Lewis: No coaching changes -- yet

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis this afternoon said he had no changes on his coaching staff to announce but explained that some moves could come.

He was non-specific.

"We'll look at that," Lewis said when asked about his coaching staff. "I'm very pleased with what our coaches did this year ... through trying times."

Lewis also said "we have coaches who have opportunity."

One Bengals assistant who has drawn attention in the past two offseasons is quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese, who was interviewed for the offensive coordinator job at Carolina and offered the job as coordinator with the Jets.

The Bengals have a dozen free agents who can hit the market in March, including linebackers Landon Johnson and Dhani Jones, end Justin Smith and safety Madieu Williams -- all starters on defense.

Conversations have been held with Williams, Johnson and offensive tackle Stacy Andrews. Andrews might be the most important player to try to re-sign because of the iffy health status of starting offensive tackles Levi Jones and Willie Anderson.

"It is in our best interest to get some people done before free agency," Lewis said. (The Bengals are ) trying to get some of those finished, yes."

Coaching comparison

Ravens coach Brian Billick was fired this afternoon after a 5-11 season.

In nine years, Billick had an 80-64 regular-season record, went to the playoffs four times and won a Super Bowl.

Meanwhile, in five seasons with the Bengals, Marvin Lewis is 42-38 in the regular season with only one playoff appearance, a wildcard loss.

This example is how standards might not be as high for a coach with the Bengals as they are elsewhere throughout the NFL.

Bengals to draft ninth

By virtue of their weak schedule, the Bengals will draft ninth in April, the NFL announced this afternoon.

The Bengals were one of seven teams to finish 7-9, but they were the worst of the 7-9 teams based on their strength of schedule. Bengals opponents had a winning percentage of .461 with a composite 118-138 record.

No. 9 is the highest the Bengals have drafted in five seasons that Marvin Lewis has overseen as head coach.

They were first overall in the 2003 draft (Carson Palmer) as the result of compiling the NFL's worst record, 2-14, in Dick LeBeau's last season as coach.

Under Lewis, the Bengals have earned the Nos. 17 (traded down twice to No. 26, 2004), 17, 24 and 18 picks in the past four years.

Besides Palmer, the Bengals have drafted running back Chris Perry, linebacker David Pollack and cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall under Lewis’ direction.

Palmer: Should be changes on coaching staff

Quarterback Carson Palmer met with reporters this morning in the Bengals locker room and, in typical fashion, answered questions honestly.

He talked of the need for the Bengals to put the disappointing season behind them and come back a rejuvinated team with a tighter focus and more disciplined.

Then he was asked if the same coaching staff can lead that turnaround.

"I don't think so," Palmer said.

Do you think there should be a change in coaches?

"I think so," he said.

Do you think there will be?

"Like I said, I don't make those decisions. I play quarterback."

Do you know what's going on?

"No."

Even in terms of the coaches you work most closely with, quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese and offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski?

"No. Like I said. I don't know."

Throughout much of the Bengals now-completed 7-9 season,Palmer looked tired and worn out.

This morning we found out why.

"Oh, yeah. I think the amount of sleep I lost this year. I think I've aged. I'm 28 going on 34. I think I lost a couple years," he said. "Frustrating. Times I felt sick to my stomach and I didn't have the flu. Just a long, long, frustrating year, but in saying that, I wish we could start all over and play 16 games right now. I'm not ready to go home.

"This is my most disappointing year of any sports, junior Pop Warner to T-ball to now. The losses, the way we lost, the fact we're going to be watching the playoffs from our couches, the fact we don't have practice next week."

Would would he do to improve the team?

"We have enough problems and enough areas we need to improve on that it's not a short list," he said. "Hopefully the things will happen that need to happen for us to be the team we can be. I haven't been asked. Like I said, I would love to give input, and I have great input to give."

Is the window of opportunity closing on the core group of Bengals key players?

"I don't think so," he said. "(But) every year you say that. Pretty soon next year you're retiring and hanging them up. The guys on this team who need to realize that realize that. Pretty soon it's over, you're an alum or a fan and have to get a real job and put on a suit every day. We need to approach this offseason in a new way and come back a rejuvinated team."

UPDATED: Schedule official

The NFL released opponents for the 2008 season.

The Bengals will have home games against the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. (Kansas City was the third-place team in the AFC West ahead of last-place Oakland, based on record against common opponents.)

The Bengals will play road games against the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants.

UPDATED: Offseason roster expands

The Bengals today signed four players to the team’s offseason roster. All four were on the Bengals practice squad as the 2007 season concluded. The four are defensive end Titus Adams (Nebraska), center Kyle Cook (Michigan State), safety Nick Turnbull (Florida International) and offensive tackle Dane Uperesa (Hawaii).

Cook and Uperesa, both rookies in 2007, spent the full season on the Bengals practice squad. Adams, classified a first-year NFL player, and Turnbull, a second-year player, both were signed to the practice squad Dec. 18. All four players signed two-year contracts.

Unofficial draft order

MIAMI -- The NFL doesn't have the official draft order available tonight, but the Bengals are one among the glut of seven teams that finished with 7-9 records.

1. Miami, 1-15
2. St. Louis, 3-13
3. Oakland, Jets, Kansas City, Atlanta, 4-12
7. Baltimore, San Francisco, 5-11
9. Bengals, Detroit, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, Carolina, Buffalo, 7-9

The tiebreaker for draft order is strength of schedule.

Ch-ch-ch-changes?

MIAMI -- The Bengals won consecutive games for the first time this season.
Head coach Marvin Lewis wanted to talk more about the game than any changes that might unfold on the coaching staff or roster in the offseason.

"Let's talk about the game today," Lewis said. "We're going make sure that everything, from what I do, is -- there's no changes you're going to know, so you can relax."

Pressed later in his news conference, Lewis offered a little more: "It's been five years. There are things around here that are a little stale. We got to take all those binders from the last five years and get rid of them. Get the offices clean, the boards; clean up, as though there are new people coming in. Whoever's there, we're new people coming in, and understand that. The players have to understand that."

Binders? Does that mean the playbook?

"It's got nothing to do with the playbook," Lewis said. "I'm talking about just in general. You know you go to your garage, and you look at your garage and say, `I got to get rid of this junk.' That's what I'm saying. We just need to freshen up a bit. When our players come back, there will be a fresh outlook, and not that cloud that we've left to hang over our heads."

Players and assistant coaches said after the game that they know changes are coming, but, they added, they don't know what they are.

"A lot of things need to change," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "We have to find a way to run the ball better ... (there is a) lack of execution, lack of discipline. We didn't do our jobs correctly enough. We're a very, very average football team, at best. We've been very average for a number of years."

Chad gets franchise record, Bengals 35-17

MIAMI -- Chad Johnson's four receptions for 131 yards give him a single-season franchise record of 1,440 yards, breaking his previous mark of 1,432 in 2005.

The Bengals and Dolphins traded 2-yard touchdown runs. First, Miami quarterback John Beck ran in from 2. Then Kenny Watson ran in from the 2 on a quick Bengals touchdown drive.

Watson has 48 yards rushing on 16 carries, including his seventh rush touchdown.

There are 10:03 remaining in the game.

With an 18-point advantage, the Bengals have scored 377 points this season and allowed 377 points.

Ndukwe runs 54 yards with fumble for TD

MIAMI -- Rookie Chinedum Ndukwe picked up a fumble by Dolphins quarterback John Beck on a shot-gun snap and ran 54 yards for a touchdown.

Beck replaced Cleo Lemon, who injured a hip when hit by Bengals end Justin Smith on a run on the play before.

Ndukwe had two interceptions in his first NFL start a week ago at home against Cleveland. He is starting in place of the injured Dexter Jackson.

The Bengals are up 28-10 early in the third quarter.

Penalty cancels 45-yard punt return, no matter

MIAMI -- Antonio Chatman's 45-yard punt return was nullified on a penalty for an illegal block in the back. No player was identified.

No matter.

The Bengals defense stopped Miami's offense on two consecutive three-and-out possessions.

The Bengals drove 63 yards and scored on a 4-yard touchdown pass to Chatman, his first as a Bengal.

The drive was five plays covering 63 yards in 58 seconds.

In the first half, Carson Palmer is 12-for-17 passing for 211 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. His passer rating is 152.2.

The Bengals are 12-2 career when Palmer has three touchdown passes in one game, including 1-1 this season.

He now has 4,026 yards, 26 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

The Bengals are up 21-10 at halftime.

Chad gets second hometown TD

MIAMI -- Chad Johnson has scored his second touchdown on a 70-yard catch and run. He beat safety Jason Allen, who slipped on the reception, and Johnson outran safety Lance Schulters to the end zone.

Johnson has two receptions for 72 yards, both touchdowns.

It is the Bengals longest pass play of the season. Johnson had a 56-yard catch against the Jets.

