Bengals guard against letdown vs. Raiders

Bengals' Maualuga charged with assault
2/11/12
Raiders drop to 8th place in league with loss
2/11/12
UD women faces off against tough St. Bonaventure team
2/11/12
Dixie tops Carlisle to halt 4-game skid
2/11/12
Local Scoreboard for Feb. 11
2/10/12
> More sports headlines

By Josh Dubow, Associated Press 10:50 PM Saturday, November 21, 2009

OAKLAND, Calif. — Chad Ochocinco sent deodorant to the Baltimore Ravens before a key AFC North showdown to pump himself up.

The fun-loving Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver wanted to send mustard to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week because they would never “ketchup” in the game.

With a game against the struggling Oakland Raiders next up on Cincinnati’s schedule, Ochocinco has no plans for any gimmicks.

“I’m just coming to give the Black Hole the best show they’ve ever seen,” he said. “I’m not sure if they’ve really had much to look forward to this year. But man, we’re coming to town. It will for sure be a circus.”

Coming off emotional victories over Chicago, Baltimore and Pittsburgh, it would only be natural if the Bengals (7-2) came down a little bit emotionally heading into the game today, Nov. 22, against the Raiders (2-7).

With home games against Cleveland (1-8) and Detroit (1-8) to follow, this is by far the easiest stretch of Cincinnati’s schedule. Winning these three games will be crucial in the Bengals’ bid to win the division.

“We’re supposed to beat these type of teams,” safety Chris Crocker said.

The Bengals were in the Raiders’ position the past few years, looking to play spoiler against a contender at the end of yet another lost season. Cincinnati even finished a half-game behind the Raiders a year ago, before turning it around behind a revamped defense and revived running game led by Cedric Benson.

That revival gives hope to the Raiders, who are in the midst of an even longer stretch of ineptitude. Oakland is on pace for its seventh straight 11-loss season, extending its own record for futility.

The first change is coming at quarterback: Bruce Gradkowski will replace struggling former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell. Russell has completed just 46.8 percent of his passes this season, with nine interceptions and five lost fumbles.

The most intriguing matchup today will be Ochocinco against Raiders man-to-man cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Chris Johnson.

It was a game against the Bengals that boosted Asomugha’s reputation in 2006, when he intercepted two passes in a loss at Cincinnati.

As much as Ochocinco wants to go up against Asomugha today, he will also figure to get plenty of time against Johnson.