Could this be the best time for Carson's bad game?

[Reimersfan88]

As I was watching the game, and remembering years past, I had to wonder if the sub-par performance by Palmer doesn't actually come at the right time. It just seems like now is the best time for Carson to have a bad day, then develop an attitude so that it never happens again. ( When I said years past, I was thinking of some of the past QB's that stepped it up and drove through the playoffs with a purpose ). What do you all think?

[AMC]

It happens. Rudi came up big. Romeo had a decent game plan and they took Chad and Henry out.

I don't know if it's ever a good time, but it's good to know we can win if Carson has an off day....

[ShulaSteakhouse]

He'll snap back from it obviously, this offense is known for taking what a defense gives them - today it was the running game, big time. If not for a couple of drops and penalties and pressure - the stats could've been different.

Very conservative today and Palmer seemed to get the jitters after that INT - prior to that he looked fine.

[rizzy]

This is his second bad game of the season.

PITT - 21/36, 227 yards, 2 INT

CLE - 13/27, 93 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

[JPW]

He had some dropped balls but he looked like he was "off" all day to me.

Everybody has a bad game sometime, I am sure that he will be right back in the groove next week.

As for this being a good thime for it ?

Well we were able to beat the Browns even with the off day so it is ok.

But this was a Very Big WIN, it gives us a 5-1 record in the Division and Guarantees the Tie-Breaker over the Steelers, just in case.

It is almost like getting Two Wins ...

[Whur CHad At?]

Hey everyone needs a bad game.. it only makes you better and I think it came at the right time

[HoosierCat]

Well...there's bad days and then there are awful, atrocious, we-drafted-THIS-first-overall??? days -- and today was one of those. Ick phooey.

I'm sure Palmer will bounce back...but he got bailed out big time today. Whatever he did in the week leading up to this game...do something else next week. Anything else.

[kingwilly]

I saw a team today that was flat as day-old beer....and they still won. The Pit game took ALOT out of the Bengals. They had to dig today. The o-line looked solid, as did the run D. Everything else had a staleenss to it. Chad looked off and Palmer had a hesitancy. Give them the week to rest and re-coup and there will be No problem. Nothing like a trip to Detroit to get things straight, the first of two trips.....a little recon never hurt anyone.

[HoosierCat]

All I know, willy, is that there are two silver lining to take away from today. One, the Bengals won. And two, Marvin is going to have no shortage of game film to "discuss" with various team members. Bring on the Lions and let's wrap this division crown up!

[dcbengal1]

If you go to MSNBC sports and read, "How to beat the Colts", they say you can take away JAmes, or you can take away the receivers, but you can't do both. I'd say this is the first time the Bengals have really gotten the "take away the receivers" approach. Don't forget the Colts had a very shaky game against these same Browns earlier in the year. This Frye is senstational: watch out next year!

I do think sometimes the offense has this "attack" mode too much on the brain. Sometimes you just need to run time off the clock....

[Whur CHad At?]

Hey next week Carson should through for at least 300 yards and 4 tds in the sea of orange

[kingwilly]

Joisey...you got that right.

BTW-how priceless was ML's expressions on the sideline...he was ticked...

Any word on the injuries to Ohowiwishicouldtackle and Perry?

[PMThor]

This is a sign of a great team. Our most important player, Carson, has an off day? Fine. Hey give it to Rudi, he can take care of it. A great team is not defined by one player only.

[HoosierCat]

Looks like a dog day afternoon in a lot of spots around the league...

We barely scrape by Cleveland.

Tenn eeks out a 3 ppoint win over Houston.

The Jets (!) beat Oakland...soundly!

As I write this the Giants and Eagles are tied at 17.

Bati is down 12-3 but driving in Denver.

DC is just getting by, 17-13, vs. AZ.

SF still getting it's butt kicked by the hawks, tho.

Oh and Miami is up 20-7 on SD!

[H.B. Bengal]

This was the perfect day to "lay down" and we didn't.

Carson had a horrible day and the team never doubted they would win.

Good signs.

[Stripes]

I don't think that any player should have to go through one "bad game" in any sort of trend. Still, I think Palmer's game was the result of some excellent coverage schemes by the Browns (reminded me of the Patriots of recent years). Palmer will certainly bounce back, and when we win, none of this matters anyways, as y'all have already stated.