Johnson now has 91 receptions for 1,381 yards and eight touchdowns. He simply dropped the ball in the end zone and ran off the field, stopping only to celebrate briefly with teammates Bobbie Williams and Carson Palmer.

The drive was two plays, 82 yards. Antonio Chatman had a 12-yard gain on a swing pass on the first play. It took only 36 seconds.

Miami up 10-7

MIAMI -- Cleo Lemon threw 5 yards to rookie Ted Ginn Jr. for a touchdown. The Dolphins went 72 yards in 11 plays. Cornerback Deltha O'Neal was beaten on coverage in the front corner of the end zone.

The Bengals have the ball now first-and-10 from their 18-yard line.

So far, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh each have one reception.

Tailback Kenny Watson has rushed nine times for seven yards. The Dolphins are playing with eight defenders near the line in the box.

Willie, Kooistra in game

MIAMI -- Willie Anderson is in the game for the Bengals second possession for Stacy Andrews. And Scott Kooistra is in for Bobbie Williams at right guard.

There is 14:44 to play in the second quarter. The Bengals are first-and-10 from their 22-yard line.

Bengals go up 7-3

MIAMI -- Chad Johnson has come home to Miami and caught a 2-yard touchdown pass, his seventh of the season. The score was the 13th play on a 66-yard drive that are 7:23.

The Bengals were 5 of 5 on third-down conversions. The touchdown came on third down. Chris Henry caught a 16-yard pass on third down and T.J. Houshmandzadeh a 17-yard pass on another third down. Two Miami penalties gave Cincinnati first downs. Safety Courtney Bryan was called for a 15-yard facemask on Chad Johnson, and fellow safety Lance Schulters was flagged for pass interference; in all, Miami committed 30 yards in penalties.

Notes

MIAMI -- The Bengals have home games in 2008 against Jacksonville, Tennessee, Philadelphia, Washington and either Oakland or Kansas City.

The Bengals will play at Houston, Indianapolis, Dallas, the Giants and the Jets.

Those games are in addition to the six home-away games against AFC North teams Cleveland, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

-- T.J. Houshmandzadeh just caught his first pass and now has 104. He needs eight to tie New England's Wes Welker, who has 112, for the NFL lead.

Dolphins 3-0

MIAMI -- Jay Feely's 49-yard field goal capped a nine-play, 37-yard drive.

Ted Ginn Jr. returned the opening kickoff 32 yards.

Dexter Jackson out

MIAMI -- Chinedum Ndukwe will get his second NFL start today against the Dolphins because starting strong safety Dexter Jackson is inactive because of a calf injury.

Fellow rookie Marvin White will start at free safety because Madieu Williams was placed on injured reserve this past week with a thigh injury.

Stacy Andrews will make his 11th start at right tackle, but Willie Anderson is expected to play in a rotation.

Other Bengals inactive players: tailback Rudi Johnson (hamstring), lineabacker Anthony Schlegel, guard Nate Livings, tight end Nate Lawrie and defensive tackle Michael Myers.

Kenny Watson will start at tailback.

The Bengals have 52 players on their roster, one fewer than the maximum allowed.

Earlier this morning, on a stairwell behind the Dolphin Stadium pressbox, new Dolphins vice president Bill Parcells walked toward a private booth to watch the game. He arrived in Miami on Thursday and met with head coach Cam Cameron and general manager Randy Mueller, whose future employment Parcells controls.

So what's the truth?

MIAMI -- At his news conference last week, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said not to expect "earthshaking" news in the offseason and said the media jumped the gun in reporting the potential for changes on the roster and with assistant coaches. He said the club has re-done coaches' contracts but not announced the deals to the media.

The front office, while not allowing any excuses publicly, has pointed to a long list of reasons for the 6-9 season to date -- including series of injuries that "wiped out" the linebacker and running back positions.

Then Lewis told The Columbus Dispatch, in the most general terms, that there's the potential to "blow the whole thing up and start from scratch" -- whatever that means.

"We need to empty these shelves, empty these offices and start from scratch," Lewis told The Dispatch. "Yeah, because we haven't been good enough. We're not going to sit here and be complacent with it."

Bengals president Mike Brown holds the trump card to whatever Lewis might want to do.

For three weeks in a row, I had asked Lewis about the possibility of changes in the offseason. He has either refused to talk about it, even in vague terms, or answered in coach-speak generalities. No one else in the organization is authorized to talk on the record.

What I heard from other reliable sources inside the organization is that the front office doesn't think the Bengals are far away from contention.

The rest of the injury reports

Strong safety Dexter Jackson is doubtful for Sunday's game at Miami with a calf injury, and with free safety Madieu Williams out for the season, the Bengals look to be planning to start their two rookie safeties, Chinedum Ndukwe and Marvin White.

Out
HB DeDe Dorsey (IR), ankle
C Eric Ghiaciuc (IR), foot
S Madieu Williams (IR), thigh
HB Rudi Johnson (DNP), hamstring

Doubtful
S Dexter Jackson (DNP), calf

Questionable
OT Willie Anderson (DNP), hamstring

Probable
WR Glenn Holt (FP), back
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (FP), ankle
LB Dhani Jones (FP), shoulder

MIAMI
Out
DT Keith Traylor (DNP), ankle

Questionable
CB Travis Daniels (DNP), ankle
DE Jason Taylor (DNP), foot

Probable
DT Vonnie Holliday (FP), knee
S Jereme Perry (FP), ankle
LB Joey Porter (FP), shoulder
T L.J. Shelton (FP), ankle

Rudi out for Dolphins

Tailback Rudi Johnson will not play Sunday at Miami, coach Marvin Lewis said just minutes ago as he walked off the game field inside Paul Brown Stadium after practice.

Johnson will have missed the final two games with a hamstring injury. Kenny Watson will start, and Quincy Wilson, signed earlier this week, will likely play. DeDe Dorsey (ankle) also is out after being placed on the injured reserve list Wednesday.

Fullback Jeremi Johnson is the only other healthy running back.

"Same number we've played with all year," Lewis said of the slim ranks in the offensive backfield.

As for Wilson, he has re-acclimated himself to the offensive system.

"He's been here for three years," Lewis said of Wilson, a former Bengals practice squad player waived Sept. 2.

Right tackle Willie Anderson did not practice but is likely to play in a rotation again with starter Stacy Andrews. Anderson has a hamstring injury.

"He's tired, sore," Lewis said.

A victory Sunday at Miami, which was introduced Thursday to its new vice president for football operations, Bill Parcells, would give the Bengals a 5-3 finish in the second half and consecutive victories for the first time this season.

"I can't worry about what they've got going on," Lewis said. "I told our guys going down there we're approaching this game as a must-win for us, as though we're playing for something really big and important to us. I'm sure we'll get the best football they've played, and we have to be ready to play our best."

Rudi did not practice today

Tailback Rudi Johnson missed his fifth consecutive practice today, reducing the possibility of him playing in the season finale Sunday at Miami. He has a hamstring injury that has forced him to miss fout games already this season.

Out
HB DeDe Dorsey (IR), ankle
C Eric Ghiaciuc (IR), foot
S Madieu Williams (IR), thigh

Did Not Participate in Practice
WR Glenn Holt, back
S Dexter Jackson, calf
HB Rudi Johnson, hamstring
CB Deltha O'Neal, team decision

Limited Participation in Practice
OT Willie Anderson, hamstring

Roster moves

The Bengals today placed tailback DeDe Dorsey, center Eric Ghiaciuc and free safety Madieu Williams on the season-ending injured reserve list. Dorsey has a high ankle sprain, Ghiaciuc a foot sprain and Williams a thigh ailment. All three players had already been declared out for the Miami game Sunday at Dolphin Stadium.

In their places, the Bengals signed tailback Quincy Wilson and guard Nate Livings the active roster. Both will be eligible to play Sunday.

Wilson was waived by the Bengals Sept. 2 after playing in all four preseason games. Livings has been on the practice squad all season.

The Bengals have one vacancy on the 53-man roster at this time.

Writers honor Houshmandzadeh, Robinson

Two members of the Bengals were honored today by the Cincinnati Chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America.

Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was named by the chapter as the team's Most Valuable Player, and defensive lineman Bryan Robinson captured the organization's "Good Guy" award, given annually to a player for outstanding cooperation with the media covering the team.

Houshmandzadeh is a former “Good Guy” winner and joins offensive tackle Willie Anderson in the category of players to win both honors.

Voters are newspaper reporters from The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Post, Dayton Daily News, Columbus Dispatch and Associated Press assigned to cover the Bengals regularly.

This is the sixth year the Cincinnati PFWA has named an MVP. Past winners were quarterback Jon Kitna (2002-03), tailback Rudi Johnson (2004), quarterback Carson Palmer (2005) and offensive tackle Willie Anderson (2006).

