Monday, December 03, 2001
Rackers slips out of the noose
Bengals Notebook
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Kicker Neil Rackers justified coach Dick LeBeau's faith in him by making both of his field goal attempts and an extra point with 15 seconds left to put the game into overtime.
The Bengals lost 16-13 to Tampa Bay in overtime Sunday, but Rackers' job is safe again.
He was good from 23 and 41 yards, pushing him to 11-of-20 (55 percent) and he regained the club leading in scoring with 49 points.
“It feels wonderful to come out of a game knowing I helped give us a chance to win,” Rackers said.
The 41-yarder came with 4:35 left in the fourth quarter. The Bengals drove 36 yards on seven plays after Buccaneers' kicker Martin Gramatica missed from 51 yards.
Rackers' kick hit the right upright but slid in.
LeBeau, who has supported Rackers all season, was pleased with his second-year kicker.
“He kicked the ball well,” LeBeau said. “He made a very clutch kick for us.”
SACK PACK: The Bengals' six sacks were a season high, bettering the four at Jacksonville and giving them 30 for 192 yards in losses in 11 games.
In 16 games last season, the Bengals had 26 sacks for 168 yards.
Linebacker Brian Simmons leads the team with 5.5 sacks, and his sack Sunday forced the Buccaneers to punt in overtime.
Rookie defensive end Justin Smith had two, giving him 4.5, and he needs four more to reach a key escalator clause in his contract.
Defensive tackle Oliver Gibson had two sacks, giving him four, and Reinard Wilson had one. Gibson, Wilson and linebacker Takeo Spikes each have four sacks for the year.
NO. 4: Wide receiver Darnay Scott had four receptions Sunday to move into fourth place with 365 on the Bengals' all-time list. He passed Eddie Brown, who had 363.
CHAD AND KEYSHAWN: Bengals rookie wide receiver Chad Johnson had two catches for 27 yards, and he watched his older cousin, Tampa Bay's Keyshawn Johnson, grab seven for 85 yards.
“We chatted a little bit,” Chad said. “He had a great game.”
ATTENDANCE: The number of tickets sold for Sunday's game was 51,135, ending a string of three consecutive home games that drew more than 63,000.
The Bengals are averaging 57,711 in six home dates.
PICKED OFF: Donnie Abraham's interception in the fourth quarter gives the Buccaneers' an interception in 15 consecutive games, a franchise record.
BLOCK THAT KICK: Ronde Barber's block of Nick Harris' punt in the second quarter was the first against the Bengals since Oct.10, 1999.
Tampa Bay tight end Todd Yoder picked up the blocked punt at the 11-yard line and ran in for a touchdown.
FIRST STRIKE: Rackers' 23-yard field goal were the Bengals' first points in seven quarters. They also gave the Bengals 20 points in the first quarter this season.
The fourth quarter touchdown pass to Dillon was the Bengals' first touchdown in 10 quarters.
UNLUCKY NUMBER: Corey Dillon's overtime fumble, which was recovered by Tampa Bay on the Bengals' 3-yard line and set up the Bucs' winning field goal, came on the 1,300th rushing attempt of his career.
He rushed 23 times for 79 yards.
Dillon's six-yard touchdown reception was his eighth touchdown of the season, bettering the seven touchdowns he scored in all of the 2000 season.
HOT SEAT: Kitna accepts the criticism that has been directed at him, but he said Sunday he doesn't let it get to him.
Kitna was 19-for-38 passing for 144 yards with one touchdown and one interception against Tampa Bay.
He has 10 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions and was benched in the second half last week at Cleveland.
“They'll never be off my back,” Kitna said. “When you come in as an undrafted free agent, when things go wrong, the quarterback position is the one that always takes the heat, regardless.”
TURNOVERS: The Bengals lost one interception and one fumble Sunday, falling to minus-4 in turnover differential.
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Rackers slips out of the noose
