The Bengals kickers are solid and so is the kick-off returner, but they are having big problems on punt returns so far.  The Bengals are only allowing 7.5 yards per punt return and 19.4 yards per kick-off return and those are outstanding numbers.

Shayne Graham is pickiing up where he left off least season as he has connected on 7 of 8 FGs and all 11 XPTs.  Punter Kyle Larson has been fantastic so far this season.  Larson is averaging 47.0 yards per punt, 38.9 net yards per punt and has pinned the opponent inside the 20 yard line 35% of the time.

Punt returns have been awful so far this season.  Keiwan Ratliff has averaged 4.3 yards per punt return.  Antonio Chatman has returned one punt for 7 yards this season and may get a longer look.  Tab Perry started the year returning kicks, averaging 17.3 per return, but then he got injured.  Back-up running back Kenny Watson took the job and ran with it.  Watson is averaging 22.0 yards per kick return and may get a chance to keep the job.

The Bengals special teams are pretty good.

The Bengals definately can use the week off after the beating the Patriots laid on them last Sunday.  The Bengals could be getting three key players back after the bye week.  Starting outside LB Richard Jeanty and starting strong safety Dexter Jackson should return and help the run defense, which has been getting shredded for 144.0 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry.  Back-up running back Chris Perry should also be back.  Having Perry back should lessen the workload of Rudi Johnson and provide a good option out of the backfield in the passing game for Carson Palmer.  The O-Line had better start pass blocking better on passing plays, because they have allowed Carson Palmer to be sacked 15 times already, which has led to alot of fumbles by Palmer.

Carson Palmer has been a little shaky so far.  He’s been sacked 15 times and has fumbled 5 times already this season.  Last year he fumbled 5 times all season.  The Bengals need Palmer to protect the football a little better or they could be in trouble, because the defense is showing some leaks.  Palmer has completed 75 of 120 passes (62.5%) for 917 yards with 6 TDs and 4 INT.  Palmer has a QB rating of 88.8, which is pretty good….but the Bengals expect more out of Palmer.

The Bengals got absolutely dominated by the New England Patriots yesterday.  Carson Palmer completed 20 of 35 passes for 245 yards.  RB Rudi Johnson carried the ball 14 times for 65 yards (4.6 ypc) and a TD, he also caught 3 passes for 26 yards.  WR TJ Houshmandzadeh caught 4 passes for 95 yards.  Chad Johnson caught 6 passes for 94 yards.

The defense got pushed around all game by the Patriots offensive line.  LB Caleb Miller had 13 tackles and DE Justin Smith had 10 tackles.  The Patriots ran the ball 41 times for 236 yards (5.8 ypc)!  The Patriots also completed 15 of 26 passes for 188 net yards passing.

The Bengals better fix up their defense if they hope to have a long run in the playoffs.

When Odell Thurman (stupidity) and Dexter Jackson (injury) both went down, you had to think the Bengals would be in trouble.  MLB Landon Johnson has been playing great.  Johnson has 18 tackles and an interception this season.  Kevin Kaesviharn has stepped in for Jackson and has 15 tackles and a interception.  The Bengals defense has not missed a beat playing the back-ups.

The Bengals are putting alot of pressure on opposing QBs with their fine defensive ends.  Justin Smith has 12 tackles and has racked up 4 sacks.  Robert Geathers has 9 tackles and 4 sacks, including a hit that ruined the Kansas City Chiefs whole season.