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By contrast, the Bengals are pretty much the same team as last year,Wholesale China Jerseys, with several players back from injuries.
The Bengals didn't have a significant injury during camp. Middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict is still recovering from offseason knee surgery,Wholesale NFL Jerseys China, the only key player missing from a year ago because of injury.
"Every week is going to get harder because this is one of those years where we're playing the best teams in the league from last year," left tackle Andrew Whitworth said.
September has been Cincinnati's fairest month for a long time. In the past 11 years,Cheap Wholesale Jerseys, it's the Bengals' best month overall with a 22-13 mark.
"It's exactly how you want to start, and we by no means have played a perfect game," quarterback Andy Dalton said. "There's still a lot more we can improve on. So the good thing is we feel that way and we've won games."
They needed a fast start.
Unlike last season, when they played the weak South divisions, their schedule is back-loaded with tough teams. They finish the season with games at Cleveland, home against Pittsburgh, at San Francisco and Denver, then home against Baltimore.
More than any other team in the AFC North, the Bengals have managed roster continuity that allows them to hit the ground running in September. While other teams are still getting a feel for what they've got, the Bengals are already in the flow of things.
Of course, their worst month is January, where they've repeatedly extended their streak of no playoff victories since the 1990 season.
"We've played together for a while now, so all that stuff helps," Dalton said.
Notes: WR A.J. Green and Whitworth were held out of practice on Wednesday. Green has a sore knee, Whitworth a sore back. DT Marcus Hardison (knee) and DT Pat Sims (hip) also missed practice. ... S Reggie Nelson (groin) and DE Wallace Gilberry (thigh) were limited in practice. So was CB Leon Hall, getting some rest. ... The Bengals have won their past three games against the Ravens. They've never won four straight against Baltimore, which leads the series 20-18.
After all, they do this most years.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Nobody's getting carried away by the Bengals' impressive start.
A 33-13 win in Oakland and a 24-19 victory over San Diego at home left them 10-3 in September over the past three years,Wholesale Jerseys. There's a reason they're able to get that head start over the rest of the division,Jerseys China.
Fast starts have helped them reach the playoffs each of the past four years, only to lose in the opening round. This one has them headed down that same road again, hoping for a different turn at the end.
The Ravens are missing some of their stalwarts on defense, the Steelers have an overhauled defense along with a new coordinator,NFL Jerseys Outlet, and the Browns have used two quarterbacks because of injury.
"The guys are comfortable in their surroundings and what we're doing," coach Marvin Lewis said. "There's not a lot of big change. We enter the season on the same level of comfort as what's expected from them all the time. That takes the angst and unknowns out.
Cincinnati (2-0) is the only unbeaten team in the AFC North, a game ahead of Pittsburgh and Cleveland. The Bengals head to Baltimore with a chance on Sunday to put the last-place Ravens (0-2) in a very bad spot.
"We strive through camp to keep them healthy, keep them on their feet, keep them fresh, and move forward. That's such a big part of our training camp." |
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