“Playoffs?  Don’t talk about playoffs.  Are you kidding me?  Playoffs?”  said former NFL coach Jim Mora.

Most of the football world would have reacted the same way (including myself) as Coach Mora when the 2011 Cincinnati Bengals were mentioned in the same breath as potential playoff teams before this season.

As cliche as it is, games are certainly not played on paper.

The Bengals escaped Tennessee with a 24-17 win en route to their fourth, fourth-quarter come-from-behind win.  The victory also marks the fifth consecutive and sixth overall win for a team that was predicted to win less than five games in many circles.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andre Caldwell catches a five-yard touchdown pass. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)

A steady performance from quarterback (I refuse to call him a rookie anymore) Andy Dalton led the Cincinnati offense with his first career three touchdown game.  The final touchdown pass went to wide receiver Andre Caldwell to help put them up 21-17 with ten minutes left.  Then, a late field goal from Mike Nugent tacked on three more points for the final count.

Dalton finished 22-39 for 217 yards and 97.9 passer rating.

“He can play pretty well. He has missed some throws that we would like for him to make but, all and all, you know, he played well. We didn’t turn the ball over and that’s huge. We knew that would be the key to this football game,” said Head Coach Marvin Lewis.

Fellow first year player A.J. Green got knocked out of the game in the first half, but stormed back in the second half to make some great catches along with Caldwell and Jerome Simpson. Simpson also added a touchdown reception.

The biggest play from Green came on the final drive.

With the offense facing a third and forever following a red zone holding penalty, Green showed why he was a top-five draft pick.  As two Titan defenders barreled down on him,  he was able to haul in a 20 yard reception for a first down that eventually led to Caldwell’s touchdown.

Dalton and Green have made an instant connection since joining the Bengals this season. Green has accounted for nearly 40 percent of Dalton’s 1,396 yards and five of his 12 touchdown passes.

Andy Dalton passes against the Tennessee Titans in the fourth quarter on Sunday. (AP Photo/Frederick Breedon)

“Everybody automatically grouped us together because we came in together. It has been great,” Dalton said, “We have a good relationship, a good friendship and it goes outside of football.”

Cincinnati’s defense struggled early as veteran Matt Hasselbeck torched the blitz for two touchdown passes in the first half.  They regrouped eventually and proved why they are the second ranked defense in the league by shutting out the Titans the rest of the way.

The Bengals have now outscored their opponents 87-43 in the fourth quarter and 126-59 in the second half this season.

This was the third game this season the Bengals haven’t allowed a touchdown in the second half.

Now at 5-1 in the conference, the Bengals have a game edge on the 4-2 Patriots, Ravens and Steelers in AFC play, a game and a half lead on the 4-3 Jets, and a two-game lead on the 3-3 Chargers and Chiefs.

The Bengals seek to continue their winning ways next week as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers in a sold-out Paul Brown Stadium at 1 p.m.

“Nothing is satisfying until you win the big one. That is when you are satisfied,” Green said, “I feel this team is young and we are going to get better each week so we are never satisfied.”

Follow me on Twitter: @DBLY4

The end of October could mean the start of something great in Cincinnati.  For the first time in two seasons, the Bengals have the chance to win their fourth consecutive game.

The Bengals (4-2) are a hot topic around the National Football League this week as they look to continue their current win streak against the 2-4 Seattle Seahawks.

Cincy has won the last three games after a slow 1-2 start and have been able to win the close games.  In fact, every game that the Bengals have played this year has been decided by 10 points or less.  They are led by rookie quarterback Andy Dalton who has exceeded everyone’s expectations up to this point.  Dalton has passed for 1,311 yards with seven touchdowns and has been the benefactor of  the league’s top defense.

The Bengals head into hostile territory as CenturyLink Field is considered as one of the loudest places to play.

What to look for on offense:

Cincy will be without starting running back Cedric Benson who will serve a one-game suspension this week.  Benson, the team’s leading rusher with 458 yards and two touchdowns, received a three-game suspension for his role in an off-season fight.  He then appealed and the league reduced the penalty by two games.  Look for Bernard Scott (1 TD) and Brian Leonard (7.1 yards per attempt) to share the load.

With a weakened running game, watch for wideouts A.J. Green (453 YDS, 4 TD’s) and Jerome Simpson (353 YDS) to break out this week.  Seattle likes to play their safeties in the box, thus creating one-on-one match-ups on the outside.

