CINCINNATI BENGALS
2009 RECORD: 10-6-0
(1st in AFC North)
HEAD COACH: Marvin Lewis
Key Additions: WR Terrell Owens (FA/Buffalo), WR Antonio Bryant (FA/Tampa Bay), K Mike Nugent (FA/Arizona), Adam Jones (FA)
Key Losses: WR Laveranues Coles (FA), K Shayne Graham (FA), RB Larry Johnson (FA/Washington)
Offense: Quarterback Carson Palmer may have had Christmas come early this year when the Bengals added wide receiver Terrell Owens to the mix.
Palmer, who really has not been the same quarterback since a knee injury five years ago, has Owens (55 catches, 829 yards, five TD in 2009) Chad Ochocinco (72 grabs for 1,072 yards and nine TD) and Antonio Bryant, who comes over from Tampa Bay after making 39 catches for 600 yards and four touchdowns a year ago.
That is quite a trio to throw to and Palmer, who passed for 3,249 yards last season to go with 21 TD passes, is looking to take advantage this year.
The running game for Cincinnati still features the resurgent Cedric Benson, who had his best year as a pro in 2009.
Benson, who struggled with Chicago for four years, joined the Bengals two years ago and in 2009 amassed 1,251 yards on the ground while scoring six touchdowns and averaging 4.2 yards per carry.
Bernard Scott (321 yards and a 4.3 ypc average) will be the backup again this season.
The offensive line features good run blockers and pass protection for Palmer, who was sacked just 29 times last year.
The center is Kyle Cook, guards Bobbie Williams and Nate Livings and tackles Andre Smith and Andrew Whitworth.
Defense: The Cincinnati defense finished fourth in the entire league last season and was the real reason for the teams surprising first place finish in the rugged AFC North division.
Allowing just 301 yards per contest, the Bengals allowed 98 yards on the ground and just 203 through the air in 2009.
Head Coach Marvin Lewis built a strong defense in Baltimore years ago and finally in his seventh season in Cincinnati, the unit jelled into a top notch defense.
Up front in the Bengals' 4-3 scheme are tackle Domata Peko and Tank Johnson. The ends include Robert Geathers and Antwan Odom, who led the Bengals with eight quarterback sacks a year ago.
The linebacking corps will see Dhani Jones in the middle and Ray Maualuga and Keith Rivers on the outside.
In the secondary, the cornerbacks are Leon Hall and Johnathon Joseph and safeties Roy Williams and Chris Crocker.
Both Hall and Jospeh picked off six passes for Cincy a year ago and that tied for second in the AFC.
OUTLOOK: Lewis is a coach who exudes quiet confidence and Palmer is a veteran quarterback who knows the window of opportunity for the Bengals is open wider now than it ever has been since his arrival seven years ago.
There may not be enough microphones to go around the locker room in 2010 with both Ochocinco and T.O. present on the same team.
That can be both a blessing and a curse for Cincinnati and if Lewis can reign these two guys in and keep the focus on the football field, Cincinnati has an excellent chance of repeating as AFC North division champions.
The running game needs Benson, who had some off-season troubles again, to stay grounded and perform at the level he did in 2009.
That being said, do not expect the Bengals to have a cake walk at all, even with the plethora of wideouts now in camp.
Pittsburgh and Baltimore are great defensive teams in their own right and will battle the Bengals all season long for the division crown.
The defense let up a lot of points late in the 2009 season and that is a trend that Lewis and his coaching staff will look to correct as 2010 gets going.
This team has definite potential to do some good things in 2010, but a rugged schedule will test them vigorously.
Look for Cincinnati to finish 8-8 in 2010 and look to the future once again .
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- at New England
Week 2- vs. Baltimore
Week 3- at Carolina
Week 4- at Cleveland
Week 5- vs. Tampa Bay
Week 6- Bye Week
Week 7- at Atlanta
Week 8- vs. Miami
Week 9- vs. Pittsburgh
Week 10- at Indianapolis
Week 11- vs. Buffalo
Week 12- at NY Jets
Week 13- vs. New Orleans
Week 14- at Pittsburgh
Week 15- vs. Cleveland
Week 16- vs. San Diego
Week 17- at Baltimore
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