Sunday, October 28, 2001
Stakes high in Detroit today
Bengals' year at crossroads
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
PONTIAC, Mich. — Today's game is another big one for the Bengals.
They haven't been able to win on the road yet this season, and this game is as winnable as they come, against the 0-5 Lions.
Winning is especially important after the Bengals blew their perfect home record last week against Chicago, losing for the first time in four games at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals say they need to recoup the victory on the road.
And with the bye coming after this game, there's a big difference between entering November with a 4-3 record and being 3-4. Winning at Detroit would give the Bengals their first winning record after October since 1990, provide an emotional lift and put the team in better position to make a playoff run.
“It's not a "must' win for us, if that's what you're saying,” Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna said. “But this would be a huge win for us, because going into your bye week you have a good taste in your mouth.
“You're 4-3 at almost the halfway point of the season. That's good if you can stay at or above .500. But it's not a must win. There's a lot of season left. I think this is a game we need to go out and play well, not for anything but ourselves.”
This game will color the rest of the season. Fall below .500 and lose four of five after the 2-0 start, and staving off a negative attitude becomes more of a challenge. The “same old Bengals” would lose this game. What will the 2001 Bengals do?
After the bye, the Bengals will play at Jacksonville, where they've lost five games in a row and haven't beaten the Jaguars since their expansion 1995 season.
Then the Bengals will play host to Tennessee before closing out November with a rematch with the Browns in Cleveland on Thanksgiving weekend.
The Bengals beat the Browns at home before being shut out for the first time at Paul Brown Stadium last week by the Bears.
“Every game is very important,” Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said. “I think that every game that you're coming off a not particularly impressive performance, it is more important. We have to regain momentum. We have to get back to doing the things that allow us to be successful. From that standpoint, it is very important.”
Heading into today's game, the Bengals are one of six AFC teams with 3-3 records. One of the conference's three wild-card berths probably could be had with a 9-7 record.
Counting today, the Bengals play six of their final 10 games on the road, which has not been kind to them.
Since last making the playoffs after the 1990 season, the Bengals are 15-67 away from home. Since the start of the 1996 season, the Bengals are 8-34 on the road.
Even though the Lions are winless, LeBeau said they are a dangerous team, especially at home.
The Bengals should know. At 0-6 last season, they defeated playoff-bound, 4-3 Denver 31-21 in the game in which Bengals tailback Corey Dillon set the individual single-game rushing record of 278 yards.
“I think the way we played (Sunday), we should not have a hard time getting ready to play anybody,” LeBeau said. “I know Detroit is going to be looking at us as an opportunity. I'm sure of that. They have been playing well, particularly recently.”
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Stakes high in Detroit today
