Bengals top Packers--Get Back on the Bandwagon

By Greg Stephens  |   Tuesday, September 22, 2009  |  Comments( 1 )

Cincinnati Bengals
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After the Cincinnati Bengals lost a heartbreaker to Denver in Week One, the national media was already burying the Bengals' 2009 season.

Colin Cowherd of ESPNRadio took great joy in reminding Bengaldom how bad their franchise has been for two decades.

Power rankings pushed the Bengals near the bottom of the pile, barely squeaking the Cincinnati's finest above the Lions, who haven't won a game since 2007.

The Packers hosted the Bengals as a heavy favorite, given their Week One victory over Jay Cutler and the Bears and the fact the game against the Bengals was at vaunted Lambeau Field.

Then the unexpected happened. The Bengals marched into Lambeau and punched the Packers square in the mouth. In fact, Antwan Odom punched Packer quarterback Aaron Rodgers five times to be exact.

Now, the media is slowly opening its collective arms to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Covering the Bengals-Packers game in its Monday one-liners, Profootballtalk.com stated the following:

"The Bengals won in Green Bay 31-24, and the total team victory by Cincinnati was even more convincing than the final score indicates.

After recording only three sacks last year, DE Antwan Odom's five-sack day felt like a dream. He believes that adding weight has helped him this season.

LB Rey Maualuga forced two fumbles and a sack, including an awesome play where he practically decapitated Packers RB Ryan Grant.

RB Cedric Benson, who rushed for 146 yards and is playing the best football of his career, is a good example of the maturing Bengals."

Even more convincing than the final score indicates? The media of old would have said the Bengals squeaked by a lucky victory.

Awesome play where he practically decapitated Ryan Grant? The media of old would have questioned if Maualuga didn't just get lucky.

And here is my favorite--Benson is a good example of the maturing Bengals.

Wow. The MATURING Bengals. Who would have dreamed such praise would be forthcoming to the Bengals after that offensive dreck that was the Bronco loss?

Want some more proof the media sees some empty seats on the bandwagon and are climbing on early? On ESPNRadio's four o'clock show this afternoon, John Seibel indicated the Bengals actually have a growing and tough defense.

It's been four seasons since the national media has given some love to Cincinnati. Welcome aboard, guys. We'll see if you are still around after Week Three.
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