Chargers Week Notes

[Bengals1181]

Michael Gehlken ‏@UTgehlken4h

Left tackle King Dunlap (neck) and safety Darrell Stuckey (concussion) among the Chargers not practicing today.

[Bengals1181]

Michael Gehlken ‏@UTgehlken25 Nov

Chargers have about 6,100 general tickets unsold for Sunday's Bengals game. No NFL game has been blacked out this season.

[FulcherVulcher33]

All white, puke

[NativeTheory]

I'll be there tailgating next to my orange black stripped challenger be wearing my all black Nike Green jersey. Just me and the wife. If any Bengal fans wanna stop by I'll be BBq carne asada n have plenty of beer. Got two tickets right behind the Bengals bench. Who Dey!

 

Hey I'm going to be at the game too. Let me know where you are setting up and will pop by for a beer.

[Bengals1181]

CINCINNATI -- Marvin Lewis likes to point out that he sees better than he hears. What he saw Wednesday had to bring a smile whether he wanted to show it or not.

Linebacker Rey Maualuga was back up and running with full participation at practice for the first time since he suffered a sprained knee and concussion against the New York Jets on Oct. 27. Defensive lineman Devon Still, who suffered an elbow injury at Detroit on Oct. 20, was also dressed and at full go as the Bengals had their first full practice following last week's bye. 

"Next Man Up" is a great mindset and rallying cry but having your team as close to full strength as possible is better. 

"We're about as good as we could hope to be at this time of the year," said head coach Marvin Lewis on Wednesday before the team went out to practice in frigid temperatures and blowing snow flurries. "I think we have to feel blessed for that -- knock on wood -- to be where we are at this point in the season. For that you have to feel pretty good about."

Right guard Kevin Zeitler (foot) and left-footed punter Kevin Huber (left ankle) did not practice on Wednesday, while linebacker Michael Boley (shoulder) was limited in practice. Zeitler could miss a second straight game but he was seen walking around Paul Brown Stadium without the protective boot he was wearing prior to the team's last game against Cleveland 10 days ago.

The Bengals, leading the AFC North with a 7-4 record and battling for a possible playoff bye, head west to San Diego this week to face a Chargers team that at 5-6 is in the thick of the fight for the final wild card spot in the AFC.
 
The injury bug has hit the defensive side of the ball particularly hard this season, but it's not as if the Bengals have dropped their play despite the numerous injuries to coordinator Mike Zimmer's unit. They were ranked eighth in overall defense, allowing 322.5 yards per game, and fifth in points (18.0) heading into the Halloween night game at Miami, which coincided with the injuries not only to Maualuga and Still but also fell in the same time frame as the season-ending losses of cornerback Leon Hall to an Achilles tear (at Detroit) and a torn ACL to defensive tackle Geno Atkins (at Miami). 

They are now sixth in points allowed at 18.7 points per game, while they are allowing 311.1 yards per game and are ranked No. 7 in the league in that category.

The defense has gotten stellar play from linebacker Vontaz Burfict as well as the defensive line -- ends Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson and interior players Domata Peko and Wallace Gilberry -- and secondary members Terence Newman, Adam Jones and Reggie Nelson. Those have been expected. The unexpected has been how well the reserve players have performed in the wake of all of the injuries.

Vinny Rey has stepped onto the field with Maualuga out, playing more than he's ever played before in his career, and delivered three straight double-digit tackle games against the Dolphins, Baltimore and Cleveland. Second-year defensive tackle Brandon Thompson has seen his snap counts increase dramatically since the injuries to Still and Atkins. When safety Chris Crocker missed the game against the Browns with a sore hamstring, Brandon Ghee and Dre Kirkpatrick each saw their most extensive action of the season and performed well.
 
Crocker was also back practicing on Wednesday.

San Diego is coming off a 41-38 win at Kansas City last Sunday, getting a 26-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Phillip Rivers to wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu with 24 seconds remaining. Rivers is playing as well as anyone at the position right now, having completed a league-leading 70.8 percent of his pass attempts and throwing for at least 390 yards in four games this season. Only Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Joe Montana have ever accomplished that feat before in a season, and neither of them made it five games. 

Rivers was a ridiculous 11-of-13 for 199 yards and one touchdown on third down against Kansas City. The Chiefs entered that game ranked second in scoring defense (13.8) and No. 3 in third-down conversions.

