Thursday morning e-mail from readers

The Miami game is still fresh in some readers' minds as they look forward to the
Baltimore game on Sunday.

Question, from John in Mt. Carmel: My knowledge of football wouldn't fill a thimble, so
this question: Why was Carson Palmer able to move the Bengals downfield on the last drive of the game, when he had failed to do that for the other 58 minutes? What was different?

Answer: The defense had dropped back into a prevent, hoping to stop the longer pass. The
offensive line also did an outstanding job of picking up blitzing linebackers on the last drive.
The irony is Palmer had his longest completion of the night, 20 yards to Chad Johnson, to set up
the winning field goal.

Question, from Ted in Newburgh, Ind.: We missed one with Kelly Gregg, who has become a
decent player. I believe he was a fifth-rounder in Cincinnati a few years ago?

Answer: Gregg was the Bengals' sixth-round pick from Oklahoma in 1999, the infamous Akili
Smith at No. 3 overall draft. Gregg has a knee injury and is questionable for the game Sunday.

The Ravens won't rush him back because they like Gregg's backup, Maake Kemoeatu. The Ravens defensive line doesn't get much attention, compared to its linebackers and secondary, but Gregg and ends Marques Douglas and Anthony Weaver do a good job of pushing the offensive line and keeping the linebackers clean to make plays.

Question, from Tom in Saylor Park: It wasn't very pretty but it was a "W" any way you
look at it.

Answer: You're right. At the end of the season, no one will pick apart the Miami game and
point out the flaws. Coach Marvin Lewis sets a constructive example for his team that fans can loosely follow: Be thankful the team won, correct what needs to be fixed and move on.

By the way, today is Marvin Lewis' 46th birthday, an anniversary he shares with the great Bruce Springsteen, who is 55.