailed.

Marvin Lewis

"If we can run the football and play good defense, I can drive into the stadium pretty confident most days, and that's a good feeling," coach Marvin Lewis said. "I think we are at that point."

If the score suggests the Bengals played down to another inferior opponent -- they have beaten the 1-10 Browns twice by a total of only 12 points, and they have lost to the 3-8 Raiders and 5-6 Texans -- the players said it was an example of a good team playing to its strengths. Next up are the 2-9 Lions.

"Some of these teams come in here trying to make something happen, and they don't have anything to lose," Johnson said. "We just have to continue to play without these penalties and run the ball and not worry about anything else."

Said linebacker Dhani Jones: "That's what we preach week in and week out: You never know exactly what's going to go on. The offense might struggle, at times the defense might struggle, the special teams might struggle, and the next person has to back them up, or the next unit. That's the responsibility each person must put on his shoulders, that day in and day out they're going to play the best game they possibly can. If somebody needs to be picked up, you pick them up. If it needs to be a whole unit -- the offense or the defense -- pick them up."

Also from Sunday:

Cedric Benson wants to reclaim his role

The defense is stout against the run

First-round pick Andre Smith made his NFL debut

Chris Bergman's photo gallery

Categories: Cincinnati Bengals, Featured Stories, News