SpringfieldNewsSun.com

CINCINNATI — Even the game's back judge couldn't quite stay impartial on this ineptitude.

In an assessment that would get little argument from anyone who watched Sunday's effort — especially the Paul Brown Stadium fans who booed the home team's play before tromping out early — he called the Bengals "lousy."

More specifically, he called one certain Cincinnati Bengal — left guard Andrew Whitworth — lousy. At least that's the claim of the 339-pound lineman, flagged twice for holding in a game riddled with costly mistakes, selfish displays and continuing ineptitude by the Bengals, who lost to Arizona 35-27 on Sunday, their seventh defeat in 10 games this season.

Tony Steratore, the back judge seen jawing with Whitworth during the game, couldn't be reached for comment afterward.

As for Whitworth, he claimed after he questioned the calls, "(Steratore) got offended ... and said some things I thought were inappropriate for a ref to say. He acted really unprofessional. He said 'that's lousy' and 'you're lousy,' stuff like that."

Whether the guy said it or not, the description fits this under-achieving team. And maybe that explains the stream of the fans filling the "down" escalator from the upper deck — while the Bengals had the ball and were trailing by just a score with 1:56 left.

"We saw it, but you can't blame them," said John Thornton, the Bengals veteran defensive tackle. "They pay their money so they can stay all game if they want to, or they can leave early. They've seen a lot here and as soon as something bad starts happening, everyone thinks it's gonna be a big snowball."

And Sunday was a big Frosty flop.

There were Carson Palmer's unprecedented four interceptions, two — and almost three were it not for an after-the-fact penalty — returned for touchdowns by Cardinals cornerback Antrel Rolle.

Palmer took all the blame afterward — saying he felt like he let the team, coaches, organization and fans down — but Whitworth put it in perspective:

"When you can't run the ball and ask guys like Peyton (Manning had six interceptions last week) and Carson to throw into all kinds of coverage, that's gonna happen."

Meanwhile, receiver Chris Henry should be sued for false advertising. Tattooed on his neck is the gambler's claim: "I'm All In."

While he had a third-quarter touchdown catch in the end zone, he seemed to short-arm two crucial fourth-quarter passes as he was about to be hit. He dropped both.

More egregious was Chad Johnson's display after fumbling a reception he'd carried recklessly in one hand. Instead of chasing the Cardinal with the ball, he sat on the ground in what appeared to be a self-absorbed pout.

Then there was Madieu

Williams' jubilant dancing after simply breaking up a second-down pass in the third quarter. What's to celebrate when you're trailing 28-13?

Afterward, Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh tried to explain his team's self destruction: "Talent doesn't win games, obviously. We're a good example of that."

When Palmer tried to expound, he struggled:

"I can't put it into words. There isn't a word for it."

Yes there is: "Lousy."