Let's call it what it was...Sunday's win was gigantic. It wasn't pretty, but it gives 50,000 or so Bengals fans next Sunday a whole lot to get excited about as the Steelers roll in with about 15,000 of their faithful.
In my opinion, this ranks as the second biggest win in Marvin Lewis's career here in Cincinnati. Here are the top 5:
5) 11/30/06 - Bengals 13, Baltimore Ravens 7. The third win during a four-game winning streak that brought the Bengals back from the depths at 4-5 to 8-5. It was a raw, rainy Thursday night in Cincinnati, but the Bengals used a flea-flicker touchdown to TJ Houshmandzadeh in the third quarter and a stout defense to turn back the Ravens. The Bengals needed this game desperately, and they beat the eventual AFC North champions on national television.
4) 12/5/04 - Bengals 27, Baltimore Ravens 26. In the 4th quarter, the light finally turned on for Carson Palmer. The Bengals were down 20-3 at one time, and it looked like another hammering from the Ravens defense and crowd. But, the Bengals scored 24 points in the fourth quarter, capped off by a game-winning drive to set up a 24-yard Shayne Graham field goal as time expired. Palmer ended up with 382 yards, 3 touchdowns, and the Bengals beat a team with a winning record on the road for the first time since Pete Rose's haircut was cool.
3) 11/16/03 - Bengals 24, Kansas City Chiefs 19. The Chiefs roll into town undefeated, Chad Johnson guaranteed a victory, and the Bengals pulled off their greatest home win since beating the Oilers in the playoffs in January 1991. The win brought the Bengals back to 5-5 and when Miami beat the Ravens, the Bengals claimed a share of first place in the AFC North. This game also featured Peter Warrick's greatest game as a Bengal, returning a punt 68 yards for a touchdown and hauling in a 77-yard TD pass from Jon "Willie" Kitna, both in the 4th quarter.
2) 9/20/09 - Bengals 31, Green Bay Packers 24. After losing a heartbreaker to Denver a week earlier, the Bengals were about to flush away an offseason of optimism (Well received draft, nearly everyone healthy, Hard Knocks, etc) with an 0-3 start to the season. But, despite numerous penalties and turnovers, the Bengals had enough offensive firepower and six sacks on defense to pull the upset and win for the first time ever at Lambeau Fields. Plus, it gives the networks another game to show that occurred on September 20th...not the Brett Favre hero shot (with Buddy Ryan and OJ Simpson).
1) 12/4/05 - Bengals 38, Pittsburgh Steelers 31. The defining win during Marvin's tenure here in Cincinnati. Beating the big bad wolf in their house to clinch a division title for the first time in 15 years. They hung almost 40 points on a team with a very proud defense...and while the Steelers won their third meeting of the season in the playoffs...this win helped the Bengals to win the tie-breaker and claim the AFC North crown despite sharing a 11-5 record with the Steelers.
Honorable Mention:
11/23/03 - Bengals 31, San Diego Chargers 24
9/24/06 - Bengals 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 20
9/10/07 - Bengals 27, Baltimore Ravens 20
GREAT win, fellas ... even my Bills won (but not against a quality team). Keep the faith ... so long as I pick you to lose (my lock of the week), mortgage the house and go the other way.
Bravo, Who Dey Revolution and your Bengalis
Posted by: Charlie Stella | September 21, 2009 at 11:02 AM
The key element to the #1 win of the Marvin Era--I got married that day, and thus couldn't watch the game. Reverse jinxing all the way to the alter!
RW
Posted by: Robwein | September 21, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Umm, altar.
RW
Posted by: Robwein | September 21, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Thanks for giving credit where credit is do - that's what keeps you legitimate. I was at the game and I can tell you the mood among Bengals fans was incredible... we didn't want to leave the field after the game, people were going crazy. I know it's just one win and we have a long way to go, but you can see that, if we keep getting better and stay healthy, we have a chance to do something... a chance... we shall see
Posted by: Artrell Hawkins | September 21, 2009 at 02:39 PM
That game was just a lot of fun to watch
WDR - check out the Haiku page. Some of them are funny.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090921/SPT02/309210054/1066/Bengals+haiku++Week+2
Posted by: Rich | September 21, 2009 at 06:41 PM
Just give it some time!
Posted by: WCH | September 21, 2009 at 10:48 PM
You can lost everything you own but never lose your dignity.
Posted by: Jordan retro 3 | November 13, 2010 at 01:18 AM