A couple quick thoughts about last nights Bengals vs Cowboys game…
First thing first–penalties are still a major problem. Last night, the Bengals had 12 penalties for 90 yards. That’s not winning football. It shows a lack of discipline and concentration, especially when they’re pre-snap penalties like off-sides and illegal-motion. Penalties kill momentum and lose games.
On the D’s first series, an off-sides penalty on Jonathan Fananae negated a fumble caused by SS Roy Williams on the goal-line that would have kept the Cowboys from scoring on the drive. On the offense’s first drive, Cedric Benson ran for a 6 yard gain to start the drive, then T.O. caught a quick out on 2nd and 4, giving the Bengals a fresh set of downs. On the third play of the drive, Carson again connected with T.O. on a 5yrd in-route. That should have set up 2nd down and 5, but an illegal motion penalty on Ochocinco wiped that gain out and put the Bengals in a 1st and 15 situation. They never recovered, and three plays later were forced to punt.
My point is, both of those early pre-snap penalties greatly affected the flow and eventual outcome of the game. The negative tempo established early by the first units, persisted throughout the rest of the game. Who knows what would happen offensively if their rhythym isn’t interrupted by an avoidable illegal-motion penalty? Who knows what would happen if the fumble recovered by the Bengals in the end zone counted? The game could have turned out completely different. It’s harder to win games when you shoot yourself in the foot. The first rule of survival is: “Never eliminate yourself”.
I get that penalties are apart of the game and happen. But when they happen at this rate, over and over again, it is unacceptable. Marvin Lewis has to say enough is enough and take a hard-line, zero-tolerence type approach if he wants this problem to improve. Maybe start taking playing time away if your a habitual offenders. Whatever he decides, it has to be soon–the season is right around the corner!
Agreed. It was embarrassing to watch all the penalties. I will give you the fact that it was an early preseason game but Dallas didn’t have the penalties and they are considered a contender for the Super Bowl. If we want to get there and be considered in the same class, this has to stop.