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  Let's start with what T.J. said, "The defense played great. The offense sucks." Most fans would agree on some level with Houshmanzadeh's 'verbose' summary of the situation. Let Housh's summary sink in. Then put it in perspective, the Bengals held a rookie Quarterback, in his first NFL start, to under 130 yards passing. The Ravens were short handed at running back, McGahee didn't play. The Ravens gained 229 yards on the ground, against a defense that should have stacked 8 men in the box all day long. Shutting down the run and forcing Joe Flacco to pass often. That's not the gameplan the Bengal's defense executed though.

  The Bengals lack of offense, where should we begin. Palmer held to under 100 yards passing. Palmer's worst gameday QB rating of his career. A pocket passer with no pocket to settle in. Leaving an unsettled Palmer lumbering around the field trying to find a sideline for many of the Bengal's offensive series. Palmer looked as natural running out of the pocket as a flightless bird trying to get airborne on unstable wings. The pocket's constant collapse could be attributed to a solid Raven's defense. If only that were the truth of the matter.

  The fact is, Ghiaciuc got shoved up and down the field all day. Ghiaciuc has been getting tossed around for most of his career. Unless Mike Brown is prepared to break the cobweb seal on his wallet and pay for a center, this level of play will continue to plague the Bengal's line on any gameday where an opponent stacks the gap between Guard and Center. Whitworth is a large body that gets the job done some of the time at guard, but when defenses attack them, Whitworth and Ghiaciuc adjust slowly and miss adjusted assignments.

  The loss of fullback, Jeremi Johnson, has compounded this problem. Johnson's ability to block and pickup missed assignments makes him an invaluable Bengal in the backfield. Converted TE Coats, yesterday's acting fullback, tried, he really did. But when a blocker spends most of the game pancaked flat on the field, someone else is getting sacked, hurried, tackled for a loss, or just plain disrupted. Coats physically doesn't have the presence or the ability of Jeremi Johnson at fullback. It showed yesterday, it showed often. 

  The Bengal's need to start looking for a quick fix fullback or center on the wavier wire or via a trade. The problem that faces the Bengals though, this move should have been done in June to August.  As of today, the pickings for these 2 key positions are thin on the wavier wire.

  Unless Carson Palmer suddenly develops John Elway's legs, remember what T.J. said. "The defense played great. The offense sucks." Because we'll be seeing the defense often this season. And our hopes for wins will be resting on that defense. Someone send Kyle Larson a few more pair of shoes. If yesterday's game in Baltimore is any indication of things to come, he'll be one of the most active punters in the NFL this season.