The Bearcats own the Big East Title, expecting an Orange Bowl date.

It really wasn't University of Cincinnati's 30-10 win over Syracuse that won the Bearcats a share of the Big East Title and a BCS bid; we can thank Pitt's 19-15 win over West Virginia for that. Beating Syracuse Saturday meant that Cincinnati, for the first time since winning the Missouri Valley Conference in 1964, have won a conference title outright. The last time they've won a share of any title, was the 2002 Conference USA title.

While the Bearcats prepare for Hawaii this Friday (hey, we clinched a BCS berth, let's go to the beach), rumor is circulating that Brian Kelly is leaving for Notre Dame, as per unnamed sources in Cincinnati. It's hardly a secret that Charlie Weis' job is in serious doubt, but rumor suggests a deal with Kelly is already in place, waiting on Notre Dame to buy out Weis. We're having a great run in college football right now, and Kelly leaving would seriously bum us out; especially if he leaves before the Bearcats play their BCS game.

Pike completed 28 of 44 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns... Bearcats showed off at the recruits at the game... Mayor Mark Mallory recognized Bearcats football... the Bearcats is Ohio's only BCS team...

The Bearcats finished the game with 18 more first downs than the Orange, converting 50% of third downs (7/14), and 412 yards total, while Syracuse picked up only eight first downs, converted only three of 14 third downs and recorded only 211 yards total (a quarter of those yards picked up on a 58-yard run by Tony Fiammetta). No offense to Orange fans, but Syracuse's offense was dreadful. Quarterback Cameron Dantley completed a five-yard pass with 6:47 left in the first quarter. A combination of bad passes, awesome Bearcats pass defense (and pass rush), or dropped passes, Dantley didn't complete a pass until 11:14 left in the game.

Marvin Lewis is either the world's most confident coach, or he's simply losing his mind. The former preferable; the latter possible. After Sunday's 34-3 super-beating by the Ravens in every reasonable way, including the declaration of playing with pride, Marvin Lewis said "...our football team won't have to go through another season like this, nor will our fans... believe me."

We wish we could, but how? Will the entire offensive line regroup and be a better unit next season? Will letting Eric Ghiaciuc go (yes) along with Stacy Andrews leaving Andrew Whitworth, Levi Jones and Bobbie Williams under contract for next season? Would replacing Jones with Anthony Collins make us believe it, even if Jones remains with the team? What about keeping Chris Perry in for third-and-short, or signing Cedric Benson to a long-term deal when he's clearly not that type of back that can perform well with a mediocre line? (what's the point signing him if he can't do it with a lackluster offensive line now?) What about replacing T.J. Houshmandzadeh if he's not franchised? Or allowing Chad Johnson to start, who isn't just a distraction, but severely under-performing that the thought of benching him should be under serious consideration?

Sorry Marvin, but we just can't. At the end of last year, Lewis said that it's "time for us to blow the whole thing up and start from scratch." Come to think of it, I suppose the offense is evident of that.

A four-year old case is ongoing in which 127 club seat ticket owners are suing the club "over the timing and wording of that COA agreement between club seat fans and the team." The club is making them pay for future games, and they don't want to pay.

Young canceled his four club seat tickets after the 2002 season, expecting to forfeit $600 - the $150 COA fee he paid for each of his four seats. But Young said he was so intimidated by a nasty letter from Bengals lawyers after the 2002 season that he bought tickets for the 2003 season.

No word on if Mike Brown was actually at the house gun in hand, though we suspect if their depressing and scared tone portrayed in the article is authentic, then the Bengals are panicking that they could be losing seats, threatening existing customers ala Tony Soprano. Since their contracts expire after next season, we could pretty much assume that the Bengals will drag this out. As this team continues to be, well, Mike Brown's Bengals, then they're going to be losing a lot more. (h/t WDR)

Maybe bad quarterback play is a league-wide problem across the league. Usually after the Bengals lose during the early games on Sundays, I go through the other early games while tracking the later games being played. I was mildly surprised at the quarterback play, generally, throughout the league.

