By Ryan Ernst
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Cincinnati Bengals came off last season's 31-27 win over the Detroit Lions on Oct. 28 feeling the start of something big.

Bengals' Mike Goff (63) goes to his knees after New York Jetsą Damien Robinson intercepts a pass from Bengalsą Jon Kitna in the fourth quarter at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday, December 16,2001. (AP Photo/Bernie Nunez). (AP photo) | ZOOM |

So what if the Lions were an 0-5 team going into the game? Big deal. Who cared the 4-3 Bengals were just hovering above .500? It was the first time in 11 years they finished October a winning team, and they were on the verge of something heading into a bye week.

"This was important, man," linebacker Takeo Spikes said after the game. "... The momentum going into the bye week should carry us for the next part of the season."

Sounds reasonable enough. Momentum's a good thing, right?

Maybe it was the bye week. Or maybe the Bengals caught the losing bug from the hapless Lions. Whatever it was, they were on the verge of a 3-18 stretch that has lasted through today.

Here's a look at the games, gaffes and grumblings that ensued:

Jaguars 30, Bengals 13
What happened: The Bengals were penalized 10 times for 107 yards, including two dead-ball fouls that set up Jags touchdowns.

What they said: "We had some things go against us that we had no control about and that we were told not to speak of. It wasn't 11 on 11 for that third quarter ... I hope certain factions of the NFL grade people." - DT Oliver Gibson

Hindsight being 20/20: Let's just hope they don't grade the rest of this season ... or any of next.

Titans 20, Bengals 7
WH: Derrick Mason returned the opening kickoff 101 yards to put the Titans ahead for good.

WTS: On falling below .500: "I would hope it would be a stronger motivation force to them. I hope that they don't like it. I certainly don't." - head coach Dick LeBeau

Hindsight: Sorry, Coach, but ...

Browns 18, Bengals 0
WH: After seven turnovers, two missed field goals and a third straight loss, the Bengals rode buses home after their charter flight suffered mechanical problems.

WTS: "It's now or never. I mean, if we've got any shot or any hope of salvaging our year, and it's about not giving up and playing hard, the time is now." - FB Lorenzo Neal

Hindsight: Or never.

Bucs 16, Bengals 13, OT
WH: Running back Corey Dillon forced OT with a TD reception but fumbled on the Bengals' 3-yard line to allow the winning field goal.

WTS: "I think we took a step today as a team." - quarterback Jon Kitna

Hindsight: In which direction?

Jaguars 14, Bengals 10
WH: The Bengals gained just 200 yards against the 25th-ranked defense in the league, a defense missing four starters.

WTS: "I really feel like ... we have so much potential offensively. I really thought we were going to be a much more explosive offense than we are." - Kitna

Hindsight: He must have meant "im"plosive, not "ex"plosive.

Jets 15, Bengals 14
WH: QB Akili Smith started and looked impressive but left the game before halftime with a season-ending strained hamstring.

WTS: "Hopefully I proved to the organization (and) my teammates that I can still lead this team." - Smith

Hindsight: There's always next year Akili. Right? Wrong. Grab your crutch and your clipboard and hobble in the direction of the nearest contender.

Ravens 16, Bengals 0
WH: Kitna and wide receiver Chad Johnson exchanged heated words on the sidelines toward the end of the Bengals' third shutout in their last nine games.

WTS: "It's been 14 damn games, and don't fuss at me because I dropped two balls." - Johnson

Hindsight: Implode (v) - To collapse inward violently. Yeah, that's definitely what Kitna meant.

Bengals 26, Steelers 23, OT
WH: Despite themselves, the Bengals snap a seven-game losing streak. Rackers missed an extra point that would have won the game with 37 seconds left but redeemed himself with a 31-yard game-winner in overtime.

WTS: "It doesn't get any worse than the extra point. The offense (gave) me another opportunity. Otherwise, I have to sit on a missed extra point, possibly until next season." - Rackers

Hindsight: Yeah, that would have been rough. Instead, the team drafted a kicker they refuse to use and made Rackers battle for his job.

