Monday, December 30, 2002
Bengals Report Card
By Mark Curnutte
The Cicninnati Enquirer
PASSING OFFENSE, D-plus: Jon Kitna threw two interceptions, giving him five interceptions and just one touchdown pass in the Bengals' last three games. Kitna also lost one fumble and was sacked twice. He threw a pretty 50-yard completion to Chad Johnson and was effective running the no-huddle offense. The pass game contributed, though, to another poor red-zone performance - one touchdown in three possessions inside the 20-yard line. The bottom line: nine points.
RUSH OFFENSE, C: The Bengals' offense was out of rhythm because the team fell behind big. The Bills had a 20-0 lead - the sixth time the Bengals fell behind at least 20-0 this season - and Buffalo had the ball for 38 minutes, 38 seconds. The Bengals were forced to pass, but they did have a 4.7-yard rushing average.
PASS DEFENSE, F: The Bengals had no consistent pressure on Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who was 23-for-31 passing for 231 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. Bengals cornerback Jeff Burris made a bad decision to yield the inside route to wide receiver Eric Moulds on a 2-yard touchdown pass. Bledsoe was the ninth quarterback to have an outstanding passer rating of 100 or more against the Bengals' pass defense this season.
RUSH DEFENSE, B: The Bengals held the Bills to a 2.6-yard rushing average. But the middle was wide open for Bledsoe on a 7-yard touchdown run on a quarterback draw in the second quarter.
SPECIAL TEAMS, D: Nick Harris had just a 30.5-yard average on four punts. The Bengals failed on a two-point conversion. Neil Rackers and the kickoff-coverage team didn't successfully execute an onside kick. The special teams were the reason the Bills had an average drive start of the 40-yard line, compared to the 29 for the Bengals.
COACHING, F: The players laid a big egg in what was likely Dick LeBeau's last game as head coach. The team was uninspired. The only time the players showed spark was after Bills linebacker London Fletcher took three cheap shots.
- Mark Curnutte
SEE CINERGY IMPLOSION
Animation from Enquirer photos
Video from WCPO 
Galleries: Implosion | Crowd | Aerial shots |
Views from Kentucky
CINERGY IMPLOSION STORIES
Cinergy Field down in 37 seconds
Cleanup begins today, will take months
What's next for the Riverfront?
New skyline already earning praise
No hitches, no errors
Partiers impressed by implosion
Fifty-five years that shaped Cincinnati's riverfront
BENGALS
Bengals reach new low in 27-9 loss to Bills
Bengals players, fans wait for Brown to act
Game statistics
Bengals Report Card
Bengals By The Numbers
Frustrated Spikes contemplating future
Bengals Notebook: Kitna misses $1.6M bonus
NFL
Browns make playoffs but lose Couch
Fans can say Browns are back
Jets in; Pats, Dolphins out
Sunday Night Game: Bucs 15, Bears 0
XAVIER MUSKETEERS
After West's outburst, XU circles wagons
Xavier 84, Eastern Ky. 60
Creighton warms up for Xavier with 10th straight win
UC BEARCATS
UC 66, Miami 54
Fouls hurt RedHawks
UC-Miami Notebook: Hicks comes back
DAUGHERTY: What if UC had beaten Ohio State?
WOMEN'S CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT
UC women beat Xavier with defense
Ex-Bearcats, Pirtle say hello
OTHER COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS
Miami looks for breather tonight
NKU finally loses a game
Kentucky's confidence shaken
Duke 85, Dayton 74
FIESTA BOWL
Miami: Buckeyes can't match our speed
All-American Wilhelm letting play do talking
Tough ticket may end OSU fans' streak of 335 straight games
OSU antsy after long vacation
OTHER COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
UK will introduce football coach today
Today's Bowl Games
PREP SPORTS
West's Maupin commits to Ohio State
High School Week Preview
LeBron James legend grows
Sunday's High School Results
High School Schedules
Prep sports home page
WHAT'S ON TV
Today on TV
Return to Bengals front page...