For instance, Peyton Manning threw two interceptions and fumbled at the goalline, sneaking a 10-6 victory from the Cleveland Browns. Bills' quarterback J.P. Losman, replacing an injured Trent Edwards, threw two incomplete passes and sacked on the Bills final attempt to tie the game; they lost 10-3. Even though he threw tree touchdowns and 298 yards passing, Aaron Rodgers was picked off by Jon Beasing in the closing minutes of the game, losing 35-31 at home. Marc Bulger threw three picks (16/35, 149 yards passing, no touchdowns). Drew Brees' third pick ended the Saints last minute chance to tie during their 23-20 loss to Tampa Bay. Only five quarterbacks during the early Sunday games threw for 200 yards or more.

Watching the Steelers-Patriots game is numbing. The game itself is fine, actually. It's Dan Dierdorf, who I'm nominating as the Biggest Sports Color Analyst Dick of all sports; who talks down to every player not named Ben Roethlisberger. For instance, a pass on third down to Heath Miller was low and behind the tight end. While giving Ben a free pass, Dierdorf blamed Miller because he's good enough to make the catch -- reference to the poorly thrown pass wasn't mentioned.

Bengals offense is passion of love terrible. Excluding the eight-play, 89-yard drive that closed out the first half with a field goal, the Bengals gained 66 yards on the game's 45 other plays, averaging 1.5 yards-per-play. Eight of 14 drives went three-and-out, 11 ended with a punt and three ended with an interception, turnover on downs and a field goal respectively.

If a highlight film were shown to a symposium of rookie coaches, the Bengals would be featured as a benchmark of how to flawlessly orchestrate one of the league's worst offenses. Take the team's first six possessions. Even though the Bengals started the game with an 18-yard pass to Chad Johnson, the Bengals recorded 20 yards total, on 19 plays; two drives gained negative yards, all ending in punts. During a stretch of nine possessions, the Bengals ran three-plays-and-punt eight times picking up five total yards. Ryan Fitzpatrick sneaked on a third-and-short scenario converting the Bengals first third-down situation with 13 minutes left in the game.

You know an offense is bad when they...

• ...pick up only six total first downs.
• ...only convert two third downs out of 15.
• ...have the ball for 21:02 of offense.
• ...go for it on fourth down, while on their own-20 yard line to prevent Kyle Larson from setting a new record of most punts in a game.

Mark the entire offense "terrible" across the board. Passes batted at the line of scrimmage, fumbling the football without contact, throwing a dud when he meant to double-clutch, Ryan Fitzpatrick is not an NFL quarterback, personally nominating him among the worst quarterbacks in Bengals history; notably those played in the 90s not named Boomer Esiason. With three minutes left in the game, Fitzpatrick was finally pulled for Cincinnati's most popular younger brother, Jordan Palmer. His first attempted pass, and only completion in the game, went for a pick-six to safety Jim Leonard; his first interception of the year and career touchdown. Center Eric Ghiaciuc doesn't belong in the NFL either, and if all things being equal, Nate Livings proves he's a third guard on the depth chart. Injuries force Livings into the lineup, stupidity forces Ghiaciuc. And I believe that Chad Johnson is simply going through the motions, Chris Henry was given a spot on this team, not through performance or talent, rather size and that Ben Utecht is just as disappointing as any in the NFL.

Don't paint me colors because I hate being painted colors. I'm not a trooper. I didn't sit through the entire game, mindlessly starting choirs during the back-half of the fourth quarter. This is the first game in which I didn't complete the game, not just here on this site, the couch too. I'm having a hard time looking forward to these games, typically a beat-down incorporating the league's worst talent in Cincinnati, and, in some cases, coaching. If you saw the game, then you know my struggle to put things together, recapping the game for this site. If you didn't, then it's a good thing. We're one of the worst offenses in the league, and taking a serious toll on my fandom.

Offensively, the Bengals were as bad as it gets. Through their first six possessions:

19 plays, 20 yards (18 picked up on the first play of the game).
0/6 on third down.
One first down.
Six punts in the first half.
Five straight three-and-outs.

On their final drive, after Lewis called time outs to give the Bengals offense one more shot in the first half, the Bengals went 89 yards on eight plays, enabled by a T.J. Houshmandzadeh 46-yard reception inside the 20-yard line. The drive ended with a field goal, consuming the 1:11 left in the half.