Robinson becomes the seventh "Good Guy" recipient. Lorenzo Neal, Anderson, Brandon Bennett, Brian Simmons, John Thornton and Houshmandzadeh earned the distinction from 2001-06.

Lewis on the future: Nothing `earthshaking'

For the fifth consecutive Marvin Lewis news conference, I have asked about the team's plans for the future:

This answer was what Lewis had this afternoon.

"Don't get your hopes all up on Monday. I think you really kind of, the comments I've heard jumped the gun. For the most part, we've redone our coaches' contracts each and every year. So you can relax, for the most part.

"And, so, things that way, we'll make decisions as we go forth in the offseason, but we're not going to have earthshaking news that you can run home about.

"We're going to evaluate our players and our coaching and try to move forward. We've got to build a better team that can go win games in this division week in and week out, and that means being able to run the football more effectively, being able to take care of the football, defend the run and eliminate explosive plays, and make plays on special teams. So that's what we're going to go back and look very, very hard at, how we got started and look at where we went sideways and make sure we get back on track.

"You're going to have injuries always play a part, but that's no excuse for it. When you have injuries you got to have your good players step up and got to go win games for you. We didn't do a good enough job as coaches to get our guy in position to do that, and that's why we're sitting here and looking at not playing on."

Wednesday injury report

Bengals injury report:

Out
HB DeDe Dorsey, ankle
C Eric Ghiaciuc, foot
S Madieu Williams, thigh

Did Not Participate in Practice
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, ankle
S Dexter Jackson, calf
HB Rudi Johnson, hamstring

Limited Participation in Practice
OT Willie Anderson, hamstring
WR Glenn Holt, back
LB Dhani Jones, shoulder

Quincy Wilson back; no Rudi at practice

Tailback Rudi Johnson (hamstring) was not on the field this morning at practice for the Bengals.

The team apparently has re-signed tailback Quincy Wilson, cut in September, who was at practice this morning. Tailback DeDe Dorsey is out for the game Sunday at Miami because of a high ankle sprain.

Kenny Watson is likely to start.

Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh came out late in street clothes. Right tackle Willie Anderson was working.

Ghiaciuc, Dorsey out for last game

Bengals starting center Eric Ghiaciuc and promising young tailback DeDe Dorsey will not play in the finale Sunday at Miami, coach Marvin Lewis said this afternoon.

Ghiaciuc has a foot sprain, and Dorsey a high ankle sprain.

Veteran safety Dexter Jackson (calf) and tailback Rudi Johnson (hamstring) "have a chance to play," Lewis said. And 12th-year right tackle Willie Anderson, making his first appearance since Oct. 21, "came out OK, a little tired and sore," Lewis said.

Other players injured during the game, such as linebacker Landon Johnson (lower back strain), are likely to play against the Dolphins, Lewis said.

Post-mortem, Bengals 19-14

Marvin Lewis: We had two goals -- win the football game and not allow them (Browns) to earn a playoff spot here in our place."

Lewis on rookie starters Marvin White, Chinedum Ndukwe and Leon Hall in the secondary: "They did a good job. There's only one guy back there with more than two year's experience (backup cornerback Deltha O'Neal). They made plays, and they had fun."

Browns coach Romeo Crennel, whose team needed to win today to clinch a playoff berth: "We were not able to get it done today. It's disappointing, realizing what was on the line and what was at stake."

BROWNS IN BIND: Tennessee’s 10-6 victory against the Jets, coupled with the Browns loss, moved the Titans into the sixth and final seed of the AFC playoff race. If Tennessee can win at Indianapolis on Sunday night, the Titans are in and the Browns out, even if the Browns were to defeat San Francisco in Cleveland on Sunday.

Palmer pick helps Browns

Cornerback Leigh Bodden's second interception of the game set up a 5-yard touchdown pass from Derek Anderson to Braylon Edwards, their second of the game, and pulled the Browns within 19-14 with 5:57 remaining in the game.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh fell down on a pass route on first down, following a Johnathan Joseph interception of Anderson. Bodden returned the ball to the 16, and Cleveland scored in just three plays.

Bengals stop Browns on fourth down

The Bengals held the Browns on a fourth-and-9 play from the Bengals 29-yard line with 11:29 remaining in the game.

On third down, Derek Anderson's pass for Braylon Edwards was short. The Bengals blitzed.

On fourth down, Bengals end Justin Smith hit Anderson's arm as he was throwing, and the ball fell incomplete.

Browns pull within 19-7

Derek Anderson threw 2 yards to Braylon Edwards with 40 seconds left in the third quarter.

It was Edwards' 14th touchdown catch of the season, breaking Gary Collins' franchise mark from 1963. The Browns drove 71 yards in 11 plays.

Ndukwe gets second interception

The Browns drove to the Bengals 9-yard line and were first and goal. Derek Anderson's throw for tight end Kellen Winslow in the end zone was tipped by rookie safety Marvin White and intercepted by fellow rookie safety Chinedum Ndukwe. It was Ndukwe's second interception of the game in his first NFL start.

Ndukwe has three for the year.

Bengals jump to 19-0 lead

The Bengals two touchdowns within the last two minutes of the first half and lead 19-0 at intermission.

Bengals rookies Chinedum Ndukwe and Leon Hall intercepted Derek Anderson on consecutive Browns possessions.

Carson Palmer threw 5 yards to T.J. Houshmandzadeh for the first score after a 44-yard return by Ndukwe, making his first NFL start. It was Ndukwe's second career interception.

After Hall's pick, the Bengals drove and scored on Kenny Watson's 1-yard run, his sixth rushing touchdown of the season. The attempt at the two-point conversion failed on a short pass to Watson.

Watson has 99 rushing yards on 18 carries at the half.

Touchdown or not?

Chad Johnson's 25-yard touchdown pass, ruled a score on the field, was overturned on review.

The Bengals got the 30th field goal of the season -- a single-season franchise record -- from Shayne Graham from 38 yards.

The Bengals went 10 plays and stalled, again, at the 20-yard line. They are now 11 touchdowns on their last 34 red-zone possessions.

Watson powers run game

Bengals tailback Kenny Watson has rushed 13 times for 82 yards in the first half.

He now has 140 carries for 646 yards this season, a career high. He had 534 in 2002 for the Redskins.

Landon Johnson hurt

Bengals linebacker Landon Johnson went down after tackling Jamal Lewis and was helped off the field.

He has a lower back strain, and his return is questionable.

Graham good from 29 yards

The Bengals have gone up 3-0 on a 29-yard field goal by Shayne Graham.

The Bengals drove 69 yards on 10 plays but failed to get a touchdown again in the red zone.

In the last nine games, the Bengals have scored 11 touchdowns in their last 33 red-zone possessions. It is Graham's 17th field goal in that span.

The field goal by Graham is his 29th, tying Doug Pelfrey's franchise mark from 1995.

There is 12:52 left in the second quarter.

No score after one

The Bengals and Browns are scoreless after the first quarter.

Kenny Watson has six rushing attempts for 33 yards.

Bengals stuff Browns on fourth down

Jamal Lewis was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-1 from the 19-yard line.

For the Bengals, Willie Anderson is now in the game for the third series at right tackle, replacing Stacy Andrews.

Anderson has not played since Oct. 21 against the Jets.

Dorsey sprains ankle

Bengals tailback DeDe Dorsey has a right ankle sprain suffered on his first carry, for 8 yards, and his return is questionable.

After two Kenny Watson runs for 16 yards, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was intercepted by Browns cornerback Leigh Bodden, who returned it 22 yards to the Bengals 28-yard line.

It is Palmer's 18th interception, tying his single-season career high from 2004, his first season as starter.

Browns botch field goal

The Browns botched a hold on what would have been a 40-yard field goal attempt on their first possession. They drove from their 10-yard line to the Bengals 22, but holder Dave Zastudil could not get the hold down. The Bengals are first-and-10 at their 33-yard line.

No score.

6:23 left in the quarter.

The Browns had a balanced drive with run and pass. Quarterback Derek Anderson missed an open Kellen Winslow on third-and-6.

Both safeties out for Bengals

The Bengals will play without their starting safeties, strong safety Dexter Jackson and free safety Madieu Williams, both of whom are inactive because of injuries. Rookies Marvin White and Chinedum Ndukwe will start.

Tailback Rudi Johnson is out, as well, with a hamstring injury. Kenny Watson will start.

Right tackle Willie Anderson is active for the first time since October but will not start.

Backup linebacker Anthony Schlegel is inactive, along with offensive lineman Dan Santucci, tight end Nate Lawrie and defensive end Frostee Rucker.

Cold and windy

Winds are whipping in from the north and around Paul Brown Stadium this morning. There will be an advantage for the offense moving from the north toward the south end zone.

Teams are warming up.

