Bengals should surge if offense improves
Cincinnati Bengals11/10/2006 8:04 AM The Dayton Daily News reports the Bengals are clearly at a crossroads heading into the second half of the NFL season. As one of nine AFC teams at .500 or better. Cincinnati is tied with the New York Jets (4-4), but looking up at Indianapolis (8-0), Baltimore (6-2), New England (6-2), Denver (6-2), San Diego (6-2), Kansas City (5-3) and Jacksonville (5-3). Six AFC teams make the playoffs. Here are five issues and answers with eight games to go: 1. What's wrong with the vertical passing game? All the on-field time QB Carson Palmer missed while rehabbing his left knee injury â coupled with the reshuffled offensive line â has disrupted the timing and rhythm between Palmer and his receivers. Palmer isn't getting consistent protection, which means the receivers don't have enough time to get downfield for deep passes. Opponents are exploiting Palmer's deceased mobility by blitzing him. The wideouts must do a better job of recognizing "hot reads" â when the blitz is coming â and break off their deep routes, making them shorter. Read more