Defensively, the Bengals slowed two Ravens drives enough to prevent touchdowns, forcing field goals instead. On the one touchdown drive by the Ravens, they went 80 yards on nine plays. The Bengals forced three punts, one of them three-and-out. We have to give credit to the defense for only allowing 13 points, though the Ravens really are moving the ball at will.

Fitzpatrick: 5/16, 84 yards passing and 26 yards rushing (on two scrambles)
Benson: 5 rushes, 12 yards
Perry: 1 rush, seven yards

Houshmandzadeh: three receptions, 56 yards
Chad Johnson: two receptions, 28 yards

Flacco: 12/19, 178 yards, TD

McClain: 15 rushes, 52 yards
Ray Rice: five rushes, 11 yards

Clayton: three receptions, 86 yards
Mason: five receptions, 59 yards
Heap: two receptions, 27 yards, TD

TEAM BASED

Yards Total: Bengals 109, Ravens 248
Third Downs: Bengals 0/7, Ravens 6/11
First Downs: Bengals 4, Ravens 12
Time of Possession: Bengals 9:15, Ravens 20:45

Game: Baltimore Ravens (7-4) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-9-1)
Series Leader: Ravens: 14-11
Streak: Bengals won three of the past four.
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis: 7-4. Harbaugh: 1-0
Broadcast: CBS (1:00 PM ET): Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots. SIRIUS: 107 (Bal.), 125 (Cin.). XM: 106 (Cin.).
SB Nation: Baltimore Beatdown
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: High temps in the low 40s, light winds, rain and possible snow showers [Weather.com]
Uniform: Black
Television Coverage: Regional, connecting between cities [The 506]
Site: We plan on being here.

Primer

Ravens

The Bengals would be better off applying a youth movement on offense through next season.

The Offense's Youth Movement is on the Doorstep. Time to open the gates. We can't stress enough the idea, and purpose, to cut ties with older players and let the youth movement begin on offense. Out with the old, change personnel and hopefully losing mindsets and brooding wide receivers. Typically a youth movement requires at least one season in which winning is sparse (or scarce), focusing on developing younger players. You would think this would be that season, yet movement has been minimal, only applied during season-ending injuries. The good teams apply that movement on both sides of the ball during the same season. The Bengals? Not so much. We haven't had that youth movement, change of the guard on offense, even though the pieces are close, during the Marvin Lewis era. We can turnover our wide receivers, our tight end (though not this year), and positions at two spots on the line with incumbent players experiencing degrading bodies, simply aging, or talent poor. We're close to turnover; we support the idea of grooming guys like Anthony Collins, Nate Livings, Andre Caldwell, Jerome Simpson, right now, while acquiring additional offensive line depth in the NFL draft.

Is there a better scenario of letting Chad Johnson leave Cincinnati, franchising T.J. Houshmandzadeh to mentor the younger guys? If you know Houshmandzadeh, if you've watched and read about him, you know that he's the smartest, hardest-working, and most precise route-running wide receiver in the NFL. Who would be better to train our younglings?

Keith Rivers figures into the team's LB youth movement.

Defensive youth translated into noticeable improvements. At least we had hoped. Look at the defense, still enjoying the movement; Johnathan Joseph -- drafted in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft -- is the most experienced player of the secondary's regular starters. Marvin White, Chinedum Ndukwe and Leon Hall are playing in only their second season. Even the defensive line has seen youth Rock Bottom age, Pat Sims replaced John Thornton and Domata Peko is playing in only his third season. Robert Geathers is just 25 and Antwan Odom won't turn 30 until 2011.

Rashad Jeanty and Brandon Johnson are only 25, and Keith Rivers is the foundation for the next unit-based turnover. Unfortunately, 2006 set the Bengals linebacker unit backwards after David Pollack suffered a career-ending injury, and Odell Thurman is, well, he's Odell Thurman. Those two weren't just the future at linebacker; rather the future of the team's defensive leadership. Two years later, we're back to getting younger at linebacker, not with the talent of Pollack or Thurman. Rivers was the first step and we expect Middle Linebacker to be looked at in the draft. Brandon Johnson, in our opinion, could become a very effective and dependable outside linebacker if allowed to start opposite Rivers. We like Jeanty, but we believe Johnson is a more talented overall defender whereas Jeanty's strengths are mostly against the run.

