Pat Sims News

A no-name defense has helped make the Cincinnati Bengals the surprise team of the NFL through the first half of the season.

The Bengals are 10-2-1 at Paul Brown Stadium in their last 13 against the NFC and are unbeaten in their last three.

After his defense was carved up for 472 yards by Houston last week, Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is dealing with many of the same problems as the offense.

They may not have past NFL sacks to replace him, but they've got guys willing to play despite getting sacked.

Also Monday, head coach Marvin Lewis said that rookie right tackle Andre Smith returns to practice Wednesday and will do some work as trainers monitor the response of his broken foot before letting him participate in everything.

Bengals running back Brian Leonard and defensive tackle Frostee Rucker missed a third straight day of practice and are listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans at Paul Brown Stadium.

Each Sunday, the FO staff sends around e-mails about the games that each of us are watching.

The NFL has launched an investigation into whether Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards violated the league's conduct policy for allegedly punching the friend of his sports rival LeBron James outside a nightclub early Monday.

Bengals DT Tank Johnson is out of today's game with the Ravens after he was listed as questionable this week due to a foot injury.

Edwards reportedly punched Edward Givens at 2:30 a.m. at the View Ultra-Lounge & Nightclub, 618 Prospect Ave., in Cleveland, and some of the receiver's teammates also reportedly threw punches to defend themselves.

It doesn't look like Cavaliers small forward LeBron James and Browns receiver Braylon Edwards will be hanging out together anytime soon.

Shayne Graham kicked a 31-yard field goal with four seconds left in overtime, as the Cincinnati Bengals pulled out a 23-20 victory over Cleveland to keep the Browns winless.

Shayne Graham's field goal on the final play of overtime barely sliced through the right upright and the Bengals survived with a 23-20 win over the Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The latter two led to Derek Anderson's 1-yard TD run om 4th-and-1 that tied the game at 14.

It's never been better to be wrong. Cincinnati is still elated after a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback against the loathsome Steelers on Sunday in a game that truly typified the attitude of Marvin Lewis' newest breed of Bengal.

The Bengals stand one miracle play away from being 3-0. To those who have not seen them play, that might seem shocking.

The Steelers' Mike Wallace makes catch against the Bengals' Johnathan Joseph. Wallace had seven catches for 102 yards.

September 2009 might just be the best month of Antwan Odoma TMs life. Odom, the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after sacking Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rogers five times in week two, has piled up seven sacks in only three September games.

Two weeks and two heart-stoppers for the Bengals. Fortunately for Cincinnati, this one went the Bengals way as Green Bay ran out of time at the Bengals 10 and the Bengals hung on for a 31-24 victory to even their mark at 1-1 on the season.

Chad Ochocinco took the Lambeau Leap and the Bengals took the lead over the Packers at 28-21 with 1:08 left in the third quarter when he made a 13-yard touchdown catch with a shoestring, rolling catch over the middle on third down.