What to look for on defense:

The Seahawks are waiting until game day to announce who will be starting at quarterback.  Starter Tavaris Jackson missed last week’s game in Cleveland with a pectoral strain, but did participate in the last two days of practice this week.  Uncertainty at quarterback is not a good sign for Seattle. Their 31st ranked offense will have to try to muster up a plan of attack against the league’s second ranked defense.

Cincinnati is only giving up 278.5 yards per game and hasn’t allowed more than 24 points in any contest.

Look for the experienced rotation of defensive linemen such as Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson to take advantage of a young Seattle offensive line.  The Seahawks have had trouble scoring points in bunches and will look to possess the ball to take time off the clock. Expect a steady diet of runs from running back Marshawn Lynch who also missed last week’s game.

Also watch for number 24, Adam “Pacman” Jones, in the secondary as he returns from the PUP list.

Middle Linebacker Rey Maualuga will miss his second straight game and hopes to return next week.

Notes:

Seattle leads the regular season series 9-8.

Marvin Lewis can pass Sam Wyche for most wins as Bengals head coach with 65.

WR A.J. Green leads all NFL rookie receivers with 453 receiving yards.

The Bengals are trying to go perfect in October for the first time since the 1975 club went 4-0 in an 11-3 season under Paul Brown.

 Seattle head coach Pete Carroll had four Bengals at USC: Maualuga, OLB Keith Rivers, DE Frostee Rucker, and S Taylor Mays.

The Bengals suffered their second preseason loss in blowout fashion Sunday night, losing 27-7 to the New York Jets.  An ugly first quarter from QB Andy Dalton and company led to a quick 10-0 Jets lead headlined by a 16 yard TD pass from Mark Sanchez to Santonio Holmes. 

Dalton bounced back in the second quarter to lead the Bengal offense to their first TD of the preseason, but the stingy Jets defense would not allow another score for New York’s first preseason victory.

Cincinnati had a lot to prove to coaches, fans and the rest of the National Football League as they tried to improve on their worst preseason loss in franchise history last week in Detroit.  Dalton, the 35^th overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, started at QB and threw his first pass for an interception.  Then, Ndamukong Suh provided a warm NFL welcoming by slamming him headfirst into the ground.

During the first quarter against the Jets, it looked as if Dalton’s skills were left in the Detroit turf from the previous week’s thumping.  In a heavy rainstorm, Dalton failed to complete 6 of his first 7 passes - two of which went for interceptions. The rookie found himself throwing behind and over receivers.  He was also charged with a fumble after a muffed handoff with RB Cedric Benson. The two early interceptions resulted in 10 unanswered points for the Jets.

“We cannot make the weather an excuse. Both teams had to play in the rain,” said Dalton.  “We just were not quick to start off. It took us a while. After a few turnovers we eventually put a job together that was pretty good.”

The first interception bounced off the hands of rookie A.J. Green and into the arms of Jets’ safety Eric Smith.  Smith then pitched it to cornerback Darrelle Revis who returned it 22 yards to the Bengals 16 yard line.  Sanchez wasted no time by finding a wide open Holmes on a play-action pass for the opening score just 3:23 into the game.

A false start pushed the next possession back for a first-and-15 so Dalton was forced to throw.  After two straight incompletions throwing behind receivers, Dalton let one rip down the middle intended for Andre Caldwell.  The pass soared over Caldwell’s head and into the waiting arms of the other Jets’ safety Jim Leonhard who returned it 35 yards to the Bengals 10.

The Jets’ offense had great field position as the Bengals were presented with another tough defensive assignment.  They would answer the call though and only allowed a field goal.

Dalton finally settled down late in the first quarter with a big play on third-and-10 by avoiding a blitzing linebacker. He floated a pass to tight-end Bo Scaife on the run for a 12-yard gain.

On the next play a perfect screen call against the blitz sprung running back Brian Leonard down the sideline for 33 yards to put the ball on the Jets 14.

Green had another pass go through his hands and Jordan Shipley could only get three yards on a quick throw towards the sideline on second down. Facing another third down and guaranteed blitz, Dalton threw a seed to Shipley over the middle. This made the blitz-happy Jets back into coverage which set up a Leonard plunge from 1-yard out and cut the lead to 10-7 with just 1:58 into the second quarter.

Sanchez, who completed 12 passes for 173 yards and two scores, was backed up on his own 1-yard line during the next series, but managed to find tight-end Dustin Keller on a deep cross for 43 yards.  That momentum led to a well-executed two-minute drill against the Bengals second defense capped off by a diving 26-yard TD reception by newly acquired WR Plaxico Burress.

