Bengals = Cardinals? Not Quite

Are the Bengals this year’s version of the Arizona Cardinals?   In a word: no.   The Cardinals and the Bengals have many things in common: a talented trio of receivers, a veteran Pro-Bowl quarterback, an underrated defense and a lack of a running game. But the Cardinals also possessed one aspect the Bengals are missing: the big play. The Bengals do not have the ability to stretch the field in the same way the Cardinals did because Cincinnati’s receiving corps of Chad Ocho Cinco, Laveranues Coles and Chris Henry are all at their best while executing short square-outs and over-the-middle patterns — especially with the advancing age of Ocho Cinco and Coles, both 31.   As a result, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer will have to focus on getting the ball out quickly and accurately to the quick-developing routes.   This works to the Bengals’ advantage because there are questions about Palmer’s ability to throw the deep ball following a ... (link)