The Browns always play the Bengals tough.  The Browns will try to establish the run against the Bengals suspect run defense with Reuben Droughns.  The Browns will also use the short passing game with Kellen Winslow and try to keep the ball away from the Bengals offense.

Offensively the Bengals will probably have the same gameplan they used against the Chiefs.  The Browns defense had a rough time with the Saints running game, so expect a heavy dose of Rudi Johnson this week.  As soon as the Bengals establish the run, look for a few deep shots to Chad Johnson, TJ Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry. 

The Browns always cover the point spread against the Bengals, so expect the Bengals to win a close game.

The Bengals have decided to run the ball and give Carson Palmer some more time to heal.  The gameplan worked to perfection yesterday.  Carson Palmer completed 13 of 19 passes (68.4%) for 127 yards.  RB Rudi Johnson did the heavy lifting for the Bengals carrying the ball 28 times for 96 yards (3.4 ypc) and a TD.  Chad Johnson caught 5 passes for 48 yards (9.6 avg) and ran the ball twice for 14 yards.

The defense was just drilling the Chiefs all game long.  DE Justin Smith had 3 sacks and DE Robert Geathers had 2 sacks and knocked Trent Green out of the game with a brutal hit to the head as Green was sliding.  The Chiefs still ran the ball well against the Bengals getting 113 yards on 25 carries (4.5 ypc).  The Chiefs also completed 65.7% of their passes for 176 net yards in the air.

Overall, a very nice win on the road to start the season.

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The Bengals will probably run the ball a little more often than usual the first couple of games.  The Bengals offensive line should face little resistance pounding the inerior of the Chiefs defense with Rudi Johnson.  After the Bengals soften up the defense, Carson Palmer will attack the Chiefs deep with Chad Johnson.  The Bengals should put up a lot of points on the Chiefs defense unless KC hogs the ball.

Herman Edwards is very conservative by nature.  He will probably run Larry Johnson as often as he can to keep his defense off the field.  The Bengals are missing their best defender, linebacker Odell Thurman, who is suspended for the first four games of the season.  I don’t think Edwards plan will work effectively, especially if the Bengals get a lead early.  The Bengals secondary loves to take chances, and they pick off alot of passes, but Trent Green is pretty good with protecting the football.

These two teams match up well, but if the game is close Chiefs fans will wish they had a different coach.  Herman Edwards tends to get out-coached badly in the last two minutes of a game.

Coach Lewis has a career record of 27-21 (56.3%) and is 0-1 in the post-season.  Lewis also has won 1 division title.

Running back Chris Perry has been slow to recover from multiple surgeries.  Kenny Watson and Quincy Wilson will fill in until he returns sometime, hopefully in October.

Running back de de Dorsey was cut from the Bengals on Saturday despite a fine pre-season.  Dorsey carried the ball 20 times for 149 yards (7.5 ypc) and caught 3 passes for 80 yards.  Dorsey was quickly snapped up by the Indianapolis Colts.

Carson Palmer has a 17-12 record as a starter (58.6%) and is 0-1 in the playoffs (I know that shouldn’t count).  Palmer has a career QB rating of 90.2.

Anthony Wright has a career record as a starter of 8-11 (42.1% wins) and is 0-1 as a starter in the playoffs.  Wright’s career QB rating is 66.6.

The Bengals dominated this game from start to finish.  Carson Palmer completed 4 of 6 passes for 73 yards and a TD.  Anthony Wright completed 6 of 8 passes for 43 yards.  Doug Johnson completed 5 of 10 passes for 26 yards.

RB Quincy Wilson was the star of the game.  Wilson carried the ball 19 times for 128 yards (6.7 ypc) and a TD.

The Colts only ran the ball 12 times for 16 yards.  The Colts completed 20 of 31 passes for 205 net yards passing.