The Jets took a 17-7 lead into the half and would outscore the Bengals 10-0 the rest of the way as the game turned into the usual sloppy mess of preseason football.

Dalton finished 8-for-19 with 89 yards after starting off just 1-for-7.  Once he settled in, he made crisp, clean throws through small windows.  Five dropped balls affected the stat line and Ninth-year Head Coach Marvin Lewis was pleased with his rookie QB’s resiliency and poise.

“He continues to work through the rough spots of playing this game as a rookie,” said Lewis. “He experienced some different conditions, playing with a wet ball. It was just another good step as he moves forward.”

Cincinnati (0-2) has a short week to recover as they play host to the Carolina Panthers (1-1) Thursday night at Paul Brown Stadium.  Number one pick Cam Newton will be Carolina’s starting quarterback.

Follow Me on Twitter @DBLY4

The Cincinnati Reds head into Pittsburgh for a weekend series after dropping two-out-of-three to the Washington Nationals in typical 2011 Reds fashion.  The consistent failure to produce timely hitting has been a thorn the size of a California Redwood stuck in the club’s side.

“That’s been the story of the year,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “Get one guy hot one day. Get another guy hot the next day, two guys hot this day. Most of the year, we can’t get three or four guys hot at the same time.”

Arroyo pitched well enough to win in his third straight strong outing but has no wins to his credit.

The Reds lost the first game 6-4, thanks to shaky defense, and suffered a 3-1 defeat in the finale to spoil a rare quality start from Bronson Arroyo.  Reds were 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position over the last two games of the series while leaving 10 runners on base in the final contest alone.  Eight hits were collected by the Reds in that game, but Ryan Hanigan and Brandon Phillips accounted for seven of them.

“Last year, a lot of our success was because a lot of guys were hot all year,” Hanigan said. “This year, it’s been sporadic. It’s frustrating. I know guys are working at it. Hopefully we will turn it around and finish strong.”

Former Red Jonny Gomes scorched a bases loaded single to left field that plated two runs in the sixth and proved to be the game winning hit.  Oddly enough, Gomes’ lack of success in similar situations with the Reds warranted his trade to the Nats.

“My main objective over here is to help this team win,” stated Gomes.  “Against the Reds or not against the Reds, it would bring a smile to my face against any other team.”

Cincinnati lost its sixth straight road series and now prepare to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.  The last time these two clubs met in mid-July, Pittsburgh was atop the NL Central division with a half-game lead on Milwaukee. The Reds beat the Pirates to avoid a sweep and the Pirates have plummeted in standings going 7-20 since then.  They currently trail the Reds by a game for third place.

Homer Bailey gets the call for the series opener on Friday with a career 5-0 record and 1.52 ERA against the Bucs.

Walking Wounded

The injury bug has bitten the Reds clubhouse this season as six players have been sidelined recently.  Shortstops Zack Cozart and Edgar Renteria are battling with a hyperextended elbow and strained groin, respectively.

Rookie shortstop Zack Cozart had Tommy John surgery on August 12th to repair his hyperextended elbow.

All-Star third baseman Scott Rolen is recovering from shoulder surgery, left fielder Chris Heisey went down with a common oblique strain and pitchers Logan Ondrusek and Dontrelle Willis are both battling forearm strains on their throwing arms.

#HatsOffCin

Originally from Jamie Ramsey’s Blog at ramsey.mlbblogs.com:

Hey Reds fans, the Reds Community Fund needs your help.  Head & Shoulders is celebrating outstanding accomplishments at MLB ballparks this month with a Twitter contest called the  “Hats Off Movement”.

Fans are encouraged to “tip their hats” to awesome moments on the field via twitter using a team specific hashtag.

The Reds will generate a point each time the hashtag #HatsOffCIN is used.  The team with the most points at the end of August will win a $50,000 donation to support theReviving Baseball in Inner Cities program in Reds country.

Right now the Reds are in third behind the Giants and Yankees…

So watch the Reds, tweet your favorite plays during the game and be sure to use the hashtag #HatsOffCIN each time.  And thanks for supporting the Reds Community Fund!

Follow me on twitter! @DBLY4

After watching the Cincinnati Reds play in person at Wrigley over the weekend, I finally became convinced that the door to the 2011 playoffs for the Reds has been slammed, sealed shut and possibly boarded up until Spring Training of 2012.  Part of this realization came from Yonder Alonso’s one-man circus in left field and the continuing inconsistency of hitters to come through with runners in scoring position.

