Oct 26 2004
Bengals 23, Broncos 10
Click here for final game stats from NFL.com.
Say what you will about the Cincinnati Bengals — and we do — but they were determined to make their first Monday Night home game in 12 years count for something.
As their hometown newspaper begged them not to embarrass the city — a sad statement on the team’s recent history — the Bengals put together their most solid performance of the year. RB Rudi Johnson dominated the ground game, WR Chad Johnson outperformed Denver All-Pro CB Champ Bailey, and the less-than-stellar Bengals defense forced shaky Denver QB Jake Plummer into two interceptions and other mistakes.
You would never have known from watching this game that the Bengals were considered by many to be a disappointment this season. It will still be a struggle for them to finish above .500, but this was a positive step for a franchise that needs all the positivity it can get.
As for Reuben Droughns — no, I’m not done writing about this guy yet — he did manage to get his third consecutive 100-yard game, but he fumbled the ball late in the second half, which set up a Bengals field goal and gave them a little extra momentum at halftime. Still, it’s hard to argue that 24 carries for 110 yards is a bad night. It will be interesting to see what he does next week against an Atlanta Falcons team reeling from that 46-point thrashing in Kansas City.
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