Cincinnati Bengals' Passing Game Needs To Improve If They Want To Be Contenders

When Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson scored the team's first touchdown of the 2009 season to take a 7-6 lead over the Denver Broncos with 38 seconds to play, it appeared to be the perfect way to end a game that consisted of two struggling offenses. Instead, the Bengals were left watching Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley sprint down the sideline for an 87-yard touchdown pass. What makes this play even more frustrating for the Bengals is that the only reason Stokley caught the ball was a pass intended for wide receiver Brandon Marshall was deflected his way. Even though the Bengals lost 12-7 on Stokley's miraculous game-winning touchdown, the passing game was part of the reason why the team lost Sunday's game against the Broncos. Many analysts have selected the Bengals as a possible sleeper team for 2009. With a healthy quarterback in Carson Palmer and a wide-receiving corps that has the potential to cause headaches for opposing defenses, it appeared tha...