GREAT AP article!

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Posted on Mon, Sep. 26, 2005

Bengals all the rage after 3-0 start

JOE KAY

Associated Press

CINCINNATI - Carson Palmer piles up the touchdown passes. Chad Johnson does jigs and push-ups in the end zone. The defense picks off five passes per game.

These Bengals are nothing like their legacy. They don't self-destruct. They don't wallow in self-pity. And, they don't lose.

Instead, they're looking good. Scary good.

A 24-7 victory Sunday over the Chicago Bears left the Bengals 3-0 for the first time since 1990, a reference point in franchise history. That was the last time they had a winning record and made the playoffs.

Not only have they gotten that elusive 3-0 start, they've done it convincingly, winning by 14, 29 and 17 points. They've had five interceptions in each of the last two games, the first time any team has done that in 34 years.

Most amazing: They're acting like they expected it.

"This locker room's done a great job of not taking too much out of what's happened around here," Palmer said Monday. "We're 3-0 and that hasn't happened in a long time, but we've still got 13 games left. We haven't played Pittsburgh yet, we haven't played Baltimore yet, we've got Indy. We've got a lot of big games coming up."

Those games at midseason will provide a measure of how far they can go. The first three showed precisely how far they've come.

During the last 14 years, the Bengals had only five three-game winning streaks, none early enough in a season to make much difference. Those winning streaks usually involved one part of the team playing well enough to overcome the rest.

"We've had years around here where the defense was playing well and the offense wasn't playing too well, or vice versa," eighth-year linebacker Brian Simmons said Monday.

These Bengals have been solid in every aspect while taking advantage of a favorable early schedule. Only one of the first six opponents had a winning record last season. Next up is Houston, a team playing so poorly that it fired its offensive coordinator and benched two defensive starters only two games into the season.

The biggest immediate challenge is keeping it in perspective while long-suffering fans get caught up in Bengals mania. The 3-0 start has convinced the public that this year will be different - there are Bengals flags hanging from doorposts and black-and-orange jerseys all around town.

Unlike the old Bengals, these guys are acting like they've been there before - well, all except for Chad Johnson when he scores. Johnson did a Riverdance-style celebration after his first touchdown in Chicago, then did push-ups and flexed his biceps after another.

The 3-0 start and the stylish receiver were hot national topics a day later.

"It seems like we're on top of the world right now," Palmer said. "But I don't think guys in this locker room really feel like that. I think they feel we haven't arrived yet."

That might be the most meaningful change in this team.

When Marvin Lewis took over as head coach before the 2003 season, he set out to rid the locker room of players worn down by losing. He let linebacker Takeo Spikes leave for Buffalo, traded running back Corey Dillon to New England, and brought in players who were accustomed to winning on college or other NFL teams. Only a dozen players remain from the team that Lewis inherited.

He wanted to erase the "Bungles" mentality. It appears he succeeded.

"I think that's very helpful," Lewis said Monday. "There's no question that we've had a lot of guys who have been on successful teams and expect to go out and win on Sundays and enjoy Mondays like we do, and not have a giddy feeling around here and diminish that.

"Even with the guys we just picked up more recently, this is commonplace for them."

[Stripes]

Carson Palmer piles up the touchdown passes. Chad Johnson does jigs and push-ups in the end zone. The defense picks off five passes per game.

Tough to lose games doing things like this!

Instead, they're looking good. Scary good.

Superbowl, anyone?

Most amazing: They're acting like they expected it.

The most important thing of all!

These Bengals have been solid in every aspect while taking advantage of a favorable early schedule. Only one of the first six opponents had a winning record last season. Next up is Houston, a team playing so poorly that it fired its offensive coordinator and benched two defensive starters only two games into the season.

At least one more blowout is in the very near future!

Keep it up media, we don't mind a little love.