The Bengals are No. 6 in the league in pass defense, allowing an average of 211.1 yards per game. Matthew Stafford of Detroit is the only quarterback to throw for 300 or more yards against Cincinnati this season or in the last 25 games dating back to Week 2 of the 2012 season. They've had five games this season in which they've held opponents to less than 200 yards passing.

"We're a pretty confident bunch. I think the biggest thing for us this week is not playing from behind," said Crocker. "It seems like the last couple of weeks we've gotten behind and then we've calmed down and started to play better. But we've had to play catch up. 
People say start fast, but it's start efficient. Do what we're supposed to do early, not allow explosives (plays), get aligned, don't have stupid penalties. 

"Let's not shoot ourselves in the foot early in the game. If we have to punt the ball, punt the ball. If we have to get a stop, get a stop. If it's a field position game early, that's just the way it has to be. We have to be efficient early in the game. Be smart."

 

http://www.foxsportsohio.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/story/Bengals-head-to-San-Diego-much-healthier?blockID=966863&feedID=11217

[Bengals1181]

Domata Peko

Updated: 6:30 p.m.

If you think Philip Rivers looks revitalized and reminds you of the North Carolina State chucker that carved up the North when Marvin Lewis's staff coached against the South in the 2004 Senior Bowl, or even the Philip Rivers that smoked the Bengals out of the 2006 playoffs with a 42-point second half at Paul Brown Stadium that obliterated a 28-7 halftime deficit, you just may be right.

Under first year Chargers head coach Mike McCoy, Rivers heads into Sunday's game against the Bengals (4:25 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 12) leading the NFL in completion percentage (70.8) while racking up the fourth-most yards on the way to a 5,000-yard season with a career-best passer rating of 106.6.

That's after two seasons Rivers never got rolling like he did in his heyday, but those days are gone with a scary completion rate that has the new-look Chargers looking at a shot at the playoffs at 5-6.

"It's been a combination of a couple of things," Rivers explained to the Cincinnati media Wednesday about that 70.8 despite his 64 career completion percentage. "We're throwing a lot more short to intermediate passes. For years here we've really pushed it up the field and we're still getting some chunk plays but we pushed it down the field a lot. One of the most in the league. It's a little more high percentage in the attempts and I've just tried to emphasize myself to throw completions.

"Take what the defense gives you. There are times when you need to try and squeeze one in there and there are times to push it up the field. But just throw completions and keep throwing completions and get the ball in our guys' hands and let them run with it. The combination of those two things have been a positive so far."

The short routes have also helped the Chargers leap in the NFL rankings when it comes to yards after catch. Pro Football Focus rates Keenan Allen 18th and Eddie Royal 21st in YAC among wide receivers and Danny Woodhead fifth for running backs. And Antonio Gates leads all tight ends.

"That's credit to the guys," Rivers said. "We've had a lot of guys catch and run. The key there is getting to them accurately and (letting) them do it and getting it to them on time."

The Bengals know all about Rivers. In '09 he knocked them out of the AFC's second playoff seed in Week 15 when he drove his team some 60 yards in about 40 seconds with no timeouts left for a winning 52-yard field goal with three seconds left. The Bengals have won the last two times they've faced the Chargers, but defensive tackle Domata Peko is the one holdover from the '06 nightmare.

"I remember him well from that day," Rivers said.

"Last year, they had some struggles offensively. But it’s not just Rivers that’s playing better. It’s the whole group around him that’s playing a lot better," Peko said. "Gates is having a hell of a year for them. They’ve got some young receivers that have been playing really well, but it all starts with (running back Ryan Mathews) and their running game. They have one of the best running attacks right now. We take a lot of pride in our run defense so we’ve got to really attack this offensive line and really get after them and make them one-dimensional and really cut out the runs."

Rivers remembers the losses as well as the wins against the Bengals in games that have always come late in the year (the earliest was the Nov. 12 game in '06) and have meant so much for either one of the teams or both. Of that 20-13 loss nearly a year ago back on Dec. 1, Rivers recalled, "It was 13-10 it seemed like forever. We were in the lead and we just could not put together one more drive and Cincinnati scored to make it 17-13 and then I threw an interception late. There have been some good games. I'm sure this one will be a good one as well."

