Bengals win -- Sunday night e-mail from the stadium

It's 10:45 p.m. Sunday. There's never as much e-mail after a victory as there is after a
loss. But the handful of electronic notes coming in tonight concern the offense, particularly the
play calling and game plan of offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski.

Question, from Don in Anderson Township: What was up with Chad Johnson during the Dallas game? What got him so worked up? Will he be disciplined?

Answer: The lack of passes coming his way frustrated Johnson, culminating with a short
completion to Kevin Walter that failed to convert a third down.

Coach Marvin Lewis talked, seemingly at length, with Johnson on the sideline. Johnson then went out and had the 18-yard reception, which he punctuated with the spike.

One possible explanation for his agitated state could have been the presence of cousin
Keyshawn Johnson in the Dallas lineup. Chad might have wanted to outdo his older cousin so badly that he lost track of the team element. Chad did win it, though, with eight catches for 74 yards -- compared for four for 58 for Keyshawn. Just a theory. Chad was cool about his behavior in the locker room afterward.

I'd have to guess that it's a dead issue with Lewis.

Question, from Daryl in College Hill: Just finished watching the Bengals win over the
Cowboys and am now looking at the Rams.

Chad Johnson's immaturity notwithstanding, why is the Bengal's offensive philosophy so plain and vanilla? I counted only two passes down the field -- one the TD to (Matt) Schobel and the other to CJ. I think that Palmer is for real, but the gameplans aren't giving him a chance to play, and by extension, the Bengals a chance to win.

Answer: I kind of understand where you're coming from, but not really. It was a win. They
scored 26 points. The middle of the field was open most of the game, and Palmer did a good job
throwing the ball down the middle.

Another way to look at it is this: Palmer is the real deal, I agree. But coming off the
Tennessee game, in which he had the two costly turnovers, the gameplan today seemed to want to take pressure off Palmer. It did. He avoided an interception for the first time. He did miss a
couple of open receivers, but he played well.

Question, from Chad in Delhi Township: Was at the game today vs. the Cowboys. I just
can't stand it anymore. Bob Bratkowski's play calling is HORRIBLE. A screen pass for 1 yard
(incomplete pass) on 3rd and 14. These little 2 yard out routes 5 yards short of the markers. Is
it possible he was ousted from the booth in the 2nd half?

A 76 yard TD pass to the tight end over the middle (couldn't have been). The naked bootleg by Carson to score a TD to ice the game (that couldn't have been Bob). RELEASE ME TO THE PRESS: BOB MUST GO!

Answer: The same coach who called the plays in the first half called them in the second
half. It was a good plan. They won. They scored 26 points. Yes, the defense was big with the five takeaways. The offensive plan should be taken in its entirety. What happened or didn't happen in the first half is connected to what goes in the second half.

Offensive coordinator might be the most -- to use your word -- naked job on an NFL
coaching staff.

The Bengals have adjusted this season, playing without Peter Warrick, who excels on third down. Maybe some of those short routes wouldn't come up short if Bratkowski had receivers who could convert them.

Bob should stay, I think. He and quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese are developing a future start in Palmer. Rudi Johnson is on track for 1,300 rushing yards. The line played much better,
and Paul Alexander did a good job of helping Eric Steinbach correct the problems from the
Tennessee game.