Bengals 23, Titans 21
WH: Kitna followed up his 411-yard day with 340 yards, and Rackers hit another game-winner. Talk turned, optimistically, to next season.

WTS: "We get it up there 10, 11 wins next year and I'll be happy." - LeBeau

"We started something special here, and I think it has continued to grow." - Spikes

Hindsight: It's not even fair to comment here.

2002

Chargers 34, Bengals 6
WH: The Bengals are charged with a delay of game penalty on their first possession of the season, following a TV timeout.

WTS: "It was about as disappointing start as you can have, but it's still one game. ... We intend to be exactly what we said we would be, a winning team." - LeBeau

Hindsight: For the Bengals, intentions are like high first-round draft picks. They're good to have, but they don't win ballgames.

Browns 20, Bengals 7
WH: Right-handed quarterback Gus Frerotte throws three interceptions, including one left-handed that is returned by a defensive lineman for a touchdown.

WTS: "I didn't want to take a sack." - Frerotte

Hindsight: Good intention.

Falcons 30, Bengals 3
WH: Crushed in their first prime-time TV appearance in four years, the Bengals had just 10 men on the field on a second-quarter fourth-and-5 punt play. Nick Harris' punt landed out of bounds on the Bengals' own 24-yard line, setting up a Falcons' touchdown.

WTS: "If anybody wants to jump off the bandwagon, I can't blame them." - OT Willie Anderson

Hindsight: There was a bandwagon?

Buccaneers 35, Bengals 7
WH: The final left the Bengals outscored 119-23 on the year.

WTS: On preseason hopes: "If I was a gambler and was in Las Vegas, I would have put everything I had on the Bengals." - Spikes

Hindsight: Too bad. It would have given the Bengals a leg up in trying to re-sign Spikes.

Colts 28, Bengals 21
WH: Johnson missed a pass inside the Colts' 20-yard line with 31 seconds left. Idrees Bashir picked off the pass to end the game.

WTS: "We fought. We fought hard for four quarters. That's the team I know." - Dillon

Hindsight: The team Dillon knows has gone 25-67 during his 6-year career.

Steelers 34, Bengals 7
WH: The loss left the Bengals the only winless team in the NFL in front of a second-half crowd that featured many Steelers fans.

WTS: "I was really proud of our fans today. They wanted so badly to cheer for us, wanted so badly to rub it in the people's faces who wear black and gold to our stadium." - Kitna

Hindsight: Praise 'em while you got 'em.

Titans 30, Bengals 24
WH: Dillon tripped over OG Matt O'Dwyer and came just short of the game-tying touchdown on fourth down with 1:13 to play.

WTS: "They're the officials. We're Cincinnati. We don't get a call." - Dillon

Hindsight: Or respect, or home wins, or road wins ...

Bengals 38, Texans 3
WH: The Bengals made good on LeBeau's guarantee of a win over the expansion Texans.

WTS: "One-and-seven feels a lot better than 0-8." - DB Artrell Hawkins

Hindsight: How's 1-11 feel?

Ravens 38, Bengals 27
WH: Kitna threw three picks and RB Jamal Lewis ripped the Bengals for 135 yards and 2 TDs.

WTS: "Our guys just stayed right in there, and that's a sign of progress. We keep growing, and we are going to win our share." -LeBeau

Hindsight: Huh?

Browns 27, Bengals 20
WH: Dillon was stopped inches from tying the score again. T.J. Houshmandzadeh fumbled a punt late, and the Bengals ran out of time on their final drive.

WTS: "Our record doesn't show what we really are ... We got something good going and don't need to make any changes." - Johnson

Hindsight: Front-office material?

Steelers 29, Bengals 21
WH: Houshmandzadeh fumbled a punt with 6:50 to play, leading to the Steelers' go-ahead field goal.

WTS: "It is what it is. We're 1-10. We're not very good." - Spikes

Hindsight: The 6-10 2001 team was "not very good."

Ravens 27, Bengals 23
WH: The Bengals blow leads of 13-0 and 23-14 to end their first season in the AFC North 0-6.

WTS: "We can win four. And that's what our goal will be." - LeBeau

Hindsight: There's always next year. Right?

--Shannon Russell contributed.

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