Cincinnati Bengals Are New and Improved in 2009
Last year was not a good time to be a Cincinnati Bengals fan. The team, with a high powered offense and high expectations, had a very disappointing season, as they won just four games during the entire regular season. Granted, the heart and soul of the team, Carson Palmer, was out with injury, but this was still a major letdown in Cincy.
Palmer’s absence led to huge offensive struggles for the Cincinnati Bengals, as fill-in Ryan Fitzpatrick was a few notches below the caliber quarterback that Palmer has established himself as. The team struggled to score points, and simply couldn’t win games.
Chad Ocho Cinco, previously known as a top three wide receiver in the NFL, turned into the sort of wide receiver that would be commonplace around the league, and his numbers were miserable as compared to seasons past. TJ Houshmandzadeh wasn’t playing like himself, and injury issues limited him too. If there’s anything good about last season, the last few games showed that Cedric Benson was a capable running back, and gave the team a new weapon.
At the start of this season, the Cincinnati Bengals claimed that they were back and ready to make an impact in 2009. The loss of their #2 wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh would be a blow to their offense, but a young and improving Chris Henry would fill his shoes, as would Lavaerneus Coles, acquired during the off season from the Jets.
The Bengals lost their first game of the season to the Broncos, but came back with a vengeance during week two, as they visited the Packers at Lambeau field and came away with a win. The passing game was on point, as was their running game, and a new sense of hope was born in Bengals nation.
Cincinnati Bengals Are new and Improved in 2009