Bengals attempt to correct special teams problems

After three bad plays led to two Steelers touchdowns and also took points off the board, Bengals special teams coach Darrin Simmons was not ready yet to press the panic button after his team's play in Pittsburgh.The Bengals, who lost 35-7 to the Steelers, had a field goal blocked after a delay-of-game penalty nullified a Mike Nugent 28-yarder. Also, Brandon Tate fumbled a kick return, and the Bengals gave up their first punt return touchdown in three seasons."I've been in this business long enough to know you're going to have those days. It's never acceptable. The thing you can't let it do is define you," Simmons said.It doesn't get any easier this week with Houston and Jacoby Jones coming to town. Before Sunday, Jones was the last player to return a punt for a score against the Bengals. Jones is fifth in the AFC in punt returns, averaging 11.1 yards per return.During the stretch run, the Bengals are going to face their share of dangerous returners, including Jones and Arizona's Patrick Peterson.Simmons noted the big key when facing those returners is to prevent a repeat from what happened in Pittsburgh. Simmons said on Antonio Brown's TD return, the Bengals were in position to make the play early but that a couple of the players got out of their lanes late, which gave Brown an opening."We have to bring those things to light about how critical each play that we play is because it could be a game-changer whether it is in the first quarter, second quarter or fourth quarter," Simmons said.NOTES, QUOTES--Instead of chastising and coming down hard on his team after the Bengals' worst game of the year, coach Marvin Lewis was more Dr. Phil than taskmaster."We all feel bad about what happened. He knows when to get on you and when not to get on you," wide receiver Andre Caldwell said. "We control our own destiny to this point. We just have to win all four games and see what happens."Despite the loss and dropping three of their last four games, the Bengals still hold the final playoff spot in the AFC. At 7-5, they are in a four-way tie with the Titans, Jets and Raiders but they have a better conference record than the other three teams.--With Nate Clements' status for this week questionable and the Bengals down to three healthy cornerbacks, Lewis was asked if the team would consider signing another defensive back for the stretch run."Frankly, I don't think there is anybody on the street who is going to be better than the guys that we practice and prepare with every day here. I think we're in pretty good shape here in that way," Lewis said.STRATEGY AND PERSONNELPLAYER NOTES--QB Andy Dalton is 3-0 against the AFC South this season with six touchdowns against one interception.--RB Cedric Benson has 29 carries for 93 yards in his two games as a Bengal against the Titans.--WR Andre Caldwell had a team-high six receptions for 57 yards in his last game against the Texans (Week 6 of the 2009 season).--WR A.J. Green is tied among NFL rookies in receptions (50) but leads rookies in yards (832) and touchdowns (seven).--TE Jermaine Gresham is averaging 10.2 yards per reception, which is more than a yard better than last year.--DE Geno Atkins continues to lead NFL defensive tackles in sacks with 6.5.--DE Carlos Dunlap is questionable to return this week due to a hamstring injury. He has missed three of the past four games.--CB Nate Clements remains questionable after being inactive last week due to a hamstring injury.--WRPR Brandon Tate has 44 punt returns this season, which is a Bengals single-season record. The old mark was 43 by Patrick Robinson in 1993.--OT Andre Smith could be limited in practice this week due to a low ankle sprain.--OT Andrew Whitworth allowed two sacks during the Steelers game, the first time since he moved to left tackle in 2009 that he gave up multiple sacks in a game.--CB Kelly Jennings led the Bengals with eight tackles during the loss to Pittsburgh.--DT Pat Sims is expected to be limited all week after he was inactive for the Steelers game due to an ankle injury.