Former Bengals offensive lineman Eric Steinbach, now with the Browns, spoke for several minutes with Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer. Browns defensive lineman Shaun Smith, a former Bengals player, joined the conversation.

The temperature is expected to drop into the low 30s.

Lyric for the holidays

Happy holidays to all, and Merry Christmas to those of the Christian faith.

I didn't start hearing the song "Happy XMas (War is Over)" a lot until December 1979, eight years after John Lennon and Yoko Ono wrote, recorded and released it as the war raged in Vietnam. The gap of familiarity probably had more to do with my isolation growing up in a small town in the northern Corn Belt of Illinois.

It was my senior year in high school. (Lennon would be murdered the following December.) I looked out of my second-floor bedroom window, staring into the darkness toward the east and way out of physical view, Chicago, some 100 miles away. There was a clarity to Lennon's words and music, as uncomplicated and timeless as the brittle, starry night.

Brought up and still Catholic, I heard and still hear Christian truths in this song (probably not Lennon's intent). Life and faith are about what you do, inclusion, not exclusion -- the same lessons I heard a couple of blocks in the other direction from my parents' house at St. Patrick's Church.

I've just played "Happy XMas" five times in a row. We believe and hope in a God of infinite second chances. I hear a challenge: "What you are you going to do with the next year, the next day, the next hour, you will be given?"

So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight

Rudi out; Willie questionable

Tailback Rudi Johnson (hamstring) was declared out today after not practicing all week. Starting free safety Madieu Williams was listed as doubtful with a thigh injury, and right tackle Willie Anderson -- having practiced all three days -- was listed as questionable.

Out
HB Rudi Johnson (DNP), hamstring

Doubtful
FS Madieu Williams (DNP), thigh

Questionable
OT Willie Anderson (FP), knee
S Dexter Jackson (DNP), calf

Probable
OL Stacy Andrews (FP), knee
WR Chris Henry (FP), ankle
CB Deltha O'Neal (FP), illness
DT Domata Peko (FP), ankle

Rudi not at practice, unlikely to play

The official injury report will not be available until later this afternoon, but starting tailback Rudi Johnson was not at practice on the game field at Paul Brown Stadium this morning.

Asked after practice, at about 12:45, whether Johnson would play against Cleveland, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said, "Probably not. He hasn't been able to practice, so he can't play."

Asked then it Kenny Watson would get the start, Lewis said, "We'll see."

Johnson (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. Watson and DeDe Dorsey would get the work. They are averging more than 5 yards a rush attempt between them.

"As I've said, their (Watson and Dorsey's) plays are a little bit different than Rudi's are, and we'll go from there."

Also, cornerback Deltha O'Neal is back after missing the practice Thursday because of an illness.

Anderson: Sunday last home game?

Willie Anderson was taped and headed out this morning to practice for a third consecutive day.

The Bengals veteran right offensive tackle, who has missed nine games because of heel and knee injuries this season, said he will play Sunday against the Browns.

The quick-witted Anderson referred to the game as "Senior Day," in reference to the high school and college tradition of honoring athletes in their last performance with a team.

"You definitely want to go out with a win," Anderson said. "It could be (his last game for the Bengals). You never know. I want to play and let things take care of (themselves). I look at it as a business. I’ve been here a long time. I’ve seen a lot of things. I tell my family and friends, though, `don’t look over and say that will never happen.' It happens to the best of them."

After practice, at about 12:45, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said Anderson "has a chance to play."

Lewis wanted to see Anderson on the practice field.

"It's important, in order for us to work him in, obviously he's not in the condition to play, but we'll see how our numbers (of players) work out," Lewis said. "We're not going to throw him in there. ... It could be all of our last home games. I'm not going to worry about that. None of us are promised tomorrow."

Asked if the Bengals had talked to him about his future, Anderson reached over and clicked off reporters' tape recorders and said, "No."

"Whoever needs to know, wherever, I’m playing. I’ve been practicing every day this week. I could have been doing this against Pittsburgh."

The Bengals played Dec. 2 at Pittsburgh.

Thursday injury reports

BENGALS
Did Not Participate in Practice
HB Rudi Johnson, hamstring
CB Deltha O'Neal, illness

Limited Participation in Practice
S Dexter Jackson, calf
S Madieu Williams, thigh

Full Participation in Practice
OT Willie Anderson, knee
G Stacy Andrews, knee
WR Chris Henry, ankle
DT Domata Peko, ankle

BROWNS
Did Not Participate in Practice
CB Leigh Bodden, back

Limited Participation in Practice
LB Antwan Peek, ankle
DL Robaire Smith, back
DL Shaun Smith, back
DL Orpheus Roye, knee

Rudi, Henry did not practice

Bengals injury report for today:

Did Not Participate in Practice
HB Rudi Johnson, hamstring
WR Chris Henry, ankle

Full Participation in Practice
OT Willie Anderson, knee
G Stacy Andrews, knee
DT Domata Peko, ankle

Romeo-isms

Browns coach Romeo Crennel was in a decidedly better mood late this morning when he spoke to media that covers the Bengals on a conference call.

-- On why the Bengals offense is slumping: "They scored 45 on us the last time. I told my guys that they better expect that this time."

-- On winning 51-45 over the Bengals in Week 2: "It was huge for us to be able to win. We lost our first one (to Pittsburgh) and not in a good way."

-- On center Hank Fraley: "He is the rock who holds it together."

-- On left guard Eric Steinbach, the former Bengals starter the Browns signed in free agency last March: "In the NFL, when you're losing, you have to try to go get good talent to help you. We played against Eric twice a year. By getting Eric, and drafting (left tackle) Joe Thomas, we've solidified that side."

The Browns are 9-5. They are in the playoffs Sunday with a victory against the Bengals.

Anderson practicing

The Bengals are practicing this morning on the game field inside Paul Brown Stadium. Right tackle Willie Anderson, who has missed nine games with heel and knee injuries, is practicing.

-- Don't know how fair it would be to bench Stacy Andrews at this point, after he has played relatively well in nine starts at right tackle, in favor of a player who hasn't been in a game for more than two months.

-- Surprised to see that Eric Steinbach was not among the three guards named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster.

UPDATED: Wide receiver Chris Henry (ankle) and tailback Rudi Johnson (tight hamstring) did not practice fully today, coach Marvin Lewis said.

T.J. to Pro Bowl

From seventh-round draft pick as the 204th player drafted in 2001 to bubble player at training camp in 2002 and 2003, T.J. Houshmandzadeh's journey as an NFL player reached a peak this afternoon when he was named to the AFC all-star team for the Pro Bowl.

The game will be played Feb. 10 in Honolulu.

AFC and NFC rosters: http://www.nfl.com/probowl/story;jsessionid=36C2AEEA2C7A23855CFD53DDD0C75ED0?id=09000d5d8053b226&template=without-video&confirm=true

The Pro Bowl nod is the first Houshmandzadeh, who was a third alternate in last year’s voting.

Houshmandzadeh and Cleveland's Braylon Edwards are the backup AFC wide receivers, behind starters Reggie Wayne of Indianapolis and Randy Moss of New England.

In 2007, he leads the NFL with a Bengals-record 101 receptions through 14 games, and he has gained 1,028 yards with 11 touchdowns. On Saturday night in the loss at San Francisco, Houshmandzadeh set the franchise's single-season receptions record with 101, besting Carl Pickens' mark of 100 from 1996.

Houshmandzadeh played college ball at Oregon State, with fellow Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson.

"T.J. has worked very hard to earn this honor," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement released by the club. "He has worked through some injuries during the course of the season, and he has been a very consistent performer and producer for us for the last three years."

Houshmandzadeh becomes the seventh Bengals wide receiver to make the Pro Bowl. The other six have been Isaac Curtis (four times), Chad Johnson (four), Cris Collinsworth (three), Carl Pickens (two), Eddie Brown (one) and Chip Myers (one). Additionally, tight end-wide receiver Bob Trumpy was selected to two AFL All-Star games and two Pro Bowls.

Houshmandzadeh scored at least one touchdown in each of the season’s first eight games. He became the first Bengal to find the end zone in each of the first eight games of a season, and his streak of eight is the franchise’s longest at any point within one season.

Houshmandzadeh’s season-opening streak of eight straight games with a score tied for second-longest in NFL history at the start of a schedule.

The team’s total of Pro Bowl players could grow. Four Bengals earned alternate status for the AFC team: wide receiver Chad Johnson and kicker Shayne Graham as first alternates, and left tackle Levi Jones and quarterback Carson Palmer as third alternates. Alternates take roster spots if players in front of them are injured or opt out of the game.

Pro Bowl spots are determined based on voting by players, coaches and fans,. Each group's votes count one-third.

