Sunday, September 24, 2000
Players to watch
When the Bengals run
With starting center Rich Braham out for a few weeks because of a bad knee, backup Brock Gutierrez will get the first NFL start of his 24-game NFL career.
Gutierrez played well in all four preseason games when Braham was out. But he'll have a more difficult test today in Baltimore. The Ravens have one of the league's best front fours -- lining up Rob Burnett, Sam Adams, Tony Siragusa and Michael McCrary from left to right.
The 6-foot-3, 304-pound Gutierrez will have his hands full with space-eating, active tackles the likes of Adams and Siragusa. The Ravens are second in the league in rush defense, giving up only 60.7 yards a game.
When Bengals pass
He's one of the best players in NFL history and has proven that reports of his demise were grossly premature.
Ravens safety Rod Woodson has overcome major knee surgery a few seasons past and still plays like a cornerback, and he has owned the Bengals over his 13-year career.
He has nine of his 54 career interceptions off Cincinnati quarterbacks; Woodson picked Jeff Blake five times and Boomer Esiason four times.
Look for Woodson to welcome second-year Bengals quarterback Akili Smith to the club today. Woodson has yet to intercept a pass this season, but he has 12 tackles at free safety.
When Ravens run
Until proven otherwise, Ravens running back Priest Holmes will have a big game against Cincinnati. Holmes won't start, although he's sixth in the AFC in rushing with 198 yards.
Rookie Jamal Lewis, the fifth overall pick from the University of Tennessee, will start. Coach Brian Billick promises to use Holmes and says he will stay with Holmes if he gets a hot hand.
Holmes has two 100-yard games against Cincinnati. But this Bengals defense is much better against the run -- ranked ninth -- than previous Bengals defense.
Tackles Oliver Gibson and Tom Barndt are playing well, and free safety Corey Hall is always around the ball.
When Ravens pass
Rookie middle linebacker Armegis Spearman has handled all challenges thrown his way in five quarters since starter Brian Simmons went down to a knee injury.
Spearman, the only rookie free agent to make the team, had eight tackles in Jacksonville last week in his first NFL start. As important, he stayed with Jaguars tight end Kyle Brady on pass patterns over the middle.
Baltimore has two of the best pass-catching tight ends in NFL history, Shannon Sharpe and Ben Coates.
Between them, the former Denver and New England veterans have 1,053 receptions, 12,576 yards and 95 touchdowns.
Bengals Stories
Outfield seats to become memories
Dismantling outfield seats a tedious process
Greatest Moments In Stadium History
Reds show no interest in retaining McKeon
Possible replacements for McKeon
Reds 6, Astros 4
Box, runs
Wild pitch ball saved
Indiana 42, UC 6
Minter: 'Offense laid another egg'
Complete Olympics coverage at Cincinnati.com/olympics
DAUGHERTY: Jones' challenge all mental now
Local boxer reaches Olympic quarterfinals
3 rowers come away empty
Olympic viewers unhappy with NBC
Miami 45, Kent 14
Bath reaches 5,000 passing yards
Florida 59, Kentucky 31
Ohio State 45, Penn State 6
SULLIVAN: Paterno doesn't deserve this
Thiel 13, Thomas More 12
Mount St. Joseph 26, Hiram 21
Complete prep football coverage at Enquirer.com/prepfootball
Prep Football Notebook
Dave Schutte Column
Conner 21, Owensboro 6
NewCath game suspended
Purcell Marian 20, Kettering Alter 13
Saturday's high school highlights
Cincinnati high school results
N.Ky. high schoolresults
Auto Racing Insider
• Return to Bengals front page...
Players to watch 