MORE PEKO: Just like he did for the late Chris Henry a few years ago, Peko on Wednesday handed out black stocking caps with an orange No. 53 and the letters R.I.P. to honor former Bengals linebacker Thomas Howard. Howard, 30, killed in a car accident last week, was laid to rest in his native Texas.

After Wednesday's practice, Peko's two grade-school sons greeted their dad with cupcakes for his teammates to celebrate his 29th birthday.

SLANTS AND SCREENS

» Bengals safety Chris Crocker knows exactly how important Woodhead is to the MVP-type season of Rivers.

"He's his Darren Sproles," Crocker said Wednesday of the pint-sized running back who gives Rivers so many big dimensions in the passing game Sunday (4:25 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 12) in San Diego.

The departure of Sproles to New Orleans a few years back has been fingered as a major reason for the dip of Rivers's numbers before this season. Now that Woodhead leads all NFL running backs in catches (59) and yards (469), Rivers has been revived. But old friend Sproles is right behind with 463 yards for the Saints.

» Lewis said before Wednesday's practice that his club is about as healthy as can be. The only question mark looks to be right guard Kevin Zeitler after he missed his first game as a pro last time out against Cleveland 10 days ago. Zeitler (foot) and punter Kevin Huber (punting ankle) were the only ones not to work Wednesday in practice that took place on the Paul Brown Stadium field in 29-degree weather that sported the occasional snowflake. Since the Bengals didn't have another punter on hand Wednesday, all indications are they think Huber can punt Sunday.

» The newest Bengal, defensive tackle Christo Bilukidi, is here for his first week of work after his original Bengals contract was revoked by the NFL because his Canadian work permit didn't transfer with his release from the Raiders. He said the move caught everyone by surprise and he and his agent are currently working with the NFL Players Association to see if it can get rectified for other players.

"There are more and more international players coming into the league," Bilukidi said.

 

 

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Notes-Rivers-rolling-to-another-Bengals-showdown/c828d66a-620e-400c-aea8-15f9d0295c96

[|Numbers|]

http://www.chargers.com/news/article-1/Scouting-Report-Chargers-vs-Bengals/9144181c-b7d7-41b2-9ffc-60805545fc1e

 

Scouting Report: Chargers vs. Bengals

 

The San Diego Chargers look to make it two in a row when they return to Qualcomm Stadium to take on the Cincinnati Bengals for the first of four home games in December. It will be a memorable afternoon as the Chargers celebrate the 50th Anniversary of their 1963 AFL Championship and take the field in their powder blue alternate uniforms. Make sure you are at the Q to root on the Bolts.  Click here to purchase tickets to see the Chargers take on Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and company.

 

A Look Back At Last Week

 

In one of the most emotional victories in recent history, the Chargers rallied to gut out a 41-38 win at Arrowhead Stadium.  Trailing the Chiefs with 1:24 remaining on the clock, Philip Rivers navigated the Bolts down the field in 1:02, finding Seyi Ajirotutu down the left sideline in the end zone for the 26-yard game winning touchdown.

 

What to Watch For…

 

On Offense for the Chargers

 

Already playing at a high level, Philip Rivers is historically at his best when the calendar turns to December.  He boasts a lifetime record of 26-5 as the team’s starting signal caller, which is the most in the NFL since 2006.  Rivers ranks third all-time in the month of December with a passer rating of 98.4.  Including a stint in the 2005 season finale, he has completed 585 of 940 (62.2%) for 7,240 yards, 56 touchdowns and just 17 interceptions.  Rivers comes into Sunday’s game as the NFL’s fifth-highest rated passer with a rating of 106.6, nearly 11 points higher than his career rating of 95.7. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is nearly three-to-one (22-to-8), well above his career TD-to-INT ratio of 211-to-101. Rivers is also completing passes at a league-leading 70.8% clip, more than six percentage points higher than his 64.4 career ledger. With 3,381 yards through the season’s first 11 games, Rivers is on pace to pass for 4,918 yards, which would shatter the franchise record of 4,802 yards set by Dan Fouts in 1981.

