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Saints Blank Bengals, 13-0
08/23/08 - 10:47 PM
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CINCINNATI (AP) - The blood on Carson Palmer’s face reflected
the state of the Cincinnati Bengals’ offense: a nasty, ugly mess.
The New Orleans Saints sacked Palmer three times in the first
half Saturday night, knocking him out of the game with a bloody
nose and a cut lip during a 13-0 victory that left the teams
heading in opposite directions.
The Bengals have big problems.
They couldn’t move the ball or protect their franchise
quarterback in the first half. Palmer left the game when Kevin
Kaesviharn got to him on a third-down safety blitz with 2 seconds
left before halftime.
As he walked to the sideline, Palmer had blood streaming from
both nostrils and his lower lip. He dabbed at the wounds with a
towel, then draped the bloody towel over his head and walked to the
locker room, prematurely done for the night.
With Pro Bowl receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh
sidelined by injuries and two of their backups out as well, Palmer
had nowhere to go with his passes other than the running backs and
tight ends. That made it easy pickings for the Saints, who are
trying to sort out their troubled secondary.
Cornerback Mike McKenzie made his first appearance since he tore
a knee ligament last December, starting on one side. Second-round
draft pick Tracy Porter started at the other cornerback spot, one
week after he was repeatedly burned for long passes.
Neither one had much difficulty against a gutted offense that
crossed midfield just once - and, then, by only 1 yard - on six
possessions in the first half. The Bengals managed all of 94 yards
in the half and never advanced farther than the Saints’ 47-yard
line during the game.
They hadn’t been shut out in the preseason since 1999 at
Detroit. It was the first time in franchise history they were shut
out at home during an exhibition.
The Saints were hoping to get tight end Jeremy Shockey into a
game for the first time, but decided to sit him. Shockey, obtained
in a trade last month for two draft picks, hasn’t played since he
broke his left leg Dec. 15.
Running back Reggie Bush left the game in the first half with an
undisclosed injury that didn’t appear to be serious. He walked to
the locker room briskly and didn’t return to the game.
The Saints’ first-string offense moved the ball smoothly, but
couldn’t put up many points. Drew Brees was 14-of-22 for 199 yards
and one touchdown before leaving late in the first half with a 10-0
lead. He threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ronnie Ghent,
who beat linebacker Keith Rivers, Cincinnati’s first-round pick.
Fans expressed frustration and disbelief over owner Mike Brown’s
decision to re-sign troubled receiver Chris Henry earlier in the
week. The Bengals released him in the offseason after his sixth
off-field run-in during his time with the Bengals. Brown brought
him back over the strong objection of coach Marvin Lewis.
One banner behind the end zone read: “Hey Mike, Surely You
Can’t Be Serious.” Another hanging from the upper deck read:
“Fool Me Once, Shame on You. Fool Me Six Times, Shame on Mike
Brown.” Both banners were taken down before the end of the first
quarter.
Henry did not play, watching from the sideline in a white
Bengals T-shirt and black shorts. He has to sit out the first four
regular-season games, his latest suspension from the NFL for
violating its conduct policy.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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