Palmer's step forward helping launch 5-2 Bengals

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

There is no quarterback out there less appreciated for what he's doing right now than Cincinnati's Carson Palmer.

The Bengals are 5-2, on top of their division and a serious playoff contender. Yet the reasons for their success vary from the inspired play of their defense to the running of Cedric Benson to the resuscitation of Chad Ochocinco ... everything but the performance of their quarterback.

And that's not right.

Behind Palmer's improved play, the Bengals are a legitimate playoff threat. (Getty Images) Because it was Palmer who threw three touchdown passes to rally Cincinnati to victory in Green Bay. And it was Palmer whose scoring pass with 14 seconds left deflated defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh. And it was Palmer who sabotaged the Ravens in Baltimore with a touchdown strike with 22 seconds remaining. Add them up, and you have three come-from-behind wins made possible by Palmer's right arm -- a number that would be four if not for Denver's "Immaculate Deflection."

But we've seen that from Palmer before. What we haven't seen is Palmer beating opponents with his legs, and pay attention, class. It could be coming to a stadium near you.

In the overtime victory over Cleveland, he picked up a critical first down by scrambling up the middle on fourth-and-long to produce a last-second victory. In the upset of Baltimore, he extended the game-winning series with another fourth-down run. And in last weekend's demolition of Chicago he produced the first of his five touchdown passes after flushing the pocket, drifting to his right and hitting Chris Henry.

It marked the third time this season Palmer had thrown a scoring pass on the run in the red zone, and that is significant. For years the Bengals' coaching staff talked to Palmer about making plays with his legs, but the message never really seemed to resonate until now.

Maybe it's because the Bengals' defense is keeping opponents close, so Palmer isn't always forced to look for the big play. Maybe it's because Palmer has a big-time running back to move the chains. Maybe it's because he has confidence in his offensive line to make the right blocks. Or maybe it's because he simply is more experienced and smarter. Whatever the reason, Palmer is a more complete and dangerous quarterback, capable of making plays inside or outside the pocket.

"It's been a big emphasis for him," said offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski. "[Quarterbacks coach] Ken Zampese has done a great job getting him to understand that he is capable of making plays with his legs -- whether it's running with the ball or staying alive outside the pocket and throwing the ball down the field.

"We've gotten a number of plays like that from him this year, and a lot of them in critical situations. They talk a lot about hitting the big emphasis, and that is this: 'Hit your back foot, one-two and go ... go and get out of there. Either run, or keep your eyes down the field and move.'"

And Palmer has. No play was bigger than his fourth-down scramble in overtime against Cleveland. With just over a minute left, Cincinnati had the ball fourth-and-11 at the Cleveland 41. Cleveland had just taken a timeout, and the Bengals had a choice: Either try for the first and risk yielding great field position to the Browns, or punt the ball away and play for the tie. When Palmer approached the sidelines, he knew what he wanted to do.

"We can get this," he told coach Marvin Lewis.

Lewis believed him. So he kept Palmer and the offense on the field, and the rest you know. Taking a seven-step drop, Palmer surveyed the field, saw nothing and ran forward -- splitting the Browns' defense for 15 yards and a first down. Three snaps later, Shayne Graham produced a game-winning field goal.

"That was important," said Bratkowski. "It gave us something to hang our hats on. When you make those decisions -- and Marvin made that one, with the players going out and getting it done -- it gives everyone a great feeling of confidence. And it has propelled us a little bit."

That is an understatement. The Bengals are one of the feel-good stories of this season. Three of their five victories occurred on their last drives. A fourth occurred on their opponent's last series. They haven't lost a road game and are on top of the division for the first time this late since 2005, or the last time they won the AFC North.

Yep, the Cincinnati Bengals are a legitimate playoff threat, and their defense is one reason why. Benson, the league's rushing leader, is another. And so is Chad What's-His-Name. But do not forget about Palmer. With each week he is finding another way to beat opponents.

"It's a whole new world," said Zampese.

People in and around the Bengals tell me they can't remember Palmer making so many plays with his legs, but that is by design. Zampese emphasized it, and Palmer latched on to it. When Zampese studied videotapes of quarterbacks throughout the league, he couldn't help but notice how many extended plays with their legs, often making back-end touchdown passes after they seemed to have run out of options.

Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger is the textbook example. Look how he beat Baltimore on a last-minute drive last December. He rolled to his left, found nothing there, then started back to his right when he found Santonio Holmes at the goal line. He reprised that performance in the AFC Championship Game against the Ravens, hitting Holmes again with a back-end delivery after rolling left -- this time for a 65-yard score.

"I'd say about one in four red-zone passes was like that," Zampese said of his study. "That was one in four we weren't getting."

The message was passed on to Palmer, and the quarterback went to work. But it hasn't been easy. Palmer missed three preseason games with a painful ankle injury. It continued to be an issue after he returned, but you'd never know it watching him run the offense. He's also playing with a left thumb injury that can affect his handoffs, but that's not been all that noticeable, either. Nope, there isn't much about Palmer that grabs your attention, and that's too bad because you're missing one of the game's elite quarterbacks at his best.

"I don't think he's any different of an athlete," Bratkowski said of Palmer's ability to make plays on the run. "It's just an emphasis. He really wanted to hang in the pocket long, long, long and still try to find something down the field. But I think he's finding now that being able to move out of there helps us in a number of ways."

I'll second that. Just look at the standings. No, better still, look at the league leaders in red-zone offense. Indianapolis and Peyton Manning aren't number one in touchdown efficiency. Neither is New Orleans and Drew Brees. Nope, that spot goes to the Bengals and Palmer. The Bengals -- er, Palmer -- can beat you with the pass and the run.

So next time someone asks you what's going on with Cincinnati this season, look smart and include Palmer in the conversation. He deserves it.

"I believe Carson is in the top echelon of quarterbacks in the league," said Bratkowski. "You take a guy like that away, and your team changes. You just look back over the course of teams in the NFL when they lose a top quarterback. You're different. We lost him last year -- as well as a few other people -- and really struggled."

I'd say the two are related. You would, too, if you saw this year's Bengals. Do yourself a favor and watch them. Palmer is making a difference again.

I liked this article too much to not post it.

 

[Canadian]

I've always really liked Palmer. Outside of Eli, he's one of my favorites.