 

On Offense for the Bengals

 

First and foremost, the Chargers will need to be aware of wherever A.J. Green is on the field. One of the most lethal wide receiver weapons in the NFL, Green is coming off his worst game of the season, a two-catch, seven-yard performance vs. the Cleveland Browns.  That ended his franchise record performance of five 100-yard receiving games in a row. After not playing last week due to the bye, Green enters this week in third place in the NFL in receiving yards. With 1,020 yards, he’s only 24 behind AFC leader Antonio Brown of Pittsburgh (1044) and 178 behind Calvin Johnson of Detroit.

 

On Defense for the Chargers

 

San Diego features a young defense, which as a whole has been hit particularly hard by the injury bug, especially at outside linebacker where the Chargers have been decimated by injuries.  Two starters Dwight Freeney and Larry English - have been lost for the season, and Jarret Johnson has missed time recently due to a hamstring strain and a hand injury. Melvin Ingram, last year’s first round pick was expected to start, but he’s spent the first 12 weeks of the season on the “Physically Unable to Perform” list while recovering from an offseason knee injury. He returned to practice last week and the Chargers are hopeful of getting Ingram back on the field before the end of the season. One of the team’s top performers at outside linebacker as of late has been Thomas Keiser, a third-year player who began the season on the Bolts’ practice squad and who before Nov. 10, had never started a game in the NFL.

 

On Defense for the Bengals

 

Just like the Chargers, the Bengals have been hit hard on defense by injuries, but they have been thriving despite the losses of Geno Atkins, Leon Hall and Rey Maualuga. Veteran defensive back Adam Jones has stepped in to replace Hall while second-year pro Brandon Thompson has replaced Atkins as Jones is a confident and fearless performer and Thompson is a 325-pound rock who has been a team tackles leader since becoming a starter.

 

Series History

 

The Chargers hold a 19-13 edge in the all-time series. Cincinnati has won the last two meetings (2010 in Cincinnati and 2012 in San Diego), but prior to that the Chargers won two straight, five of six and eight of 10. The Chargers are 10-6 against the Bengals in San Diego.

 

By the Numbers

 

For the year, the Chargers rank sixth in total offense (407.7 yards per game), fourth in passing (296.9 ypg), 17th in rushing (110.8 ypg) and 13th in points (24.5). The Bengals rank 10th in total offense (364.5 ypg), 10th in passing (256.6 ypg), 20th in rushing (107.9 ypg) and 10th in points (25.0)

Defensively, the Bolts rank 29th in total defense (389.5 ypg), 27th in passing (276.0 ypg), 17th in rushing (113.5 ypg) and 15th in points allowed (23.6).  Cincinnati ranks seventh in total defense (313.1 ypg), sixth in passing (211.1 ypg), 10th in rushing (102.0 ypg) and sixth in points allowed (18.7).

 

Milestones on the Horizon

 

Antonio Gates is third on the team’s all-time receiving yardage list with 9,006 yards. He needs 198 to pass Hall of Fame wide receiver Charlie Joiner (9,203) for second.

Gates has 21-career 100-yard games, sixth in team history. He needs one more to tie Wes Chandler for fifth and five more to tie Kellen Winslow’s mark (26) for most in team history by a tight end. Gates’ 21-career 100-yard games are fourth-most in the NFL by a tight end since 1960.

Philip Rivers needs just 119 yards and three touchdowns to extend his franchise-record streaks of 3,500-yard passing and 25-touchdown seasons to six. He’s already just the sixth quarterback in NFL history to record at least eight seasons with 20-or-more touchdown passes joining Peyton Manning (13), Brett Favre (12), Dan Marino and Drew Brees (10) and Eli Manning (8).

Rivers needs three more touchdown passes to join Peyton Manning (13) and Brees (8) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with more than 25 touchdown passes in at least six consecutive seasons.

Rivers has four games this season with 390-or-more yards. That ties the most in a single-season in NFL history with Dan Marino (1984) and Joe Montana (1990). If Rivers has another 390-yard game, it would set a new NFL record.

Ryan Mathews (3,197 career rushing yards) is currently sixth on the team’s all-time rushing list. He needs 113 rushing yards to move past the late Chuck Muncie (3,309) for fifth.

 

Past Milestones vs. Bengals

 

Philip Rivers passed for 308 yards and three touchdowns in a Dec. 20, 2009 win over the Bengals, the same game in which he also led a  game-winning field goal drive over the final 51 seconds of the fourth quarter.  The victory coupled with a Denver loss helped the Chargers clinch a fourth-straight AFC West title.

