Some play for today,
others for next year
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Though the Bengals failed to reach the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year, many of them still have goals to aim for in today's season finale against the Baltimore Ravens at Cinergy Field.
Corey Dillon, who gained 127 yards against Dallas last week, could match the Bengals season record with 170 yards today.
(Kevin J. Miyazaki photo)
| ZOOM |Both teams will try to avoid finishing in last place in the AFC Central, which the Bengals (6-9) currently occupy. But a victory would vault Cincinnati past the Ravens (6-8-1), who used to be known as the Cleveland Browns.
Also, both teams are attempting to preserve two-game winning streaks that would generate good vibrations for 1998.
''Right now, we're basically fighting for next year,'' Bengals linebacker Ricardo McDonald said.
''We're starting next season now,'' Baltimore linebacker Peter Boulware echoed.
This season remains vital for certain individuals. Bengals rookie running back Corey Dillon is 170 yards short of James Brooks' single-season rushing record of 1,239 yards set in 1989. And several prominent Bengals, including defensive ends Dan Wilkinson and John Copeland and wide receiver Darnay Scott, are eligible to become unrestricted free agents.
''Every time you step on the field, you want to make a good impression,'' Cincinnati quarterback Boomer Esiason said. ''I tell all the guys who are free agents that there are other teams around the league looking at your films. You need to play your best game and make like it's your last game.''
And Esiason, who has excelled while leading Cincinnati to victories in three of his four starts, will have another opportunity to increase his leverage as he weighs whether to return for another season.
He'll be among the figures who insure this rematch won't be a repeat. When Baltimore subdued the Bengals, 23-10, on Sept. 7,the Ravens relied on quarterback Vinny Testaverde and running backs Earnest Byner and Jay Graham. Quarterback Jeff Blake and tailback Ki-Jana Carter were Cincinnati's featured performers.
Now quarterback Eric Zeier directs the Ravens' offense, having replaced an injured Testaverde on Nov. 30 at Jacksonville and keeping the job with sustained effectiveness. Bam Morris, who was serving a league-imposed four-game suspension when these teams last met, has reclaimed his role as Baltimore's featured back.
The Bengals counter with Esiason, who didn't play at Baltimore, and Dillon, who didn't carry the ball from scrimmage in the season's first two games but blistered the Ravens with a 58-yard kickoff return.
''Much like we are, they're better than when we played them before,'' Bengals coach Bruce Coslet said of the Ravens. ''The Xs and Os don't change that much; the execution of them has obviously changed.''
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