Practice squad moves

-- From Bengals PR: The Bengals today signed safety Nick Turnbull to the practice squad. Turnbull (6-2, 222; Florida International) is a second-year NFL player. He entered the NFL in 2006 as a college free agent with Atlanta and played in two games. He also played in one game for Chicago, after being acquired by the Bears on waivers. He returned to Atlanta via waivers on May 9 of this year. He played in one preseason game for the Falcons, was waived/injured on Aug. 28, and was waived from Atlanta’s Reserve/Injured list on Oct. 25.

UPDATE: 4:30 p.m.

In addition, this afternoon the Bengals released safety Jesse Daniels of LSU from the practice squad. Daniels had been signed to the practice squad on Dec. 5. And they signed defensive tackle Titus Adams (6-4, 305), a first-year NFL player from Nebraska. Adams entered the NFL in 2006 as a seventh-round draft choice of the New York Jets. He opened the season on the Jets practice squad and was signed to the New York Giants’ 53-player roster on 12-6-06. He was inactive with the Giants for the final five games of the regular season, and for the Giants’ playoff game at Philadelphia. He opened the 2007 preseason with the Giants and was obtained by San Diego on waivers on Aug. 20. He was waived by San Diego on Sept. 1.


-- A reader pointed out that the Bengals drafted Chris Perry at No. 26 in 2004, and the Rams Steven Jackson at 24. The Bengals traded down from No. 24 with the Rams and could have taken Jackson with that pick.

The Toeaina factor

Chicago rookie defensive tackle Matt Toeaina was credited with two solo tackles in the Bears' loss Monday night at Minnesota.

Toeaina was the Bengals' sixth-round draft pick and spent the entire season on the practice squad in Cincinnati. He was signed to the Bears' active roster last week.

Toeaina existed in anonymity in Cincinnati but became a cause last week after he was signed by the Bears.

All of a sudden, Toeaina represents everything that is wrong with the 2007 Bengals; heck, even the entire organization.

If he were so good, why wasn't he on the active roster here? Don't you think coaches, some of whom on the defensive side of the ball for the Bengals probably are worrying about whether they will get another contract here, would have played Toeaina if he had shown anything during the season? Is there a guarantee that when the Bears injury-ravaged defensive line gets healthy in the offseason that Toeaina will even survive training camp?

-- If I were a Bengals fan, I would be more upset about the likes of Frostee Rucker, the third round pick in 2006. Why has this second-year defensive end been active only four times this season?

-- Where's the righteous indignation about letting Eric Steinbach leave in free agency and failing to re-sign him before March 2007? He's probably going to the Pro Bowl and the playoffs. The Bengals classified Steinbach as a guard, and they went ahead of re-signed tackles Willie Anderson and Levi Jones. Anderson had not had injury problems until this season, when knee and heel problems issues have forced him to miss nine games. And Jones, after a slow start, has played better. But Jones has a history of knee problems. You could see in training camp 2006 that Steinbach was going to be the odd-man out. The Bengals place a premium on tackles over guards, even a rare talent such as Steinbach, and on cornerbacks over safeties.

-- And, again, with the benefit of history, what about drafting Chris Perry instead of Steven Jackson?

It's the first-day drafts, not the second-day picks, as well as some questionable decisions in free agency, that are a bigger reasons that the Bengals are 5-9 right now. Not Matt Toeaina.

Playoff scenarios

2007 NFL PLAYOFF SCENARIOS

AFC

CLINCHED: New England - AFC East Division and homefield advantage. Indianapolis - AFC South Division and first-round bye. San Diego - AFC West Division.

ELIMINATED: Miami, NY Jets, Kansas City, Oakland, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Houston, Buffalo, Denver.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Pittsburgh clinches AFC North Division title:
1) PIT win + CLE loss
Pittsburgh clinches playoff berth:
1) TEN loss OR
2) PIT win or tie + TEN tie

CLEVELAND BROWNS
Cleveland clinches playoff berth:
1) CLE win OR
2) TEN loss OR
3) CLE tie + TEN tie

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Jacksonville clinches playoff berth:
1) JAC win or tie OR
2) TEN loss or tie OR
3) CLE loss

NFC

CLINCHED: Dallas -- NFC East Division and first-round bye. Green Bay -- NFC North Division and first-round bye. Seattle -- NFC West Division. Tampa Bay -- NFC South Division.

ELIMINATED: San Francisco, St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Arizona, Philadelphia, Detroit.

DALLAS COWBOYS
Dallas clinches homefield advantage throughout NFC playoffs:
1) DAL win + GB loss

NEW YORK GIANTS
NY Giants clinch playoff berth:
1) NYG win or tie OR
2) WAS loss or tie + NO loss or tie

MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Minnesota clinches a playoff berth:
1) MIN win + NO loss or tie

Lewis: Browns no extra motivation

The Cleveland Browns will bring their 9-5 record to Cincinnati on Sunday needing only a
victory against the Bengals to qualify for the AFC playoffs.

The Bengals are four games worse than the Browns, at 5-9. The Bengals are headed home and with a losing record for the first time since 2002, which was the last time the Browns went
to the playoffs.Do the Bengals find any additional motivation in spoiling the Browns postseason invitation for even one more week?

"You have to be motivated to win the football game," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said
Monday. "The things they have going on is their deal. The big thing is just that we want to
win the football game."

No revenge, like when the Bengals entered the regular-season finale in 2003 needing a
victory against the Browns – plus some help – to make the playoffs in Lewis’ first season as
Bengals coach? The Browns upset the Bengals, 22-14, at Paul Brown Stadium.

No.

What about some pay-back for the butt-whipping, 51-45, the Browns laid on the Bengals
defense in Week 2 at Cleveland?

"There has been a lot of football, so it’s hard to put it on one game," Lewis said. "But we
lost the football game up there. We had the opportunity to put them away, and we didn’t."

The Bengals allowed 554 yards in total offense to Cleveland, including 216 rushing yards to
Jamal Lewis. Would you like to shut him down?

"He had a good game the last time, but the two or three previous (while with the Baltimore
Ravens), not as good," Marvin Lewis said.

In Game 8 of 2006, Jamal Lewis ran for 72 yards and one touchdown against the Bengals and
followed it with 17 attempts for 61 yards in Game 12.

But Jamal Lewis, in his first season in Cleveland, has found new life. He has rushed for 1,084 yards (4.3 average) and nine touchdowns.

Jeanty should play

Strong-side linebacker Rashad Jeanty, who was inactive with a knee injury Saturday night, might be back for the Cleveland game Sunday.

"We just decided to go with the guy who was completely healthy (Corey Mays) last week," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said this afternoon. "He has the opportunity to play this week and was feeling much better (Sunday)."

Lewis also said he liked the "physical" manner in which Jeanty plays and credited him for being a "serious professional."

Jeanty has 25 total tackles, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries this season. He did not play in the first five games because of a fractured bone in his lower leg. He returned and had started the five games prior to the 49ers.

The new injury to Jeanty was the only one of note Monday. The Bengals are healthy with their current 53-man roster heading into Week 16, Lewis said.

Blogger didn't work Saturday night

The Enquirer's Bengals blog was inoperable Saturday night because of a malfunction with Blogger software. A master blog file was created on the Enquirer's Web site.

LB Jeanty inactive for Bengals

SAN FRANCISCO -- Strong-side linebacker Rashad Jeanty, a day after he was listed as probable, was declared inactive for the game tonight against the 49ers. Corey Mays will start in Jeanty's place.

Other inactive players for the Bengals: wide receiver Marcus Maxwell, cornerback David Jones, offensive lineman Dan Santucci, right tackle Willie Anderson, tight end Nate Lawrie and defensive end Frostee Rucker.

Rookie Jeff Rowe is the emergency third quarterback.

Anderson out for 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Bengals held a walk-through practice this afternoon at Monster Park in preparation for the game Saturday night against the 49ers.

The Bengals have a short injury report: right tackle Willie Anderson (knee) was declared out, and starting strong-side linebacker Rashad Jeanty -- a key player in the team's improved run defense -- was listed as probable with a knee injury. Jeanty practiced fully.

A look at 49ers game

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Bengals should win back-to-back games for the first time this season, well, since Nov. 30, 2006 (13-7 over Baltimore) and Dec. 10 (27-10 over Oakland).

Bengals 27, 49ers 14

The 49ers offense shouldn't put up much of a challenge, except for tailback Frank Gore.

Cincinnati is 5-11 over the course of what would be a 16-game schedule since defeating the Raiders last December at home.

Bears sign DT Toeaina

The Chicago Bears today signed rookie defensive tackle Matt Toeaina to a three-year contract. Toeaina, the Bengals sixth-round draft pick from Oregon, had been on the Cincinnati practice squad all season and had not played in a game. He was signed, by rule, to Chicago's 53-man roster and is expected to be active in the final three games, which would give him a credited NFL season.

Wednesday notes

San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Nolan said today that Shaun Hill will start at quarterback and that the team signed Chris Weinke as the backup.


