Sunday, January 06, 2002
Keys to the game
Effort has not been a problem for Bengals
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Bengals coach Dick LeBeau preached playoffs until his team was eliminated. He has continued since to emphasize effort. And effort comparable to what his team gave in the 26-23 overtime upset of Pittsburgh last week is what LeBeau expects from the Bengals in their season finale today at Tennessee.
With no postseason date awaiting his team for the first time in three seasons, Titans coach Jeff Fisher is worried about the same thing.
If the Bengals play hard — and, to their credit, effort has not been among their problems this season — they could catch a Tennessee team that's not motivated, especially coming off its loss to the Browns after blowing a 14-point lead.
The Bengals finished 4-4 at home, and they're 1-6 on the road.
“We're going to have to play, really, like we played last week, and better because we're on the road,” LeBeau said.
The Titans have won seven in a row over the Bengals. The Bengals haven't won a road game against the Titans/Oilers since a 21-13 victory over Houston on Dec. 15, 1996, at the Astrodome.
BY GEORGE: Titans running back Eddie George has overcome nagging leg injuries to get within 111 rushing yards of becoming the fourth player to rush for 1,000 in each of his first six seasons.
George had his best game of the season, 130 yards and two touchdowns, in the Titans' loss to Cleveland, and he has upped his average rush to 3.0 yards per carry. It was his first 100-yard game of the season.
The Bengals can't let George beat them as he has in the past.
In 11 games, he has 1,026 yards on the ground in 259 attempts. He has scored six touchdowns, and the Titans are 9-2 in those games.
George's third-most productive game as a pro came against the Bengals in 2000. He had 181 rushing yards and 33 more on receptions in a 23-14 Tennessee victory at Paul Brown Stadium.
RACKERS' ENCORE: Neil Rackers rebounded from a missed extra point in regulation to make a game-winning, 31-yard field goal in overtime against Pittsburgh.
With today's game figuring to be close, can Rackers ride the positive energy of his winning kick and come through when called upon? The fact he's off the chewed-up grass at Paul Brown Stadium should help.
He's now 14-for-25 on field goals and knows he has to kick better. Rackers was told by his special teams coach, Al Roberts, that club president Mike Brown is going to look into all solutions for the poor field.
“It's good,” Rackers said. “I hope I get to play on it.”
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Princeton beats No. 2 Hamilton
Cincinnati boys basketball roundup
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
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N.Ky. girls basketball roundup
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
Indiana boys basketball scores
Indiana girls basketball scores
This week's boys basketball schedule
This week's girls basketball schedule
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Cincinnati high school results
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Keys to the game
