The Bengals played well defensively today and it covered for the offense, which was so-so.  Andy Dalton completed 15 of 26 passes for 179 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 INT.  Cedric Benson led the way on the ground for the Bengals today with 76 yards rushing on 22 carries (3.5 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Bernard Scott pitched in with 7 carries for 20 yards (2.9 ypc) with 1 TD run in this game.  WR A.J. Green turned in another solid game for the Bengals with 6 catches for 115 yards (19.2 avg) to lead the way in the passing game.  The Bengals finished up with 110 yards rushing on 34 carries (3.2 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 26 passes (57.7%) for 173 yards as they had possession of the ball for 30:03.

The defense was solid once again for the Bengals in this game.  LB Thomas Howard led the way for the Bengals on D today with 10 tackles.  CB Nate Clements (7 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 QB hit) and DT Geno Atkins (4 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 2 QB hits) also had solid games for the Bengals today.  The Rams finished up with 95 yards rushing on 24 carries (4.0 ypc) and they also completed 25 of 36 passes (69.4%) for 210 yards in this game.  The Bengals are now 8-6 on the season and right in the thick of the wildcard hunt.

The Bengals have lost four of their last five games, so they need to right the ship if they are going to have any hope of securing a Wild Card spot in the playoffs.  The Rams have lost four games in a row by a combined score of 103-40!  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals are likely going to be balanced on offense tomorrow.  They are going to give Cedric Benson a heavy workload tomorrow against a Rams’ D that is giving up 156.8 yards rushing and 5.0 yards per carry.  The Rams aren’t that good on pass defense either so Andy Dalton should have a decent game throwing the ball.  A.J. Green, Jerome Simpson and Jermaine Gresham are in line to have solid games for the Bengals tomorrow.

When the Rams have the ball:  The Rams are likely going to start Kellen Clemens at QB tomorrow, so look for them to rely on RB Steven Jackson.  Jackson is a good runner and receiver out of the backfield, but the Bengals are going to be keying on him and they have a good run defense.  The Bengals will try to force Kellen Clemens to beat them with his right arm.  The Bengals will get after Clemens, trying to force him into making some mistakes.  The Bengals will likely double cover Brandon Lloyd and dare the Rams to beat them by throwing to someone else.

PREDICTION:  BENGALS 23, RAMS 10

“Draft experts” were lamenting the fact that Andy Dalton had red hair, which would exclude him from being a good NFL QB….at least that was what was said on draft night on ESPN.  Boy, where they wrong.  Dalton has played in 13 games for the Bengals so far this year and he has completed 245 of 415 passes (59%) for 2,833 yards with 18 TD passes and 12 INTs (82.1 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 26 times for 89 yards (3.4 ypc) with 1 TD run so far this year.  Dalton does not pass as much as Cam Newton does, but Dalton has 3 more TDs and 4 less interceptions than Newton does so far this year.  I’m thinking that Dalton could wind up being the best QB in the 2011 draft class when all of the players’ careers are over.

The Bengals will be without 35-year old starting right guard Bobbie Williams for the rest of the year due to a broken ankle.  Williams played in 9 games (all starts) for the Bengals last year.  He has now played in 118 games (all starts) in his first 8 years for the Bengals.  This is going to hurt the Bengals as Williams has plenty left in his gas tank.

The Bengals were up 16-3 at the half, as things were looking good, but in the second half they folded up the tent.  Andy Dalton was so-so in this game as he completed 16 of 28 passes for 189 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  Cedric Benson led the way on the ground for the Bengals in this game with 21 carries for 91 yards (4.3 ypc).  WR A.J. Green (5 rec, 59 yards), TE Jermaine Gresham (3 rec, 45 yards) and WR Jerome Simpson (2 rec, 38 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Bengals yesterday.  The Bengals finished up with 101 yards rushing on 29 carries (3.5 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 28 passes (57.1%) for 184 yards as they had possession of the ball for 28:16.

