An all important divisional win gives us sole custody of first place in the
AFCN. I'll savor that fact for one week at least.

Flacco impressed by not trying to impress at all. He did exactly what he is
expected to do which is to manage the ball, avoid personal mistakes and to
just learn the pro game and speed.

While a confidence booster this game does little to shed any real light on
where we are as a team nor does it hint at how the remainder of our season
may pan out since it only gets harder from this point on. After falling 5-11
last season, beating the Bengals on opening day 2008 doesn't seem to raise
either my adrenaline level or expectations.

Our remaining division rivals played better teams today. For all the Bengals
offensive talent they seem to strive to underachieve. For all our apparent
dominant play we could very well have lost this game. The key is that unlike
2007 we did not lose so a plus... is a plus... is a plus...

Playing together as a unit the D was exceptional in holding off the Bengals
from taking
advantage of early offensive mistakes. If the D is truly up to speed then
next week holds genuine promise for the possibility of another W and would
be another confidence booster going into the tougher portion of our first
half schedule.

Offensive output was adequate enough today thanks to the D but there remains
ample room for improvement across the board. far too many dropped passes
early on. Hopefully that was due to unfamiliarity with Flacco's passes.

For the most part the oline did a very good job protecting Flacco and in
opening up the running game for whomever carried the ball. For the record...
O'Niel and McLain in the same backfield should be outlawed and I can't wait
to see them in action against the Steelers.

Offensive play calling was certainly imaginative and worked well against a
suspect Bengals D which is all it had to do today. Todd Heap hampered the
offense immensely today and Rice has to stop running upright. No more week
side pitch outs to him please. While I loved watching the double reverse the
Bengals have the only D in the NFL that we could successfully run it
against.

Rex Ryan served up an excellent plan himself against a well known divisional
rival while C-Mac displayed his signature non contract year inadequacies
following his earlier game heroics.

Pittsburgh defeated Houston handily at beHinds Field so the Texans will be
eager for a win in their home opener against us. If Flacco doesn't have a
meltdown in hostile territory we should win that game. In the meantime Ozzy,
can we please get another QB just in case we DO happen to require another
one at some point during the season.

Drew
--
RävNsfän ®

"Talk is cheap..., lets go play"
(Johnny Unitas - Baltimore Colts)