NFL Catfight

Okay, get you mind out of the gutter. The title of this post is not about Cincinnati Bengals cheerleaders fighting the cheerleaders of the Jacksonville Jaguars. It's about the Bengals and the Jaguars, the big cats, playing some football.

And if you know Bengals football, you expect a Bengals-Homer Simpson moment. It occurred on the extra point attempt when the Bengals scored their second touchdown in the first half. The point puts the Bengals ahead by one point. Bengals kicker Mike Nugent's kick hits the right upright. Doh! Shades of the 2006 Bengals-Denver Broncos game. And if you don't know about that game, you really don't want to hear about it.

In the third quarter, with the Bengals leading 16-13, the Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert found a receiver so wide open he was doing his own occupy Wall Street sit down. Doh. Okay, it was a blown coverage. Bengals down 20-16.

But a funny thing happened on the way to another Bengals loss. The team played well enough to win it in the fourth quarter. The defense held. And when the Jaguars kicked a twenty two yard punt from their endzone, the Bengals were in the business. A clutch pass play on fourth and six from Bengals QB Andy Dalton to TE Jermaine Gresham would get the Bengals down to the two yard line. Then offensive coordinator Jay Gruden dialed up a run to the left that no one saw coming. Bengals RB Bernard Scott scored. Bengals ahead, 23-20 late in the game. Then the Jaguars had a Homer Simpson moment. Their center snapped the ball when Gabbert wasn't ready. Doh for the Jaguars. Bengals recover. Game over. Bengals score later on a fumble recovery to pad the score. Bengals win this catfight, 30 -20.

This was a total team victory. The Bengals defense held the Jaguars on two of their red zone penetrations. The defensive line was marvelous. DEs Michael Johnson, Carlos Dunlap, Frostee Rucker, Robert Geathers, DTs Domata Peko, Geno Atkins, Pat Sims and Jonathan Fanene pressured Gabbert all day. TE Jermaine Gresham found ways tot get open for clutch plays. Rooke WR A.J. Green looks like he was the right pick for the Bengals. And rookie QB Andy Dalton (pictured) is playing like a three year veteran. He's accurate, calm and confident.

Bring on the freaking Pittsburgh Steelers. Okay, we play the Indianapolis Colts next. Here are the highlights Bengals Nation.