On Nov. 12, 2006, Rivers led the Chargers to a 49-41 come-from-behind victory at Paul Brown Stadium in which he helped lead the Chargers back from a 21-point deficit. The Bolts trailed 28-7 in the first half before scoring a team-record 42 points in the second half.

In four career games against the Bengals, Rivers is 101 of 162 passing (62.3%) for 1,182 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions.

 

Connections

 

Chargers long snapper Mike Windt is a native of Cincinnati. He prepped at Elder High School, played collegiately at the University of Cincinnati and signed with the Bengals as an undrafted rookie in 2010.

Defensive tackle Kwame Geathers’ brother, Robert, is a defensive end for the Bengals, however he is on injured-reserve with an elbow injury.

Tight end Antonio Gates finished his collegiate career on the hardwood at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.

Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco played football at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio.

Chargers Assistant Offensive Line Coach Andrew Dees played for the Bengals in 1992.

Bengals quarterback Josh Johnson played collegiately at the University of San Diego.

Bengals cornerback Leon Hall is from Vista, Calif. a suburb of San Diego and he prepped at Vista High School.

Strength and conditioning coach Chip Morton was an assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Chargers from 1995-98.

Quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese attended USD, served as an assistant coach with the school from 1990-91 and is the son of former Chargers offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese.

 

Broadcast Information

 

CBS (KFMB, Channel 8 in San Diego and KCBS, Channel 2 in Los Angeles and Orange County) – Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Dan Fouts (analyst)

Rock 105.3 FM, XTRA Sports 1360 (San Diego) and AM 570 KLAC (Los Angeles & Orange County) – Josh Lewin (play-by-play), Hank Bauer (analyst), Mike Costa (Sidelines)

Spanish Radio –XHFG 107.3 (San Diego) and KWKW 1330 AM (Los Angeles) – Jorge Villanueva (play-by-play) and Dante Lazcano (analyst)

 

All Chargers radio broadcasts are now being streamed live on the team’s official website, www.chargers.com. XTRA Sports 1360 Broadcasts with Josh Lewin (play-by-play) and Hank Bauer (analyst) will begin two hours before kickoff and continue for 90 minutes of postgame coverage after the game ends.

 

For a unique, one-of-a-kind look at the Chargers, be sure to tune in each week to Chargers Insider on Fox Sports San Diego.  The half-hour program will be the go-to destination for fans that want behind-the-scenes coverage and unique features on the team. Chargers Insider airs each week throughout the season on Thursdays at 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. PT as well as Saturday’s at 11:35pm on KFMB, Channel 8.

 

The Bolts return to Qualcomm Stadium on Dec. 1 for the first of four home games in the month of December when they take on Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and the AFC North leading Cincinnati Bengals.  Make sure you are here to cheer on the Chargers. 

[happyrid]

Random prediction: The bye week allows Tyler Eifert to kind of catch his breathe and push through the rookie wall. I think he ends up stepping up and being a bigger impact guy down the stretch, starting with a big game vs. the chargers

[The_Joker]

All white, puke

Damn....what's next?? Asians? Racist bastard....



:ninja

[Le Tigre]

I was thinking that the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the AFL Championship might provide some emotional lift for them. Then again, how many people present in the stadium were around in 1963 to remember? I am old enough to remember watching AFL games on the Telly in the mid '60's. I loved the AFL...crazy-assed league!

[Bengals1181]

Chargers are wearing the powder blues this week.

[Bengals1181]

Lance McAlister ‏@LanceMcAlister58m

Remember, Roundtable Show at 5pm tonight. We are not @JeffersonSocial , but they are open 10am-1:30 and again 8pm to close today. #Bengals

[Le Tigre]

http://www.grayflannelsuit.net/ephemera/afl-programs/1963/AFL-game-program_1963-San-Diego-Chargers_Boston-Patriots.JPG

[|Numbers|]

I was thinking that the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the AFL Championship might provide some emotional lift for them. Then again, how many people present in the stadium were around in 1963 to remember? I am old enough to remember watching AFL games on the Telly in the mid '60's. I loved the AFL...crazy-assed league!

 

 

That's LT standing up tuning the dial to get better reception... :rsju31uh9:

[|Numbers|]

Oh and here's a picture of Amish waiting for results of the latest game...

