Sunday, December 26, 1999

Bengals get a real test today

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Can winning streak continue against non-losing team?

BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Craig Yeast returns a punt 86 yards for a touchdown in the 34-31 loss to the Ravens Nov. 21. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        BALTIMORE — There are no pre-game shows or post-season games for these Bengals. Only a very important post-mortem to be taken by club president Mike Brown as he looks to next year.

        “We're not really playing for anything but stats, pride, and just playing for our jobs next year,” said quarterback Jeff Blake. “So don't think we're going to lay down. (Playing for jobs) is what we should say at the beginning of the year, too.”

        With the Bengals playing their next-to-last game of the season today here against the Ravens, here's what the brass is studying:

        • The status of head coach Bruce Coslet.

        • The play of free agent left tackle Rod Jones, who has had a terrific month. But the Bengals want to see if he can repeat his solid efforts against Ravens sack ace Michael McCrary today and Jacksonville Pro Bowler Tony Brackens next week before giving Jones the big cash.

        • Just how good is the run defense? It was superb against Cleveland's NFL-worst run game that they held to a Bengals-record 11 yards. But the last two games against old friends Priest Holmes and Fred Taylor should give them a pretty good idea.

        • The play of the newest Bengal, cornerback Tom Carter, picked up off wai vers last week by the Bears. If he can cover like they think and tackle a little better than his reputation in the next two games, he's got a leg up on the starting left cornerback job for next season.

        “Every player wants to get as much time as they can whatever the situation,” Carter said. “I'm just hoping to take advantage of it. I'm looking to make Cincinnati my home and go from there.”

        The home office is anxious to see how the Bengals finish the season against a 7-7 Ravens team and a Jacksonville club with the league's best record. The three-game winning streak is nice, but it also came against teams with combined records of 10-24.

        Plus, the defense gets an offense as hot as the Bengals with the rejuvenation of Ravens quarterback Tony Banks, wide receiver Qadry Ismail and Holmes, starting again at running back.

        “Qad has stepped up his game to another level,” Carter said. “They're playing with a real chemistry. It's timing. They're hitting balls in the seam, hitting deep balls. They're keeping defenses on their heels with their deep ball. When you have a quarterback who can throw it 60, 70 yards it makes it real tough on the secondary because you can't sit on any (pass routes).”

        Sound familiar? That's how Blake and the Bengals have flung their way into a streak and there's no doubt Banks will take his shots against Cincinnati's struggling secondary.

        But the X factor for the Ravens could be Holmes. The Bengals were able to sack Banks seven times in the 34-31 loss to Baltimore last month because they stuffed running back Errict Rhett on 36 yards. But since then, Holmes has rushed for 100 yards twice and everyone knows about the 400 yards he rung up on Cincinnati last year.

        “We owe it to him because last year he really embarrassed us,” said cornerback Artrell Hawkins. “He's just one of those runners who doesn't look like a great runner, but he's a quality guy. When he gets a crease he's got the speed to take it the distance.”

        Inside linebacker Brian Simmons admitted the Bengals hoped Holmes play ed last month and it would be a little extra special if they can get another shot at him.

        “Look at where we've come from last year,” said Simmons, when the run defense was the worst in the NFL. “We're (14th) and have a chance at finishing in the top 10. . .if we do that in these two games, it would mean we finished at a high level.”

        But Bengals like Simmons know today's game could turn on things not on the stat sheet.

        “Their fans feel like they can get in the playoffs,” said Simmons of the expected frenzied sellout of 69,084 at PSINet Stadium. “They're going to come out real emotional, fiery, ready to play some ball. We've got to make sure we match their intensity.”

        Running back Corey Dillon put it as simply as the 67 yards separating him from the Bengals single-season rushing record: “It's like a playoff game to us.”

       

       

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