First, I don’t want to get into the team’s struggles at the plate with runners on base because ultimately the Reds score enough runs to win ballgames.  Cincinnati is ranked sixth in all of baseball in total runs with runners on base (MLB.com).

Now,Yonder can’t be blamed entirely for his less-than-flattering footwork in the outfield.  It is a night and day difference when adjusting from first base to left field especially at the major league level. Some blame goes to the coaching staff and management for sticking Alonzo in a position where he clearly isn’t suited to play.  Sure, the kid has a steady, powerful bat, but the way that he misplayed routine balls on a routine basis cost the team the first game and arguably cost the second game as well. 

Alonso played 62 games in left field for AAA Louisville but after watching his embarrassing performance over the weekend no one would believe it.  No matter what kind of potential a hitter has, there is no way that any player should be tried out at a position at the major league level during an important series to revive the team’s playoff hopes. Management seems to agree with me that the Reds are not in the playoff hunt and evidence supports that theorem.

The Reds have struggled at the plate with runners in scoring position all season. AP Photo

More importantly, the inability to define a position for Yonder Alonso indicates the state of the team in general.  This team doesn’t have an identity, which is confusing.  Their 5-5 record over the past ten days defines the season: mediocre.  They traded away the only player who showed emotion outside of Brandon Phillips (Jonny Gomes) and the Reds are not aggressive on the base paths.

Cincinnati played poor defense before August. Mix untimely hitting with inconsistent bullpen pitching and you have a recipie for a third place team falling 9-1/2 games out of first place - despite having arguably the most potential of any team in the NL Central.  I hate to be cliché, but too bad baseball is not played on paper in Cincinnati.

Yonder Alonso

In my opinion, General Manager Walt Jocketty should have sold Yonder in some kind of a deal for James Shields.  Yonder would be the perfect designated hitter for the Rays while Shields could get away from pitching against Boston and New York. Obviously, Jocketty and the Reds still value Yonder too much to let him go and he should establish himself as a big leaguer in Cincinnati. Now that the playoff hopes are over, there is still time for Alonso to learn a different position other than first base and acclimate to the Majors.

Alonso is hitting 8-for-16 with a homer and four RBIs in the 10 games since he was brought up from the Minors on July 26. AP Photo

Where could that defensive position possibly be? The only two plausible options would be left field or third base. Yonder Alonso made 62 starts in left field at AAA Louisville before being summoned to the big leagues.  During those starts he had a perfect fielding percentage with 88 putouts and three assists.

However, Alonso was working out at third base before the Red’s home game against the Colorado Rockies on Monday.  This is an apparent sign that Manager Dusty Baker has already given up on the left field “experiment.”   Why would you start the kid in left field for 62 games and then move him after he makes one error?  Big leaguers don’t make errors?  Isn’t looking ridiculous sometimes the definition of a rookie?  The Reds should not give up on Yonder in left field yet.

Left field is crowded since fellow prospect Dave Sappelt was just called up to replace Chris Heisey’s roster spot.  Heisey, Sappelt and Fred Lewis are all above average defensive outfielders who can all contribute at the plate.

Third base? With Scott Rolen currently on the disabled list, this poses an interesting situation. In high school, Alonso played third base and says that he feels the most comfortable there.  He went into the University of Miami as a third baseman, but switched to first base after the ‘Canes fielded two future major leaguers at third (Danny Valencia – Twins & Ryan Braun – Brewers).

“You don’t want to do this in the big leagues, but that’s his natural position,” said Baker “Third base is a mirror image of first base, actually. Most first basemen, if they’re not left-handed and have the arm, can play third. We’ll see. We’re trying to figure out the best place to get his bat in the lineup.”

However, the hot corner is still crowded behind Rolen with rookie Todd Frazier and a top prospect Juan Francisco down in AAA.  Reds management must believe that their future third baseman is either Frazier or Francisco.  The problem with that logic is that both have yet to prove themselves as everyday players in the majors.  Management knows that Alonso can already produce at the plate, but need to be careful before they turn to him to take over a position he hasn’t played for years in favor of Frazier and Francisco.

Yonder had zero errors in 62 starts in left field for AAA Louisville. He has 2 errors in 10 career major league starts in the same position. Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Ultimately, the Reds will most likely use Yonder, who is signed through 2012, in a platoon situation in left or at third.  Baker prefers to play matchups. Alonso can give guys like Heisey, Frazier, Sappelt, Rolen and even Joey Votto some days off against unfavorable pitching matchups.  Unfortunately, the kid is too good of a hitter to be a part-time player.