Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (85) scores a touchdown against Seattle Seahawks cornerback Cary Williams (26) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
5-0 And Sitting Pretty
I never thought that I would see the day that a Cincinnati Bengals team would comeback from a 24-7 deficit in the fourth quarter. That happened against the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks no less. All the analysts and pundits look at how exposed the Bengals were in this game, but shouldn’t we give credit where it’s due first and foremost? Every other Bengals team I’ve ever seen would have caved with that kind of deficit. I’m not going to crown this one as the AFC champions, but they are certainly here to stay. They have never started a season 5-0 before. That’s saying something for what was considered the laughing stock of the league in the 1990s. Give these Bengals credit for not giving in and winning against a tough opponent.
RETRANSMISSION TO CORRECT DAY TO SUNDAY – Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford intercepts Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins during overtime and returns the ball for the game winning touchdown in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015 in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) MARIETTA DAILY OUT; GWINNETT DAILY POST OUT; LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; WXIA-TV OUT; WGCL-TV OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
Quite The Finish In Atlanta
Now to another 5-0 team, the Atlanta Falcons. They sure didn’t look good on offense agains the Washington Redskins. Matt Ryan seemed to forget that he had other receivers as he was fixated on Julio Jones for most of the game. The Redskins exposed that and didn’t let Ryan have any time in the pocket to find him. A few costly turnovers could have doomed the Falcons, but they didn’t falter and forced an overtime period. Their defense held tough for most of the game and with Robert Alford’s interception that was returned for a touchdown it meant another victory. Atlanta certainly has been tested a few times already this year, but we’ll have to see what they do against their own division opponents before we make any judgments.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) is helped off the field after an injury in the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Big Injury To A Struggling Team
We’ve already had one head coach fired this season. There might be another one if things don’t change quickly in Kansas City. I’m not blaming Andy Reid for running back Jamaal Charles’ ACL tear. He is their best player and he deserves to get the ball 20-30 times a game. What I will blame Andy Reid for is a lack of creativity. With the Eagles it always seemed like the offense had at least four different options to go to. With the Chiefs there’s only three. Without signing Jeremy Maclin, there would have only been two. The others are Charles and tight end Travis Kelce. Now who’s fault is it? The quarterback, the offensive coordinator or the head coach? Alex Smith isn’t a top tier quarterback. He’s more cautious than anything and that’s fine, but not when so many other quarterbacks are putting up gaudy numbers every single week. I’m talking about Blake Bortles and Jay Cutler. Both of whom have their flaws, but can put up 300 yard plus passing performances. The play calling has been to Alex Smith’s strengths in that it has been cautious. It’s time for the Chiefs to take some chances and not be afraid nine out of ten times. Without Charles, now their back to two options on offense again. What happens in the next week will determine their place in next years draft.
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