Monday, September 20, 2004
Bengals win Sunday night thriller
Graham boots game-winner with two seconds left
By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer
Bengals kicker Shayne Graham, making up for an earlier miss from roughly the same spot, made a 39-yard field goal with two seconds left Sunday night to lift the Bengals to a 16-13 victory against Miami.
Quarterback Carson Palmer, who had struggled much of the game, led the Bengals on a 59-yard drive in the final 1:46, to set up Graham's game-winner. Palmer was 7-for-8 passing for 53 yards on the drive, including a 20-yarder to Chad Johnson that put the Bengals at the Miami 30-yard line with 30 seconds remaining.
"It was ugly," Palmer said of his 147-yard effort. "We picked up what they were doing up front. They were doing a good job down field. The flats were open."
Palmer completed his last six passes to pick up his first NFL victory as a starting quarterback. The Bengals are now in a four-way tie atop the AFC North with a 1-1 record.
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WEEK 2 SNAPSHOT
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Looking good
Brian Simmons. The veteran linebacker made an impressive return after missing the opener following knee surgery. He scored the Bengals first points on a 50-yard interception return. He made a big difference in the run defense, too.
Crowd. The Bengals set a single-game home attendance record of 65,705 Sunday night, bettering the 65,362 for the season finale Dec. 28 against Cleveland last year.
Good defense. The Bengals put consistent pressure on quarterback A.J. Feeley, recording two sacks and two interceptions, and they held a 3-1 edge in turnover differential. They held Miami to 25 rushing yards.
Problem areas
Sacks. The Bengals offensive line gave up five sacks, though it gave Carson Palmer plenty of time on the final, winning drive. One reason was good coverage in the Dolphins secondary. The line had trouble picking up blitzes, and each lineman struggled at times.
Slow start. The Bengals offense was inconsistent and flat early against an injury-riddled Miami defense. The Bengals were just 5 for 19 on third down offensive plays.
Kicking game. Though Shayne Graham kicked the game winner, both he and punter Kyle Larson were inconsistent.
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"We knew where we had to get, and we got there," Palmer said in reference to Graham. Graham was 3 of 4 on the night.
"Way to get your butt out of a jam," coach Marvin Lewis said of his post-game words to Graham.
Graham caught his foot on the FieldTurf on his miss in the first quarter.
"I felt a lot of positive energy from my teammates and coaches," Graham said of his mindset heading onto the field with seven seconds left. "You never want to say you feel overconfident, but I felt real good kicking into the net (on the sideline)."
The Bengals won for the first time in prime time since Dec. 4, 1997, and atoned for the 30-3 loss they suffered the last time they were on Sunday night football, two years ago in Atlanta.
The Bengals drew a single-game record home crowd of 65,705.
Miami fell to 0-2.
A 50-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Brian Simmons in the third quarter gave the Bengals their first points and first lead, 7-3, with 12:01 remaining in the third quarter.
The Bengals did put together two modest scoring drives later in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 13-3.
The Bengals went 14 yards on eight plays, scoring when Graham made a 48-yard field goal with 5:16 left in the quarter.
After forcing another Miami punt, the Bengals went 29 yards on seven plays, with Graham again providing the points on a 36-yard field goal.
Miami pulled within 13-10 with 3:39 remaining in the game on a four-yard pass from A.J. Feeley to wide receiver Chris Chambers. Defensive end Duane Clemons tipped the ball at the line, but it floated over cornerback Deltha O'Neal in the back of the end zone, and Chambers made a leaping catch.
The Bengals failed to get a first down on the next possession, quarterback Palmer throwing behind open wide receiver Chad Johnson on a slant pass.
Lamont Brightful returned Kyle Larson's 40-yard punt 36 yards to the Bengals 31-yard line with 2:34 remaining in the game.
The Bengals pressured Feeley into an incomplete pass before a seven-yard pass to tight end Randy McMichael set up a third-and-eight play from the 29-yard line. Another incomplete pass set the stage for a 47-yard Olindo Mare field goal attempt. He made the first kick, but the Bengals had called time out right before the snap. He also made the second one to tie the score at 13 with 1:53 remaining.
Defenses controlled the game in the first half and throughout most of the game.
The Bengals didn't record their initial first down until after nine minutes had passed, and Miami didn't move the chains until 3:50 remained in the quarter.
The Bengals had a chance to score midway through the quarter, but Graham was wide right from 38 yards. The miss was just his fourth in 27 attempts in two-plus seasons with the Bengals. Graham was perfect in 15 attempts last season from 39 yards and in.
The Bengals special teams gave the offense good field position. After a 49-yard Larson punt, Kenny Watson forced Brightful to fumble. Matt Schobel recovered on the Miami 48-yard line.
Two Palmer completions to Johnson for 25 yards moved the Bengals to the 20-yard line. Then Graham missed.
Miami took a 3-0 lead with 12:39 remaining in the second quarter on a 43-yard field goal by Mare. Miami had a distinct advantage in field position, starting from the 35-yard line in the first quarter.
The Bengals failed to convert any of their first seven third-down plays, and Larson punted six times in the first half for a 46.7-yard average.
The Bengals converted their first third down late in the second half on an 11-yard shovel pass from Palmer to Peter Warrick from the Bengals 6-yard line.
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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com
Bengals (1-1)
Mia-FG Mare 43, 12:39.
Cin-Simmons 50 interception return (Graham kick), 12:01.
Cin-FG Graham 48, 5:11.
Cin-FG Graham 36, :13.
Mia-Chambers 4 pass from Feeley (Mare kick), 3:39.
Mia-FG Mare 47, 1:53.
Cin-FG Graham 39, :02.
A-65,705.