Youth doesn't necessarily translate to improving talent or team chemistry.

So the defense's youth movement is still a work in progress, but does it show?

Examining the charts of total, rush and pass defense, things are suspect. The 340.1 yards-per-game of total defense is the lowest since 2005. The pass defense is averaging 206.4 yards passing, they've ranked in the top-ten for much of the season, and shows clear improvements. The rush defense? Their 130.2 yards rushing allowed is the worst since 2003. And thus, you see why I included the average time of possession on defense. Averaging thirty-three minutes per game is never beneficial to a defense (my Maddenism for this post); which means our offense forces our defense on the field for far too long.

The general theory is that opposing teams gain much of their rushing yards late in the game, when our defense is worn out.

I'm not so sure that's true. Admittedly, I've said and believed that our defense is terrible in the fourth quarter because of fatigue; not so much for statistical reasons, but you do see a worn down defense late in the game missing tackles, hands on hips, etc.. For the season, the Bengals rushing defense has allowed 31.6 yards rushing in the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter, they're averaging 35.4 yards rushing for the season. Not a significant drop off, by any means.

So does that chart bust a myth? The average yards allowed through the first three quarters, broken down average per quarter, is less than yards allowed in the fourth quarter in seven ball games. However, I don't believe that the Bengals defensive effort against the rush is much worse than previously imagined, statistically speaking. In only two games did the opposing team (Giants, Texans) have their longest rushing gain in the fourth quarter. The opposing team's rushing offense averages one full yard less in the fourth quarter than the preceding three.

The most notable deficiency in the fourth quarter by the rushing defense is this: of the 14 rushing touchdowns allowed, six have come in the fourth quarter.

I still believe that the defense is very tired in most game's fourth quarter. However, that doesn't mean that their performance drops off as significantly as we previously thought. But until the offense improves, or sets a philosophy with a youth movement envisioning a future, none of this matters.

Additional charts used in this post.

Rushing yards allowed, broken down between quarters 1-3 and the fourth quarter. This chart includes carries, breaking down yards per average, and when the opposing team's longest rush attempt occurred in the fourth quarter and the grouping of the 1-3 quarters.

Rushing Touchdowns Allowed, broken down between the 1-3 quarters and the fourth quarter.

Note: the headline picture is a September 20, 2007 Mighty Mite Football League game between the Giants and Bengals. The Bengals won 28-0.

(Site Note: the links and notes section is listed at the end of this posting... make sure you run through them)

They killed my brother! I will have vengence.

For as long I can remember, this is the first time I didn't follow up my Thanksgiving dinner with a nap or "cleansing"; instead playing cards with family and chatting about America's economic problems and all that jazz. My immediate family doesn't care for football. Though my stepdad observes it, he can't have a conversion about the Bengals other than slogans like "damn Bengals" or "that jerk Mike Brown" or "they lost, as usual." At one point, he turned off the Lions/Titans game for the Brady Bunch Movie -- and had several LOL moments. Not that I have a problem with that, but talking football is boring. What I absolutely didn't do was watch the football games with any attention. While he was watching the Brady Bunch Movie, I read a coffee table book "Ripley's Believe It Or Not", that spews so many odd-ball facts that it's impossible to put down; unless the dinner bell rings, then it's a stampede.

Unquestionably, my first love is the game of football (high school, college, NFL, whatever). Don't get me wrong, I love the Bengals. Football is football though, and the pure enjoyment of watching it, no matter the opponents, is very fulfilling for me. Like an addiction. If it's on television, I'm watching it. I don't watch it for gambling and I believe that fantasy football bastardizes some people's perceptions of how it should be enjoyed. That's just me.

