ATLANTA - The Bengals have started 0-3 for the third time in four seasons, and they virtually have doomed their playoff hopes.

        Only one NFL team - the 1998 Arizona Cardinals - has gone from 0-3 to the playoffs in the last five years. That's one in 28, or 3.6 percent.

        INJURY REPORT: Bengals right guard Mike Goff left Sunday's game in the third quarter with a lacerated right knee.

        Cornerback Artrell Hawkins played the second half after suffering a bruised right calf in the second quarter.

        Middle linebacker Brian Simmons returned for a few plays in the second half after straining a big toe.

        Tight end Sean Brewer didn't return from a sprained left knee.

        A FIRST: Rookie Matt Schobel had the first reception for a Bengals tight end this season when he grabbed a 6-yard pass from Jon Kitna in the third quarter.

        PERFECT: Neil Rackers made a 24-yard field goal in the second quarter and is perfect on three attempts this season. Rackers has made 11 of his last 13 field goals, dating back to last season.

        THIRTY EVEN: After giving up 30 or more points just once last year, the Bengals have given up 30 or more twice in the first three games.

        San Diego scored 34 in Week1 and Atlanta had 30 Sunday night. The Bengals gave up 20 last week in Cleveland, and they have been outscored 84-16 this season.

        The Bengals score just 5.3 points per game, second worst in the NFL to Baltimore's 3.5 average.

        SACK: Defensive end Justin Smith had his first sack and just the Bengals' third of the season. The defense hasn't forced a turnover.

        CAN'T TOUCH THIS: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick earned his first win in five starts. He was 16-of-26 passing for 174 yards and two TDs.

        The Bengals have been beaten this season by quarterbacks making their first (Drew Brees), third (Kelly Holcomb) and fifth (Vick) NFL starts.

        WESTBROOK SITS: Second-year receiver T.J.Houshmandzadeh started ahead of eight-year NFL veteran Michael Westbrook.

        Adrian Ross started at outside linebacker for the second consecutive week. Defensive end Vaughn Booker was back in the Bengals' starting lineup after missing last week's Cleveland game with a knee injury.

        The Bengals' inactive players Sunday were place-kicker Travis Dorsch, running back Rudi Johnson, linebacker Riall Johnson, guards Thatcher Szalay and Victor Leyva, and defensive end Eric Ogbogu.

        BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID: Before Sunday's game started, quarterback Gus Frerotte said he wasn't worried about being replaced. In fact, the first-year Bengal wasn't even thinking about it.

        “I'm approaching it like I'm the guy,” Frerotte said. “If coach (Dick LeBeau) wants to make the call, that's up to him.”

        LeBeau made the call early in the second quarter, benching Frerotte for last year's starter, Jon Kitna. The Bengals went three-and-out on Kitna's first drive.

        Frerotte brought the league's fourth-worst passer rating (55.3) into Sunday night's game. He had thrown four interceptions and one touchdown pass.

        LIGHTS, CAMERA: The Bengals-Falcons game was Cincinnati's first prime-time TV appearance since Sept.27, 1998, in Baltimore. The Bengals haven't played on Monday night since a 20-0 loss on Oct.19, 1992, at Pittsburgh.

        OLD FOES: As players, Atlanta coach Dan Reeves and Cincinnati coach Dick LeBeau faced each other three times. Reeves was a running back for the Dallas Cowboys, who defeated LeBeau's Detroit Lions three times in three games.

        This meeting was their first as coaches. Reeves has 189 NFL coaching victories, LeBeau 10.

Falcons 30, Bengals 3 Bengals-Falcons statistics Bengals Notebook: Forget playoffs at 0-3 Falcons happy with first victory Monday Night NFL Preview

Reds, fans bid fond farewell to stadium
Rose, softball game close Cinergy tonight
Browning paints tribute to Rose
DAUGHERTY: Generations of Reds fans felt the joy
Last-game loss doesn't dampen spirits
Reds Box, Runs
Ovation warms Rijo's heart
The Last Game, By the Numbers
The Last Game, Inning by Inning
Stadium Firsts & Lasts
Sunrise, sunset on Cinergy Field
Oester-Bowden feud still alive
Phillies officials take notes
UC drops Midnight Madness for breakfast
UC coach won't forget 'near upset'
Ohio State 23, UC 19
College Football Review: Luck of the Irish is holding
Miami 27, Kent State 20
Mighty Ducks tickets on sale today
Prep football scores & game reports
How Enquirer poll teams fared
High school week preview
Today's high school schedule
Girls volleyball results

• Return to Bengals front page...