 

[texbengal]

Oh and here's a picture of Amish waiting for results of the last year's game...

 

 

 

FIFY

[|Numbers|]

 

 

FIFY

 

Thanks.  :10:

[Le Tigre]

 
That's LT standing up tuning the dial to get better reception... :rsju31uh9:

Har-dee-har!

But this actually was the TV of the day for me:

http://www.tvhistory.tv/RCA-CTC162-ColorTV.JPG

Real live COLOR TV!

[FulcherVulcher33]

Damn....what's next?? Asians? Racist bastard....



:ninja

I'm not racist, I hate everyone lmao

[|Numbers|]

Har-dee-har!

But this actually was the TV of the day for me:

http://www.tvhistory.tv/RCA-CTC162-ColorTV.JPG

Real live COLOR TV!

 

Yup, that TV looks familiar.  You must have been the rich kid on the block.

[Bengals1181]

BENGALS WLB VONTAZE BURFICT VS. CHARGERS RB DANNY WOODHEAD

If the following sounds like a case for Burfict as the Bengals MVP heading into December, so be it. Like the last time the Bengals won the AFC North in 2009, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's unit has carried the Bengals much of the way.

Consider that the Bengals offense has turned it over 22 times, third most in the AFC, while allowing three return touchdowns. Of the remaining 19 miscues, the defense has allowed just three TDs in sudden change and only once since Opening Day has a foe turned a turnover into a touchdown, and that's when the Ravens got the ball at the Cincinnati 11.

Of the 14 times the Bengals have turned it over on their side of the field, the defense has held the opponent to no points seven times with six punts and a missed field goal. They've allowed five field goals and just two touchdowns.

 

And the best player on that defense so far has been Burfict as he bids for the Pro Bowl in his second season. He not only leads the NFL tackles with 118, but he's been a mainstay in a nickel defense that is sixth in the league defending the pass. While playing all three downs, Pro Football Focus ranks Burfict as the league's best outside backer in coverage. Plus, he's so versatile that while his position of WILL backer is an outside spot, he's on the Pro Bowl ballot as an inside backer.

 

Burfict has played most of the season's 745 downs with a snap count bordering on 97 percent and Bengals radio analyst Dave Lapham is hoping the return of middle linebacker Rey Maualuga (knee, concussion) after a three-game absence gives Burfict a break. Maualuga usually plays on first and second downs and occasionally in nickel, but he and Vinny Rey can give Burfict a rest in either package.

"Tez is the most indispensable player on the defensive side of the ball, that's for sure," Lapham says. "If you don't have him, you're in trouble. He takes every snap. With Rey coming back, one thing he can provide is maybe giving him a breather. Even something like five snaps would be a good rest."

Burfict's coverage and tackling skills are going to be put to the test by the 5-8, 200-pound water-buggy Woodhead, leading all NFL running backs with 59 catches, 469 receiving yards and five touchdown catches while PFF has him ranked with the fifth-most yards in the league after catch among running backs.

"He does most of his damage out of the backfield, but they will put him in the slot sometimes," Lapham says. "The key is going to be how the linebackers deal with him. You've got to limit him after the catch."

"A lot," Burfict says when asked what Woodhead presents. "He can catch, run, he's good. It will take all 11 to stop him. On the checkdowns you just have to tackle him. I just have to know where my help is at. If I miss, I know what side to err on. Other people seem not to tackle him. For me, just knowing where my help is whether its Cover 2, Cover 3 or man."

That's basically how Burfict rocked Browns running back Chris Ogbonnaya last time out to force a fumble for his first NFL touchdown on one of those passes out of the backfield he'll see plenty on Sunday against Woodhead. Knowing lineman Wallace Gilberry had Ogbonnaya by the legs, Burfict lowered his shoulder, popped the ball loose and 13 yards later he was running up the visitor's tunnel.

"I knew my other guy was coming so I didn't have to wrap up. So I just came with my shoulder and jarred the ball loose and it was like Christmas," Burfict says. "I saw him come in from the back so I felt I could just come in and not hit my teammate and hit the ball."

The Bengals compare Woodhead, the New England refugee, to the back the Chargers let go to New Orleans a few years back, multi-dimensional Darren Sproles, the man that helped make Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers a franchise guy. It’s no coincidence that the Sproles-like Woodhead has been at the center of Rivers's revival as a target all over the place ranging from the slot to coming out of the backfield.

