The Bengals beat NFC West-leading Seattle 27-24 because - get this - they knew they were going to win. "I don't think there was any doubt in anybody's mind that we were going to walk off the field a winner," decided Brian Simmons. It is as if the 2003 Bengals recently arrived from another planet.

"It's funny," said Willie Anderson, "because I heard Takeo (Spikes) say this about Buffalo when he was dogging us earlier this year: The difference is, we knew we were going to win."

They were up 27-24 and hanging on and they intercepted two Seattle passes in the last seven minutes. The Bengals blocked a field goal, forced five turnovers, made none themselves and came up with a huge touchdown that was straight out of the Doing Whatever It Takes playbook.

You have to rub your eyes when you see Kitna scrambling, running into Brandon Bennett, bobbling the ball, then shot-putting a pass to Johnson, who takes it 53 yards for the game-winning score.

To repeat a theme: This stuff happens to the Bengals, not for them.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Sunday's game

But there was Kitna - "he never sweats," Washington said - throwing a dead duck pass to Johnson. Kitna didn't even have hold of the laces. Johnson took it all the way, then celebrated himself with a gesture he swore wasn't a throat-slash. "That's not what I meant to do," Grandmaster Quote explained.

Chad said something about wanting to throw his helmet into the stands but deciding he'd better not. The sign he gave to the fans was a wave-off, he said, not a throat-slash. Whatever.

The resulting 15-yard penalty helped Seattle to a first down at midfield. "We're taking a step forward and two back when we do something like that," Marvin Lewis said. Yeah. Just like a kid learning to walk.

Here's what's different, though. Here is why these Bengals aren't those Bengals and why, after eight weeks, you're still interested in them: Lewis doesn't let them get away with falling down. It's a new concept here: Accountability.

Said Willie Anderson, "We're taking so much pride in getting whipped the hell out of Wednesday and Thursday. The games are easy because (Lewis) is making those days so mentally and physically tough.

"Guys want to get to Sunday. In the old days, guys were, Well, whatever, man."

"The length of time we're out there, the concentration that has to go into it,"' said Artrell Hawkins. "Marvin's out there going crazy about the littlest details. When I get home, I don't want to have anything to do with anything, except have peace in my own mind.

"If you get the game plan Wednesday morning, you're supposed to get it right Wednesday afternoon. That puts a premium on practicing well, because when that Friday practice comes around, we better have it down. If you get beat Wednesday, you better not get beat Friday."

The Bengals play at bad Arizona next week, then have bad Houston here the week after. How does 5-4 heading into the Kansas City game sound? Not delusional. Not anymore. Not for the Bengals, who - ahem - expect to win.

"Any man who has lost wants to be led," Hawkins explained. "(Lewis) is doing a good job leading. We have taken on his personality. It shows in the fourth quarter."

The kid is learning to walk. Sunday was a big step.

---

E-mail pdaugherty@enquirer.com

Return to Bengals front page...