Still, Thursday's games were some of the worst I've seen back-to-back in a long time. Obvious mismatches of teams going in different directions, fulfilling the tune we heard all week that the Titans would dominate the Lions. The game was embarrassing, though expected. Some believe that the Lions tradition on Thanksgiving should come to an end, while opponents wreck the debate in conservation of tradition mode. Personally, I don't mind if they're playing; just make the game's competitive and we'll be fine. Rams and Lions? Why not. While dominations suck, two really bad teams would make a much more competitive, and enjoyable game. I also believe that inaction simply because of tradition can be damaging, depending on the debate of course. There is a point to be made, however, suggesting that the NFL keep it's better games on Sunday, to avoid wondering eyes watching TNT's version of the Bourne Supremacy.

The trend continued into the afternoon game, and through the night game. The Cowboys had it easy, while the Seahawks hardcore fans should look into the future; our brothers. McNabb was pulled again, after leading his team to an eventual 48-20 win, throwing four touchdowns and recording a 121.7 passer rating. A story of redemption. With a San Francisco loss, the Arizona Cardinals clinch the NFC West for the first time in 33 years. Yet, nervousness and caution outweighs optimism.

The combined scoring difference between winning teams and losing teams on Thursday, was 90 points. 90 points!

Of all the Thanksgivings that I feel asleep, unaware of the world on television, this is the year that I'm not feeling the effects of sleepiness. Then again, if I laid on the couch after dinner to watch the games, perhaps that would have done me in.

Wrecking two of the past three teams; not expecting another this week. I've been riding the horse, waving my Valyrian Steel, proclaiming the Cincinnati Bengals will wreck your team like a King's Knight defending the Court's honor. We helped the Jaguars understand their role in the playoffs this year. We absolutely destroyed the confidence Eagles fans had in Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb. Then the Steelers came in and beat the hell out of their little divisional brother, thus, no wrecking accomplished. Wrecking can continue against the Ravens, who needs this win more than any to keep pace for the AFC North.

However, based on our week one performance WITH Carson Palmer having one of his worst career games, most of our starters healthy, and the certainty that the Ravens are far better than we expected in week one, I don't see us wrecking anything Sunday. Without a vertical game, the Ravens defense will stack the box, neutralizing underneath routes and stuffing our laughable rushing offense. Furthermore, we have no healthy natural defensive ends, forced to place defensive tackle John Thornton at end, especially if Antwan Odom can't go. With our secondary hurt, and the possibly of Geoffrey Pope or Simeon Castille starting, I honestly see no shot. Even if the Ravens play down to us, we're still too horribly injured to compete. There's always Cleveland.

When ligaments and tendons have their own Blackberry device. December 7 is the date doctors expected Palmer's ligaments and tendon will reattach (like some Blackberry chime that a scheduled meeting has arrived); they were originally detached from the bone. We can't stress enough the Bengals unwillingness to just sideline him for the year is plainly dumb and weak. If the injury was soreness and a weakened arm, however structurally sound, then yea, come on back when you feel it. Tendons and ligaments detached from the bone? Give me a break. The Bengals should sit him for the year, and Palmer should lesson the burden that he places on himself thinking that he'd let the team down.

More, more, more. So much freaking more (formerly known as lines and notes).

• The Palmer brothers enjoyed Thanksgiving by inviting their family from California to Cincinnati. Carson is learning, and loving, to hunt.
• Remembering the Bengals opening 2007 season win, by forcing three Steve McNair fumbles.
• James Walker is surprised by the calmness on our one-win team. We've talked about that before. The team hasn't imploded, nor gone off to the media or any of that. They've remained united, saying the right things, steadfast behind Marvin "Father" Lewis, clearly frustrated their season couldn't be better than this.
• Someone doesn't like Walker.
• Scouts Inc. analyzes T.J. Houshmandzadeh -- very accurate.
• Good piece on the relationship between Chad Johnson and Marvin Lewis; guy that hates Walker doesn't like it.
• Chris Crocker is doing a great job proving himself.
• Tickets are still available for Syracuse/UC Saturday.
• Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is a former University of Cincinnati assistant football coach. Harbaugh is proud of the Bearcats. "Congratulations to them and the coaches," he said. "For whatever it's worth, we're proud of them."
• Emotional homecoming for CincyJungle favorite, Willie Anderson.
• Homer outing... to the zoo.
• Wal-mart worker dies after early-morning post-Friday stampede.