Nolan, defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens for three seasons, said he remembered that Ravens defensive players said that the first player can't tackle Rudi Johnson and that the second defender had to bring him down.


For the Bengals, right tackle Willie Anderson and linebacker Rashad Jeanty did not practice. Safety Madieu Williams (thigh) and linebacker Landon Johnson (ankle) both did practice.


Anderson said he suffered a bone bruise and MCL sprain in the Seattle game when struck accidentally by tight end Reggie Kelly's helmet. Anderson said he is tired of hearing that he is done. He said he will be back next year. Anderson said the 2007 season is the first of five years of his newest contract.


Wide receiver Chad Johnson played Lynyrd Skynyrd on the CD player in the locker room after practice. "Freebird" and "Gimme Three Steps" were played repeatedly, and Johnson yelled at quarterback Carson Palmer -- playfully -- when Palmer turned it down.

Landon, Madieu on field

Linebacker Landon Johnson, who suffered an ankle injury Sunday against the Rams, was on the field this morning practicing inside Paul Brown Stadium. Free safety Madieu Williams, who missed the Rams game with a thigh injury, also was in uniform and on the field.

Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (knee, back) was not outside, nor was right tackle Willie Anderson, knee.

The Bengals will practice again Thursday before flying to San Francisco in the evening.

Looking at the offseason

The Bengals are officially out of the NFL postseason, the league announced today.

It's time to start looking ahead.

Here's the link to the stories and lists we published Dec. 11 in The Enquirer: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20071211/SPT02/712110338/

1. Which big-name, or lower-profile, veteran free agents you'd like to see the Bengals sign?

2. Which of the Bengals veteran free agents would you like to see the team re-sign?

3. Which players would you like to see the Bengals draft in the first two rounds of the NFL draft in April.

Let us know. Send us back a comment on this file.

Elias and NFL: Bengals eliminated

The Bengals are officially out of playoff contention, Elias Sports Bureau has told the NFL. The league relayed the information to Bengals public relations director Jack Brennan.

The NFL has confirmed in a press release that the Bengals are eliminated.

The Bengals are 5-8 and headed to San Francisco for a game Saturday night on a short week.

The Bengals will try to win two games in a row for the first time this season.

Since losing three in a row to end the 2006 season, the Bengals are 5-11 in what amounts to a full, 16-game NFL season.

On the injury front, head coach Marvin Lewis said tight end Reggie Kelly and linebacker Landon Johnson both suffered ankle injuries against the Rams but downplayed the seriousness of both of them.

Safety Madieu Williams (thigh contusion) will be questionable, Lewis said. Williams was inactive against the Rams, and Lewis said rookie safeties Marvin White and Chinedum Ndukwe played well in splitting the snaps.

Right tackle Willie Anderson, who has been inactive seven games in a row, will try to make another attempt to play this week, Lewis said.

Bengals will face another No. 3 QB

With Alex Smith out and Trent Dilfer having suffered a concussion in the 49ers' loss Sunday to the Vikings, San Francisco might have to turn to its No. 3 quarterback, Shaun Hill.

The Bengals will play Saturday night at Monster Park against the 49ers.

Hill, whose bulk of pro experience came with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe in 2003, played well Sunday in relief of Dilfer.

Hill looks to be a little more skilled than Brock Berlin, the Rams No. 3 quarterback the Bengals faced Sunday in their 19-10 victory. Hill was 22-for-28 passing for 180 yards and one touchdown in a little more than a half of play against Minnesota. His passer rating was 90.5.

Post-game comments

Bengals 19, Rams 10

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis: "This was a win that had it’s moments of brilliance at times, and the opposite at other times. Our football team kept playing and we did some things we sought out to do. We wanted to run the football productively and stop the run on the other side. I thought we took care of those things defensively except for the one long run by Steven Jackson, where we had him tackled at the line of scrimmage and he ran for another 50 yards. We didn’t play as well on special teams as we had been playing, as far as returns (are concerned). I thought Shayne Graham and Kyle Larson both had great days. The guys hung in there and stayed after it."

Quarterback Carson Palmer: "It’s huge (the run game success). We felt like we could be a more physical team up front. We went out and did it, and we proved it when it was really sloppy and wet, and pouring down rain. They knew it was coming, and we were still finding ways to get yardage. I think we almost ended up with 200-yards (rushing). And they knew the run was coming, and we just kept plugging away."

Safety Dexter Jackson on how continuity and health have helped the defense: "That’s a big part of it. The other part is that guys continue to fight for each other. They’ve counted us out on the outside, but we still have each other and we have pride. We don’t want to let each other down. When we play like this and practice hard, the sky is the limit for us."

Running back DeDe Dorsey, who had 81 yards in four rush attempts: "Every time they give me a chance, I’m going to make the best of it. I want to do whatever I can to score every time I get the ball."

Running back Rudi Johnson, who ran 23 times for 92 yards and continues to heal from his hamstring injury: "I’m getting better each week. I’m still not 100 percent, but all I can do is keep pushing forward. ... We just have to keep sticking with it. We need to believe in the guys up front, and make sure we trust them. When it was crunch time, we got the job done."

Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh: "It was good to win. Anytime you win in the NFL, it’s a good thing. I thought the defense played great, the offensive line played great, and we as receivers played OK. I dropped the ball once and fumbled. The defense and the offensive line won this game for us."

Graham good from 37

It's still a one-score game, though the Bengals have extended their lead to 13-7 with a 37-yard field goal by Shayne Graham. The Bengals drove 48 yards in 15 plays, eating 9:25 in clock.

Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh has eight receptions for 52 yards, upping his NFL-leading total to 96. He is four from tying Carl Pickens' single-season franchise record of 100 receptions in 1996.

There is 4:35 left in the third quarter,

Rams score on interception return

St. Louis cornerback Fakhir Brown intercepted an errant Carson Palmer pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the second half.

Palmer threw for T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and there appeared to be a miscommunication on the route.

It was the third interception returned for a touchdown against Palmer in the past four games.

The Bengals lead 10-7 early in the third quarter.

Bengals get ball back

Safety Dexter Jackson timed his second effective blitz of the game and his tailback Steven Jackson at the same time he was handed the ball. Jackson's forced fumble was recovered by tackle John Thornton.

Quarterback Brock Berlin was credited with the lost fumble.

So far, Jackson has blitzed three times, resulting in losses of 4, 10 and 1 yards.

Rams intercept Palmer

After Jeff Wilkins missed wide right on a 40-yard field goal attempt, the Bengals gave the ball right back. Carson Palmer's pass from the 30 went right through the arms of wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh at the 40. Cornerback Ron Bartell intercepted.

Palmer if 4-for-8 passing for 18 yards and one interception. His passer rating is 16.7.

Dorsey ignites offense

DeDe Dorsey has 78 rushing yards on three attempts, including a 45-yard run on a lateral on first-and-10.

The 11-play, 84-yard drive ended with a 27-yard Shayne Graham field goal.

On third-and-6 from the 9, Rams cornerback Ron Bartell dropped an interception in the end zone.

The Bengals are up 10-0 with 9:50 remaining in the second quarter.

Linebacker Landon Johnson has an ankle injury but has returned to the game.

Landon Johnson leaves game

Linebacker Landon Johnson has left the game with an apparent left arm injury.

The first quarter ends with the Bengals up 7-0. The Rams are third-and-6 on the Cincinnati 42-yard line.

Rudi Johnson has run five times for six yards. Carson Palmer is 2-for-2 passing for five yards.

Bengals up 7-0 at 5:32 in first

Rudi Johnson ran in from the 2 for a touchdown to put the Bengals up 7-0 with 5:32 left in the first quarter. The Bengals drove 42 yards in seven plays. The big play was an 18-yard defensive pass interference on St. Louis linebacker Will Witherspoon at the 1. He was trying to cover wide receiver Antonio Chatman.

Bengals have field position

The Bengals are first-and-10 at the Rams 42-yard line with 9:36 remaining in the first quarter. The Rams have punted twice.

The Bengals started their first drive at their 42. Rudi Johnson was tackled for a 6-yard loss on third-and-2 from the 50 to force a punt.

SF game on Channel 5

The Bengals game at 8:15 p.m. Saturday, broadcast nationally on NFL Network, the league's owned and controlled television station, will be show in the Cincinnati market on Channel 5 (WLWT).

Bengals honor high school coaches

St. Xavier's Steve Specht, whose team won a state title, is the Bengals' high school coach of the year.

Specht was chosen from a field of 11 coaches of the week as the winner of a $2,000 check to be used for the football program.

The 10 other coaches of the week received a $1,000 check for their football programs. The list included three state champions: Dale Mueller of Highlands, Noel Rash of Beechwood and Jeff Giesting of Anderson.

Williams inactive; working in rain

Wide receiver Chad Johnson was on the field early with quarterback Carson Palmer, trying to work on passes in the heavy rain.

