By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

Rookie Caleb Miller will get another start at middle linebacker Monday night, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Saturday.

Fellow third-rounder Landon Johnson started against the Browns but suffered a concussion. He is probable.

Lewis said there probably would be no other lineup changes and also said there would be no moral victories for the Bengals.

The Broncos are 5-1 and have the league's top-ranked defense and No. 1 rush offense.

"Win the football game," Lewis said. "The idea is to win."

The Bengals will come in 1-4 with the NFL's last-ranked run defense and an offense that is struggling to find a rhythm. They are ranked 25th in total offense at 288.2 yards a game.

"We've been off more than a little bit," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "It's disappointing. Everybody in that (offensive meeting) room knows we're not doing things well enough. We're not helping the defense. We're not scoring enough points."

The Bengals are ranked 24th in points scored at 16.6 a game. Two of the Bengals' touchdowns were scored by the defense.

MONDAY NIGHT REUNION: Al Michaels and John Madden, the voices of ABC's "Monday Night Football," attended production meetings Saturday evening at Paul Brown Stadium.

Michaels has Cincinnati ties. He lived in Kenwood when he worked broadcasting Reds games from 1971-73.

Michael left to broadcast San Francisco Giants games in 1974 and pursue other opportunities. He has gone on to become one of the most country's most renowned sports broadcasters.

"I wanted to branch out and do some network things. NBC wanted me to do regional football," Michaels said. "The Reds wanted me to be their employee 365 days a year. San Francisco was a whole lot looser about it and paid me considerably more money back then. It was tough to leave. It's funny what happened to (replacement) Marty (Brennaman). I could have stayed here a long time."

GROWING PAINS: Madden, a former Oakland Raiders coach, hung around to watch the Bengals practice Saturday night. He's not surprised that the Bengals are struggling in Year 2 under Lewis.

"It looked like they got something built that was going to be a foundation to grow on, close to the playoffs, 8-8," Madden said. "You figured the next year they'd take that next step up. But that next step is tougher than the first step. They're finding that out here in Cincinnati, and they're finding that out in Dallas.

"(Cowboys coach) Bill Parcells wins 10 games his first year. I don't believe they will win 10 games this year. I don't believe Cincinnati will win eight games this year."

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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