The 2007 Cincinnati Bengals season was the 38th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL) and their 40th overall season. The team attempted to improve upon their 8–8 record in 2006 and were looking to return to the playoffs after narrowly missing them. They failed to do so, finishing with a 7–9 record.
Offseason
Coaching changes Head coach Marvin Lewis entered his fifth year with the Bengals. He was joined by offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski and defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan.
Personnel moves Offseason personnel moves Transaction Position Name To/From --- Safety Kevin Kaesviharn To New Orleans Saints --- Guard Eric Steinbach To Cleveland Browns --- Linebacker Brian Simmons To New Orleans Saints --- Tight end Tony Stewart To Oakland Raiders --- Linebacker Marcus Wilkins To Atlanta Falcons --- Wide receiver Kelley Washington To New England Patriots --- Defensive tackle Shaun Smith To Cleveland Browns Retired Center Rich Braham Retirement --- Cornerback Tory James To New England Patriots --- Defensive tackle Sam Adams To Denver Broncos Released Linebacker A. J. Nicholson Signed Defensive tackle Michael Myers From Denver Broncos Signed Linebacker Edgerton Hartwell From Atlanta Falcons Signed Cornerback Blue Adams From Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFL draft
Suspensions Chris Henry, after repeated off-field run-ins with the law, was suspended for 8 games (half the regular season) after a private meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Chris Henry was arrested for driving without a license and a seatbelt, which led to the meeting with Goodell and his subsequent suspension for 8 games. In May, it was reported he failed a drug test as part of his parole agreement but shortly after the announcement was made it was recanted by the Kentucky police department.
Odell Thurman, another NFL player currently under contract with the Bengals has had legal troubles and still appears to be in trouble with the Bengals as well. Head coach Marvin Lewis repeatedly avoided or refused to speak about his status with the team after Thurman was suspended for all of 2006. When Thurman applied for reinstatement in July 2007 he was denied and was further suspended the entire 2007–08 season. The exact reason for the extension was not specified by the league but many suspect it had to do with a drunk-driving incident earlier that same month. His suspension prompted Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge John Burlew to call the NFL officials "Hypocrites" for promoting alcohol sales and consumption during games but punishing players for drinking.
Off-field incidents
Levi Jones was involved in an altercation with linebacker Joey Porter of the Miami Dolphins. Allegedly Porter and some others ambushed Levi, physically assaulted and robbed him. Porter was charged with a misdemeanor for assault. Jones characterized the incident as a "cowardly assault".
AJ Nicholson was arrested for the second time in as many years but for domestic violence. His wife dropped the charges but due to statutory state laws the state continued to press charges. On the day his arrest was announced he was released a few hours later by the Bengals.
Important injuries David Pollack, injured last season with a broken neck vertebrae spent the season in rehab with hopes of returning in the 2008–09 season. Pollack later announced his retirement from the NFL.
Kenny Irons, the 2nd round draft pick, experienced a serious knee injury during a preseason game against the Detroit Lions, which forced him onto injured reserve for his rookie year.
Chris Perry experienced another injury which threatens to keep him out the entire season. In August, he was placed on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he had to miss at least six games. In November, Bengals announced that he would remain on the list for the rest of the season.
Eric Henderson fractured his wrist during the preseason against the New Orleans Saints and was put on injured reserve for the rest of the season.
Preseason games
In the previous preseason the Bengals went 4–0. The Bengals 2007 preseason run ended at 1–3, with its final victory the game against Indianapolis in which neither Carson Palmer nor Peyton Manning came prepared to play.
The preseason started off with a loss to the Detroit Lions at their dome. The big focus was the limited showdown and relationship between Palmer and his former mentor Jon Kitna. The Bengals' starting team did not score a touchdown in their possessions, walking away with 2 Shayne Graham field goals and a huge time of possession advantage before they were benched. The Lions' starters did not score a TD during their possessions during that same time. In this game the second-round draft pick, Kenny Irons, experienced his season-ending injury. Detroit went on to win the game.
The second game was against the New Orleans Saints. Again, the starting Bengals offense failed to score a TD and settled for several Shane Graham field goals. LB Henderson suffered a season-ending wrist injury late in the game.
The third game was at the home of the Atlanta Falcons on a Monday night. The starting Bengals played until the 3rd quarter and scored two touchdowns to end their drought. Shayne Graham was injured on a kickoff during an attempted tackle and did not return to kick any PATs or kickoffs, which meant the Bengals made a conversion attempt on 4th down and attempted a 2-point try. Atlanta's starting team, led by Joey Harrington since Vick's legal troubles will keep him from the team, also managed two touchdowns. The Bengals went on to lose the game.
Their fourth and final game, also their only preseason win, took place on August 31. Neither starting quarterback came prepared to play; though Palmer at least wore his uniform, while Manning dressed up in a Colts polo. Cincinnati scored 14 points in the 3rd quarter, with no score coming from the orange jerseys before or after that quarter. Indianapolis scored 6 in the 4th quarter, falling 8 points short of victory.
