The over/under for the Cincinnati Bengals is 9 wins.  The Bengals are 19-1 to win the Super Bowl, and 11-1 to win the AFC.

I think the bookies are right on the money.  I see the Bengals winning 9 games this season, because they have a tough schedule this year.  I might suggest a small play on them to win the AFC, which they might have done last year if the Steelers didn’t cheap shot Carson Palmer.

The Bengals looked so good I wish it was September 10th already.  Carson Palmer looked as if he was never hurt.  Palmer completed 9 of 14 passes (64.3%) for 140 yards, and threw 3 TD passes.  Bengals fans had to be a little nervous when Palmer took off on a scramble for 11 yards.  Anthony Wright replaced him and played solid again, connecting on 7 of 12 passes for 65 yards and a TD.  Doug Johnson completed 1 of 3 passes for 28 yards and a TD.

Rudi Johnson carried the ball 12 times for 35 yards.  de de Dorsey ran good again.  Dorsey had 8 carries for 59 yards (7.4 ypc).  Quincy Wilson carried the ball 10 times for 35 yards.

TJ Houshmandzadeh caught 5 passes for 96 yards (19.2 avg) and a TD.

The defense looked really good again.  Safety Dexter Jackson picked up a Brett Favre fumble in the first quarter and returned it 29 yards for a TD.  That was Jackson’s second TD return of the pre-season, he looks like an excellent pick-up for the Bengals.  The Bengals held the Packers to 101 yards rushing on 36 carries, for an average of 2.8 yards per rush.  The Packers only completed 45.2% of their passes for 147 net yards through the air.

With Chris Perry slow to recover from surgery to his ankle and knee, alot of running backs have been getting a long look in the pre-season.  de de Dorsey has been the most impressive of the young running backs.  Dorsey was signed as an undrafted free-agent from Lindenwood College.  Dorsey has rushed 12 times for 90 yards (7.5 ypc) and has caught 3 passes for 80 yards (26.7 avg.). 

Dorsey might not make the team, but he has made a positive impression and could make the practice squad.

Anthony Wright and Doug Johnson have been getting a lot of playing time in Carson Palmer’s absence, and have been producing.  Anthony Wright has completed 51.4% of his passes for 200 yards and 2 TD passes, for a QB rating of 87.8.  Wright might be in line to start the season if Palmer isn’t ready to go on September 10th.

Doug Johnson has been playing even better than Wright.  Johnson has completed 67.9% of his passes for 261 yards and 2 TD passes.  Johnson’s QB rating so far is 121.3.

The Bengals were a little worried after letting Jon Kitna leave after the season, but Wright and Johnson’s play in the pre-season have calmed the front office’s nerves a little bit.

Who would have thought that the Bengals would have the most points in the NFL thru two pre-season games?  No Carson Palmer or Chris Perry and the Bengals are still rolling.  The Bengals are averaging an amazing 31.5 points in their two victories.  The offense has been purring because of the QB play it has gotten from Anthony Wright and Doug Johnson.  The Bengals are averaging 208.0 yards passing per game and completing 58.7% of their passes.  The running game has been a little slow to start the pre-season, averaging 99.0 yards per game and only 3.4 yards per carry.  But it’s just the pre-season….Rudi Johnson will crank it up in September.

The Bengals defense has been solid against the run only allowing 92.0 yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry.  The pass defense has been a little leaky so far allowing 219.0 yards per game, but that happens when you build a big lead and your opponent is playing catch-up.