The Bengals are defending division champions, but even their fans sense that something's keeping them from the Super Bowl.
Carson Palmer was sent tumbling out of bounds by this Week 1 hit from New England's Devin McCourty. Although the Bengals are 2-1, there's a sense in Cincinnati that their team isn't yet on a path to glory.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's a sign of the times in Cincinnati that Bengals fans are complaining about an "ugly" win.
The Reds have clinched first place in their division and are preparing for the postseason. The Bengals are defending champions of the AFC North and are now being scrutinized for style. Cleveland's sports teams should have such problems.
"Not too many teams have to make excuses for winning like that, but I guess we do," coach Marvin Lewis said after his team struggled to a 20-7 win over Carolina despite forcing four turnovers. "So we'll just move forward and I'll say little, our players will say less, and that's the way it will be."
Having already knocked off Baltimore, the Bengals (2-1) bring an eight-game winning streak in division games to Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday. Their 6-0 sweep of Cleveland, Baltimore and Pittsburgh last season earned them the division title, but not the respect nationally to be considered prominent Super Bowl contenders.
Part of that skepticism may be due to the expectation that Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens will combust and the Bengals will fail to produce back-to-back titles for the first time since the strike-shortened 1982 season.
But there is also growing concern about whether quarterback Carson Palmer can deliver a Super Bowl like Bengals field leaders Boomer Esiason and Ken Anderson before him.
Palmer has struggled to form a chemistry with Owens. Rookie passing targets Jordan Shipley and tight end Jermaine Gresham have been more productive. The upgraded offensive weaponry was supposed to be the final links in returning the Bengals' offense to top-10 caliber.
But Palmer's early numbers continue a downward trend that began five years ago, coinciding with a major knee injury suffered in a 2005 season playoff game against Pittsburgh.
Since compiling a passer rating of 101.0 in that season, Palmer's rating has fallen to 93.9, 86.7, 69.0 (in an injury-plagued season of four games) and 83.6. He's at 71.3 through three games this season.
One thing is for sure: Palmer's offensive line has never been as strong as it was in 2005. The Bengals' two Super Bowl teams had quality lines anchored by future Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz. This one is still suffering from the club's apparent whiff in the 2009 draft.
The Bengals made Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith the sixth pick of that draft. Nobody doubted Smith's talent, but there were questions about maturity and his ability to stay in shape.
Smith got off to a horrible start his rookie year with a holdout and foot fracture on his second day of practice. He continues to battle a weight problem. He wasn't even active for last week's game.
Had the Bengals chosen a different highly rated tackle that year -- Eugene Monroe and Michael Oher were available -- they might have an offensive line that could lift Palmer and their offense to the elite level and carry the team to the Super Bowl.
TONY GROSSI'S SCOUTING REPORT
Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, 1 p.m., in Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Record: 2-1.
Last game: Beat Carolina, 20-7, Sept. 26, in Charlotte, N.C.
Coach: Marvin Lewis, 58-58-1, eighth year.
Series record: Bengals lead, 38-35.
Last meeting: Bengals won, 16-7, Nov. 29, in Cincinnati.
League rankings: Offense is 14th (19th rushing, 14th passing), defense is 10th (13th rushing, 11th passing) and turnover differential is plus-4.
Rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham has quickly become one of Carson Palmer's favorite targets in the pass-oriented Bengals offense.Offensive overview: Yes, they've given Carson Palmer the weapons, but his protection has weakened from a year ago. The addition of receivers Terrell Owens and rookie Jordan Shipley, plus rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham, have resulted in more throwing. As a result, the line has been exposed as a less-than-stellar unit. Coordinator Bob Bratkowski has used second tight end Reggie Kelly to help protection. The two-tight end set often results in Gresham running routes and sometimes lining up wide. Running back Cedric Benson and backup Bernard Scott are a solid tandem. When the going gets tough, the Bengals can gash a defense with their running game, but it's no longer their bread and butter.
Defensive overview: This unit has undergone quite a transformation. It's tough, physical, versatile and opportunistic. Led by the all first-round cornerback trio of Leon Hall, Johnathan Joseph and Adam (formerly Pacman) Jones, the defense has produced eight turnovers in the last two games. Evidence of their impact is the Bengals have allowed QBs to complete only 54.2 percent of their passes -- second-lowest in the NFL -- despite getting only two sacks. Coordinator Mike Zimmer likes to keep his four-man front fresh with an eight-man rotation. With Antwan Odom out last week, Zimmer moved edge rusher Michael Johnson into the end position, but they can easily meld into a 3-4 look with Johnson at outside linebacker. Zimmer will blitz and not fret about leaving Hall and Joseph in single coverage.
Special teams overview: Ex-Jet and ex-Buckeye kicker Mike Nugent has been a godsend. Counting preseason, he's had field goals of over 50 yards in four of his last five games. Nugent is 8-of-8 with a long of 54, and he's tied for fifth with five touchbacks. Punter Kevin Huber is 18th in gross average (43.6 yards) and 14th in net (38.8). Quan Cosby, Bernard Scott and Adam Jones all can go the distance as returners. The coverage units are suspect. They were hit with a 97-yard kickoff return TD by Brandon Tate of New England.
Former Ohio State kicker Mike Nugent has found an NFL home booting long-distance field goals for the Bengals.PLAYERS TO WATCH:
• Quarterback Carson Palmer: He's been good at massaging the egos of his receivers with good ball distribution, but he's ranked 22nd with a rating of 71.3. That rating is 16 points below his career mark. He's 8-2 vs. the Browns.
• Receiver Chad Ochocinco: So far, he and Terrell Owens are co-existing like, well, Batman and Robin. His 20 catches for 237 yards lead the team, but there has been only one opportunity for a TD celebration. In 17 games against the Browns, he has 11 TDs -- most against any team.
• Cornerback Leon Hall: He leads an opportunistic secondary with two interceptions and four passes defensed.
Injury report: DE Antwan Odom (wrist), CB Adam Jones (shoulder), and DE Jonathan Fanene (hamstring) missed the last game.
Small world: Receivers coach Mike Sheppard entered was Browns tight ends coach in 1993 and receivers coach in 1994-95. ... Safety Chris Crocker was a Browns third-round draft pick in 2003 and played for them through '05. ... Running back Cedric Peerman was with the Browns in 2009. ... Kicker Mike Nugent attended Centerville High School and Ohio State.