Personnel
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 at Detroit Lions L 26–27 0–1 Ford FieldRecap 2 New Orleans Saints L 19–27 0–2 Paul Brown StadiumRecap 3 at Atlanta Falcons L 19–24 0–3 Georgia DomeRecap 4 Indianapolis Colts W 14–6 1–3 Paul Brown StadiumRecap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 Baltimore Ravens W 27–20 1–0 Paul Brown StadiumRecap 2 September 16 at Cleveland Browns L 45–51 1–1 Cleveland Browns StadiumRecap 3 September 23 at Seattle Seahawks L 21–24 1–2 Qwest FieldRecap 4 New England Patriots L 13–34 1–3 Paul Brown StadiumRecap 5 Bye 6 October 14 at Kansas City Chiefs L 20–27 1–4 Arrowhead StadiumRecap 7 October 21 New York Jets W 38–31 2–4 Paul Brown StadiumRecap 8 October 28 Pittsburgh Steelers L 13–24 2–5 Paul Brown StadiumRecap 9 November 4 at Buffalo Bills L 21–33 2–6 Ralph Wilson StadiumRecap 10 November 11 at Baltimore Ravens W 21–7 3–6 M&T Bank StadiumRecap 11 November 18 Arizona Cardinals L 27–35 3–7Paul Brown StadiumRecap 12 November 25 Tennessee Titans W 35–6 4–7 Paul Brown StadiumRecap 13 December 2 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–24 4–8 Heinz FieldRecap 14 December 9 St. Louis Rams W 19–10 5–8 Paul Brown StadiumRecap 15 at San Francisco 49ers L 13–20 5–9 Monster ParkRecap 16 December 23 Cleveland Browns W 19–14 6–9 Paul Brown StadiumRecap 17 December 30 at Miami Dolphins W 38–25 7–9 Dolphin StadiumRecap
Note: Intra-divisional opponents are in bold text
Standings
Week 1: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Game summary In their very first Monday Night home opener, the Bengals and their offensive firepower began their 40th Anniversary season in Game 1 of the Monday Night Football doubleheader against the defending AFC North champion Baltimore Ravens, with last year's top defense. In the first quarter, Cincinnati managed to cash in on a Raven fumble with QB Carson Palmer completing a 39-yard TD pass to WR Chad Johnson (whose TD celebration was on the sideline, in the form of a Hall of Fame jacket.) Later, the Bengals managed to turn another fumble recovery into points as kicker Shayne Graham kicked a 23-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Baltimore finally managed to score with RB Musa Smith getting a 6-yard TD run. Cincinnati responded with Graham kicking a 40-yard field goal, while Ravens kicker Matt Stover ended the half with a 36-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Bengals defense struck big, as OLB Landon Johnson recovered a McNair fumble and returned the ball 34 yards for a touchdown, along with the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, Baltimore took the lead with Stover getting a 23-yard field goal, while Safety Ed Reed returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown. Cincinnati regained the lead by turning an interception into a score as Palmer completed a 7-yard TD pass to WR T. J. Houshmandzadeh (followed by a successful 2-point conversion by RB Rudi Johnson). After the Ravens managed to recover a Bengal fumble on Cincinnati's next drive, Baltimore had one final chance. Eventually, the Bengals held their ground and won.
The Bengals defense had a total of 6 takeaways while the offense only turned over the ball twice. The game was relatively close in score with the final chance to tie up the game coming with a bit more than one minute left on the game clock. The defense held Baltimore out successfully scoring the tying touchdown after they had "goal to go" for 8 consecutive plays (after penalties extended their opportunities). Two Bengals linemen, Willie Anderson and Levi Jones, did not play most of this game due to injuries.
With the win, Cincinnati began its season at 1–0.
Scoring summary
Q1 – CIN – 8:38 – 39-yard TD pass from Carson Palmer to Chad Johnson (kick failed) (CIN 6–0)
Q1 – CIN – 4:07 – Shayne Graham 23-yard FG (CIN 9–0)
Q2 – BAL – 11:56 – Musa Smith 6-yard TD run (Matt Stover kick) (CIN 9–7)
Q2 – CIN – 1:07 – Shayne Graham 40-yard FG (CIN 12–7)
Q2 – BAL – 0:06 – Matt Stover 36-yard FG (CIN 12–10)
Q3 – CIN – 8:57 – Landon Johnson 34-yard fumble return TD (Graham kick) (CIN 19–10)
Q4 – BAL – 14:05 – Matt Stover 23-yard FG (CIN 19–13)
Q4 – BAL – 12:25 – Ed Reed 63-yard punt return TD (Stover kick) (BAL 20–19)
Q4 – CIN – 8:53 – 7-yard TD pass from Carson Palmer to T. J. Houshmandzadeh (Rudi Johnson 2-point conversion run) (CIN 27–20)
Week 2: at Cleveland Browns
Playing in their second game of the season, the Cincinnati Bengals had a lot of things go wrong. Playing Ohio state rivals Cleveland Browns, the defense looked the exact opposite as they did in week one. Browns quarterback Derek Anderson started and threw for 328 yards and five touchdowns. It was only the third time in NFL history that two quarterbacks had thrown at least five touchdown passes in the same game.Sports Illustrated, September 24, 2007, p. 24 Jamal Lewis had 215 yards rushing with one touchdown and the Browns had two receivers with over 100 yards, Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. The Bengals offense tried their best to keep the team in the game, however, as Carson Palmer threw for 6 TD's and Chad Johnson caught for 209 yards.
The game started out slowly in the first quarter but the second quarter saw a combined 35 points scored. It was close in the end, when the Bengals started a drive with under one minute left. They managed to get the ball to the 50-yard line when Carson Palmer was intercepted by Leigh Bodden on an intended pass for Chad Johnson. This game ended up being the eighth highest scoring game in NFL history, but not the highest scoring game between these two teams. In 2004, the Bengals beat the Browns 58–48 for the second-most combined points. The Redskins (72) and Giants (41) combined for 113 points in 1966 for the most.
Scoring summary Q1 – CIN – 10:40 – 13-yard TD pass from Carson Palmer to Rudi Johnson (Shayne Graham kick) (CIN 7–0)
Q1 – CLE – 5:02 – Phil Dawson 39-yard FG (CIN 7–3)