Love is a many splintered thing. This, Bengals fans have come to understand. So it was again Sunday, but with a splendored twist.

SET AS WALLPAPER Click on right width for your monitor, then right click to Set As Wallpaper

Fans celebrate as Tony McGee runs into the end zone for a TD. (Ernest Coleman photo) 600 | 800 | 1024

        Cincinnati's down-to-the-wire 23-17 victory over the New England Patriots tested the heartbeats of Bengals fans, many of whom filed out of Paul Brown Stadium to the echoed chants of “16 and 0!”

        “Optimism, baby!” explained Brian Rawlings, 28, of Fairfield, leading one such “16 and 0” chant while he and his brother-in-law, Matt Sarvak, 27, of Fairfield, high-fived total strangers on the way out.

        It was only the first game of the season, leaving the Bengals — however temporarily — tied for first place. But that wasn't the only emotionally charged first.

        As the final seconds ticked away, gray-haired usher Keith Moore was minding his own business in section 313 when a fan did something that had never happened to Mr. Moore.

        The guy just walked up and hugged him. Then kept walking.

        “No,” Mr. Moore said, smiling, “I don't believe that's ever happened before. I don't believe so.”

        It had been four years since the Bengals last won an opening game. The high price of tickets and the high cost of losing have driven some of the Bengals faithful away. On Sunday, there were about 14,000 empty seats.

        Their loss.

        With Corey Dillon pounding his way to 104 yards rushing and the Bengals' defense sacking Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe four times, fans held their collective breath as Cincinnati's lead grew to 13-10, then 16-10, then 23-10.

        New England scored late to pull within six, then had not one but two possessions to steal the win. Last year, fans standing this late in a game would be focused on beating traffic, not the opponent.

        Not Sunday.

        “Awesome, just great,” said Sandy Simpson, 50, of Springfield in Clark County, Ohio. “It's our first trip down to the new stadium. Couple of scary moments, but it was worth it.”

        When you're the losingest team of the 1990s, and did little last year to derail that slow train to another high draft choice, scary moments lurk early and often.

        When New England took a 7-0 lead, Chad Harp, 19, of Blue Ash, turned to his friend, Jacob Sands, 24, of Clifton, in section 211 and muttered, “Here we go again.”

        “Hopefully, this year,” Mr. Harp explained in a voice full of resignation. “It's possible. Hopefully.”

        Mr. Sands added, “It's so hard to beat that pattern. But I'm optimistic.”

        Fast-forward two hours: “Undefeated!” Ed Vetter, 49, of Dent, said. “I thought the Bengals would lay down, but they didn't. They came back.”

        The most telling post-game moment might have occurred at the entrance to the Bengals pro shop, where private guard Stanley Wright, 45, of Walnut Hills, high-fived fans.

        “Super Bowl! Who dey!” he hollered. “Who dey!”

        Getting through the crowded door, one fan turned to another and said, “Who was that guy?”

Bengals 23, Patriots 17 Bengals-Patriots statistics DAUGHERTY: Bengals take 'big step' SULLIVAN: Narrow stop has big meaning Kitna gets passing grade Scott catches up after lost season Defense welcomes Simmons Bengals report card Injured McNair may miss Bengals Replacement refs get few complaints Fans aflutter with optimism

Reds 5, Pirates 3
Reds' coaches in limbo
MacRae finally gives up run
Reds-Cubs Scouting Report
Pirates worry about pitcher's injury
Reds box, runs
UC aglow over Guidugli
PREP FOOTBALL COVERAGE
Bonds hits Nos. 61, 62, 63
Cawood Ledford laid to rest in Harlan

• Return to Bengals front page...