Mike Zimmer

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. They were playing for someone special. Vikki Zimmer, the wife of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, would bake treats for team and send encouraging notes to players, who dedicated their 17-14 win on Sunday to her memory and her family. She died unexpectedly last week. "I remember we were in the huddle and a lot of the guys were reminding each other: Remember, let's do this for ... Read Full Story

This was a game of cognition. On October 27th, I wrote this: I had a dream that night that the Bengals were beating the Ravens 17-0 at home. For some vague reason, I was unable to sit and watch the game in the dream, but when I caught the glimpse of the score, I remember turning to someone there who also was impressed. We nodded and smiled, and agreed that the nation will finally take notice of the Bengals now. It remains to be seen if that’s what will happen against Baltimore, or if I was really only seeing the Bears game and simply ... Read Full Story

This was a game of cognition. On October 27th, I wrote this: I had a dream that night that the Bengals were beating the Ravens 17-0 at home. For some vague reason, I was unable to sit and watch the game in the dream, but when I caught the glimpse of the score, I remember turning to someone there who also was impressed. We nodded and smiled, and agreed that the nation will finally take notice of the Bengals now. It remains to be seen if that’s what will happen against Baltimore, or if I was really only seeing the Bears game and simply ... Read Full Story

This was a game of cognition. On October 27th, I wrote this: I had a dream that night that the Bengals were beating the Ravens 17-0 at home. For some vague reason, I was unable to sit and watch the game in the dream, but when I caught the glimpse of the score, I remember turning to someone there who also was impressed. We nodded and smiled, and agreed that the nation will finally take notice of the Bengals now. It remains to be seen if that’s what will happen against Baltimore, or if I was really only seeing the Bears game and simply ... Read Full Story

BALTIMORE -- I believe. I believe the Cincinnati Bengals are for real. I believe they are more than a bunch of lucky guys touched by fate. I believe they are good enough to overcome the speed bumps that lurk ahead of them the next five weeks. And I believe they can and will contend for the AFC North title. I believe because I just saw them win another close one. Only this wasn't Cleveland in overtime. This was Baltimore. In Baltimore. And it was a 17-14 decision that should not have been as close as it was ... but it was because that's how ... Read Full Story