Offensive tackle Andre Smith is expected to rejoin the Cincinnati Bengals in practice this week, and could be on the field for a game Nov. 8 against Baltimore.

Matt Schaub and a formidable defense made the Cincinnati Bengals’ late-game magic go poof.

Defensive end Antwan Odom has a severe Achilles’ tendon injury that will leave the Cincinnati Bengals without their top pass rusher indefinitely.

The roll call is impressive: Greg Jennings, Braylon Edwards, Derrick Mason. All of them faced the Cincinnati Bengals’ secondary this season. None of them caught a pass.
Not even one.

The Bengals have avoided a local television blackout for their game against the Houston Texans - with an assist from Motorola and receiver Chad Ochocinco.

With a black glove supporting his left hand, quarterback Carson Palmer went through a full practice on Wednesday, an indication that his sprained thumb won’t be a problem this week.

If Limas Sweed holds onto the ball in the end zone or Joe Flacco hits his wide-open receiver down the sideline, nobody is talking about the Cincinnati Bengals as a surprise team. They’d be back in the pack, trying to catch up to the big boys.

The Bengals made a change at long snapper, releasing Brad St. Louis after his string of errant snaps cost Cincinnati on field goals and extra-point attempts this season.

The fourth quarter was starting, and the game was getting crazy. In the Cincinnati Bengals defensive huddle, players blocked out the raucous Baltimore crowd and reminded each other that a lot more was at stake than first place.

One year after starting 0-8, the Cincinnati Bengals are alone atop the AFC North.

Marvin Lewis chuckled when reminded that the winner of Sunday’s game between his Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens will gain sole possession of first place in the AFC North.

He tackled last week’s officials. Then, he roughed up Bills quarterback Trent Edwards.

The crowd is so loud that it’s difficult to hear the quarterback’s signals. The minutes are dissolving away. There’s a long way to go and no room for error. One last drive, win or lose.

For 59 minutes, the Cincinnati Bengals can look like an absolute mess, botching kicks and throwing away chances. In the final minute, they become a totally different team.

If NFL quarterback wasn’t his chosen career, Carson Palmer may have been a strong trial lawyer.