Bengals starting free safety Madieu Williams is inactive, and rookie Chinedum Ndukwe will get his first NFL start.

Other Bengals inactives: wide receiver Marcus Maxwell, cornerback David Jones, linebacker Jim Maxwell, right tackle Willie Anderson, tight end Nate Lawrie and defensive end Frostee Rucker.

Stacy Andrews will make his eighth start at right tackle.

For the Rams, starting quarterback Marc Bulger is inactive. Gus Frerotte is the emergency third quarterback.

Brock Berlin will make his first NFL start; his next pass will be his first in the NFL.

Todd Bouman, signed Dec. 7 with one practice with the Rams, will be the No. 2 quarterback.

The Rams continue to struggle with offensive line injuries. Andy McCollum will start at center in place of Brett Romberg. Cornerback Tye Hill, a starter, was placed on injured reserve late last week with a wrist injury, and Ron Bartell will start in place of Hill.

Seeing the fifth Bengals victory

Lots of yards, lots of points, even if there's lots of rain and a lot of injured St. Louis quarterbacks.

Bengals 27, Rams 24.

Paper: Bulger won't play

Sources: Bulger won't play Sunday

By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

12/07/2007

Quarterback Marc Bulger did not feel well following meetings Thursday, and is now listed as questionable for Sunday’s game in Cincinnati. By official NFL definition, "questionable" means a player has a 50-50 chance of playing in that week’s game.

But two sources have told the Post-Dispatch that Bulger will not play Sunday. That means Brock Berlin -- who has yet to throw a pass or play in a regular-season game -- will make his first NFL start.

Coach Scott Linehan said early Friday afternoon that he will decide what to do at quarterback within the next 12 to 24 hours. Backup quarterback Gus Frerotte also is out with a partially torn labrum in his right (throwing) shoulder.

Friday injury report

Right tackle Willie Anderson has been declared out again, and there is a possibility that safety Madieu Williams, who has a thigh contusion, might not be active Sunday. Williams is listed as questionable.

For St. Louis, quarterback Marc Bulger (concussion) was listed as questionable. He was limited in practice but is expected to start Sunday.

BENGALS
Out
Willie Anderson (DNP), knee

Questionable
S Madieu Williams (DNP), thigh
(DNP = did not practice)

Probable
C Eric Ghiaciuc (FP), knee
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (FP), back
CB Deltha O'Neal (FP), knee
DT Domata Peko (FP), ankle
DE Bryan Robinson (FP), toe
G Bobbie Williams (FP), foot
(FP = fully practiced)

RAMS

Out
CB Eric Bassey, knee
WR Dante Hall (IR), ankle
T Rob Petitti, concussion

Doubtful
QB Gus Frerotte (DNP), shoulder

Questionable
QB Marc Bulger (LP), concussion
WR Brandon Williams (DNP), ankle

Probable
DE James Hall (FP), ankle
RB Brian Leonard (FP), knee
C Brett Romberg (FP), ankle
LB Will Witherspoon (LP), groin

Dusty Baker at practice

On the invitation of Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, Reds manager Dusty Baker and son Darren Baker were guests at practice, which ended about 12:45 this afternoon.

After practice, Lewis asked one of the Bengals equipment men to take the Bakers into the locker room to see Chad Johnson's locker. Darren Baker is a big football fan, Lewis said. Lewis and Baker were introduced Thursday evening.

Bengals starting free safety Madieu Williams, who has not practiced all week because of a thigh contusion, is expected to be inactive for the Rams game Sunday.

Thursday injury reports

The Bengals practiced again earlier today. The Rams just have sent their injury report, and wide receiver/return specialist Dante Hall is out; he was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list with a high ankle sprain.

And despite word earlier today in newspapers that cover the Rams about quarterback Marc Bulger possibly missing the game Sunday, he practiced fully for the second day in a row. Bulger is trying to return from a concussion suffered Nov. 25. He did not play Sunday. Gus Frerotte, who started at quarterback, has an injured throwing shoulder and did not participate in practice today. Brock Berlin is the Rams' third quarterback.

Bulger will have another exam Friday and wouldn't be cleared then to play in the game. Late word out of St. Louis is Frerotte's not going to play; his arm is too sore.

Rams coach Scott Linehan said today that street free agent Todd Bouman will be signed to the St. Louis active roster as an extra quarterback. Bouman visited and took a physical Tuesday, but did not sign.

BENGALS
Did Not Participate in Practice
OT Willie Anderson, knee
CB Deltha O'Neal, knee
DE Bryan Robinson, toe
S Madieu Williams, thigh

Limited Participation in Practice
C Eric Ghiaciuc, knee
G Bobbie Williams, foot

Full Participation in Practice
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, back
DT Domata Peko, ankle

RAMS
Out
CB Eric Bassey, knee
WR Dante Hall (IR), ankle

Did Not Participate in Practice
QB Gus Frerotte, shoulder
T Rob Petitti, head
WR Brandon Williams, ankle

Full Participation in Practice
QB Marc Bulger, concussion
CB Fakhir Brown, back
DE James Hall, ankle
RB Brian Leonard, knee
C Brett Romberg, ankle

Bengals, Rams injury reports

The Bengals and Rams injury reports for Wednesday:

BENGALS
Did Not Participate in Practice
S Madieu Williams, thigh
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, back

Limited Participation in Practice
OT Willie Anderson, knee
C Eric Ghiaciuc, knee
CB Deltha O'Neal, knee
DT Domata Peko, ankle
G Bobbie Williams, foot

RAMS
Out
CB Eric Bassey, knee
CB Tye Hill, wrist (injured reserve list, out for season)

Did Not Participate in Practice
QB Gus Frerotte, shoulder
T Rob Petitti, head
WR Brandon Williams, ankle

Limited Participation in Practice
WR Dante Hall, ankle
DE James Hall, ankle

Full Participation in Practice
QB Marc Bulger, concussion
CB Fakhir Brown, back
RB Brian Leonard, knee
C Brett Romberg, ankle

Steven Jackson nearly a Bengal

The only two Bengals players who did not practice today are wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (knee) and safety Madieu Williams (thigh).

Looking ahead at the Rams on Sunday, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said, "They have played very good football as of late -- back to where they thought they'd be offensively with their vertical passing game.

Bengals players paid verbal respect to the talent and longevity of Rams wide receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer said he is not "trying to do too much" following two poor performances in the past three weeks.

The game against the Rams is the first for the Bengals since the 2003 season, so it doesn't cover the 2004 draft. Late in the first round, the Bengals traded the 24th overall pick to the Rams for the 26th and 123rd overall selections. The Rams took Oregon State running back Steven Jackson at 24. The Bengals drafted Michigan running back Chris Perry at 26. They used No. 123 on offensive lineman Stacy Andrews from Mississippi.

"We were able to gain a pick," Lewis said of the trade. "(Jackson) has done very well. And Chris, when healthy, has done well here. ... We couldn't lose on the pick."

Perry has been limited to 22 games with three starts. In 2005, when he played in 14 games, he had 51 receptions.

Jackson, slowed by a groin injury this season, has been a double-threat. He is fifth all-time in NFL history with 2,334 yards from scrimmage in 2006. He had 1,528 rushing yards and 806 receiving yards on 90 receptions.

He played at Oregon State, which produced Bengals wide receivers Chad Johnson and Houshmandzadeh, both of whom were drafted in 2001.

"It would have been interesting. You guys would have had three Oregon State guys," Jackson said today. "But I really understand why they were comfortable with drafting Chris. He was having a heck of a year in college; he was a Michigan guys, and I'm sure they had a chance to see him live in a lot more of his games."

Jackson keeps up with Houshmandzadeh and Johnson and made an appearance with them and "hung out" during Super Bowl Week at Miami.

"There are not too many of us in the NFL so we keep up with one another, pretty much," Jackson said of the Oregon State alumni. "Those guys continue to set the bar high. I try to stay right behind them and stay at a high level."

Jackson has 628 rushing yards and four touchdowns this season.

Bulger practices, likely to start

St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger has been cleared to practice after passing his neuropsych test Tuesday, the Belleville News-Democrat reported today.

Bulger is trying to return from the concussion he suffered after taking a blind-side hit against the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 25, the newspaper reported. The team said Bulger would be re-evaluated after practice.

The Rams will be without their top backup quarterback, former Bengal Gus Frerotte. He threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns against the Rams but was ruled out for one week because of an injury to his throwing shoulder. The No. 2 quarterback for St. Louis this week will be Brock Berlin, signed last week from the Rams practice squad.

Of course, former Rams backup Ryan Fitzpatrick is the No. 2 quarterback for the Bengals. He was acquired in a trade before the season started but has not taken a snap this season.

Team practices in snowy stadium

The Bengals are practicing inside Paul Brown Stadium this morning, beginning the work week for the game against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday afternoon.