"Woodhead is their Darren Sproles," says nickel back Chris Crocker. "Very shifty guy, they try to get him the ball in open spaces. He's good at what he does. He's very elusive. He beats a lot of guys in one-on-ones. Very dangerous.

"He adds an element when you get a guy like that on a linebacker or just get him in space. He knows what to do with the ball. He runs good routes and in the running game he always finds a hole and makes some cuts. He's a good back, he's a solid guy."

Rivers has been raving about Woodhead a lot longer than that.

"No disrespect to the other free agents we signed, but I think he’s the biggest signing we had in the offseason," Rivers told the Cincinnati media Wednesday.

Take last week in the final drive of the game in Kansas City when Rivers authored a come-from-behind victory secured in a two-minute drill with a touchdown. On back-to-back plays, Woodhead took swing passes out of the backfield and broke plays of 19 and 14 yards, respectively.

"Last week he had a touchdown reception, he had a rushing touchdown and in that last two-minute drive he made two catches on swing routes and turned them into big gains. He’s been big for us," Rivers said. "He’s very versatile. He’s not just a pass catcher. He had six or so carries for 25 yards last week. He sprinkles in the run. Best way I can describe him is a football player. He’s smart, he’s gritty, he’s tough and he can fly, too. He can really run. He’s very quarterback-friendly to throw the ball to. He understands coverages. He understands what it looks like from our point of view back there.

"He’s not just a pass catcher. We like to hand it to him. He’s a runner. We’ve seen teams key on him a little more the last few weeks to try to keep him from getting clean releases and things like that."

If Woodhead has the math with leverage, Burfict knows much about geometry.

"He's got his doctorate in football geometry; his angles are perfect," Lapham says. "He has the uncanny ability to play the perfect angle. He knows what he can do and what he can't do. He's a football computer mentally. He's a one in a however many years kind of player."

Burfict got his first AFC Defensive Player of the Week award last week, but he couldn't care less. In fact, his reaction to the award is "I don't care. It wasn't because of me. It's a team thing. Zim had a good lead on what they were going to do and he called good plays."

Athough head coach Marvin Lewis called out Burfict last week for his 15-yard unnecessary roughness call against the Browns, on Wednesday Burfict remained determined to protect his teammates.

"I think that brings a little bit of emotion. I think guys feed off of that," Burfict says. "The Browns were pushing Vinny (Rey) and then I pushed a guy. We shut them down on the next drive and fed a fire under the defense.”

It's a fire that Rivers can see from the The Coast when he watches tape.

"He sure is around the ball a lot. He seems to play reckless. Reckless within the scheme. He throws his body around and plays reckless," Rivers says. "A lot like when Rey (Maualuga) was here his rookie year in '09. I thought he was as reckless of a linebacker as I’ve seen. He was diving over people and getting flipped by running backs and just seemed to throw his body around like crazy. And he’s still that way. I know he’s dealing with a little bit of an injury. But 55 seems to be the same way. And obviously (Vinny Rey) been playing really well the last few weeks. And obviously James Harrison. I respect the heck out of him. I could go down the list. There’s a lot of recognizable names around this league. We’ve got our hands full."

So does Burfict. With five games left, he could be holding his team's MVP trophy.

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Matchup-of-the-Game-Practice-makes-Burfict-as-Tez-lines-up-Woodhead/4b5173b9-f2b6-490a-938c-407ec0b7072c

[|Numbers|]

 

Edward Furlong VS. CHARGERS RB DANNY WOODHEAD

 

 

[Bleeds Orange]

All white, puke

 

The Bengals are one of the worst-dressed teams in the league regardless of which combination they wear, but I actually like the all-white better than anything else because it's the least-busy.  Although the home black jersey over the white pants wasn't an option this week, it is a mess.

 

[Jason]

 

The Bengals are one of the worst-dressed teams in the league regardless of which combination they wear, but I actually like the all-white better than anything else because it's the least-busy.  Although the home black jersey over the white pants wasn't an option this week, it is a mess.

 

 

And you call yourself a Bengals fan?!?!?!?!?

 

:1018:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:lol:

[Bleeds Orange]

They still have the best helmets in the history of the league, though.  :)