Sunday, November 21, 1999Bengals, prepare to meet thy doom
Loss would assure NFL's worst decade
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerIt's not enough the Bengals go into today's game with the Baltimore Ravens stalked by the NFL's No.1 defense and an embittered fan base waiting to unleash boos and signs at cavernous Cinergy Field. But now the Bengals are also being pursued by infamy.
A Baltimore victory gives Cincinnati its 106th loss of the 1990s, tying the ineptitude of the legendary Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the 1980s for the most futile decade in NFL history. The Bucs finished 45-106-1 while the Bengals come into today 49-105 after dropping 19 of their last 21 games.
The Bengals could also slide into the NFL record book today with their 11th straight home loss, the third-longest streak of all-time. They would join the 1961-62 Oakland Raiders and the 1961-63 Los Angeles Rams and come perilously close to the record of 14 set by the Dallas Cowboys of 1988-89.
For the Bengals, this season has been home beat home. The offense has yet to score two touchdowns in any of the five Cinergy games this season and hasn't had a lead at home since 5:35 left in the first quarter of a 38-10 loss to the Rams seven weeks ago.
In fact, the Bengals haven't had a lead anywhere, any time since they beat Cleveland on their last play six weeks ago.
That's bad news for Cincinnati because the Ravens aren't handing out points. They're giving up 16 points per game and have alowed two touchdowns in the last three games.
The Bengals can find no solace in history today. In three of the last four games against the Ravens and their linebacker corps widely believed to be the best in the game, Cincinnati has failed to score 17 points.
Bengals Stories
UC 94, Youngstown State 67
UC foe falls short only on scoreboard
UC NOTEBOOK
Memphis 21, UC 13
Xavier 96, Maryland-Eastern Shore 52
XAVIER NOTEBOOK
PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
Michigan 24, Ohio State 17
Season of perspective for OSU fans
Miami 43, Buffalo 0
Tennessee 56, Kentucky 21
Highland' Smith excels in 1st UK start
SI all-century team needs second look
NKU 64, Wisconsin-Stevens Point 60
Stuff 107, Trenton 100
OHSAA strikes up the bands
Cyclones 5, Cleveland 1
Miami hockey team sweeps No. 3 MSU
Mighty Ducks 5, Saint John 4
NKU advances in NCAA volleyball
Thomas More women undaunted
Bengals, prepare to meet thy doom