The defense was solid in the first half and awful in the second half for the Bengals.  LB Thomas Howard (12 tackles) and safety Reggie Nelson (9 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception) led the way for the Bengals on D yesterday.  DT Domata Peko (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss), LB Rey Maualuga (6 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 fumble recovery) and DE Jonathan Fanene (fumble recovery) also pitched in for the Bengals on D in this game.  The Texans finished up with 144 yards rushing on 28 carries (5.1 ypc) and they also completed 26 of 44 passes (59.1%) for 268 yards.  The Bengals continue to slide as they are now 7-6 on the season.

The Bengals are starting to fade fast as they have lost three of their last four games.  They are now 1-5 against teams over .500 this year.  The Texans have won six games in a row as they are rolling along right now.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals are likely going to try to be run heavy this weekend in an attempt to protect rookie QB Andy Dalton a little bit, as he has struggled lately.  Cedric Benson is likely in for a heavy workload against a Texans’ D that is allowing only 90.7 yards rushing per game, but 4.2 yards per carry.  The Texans have 35 sacks and 17 interceptions so far this year as their defense has been awesome against the pass.  The Texans will likely give safety help over the top on A.J. Green, so he could have a long day.  The good news is the TE Jermaine Gresham, WR Jerome Simpson and WR Andre Caldwell will likely have one on one matchups all over the field.

When the Texans have the ball:  The Bengals have a sturdy run defense as they are only allowing 96.3 yards rushing per game and 3.6 yards per carry so far this year.  They are going to go all out to stop RBs Arian Foster and Ben Tate in an attempt to put pressure on rookie QB T.J. Yates and his right arm.  WR Jacoby Jones will be taking over at WR for Andre Johnson (hamstring) and he’s a deep threat, but he’s not too consistent.  TEs Joel Dreessen, Owen Daniels, RB Arian Foster and WR Kevin Walter are the other guys Yates will be throwing to and none of them scare the Bengals’ D.

PREDICTION:  TEXANS 17, BENGALS 10

The Bengals don’t call on 27-year old RB Brian Leonard too much, but when they do, he always seems to make a big play.  Leonard has played in all 12 games for the Bengals so far this year and he has carried the ball 17 times for 85 yards (5.0 ypc).  He also has caught 20 passes for 191 yards (9.6 avg) so far this year for the Bengals.  Leonard has now played in 37 games in his first three years with the Bengals and he has carried the ball 53 times for 230 yards (4.3 ypc).  He has also caught 70 passes for 545 yards (7.8 avg) with 1 TD grab with the Bengals.  Brian Leonard is the Bengals’ secret weapon and he is the perfect #3 RB.

The Bengals have signed 25-year old DT Nick Hayden.  Hayden played in 14 games for the Panthers last year and he had 31 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and 1 pass defensed.  He has now played in 26 games in his first three years in the NFL and he has 51 tackles, 2 sacks,  3 tackles for a loss and 1 pass defensed.  Hayden will essentially replace Pat Sims, who was placed on I.R. to open up a roster space for him.

The Bengals have placed 26-year old DT Pat Sims on the Injured Reserve List, ending his season due to a severe ankle injury.  Sims played in 11 games for the Bengals this year and he had 20 tackles, 1 sack and 1 tackle for a loss.  He has now played in 52 games in his first four years with the Bengals and he has 121 tackles, 5 sacks, 6 tackles for a loss, 1 fumble recovery and 1 pass defensed.  The Bengals will likely miss Sims some as he has been a solid backup tackle.

23-year old DT Geno Atkins has really played solid football so far this year for the Bengals.  Atkins has played in 12 games for the Bengals so far this year and he has 34 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 3 tackles for a loss, 1 fumble recovery and 3 passes defensed.  It seems like he’s always in the opposing backfield.  Atkins has now played in 28 games in his first two years with the Bengals and he has 50 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 4 tackles for a loss, 1 fumble recovery and 4 passes defensed.  The Bengals hope that Atkins continues to be a force in the middle of the field for them the rest of this year and in the future.