Ron Borges

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis knew what had to be done to improve a team that went 11-5 last season and might have made a game of it against the Steelers in the postseason if quarterback Carson Palmer hadn't gone down early with a major knee injury. Lewis had to improve a defense he's been builidng ever since he got to Cincinnati, and he had to get Palmer back under center.

As the season opens, he's at least 1-for-2 and maybe better.

The Bengals defense was improved last year but it faded down the stretch, giving up 335 or more passing yards in three of the final seven games. Not coincidentally, they lost three of those games. Cincinnati finished 28th in total defense, 26th against the pass and 22nd in points allowed, giving up 350. Fortunately their offense piled up 421 (fourth-best in pro football), but Lewis knows defenses win championships and his hasn't won one yet.

The Bengals addressed their defensive deficiencies in a big way in the offseason, signing 335-pound free-agent defensive tackle Sam Adams to beef up the middle and drafting defensive help with four of the team's first five draft picks. Adams will help Lewis switch to a 3-4 front to take advantage of the defense's strength, which is at linebacker, although the loss of Odell Thurman to a four-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy is a problem.

The return of free safety Madieu Williams, who missed 12 games with a bad left shoulder that required surgery, adds a hard-nosed run stuffer and a solid leader who can make plays on balls in the air. He makes the entire back seven better against the run and the pass. Williams will be ably supported by free-agent strong safety Dexter Jackson to give the Bengals an improved back line of defense once they get coordinated.

Offensively, everything revolved around Palmer's knee, which was destroyed in the playoff loss to the Steelers. Early in the summer it seemed unclear when he would be back, and he and Lewis at one point seemed in conflict over who was making that decision. But when Palmer did return against the Packers, it looked as if he'd never left. If he stays healthy this could be the most explosive offense in pro football.

With a year of success behind them, the sky's the limit for a unit that has a powerful runner in Rudi Johnson, an explosive backup in Chris Perry, a dangerous set of wide receivers led by Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and troubled Chris Henry, plus a solid line that anchors it all.

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Palmer's knee is the key to everything. He is raw-boned and strong as an ox, with an arm that can deliver every throw accurately and with pace. His 32 touchdowns to 12 interceptions ratio of a year ago is perhaps the most accurate measuring stick of what he's capable of. So was his 101.1 passer rating.

Hot seat
Chad Johnson. You can't talk as much stuff as this guy does without being at risk every week. Johnson led the team with 97 receptions, 1,432 receiving yards and nine scores but didn't always come up big in big games. That was especially true in the wild wild-card loss to the Steelers, It was reported Johnson engaged in a fight in the locker room at halftime. That might have been an exaggeration, but something happened that wasn't good. Johnson has to prove this year his talent will be on display when the games are big, not just when the opposition is not.

Overheard
The Bengals believe backup running back Chris Perry has the potential to start. He might not replace Rudi Johnson any time soon, but he could pressure him for more playing time. Perry has more speed than Johnson and is a more dangerous receiver. Perry averaged 4.6 yards a carry and was third on the team in receptions with 51 as a versatile third-down back. Perry had the ball in his hands all the time at Michigan. He may be ready to explode in his third season in the NFL if he can get it half as often as when he was a Wolverine.

Outlook
If Carson Palmer is healthy, it's bright. If he isn't, it'll be a struggle to keep up with the Steelers and maybe even the improved Ravens. There might be no other player whose personal health is more important to the health of his team than Palmer, unless it's New England's Tom Brady.

Prediction
First, unless Palmer's knee fails to hold up. Then it's anybody's guess.

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