Safety Madieu Williams (thigh), wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (knee) and right offensive tackle Willie Anderson (knee) were not on the field.

In other news this morning:

-- The Bengals will honor the Ohio state championship high school football teams from Anderson and St. Xavier with pre-game presentations at the club’s final two home games.

Division II champion Anderson will be featured during the game against the Rams. Division I champion St. Xavier will be featured during the Dec. 23 game against the Cleveland Browns. Due to a school scheduling conflict, St. Xavier chose to have its recognition delayed until the Cleveland game.

-- The Bengals today signed free agent defensive back Jessie Daniels to the practice squad. Daniels, who is 5-feet, 11-inches, 216 pounds, is a rookie and played his college ball at LSU. He was signed May 4 by Carolina as a college free agent and waived July 25. He played in 49 games with 35 starts at LSU and finished his career with 183 tackles, four interceptions and three sacks.

Sensing a Bengals victory

If the weather is good, I could see the Bengals and Rams putting up a lot of points Sunday.

In a minor transaction today, the Bengals today released linebacker Kevis Coley from the practice squad. A first-year NFL player from Southern Mississippi, Coley had signed to the practice squad Oct. 16.

Injury updates, Lewis news conference

Safety Madieu Williams has a thigh bruise -- the result of a knee in the top of the left leg from Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward -- and is likely to miss practice Wednesday.

Center Eric Ghiaciuc (knee strain) and wide receiver Glenn Holt (shoulder strain) might be limited in practice Wednesday, coach Marvin Lewis said this afternoon.

Right tackle Willie Anderson (knee) has "an opportunity to play." The 3-9 Rams will play Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. They are tied with San Francisco and Atlanta for the worst record in the NFC.

The Bengals are 4-8 and essentially eliminated from playoff contention. The Steelers lead the AFC North at 9-3, followed by the 7-5 Browns. Ten AFC teams have a better record than the Bengals.

The 2007 is the first season since 2004 and just the second in five years under Lewis that the Bengals have been out of contention this early.

What to play for?

"The chance to win four more games," Lewis said. "They'll be resilient. I don't think they know what place they're in. This is professional athletics. Either guys will be professional of they won't be here."

Will the Bengals start playing younger players to see what they can do in an effort to build for next season?

"No," Lewis said. "Next year has nothing to do with right now. None of us is promised next year."

NOTES:

-- The Bengals defensive performance in the past four games is the best in terms of yards allowed since Games 8-11 of the 2001 season. In the past four, the Bengals have allowed no more than 305 yards in one game and have allowed an average of just 277.3.

-- Tight end Daniel Coats said he was not injured Sunday night and that he was inactive because of a coach's decision.

-- Wide receiver Chad Johnson is believed to be in Miami today for the funeral of former Redskins safety Sean Taylor.

Post-game quotes, notes

PITTSBURGH -- The Bengals were 24-10 losers Sunday night at Heinz Field to the Steelers. They are 4-8, meaning they will have a non-winning season for the 16th time in the past 17 years as a franchise.

PASS-HAPPY: The Bengals stubbornly stayed with their pass-oriented offense on a bad, slow field Sunday night, though quarterback Carson Palmer threw high several times under increasing pressure from Pittsburgh’s zone-blitz defense. Palmer ended up 17-for-44 passing for 183 yards. He was 6-for-7 for 57 yards on the first drive but just 11 of 37 for 126 yards after that.

"I didn’t throw good balls," Palmer said. "The field threw off timing on routes. I failed to adjust."

STATS: The Bengals ran 23 times for 74 yards, a 3.2-yard per carry average.
They called 45 pass plays, including one sack of Palmer.

MARVIN LEWIS SAID: "I think that we were going to run our offense. We missed some throws, and that ended up somewhat being the difference."

REAL ESTATE: The Bengals squandered outstanding field position all night. Their average drive start was their 44-yard line. Three times the Bengals started drives in Pittsburgh territory – at the 28, 25 and 17.

Steelers up 24-10 after three

PITTSBURGH -- Hines Ward continues to hurt the Bengals. He caught at 8-yard touchdown pass -- his second tonight and franchise record 64th of his career -- to put the Steelers up 24-10 at the end of the third quarter.

For the game, the Steelers have 24:49 in possession time. The Bengals, 20:11.

Steelers on 17-0 run

PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers scored a second touchdown on a 2-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Hines Ward in the back of the end zone. Ward released from the left side of the offense, and no one picked him up in coverage. End Justin Smith gave chase.

Ward's touchdown was the 63rd of his career, tying him with John Stallworth for most in Steelers franchise history.

The Steelers have scored 17 consecutive points to go up 17-7.

It is now halftime.

The touchdown pass was the 24th of the season for Roethlisberger, tying him with Terry Bradshaw for the third most in a single season for the Steelers.

The Steelers had the ball for 12:16 in the second quarter.

Steelers go up 10-7

PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers turned Glenn Holt's fumbled kickoff return into a 21-yard Jeff Reed field goal for a 10-7 lead with 5:45 left in the second quarter.

The Bengals held on third-and-goal from the 5-yard line. Ben Roethlisberger ran two yards on a scramble before being dragged down by Justin Smith.

Steelers tie at 7

PIITSBURGH -- After Shayne Graham's missed field goal from 43-yard, the Steelers drove 67 yards on 11 plays for the tying touchdown. Ben Roethlisberger ran in from the 6, dodging defensive ends Justin Smith and Jonathan Fanene en route to the end zone, where, at the 2, he dove over cornerback Leon Hall.

Glenn Holt fumbled the kickoff, and Pittsburgh's Carey Davis recovered at the 20.

Bengals botch scoring chance

PITTSBURGH -- The Bengals started their most recent drive at the Steelers 28-yard line. A false start-penalty against right tackle Stacy Andrews led to a third-and-7, and Carson Palmer's pass for Chad Johnson sailed high.

Shayne Graham was wide right on a 43-yard field goal attempt.

The Steelers are first-and-10 from the 33-yard line with 14:50 left in the second quarter.

First quarter ends 7-0 Bengals

PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers had five penalties for 26 yards in the first quarter and had the ball just 4:42.

27-yard punt by Steelers

PITTSBURGH -- The Bengals are first-and-10 at the Steelers 28-yard line following a 27-yard punt and 5-yard penalty for illegal man down field.

Right guard Bobbie Williams has left with a left foot injury. Center Eric Ghiaciuc has left the game with a right knee injury. Their returns are probable.

Scott Kooistra is playing left guard. Alex Stepanovich is at center.

Bengals on third down

PITTSBURGH -- The Bengals are 3 of 4 on third-down plays offensively.

The Steelers are 1 of 2 and are punting from their 9-yard line with 4:09 left in the first quarter.

Madieu Williams gets interception

PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger threw his second high pass of the night, and it was tipped by receiver Hines Ward into the hands of Bengals safety Madieu Williams. It was Williams second interception this season.

The Bengals are first-and-10 on their 27-yard line.

Bengals go up 7-0

PITTSBURGH -- A 1-yard Rudi Johnson run capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive to give the Bengals a 7-0 lead with 8:23 left in the first quarter.

It was Johnson's second touchdown this season.

In spite of the rainy conditions, quarterback Carson Palmer was 6-for-7 passing for 57 yards on the drive. Chris Henry had an 18-yard catch on third-and-11.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh had three receptions for 24 yards and threw an excellent block on an 11-yard catch and run by Antonio Chatman.

Krylon moment

PITTSBURGH -- The Heinz Field grounds crew is using spray paint to try to make the goal lines more identifiable. The lines on the field are becoming faint because of the rain.

Bengals in all-white uniforms

PITTSBURGH -- The Bengals are wearing their all-white uniforms. The Steelers are in their classic gold pants and black jerseys.

The rain stopped briefly, or at least slowed. It is picking up again.

Raining hard; inactive players

PITTSBURGH -- The Bengals inactive players are third quarterback Jeff Rowe, wide receiver Marcus Maxwell, cornerback David Jones, linebacker Jim Maxwell, center Dan Santucci, right tackle Willie Anderson, tight end Daniel Coats and defensive end Frostee Rucker.

Lineup changes: Stacy Andrews starting for Willie Anderson at ROT; Leon Hall starting at RCB for Johnathan Joseph; Joseph starting at LCB for Deltha O'Neal.

Steelers inactives are wide receiver Santonio Holmes, safety Troy Polamalu, running back Najeh Davenport, center Marvin Philip, center/guard Darnell Stapleton, offensive tackle Marvel Smith, linebacker Arnold Harrison and third quarterback Brian St. Pierre.

Lineup changes: Max Starks starts at LT for Smith; Nate Washington at WR for Holmes; and Tyrone Carter at SS for Polamalu.

Rain is falling hard with teams on the field warming up. There are large patches of new sod new midfield and at one end at the 30-yard line.