Bengals Tecmo Super Bowl Season — Week 4

Following back-to-back big wins over the Steelers and the Packers, the Cincinnati Bengals were looking to give themselves some cushion in the AFC North with a win in Cleveland.

The Bengals would win the coin toss and choose to defer to the second half. A nice kickoff by Mike Nugent would pin the Browns on their own one-yard line to get things started.

But even though he had just been traded to the Indianapolis Colts, running back Trent Richardson would break free for a 99-yard run to give his former team an early 7-0 lead.

On the ensuing drive, BenJarvus Green-Ellis would make a huge run of his own, getting the Bengals quickly in Cleveland Brown territory.

Deciding to dance with the one that brought him, quarterback Andy Dalton would hand the ball off once more to Green-Ellis for the Bengal touchdown. This would tie the game up at 7 in the first quarter.

It wouldn't take long for the Bengals offense to get the ball right back as a quick pick of Brandon Weeden would give Cincinnati excellent field position and a chance to take their first lead of the game.

After calling a D-Pad up button/B button pass play, Dalton found no one open to throw the ball to so he tucked it and scampered into the end zone to make the score 14-7 Bengals in the second quarter.

The Bengals defense would come up huge again on the next Browns drive as they forced Weeden into another interception with just over two minutes to go in the first half.

It would be Green-Ellis once more pounding his way into the end zone to give the Bengals a nice 21-7 lead late in the second quarter.

But it would be the Cleveland Browns heading into the locker room with all the momentum as Trent Richardson again put his former team on his back and broke loose for another rushing touchdown. The Bengals would still maintain a seven-point lead at the half, however, with the score 21-14.

At the half, Bengal fans who made the trip to FirstEnergy Stadium were treated to an exciting presentation by the United States Army Parachute Team aka the "Golden Knights."

Andy Dalton and the Bengals had a rough start opening up the second half as D'Qwell Jackson planted Dalton in the ground for a huge sack. 

Leaving the Bengals with a 3rd and 22 situation, Dalton got right back up and threw a bomb to A.J. Green, finding him in the back of the end zone for the score and a 28-14 Bengal lead.

But the Browns were not ready to give up and showed they had a few more tricks up their sleeves as a flea flicker pass play found Josh Gordon in the end zone to cut the Bengal lead to 28-21 as the third quarter came to a close.

In the fourth quarter, it would be the Browns defense this time coming up big as they forced the Bengals into a field goal attempt and then blocked it to keep things very close with just over four minutes left in the game.

It only took about a minute and a half for former Brown Trent Richardson to lead his old team to the Bengal goal line where the Cincinnati defense was forced to try and make a stand.

The Bengals would hold strong on 1st and 3, and 2nd and 1, but Richardson finally broke through on 3rd down to tie the game up late, 28-28. When asked after the game why he was playing for the Browns even though he had been traded to the Colts, Richardson said, "I have me on my fantasy football team. I earn more points when I play for two teams each week."

Thanks to a sack by Craig Robertson, the Bengals' final chance at breaking the tie and winning the game in regulation would stall out as they were forced to punt it away on 4th down. This would send Cincinnati into their first overtime game of the 2013 Tecmo Super Bowl season.

The Browns would win the coin toss heading into overtime putting all the pressure on the Bengal defense. The Browns used the flea flicker once again to get the ball to midfield, but that's when things turned around for Team Who Dey. Trent Richardson — who had been sensational for his old team all day — coughed up the football and the Bengals would recover.

Finding themselves with 1st and goal, Green-Ellis got the call once more and punched it in for the touchdown and another Bengals victory. 

It was a huge day in the backfield for both teams as BenJarvus Green-Ellis carried the ball 13 times for 173 yards while Trent Richardson had a career high with 215 yards on nine carries. Here are the rest of the stats courtesy of Tecmo Sports News: 

With the win, the Bengals move to 4-0 in the Tecmo Super Bowl season, giving themselves a two-game lead over all the other teams in the division. The cushion is especially nice heading into Week 5 as Cincinnati will welcome Tom Brady and the New England Patriots to Paul Brown Stadium.

Addictions (Day 7 of 7)

ASK — God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down, inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you.

READ — the section of Scripture below slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT — on what grabs you. What connections do you see at this point in your life? How might God be speaking to you through these words? Stop long enough to let this take root and thank God for engaging you.

RESPOND — to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what's on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you've uncovered - individually and with your church. And look for ways to bring what you have discovered to others.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

Bengals Tecmo Super Bowl Season — Week 3

After big wins over the Steelers last week in Tecmo Super Bowl and in real life, the Bengals were hoping the momentum would carry over into Week 3 as they welcomed Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

Before the game, Cincinnati got some great news as they found out Giovani Bernard had made a full recovery from a previous injury and was ready to take the field.

Randall Cobb, who is well known in this region thanks to his time with the Kentucky Wildcats, was handling kickoff return duties for the Packers. The Bengals defense would keep him quiet for most of the day, however.

And speaking of the Bengals D — they wasted no time making some noise as a sack by Vontaze Burfict and a Rodgers interception put the offense immediately in the red zone.

This would setup an easy run into the end zone by "The Law Firm" BenJarvus Green-Ellis, giving the Bengals a quick 7-0 lead.

But Aaron Rodgers came back on the next drive and said "Anything you can do, I can do better," as he broke free for a 71-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 7-7.

To start the second quarter, the Bengals put together a nice looking drive capped off by a 15-yard touchdown toss from Andy Dalton to Orson Charles, putting Cincinnati back on top 14-7.

The Packers would receive decent field position on their next drive thanks to a botched kickoff by Mike Nugent. But all they could muster was three points as the Bengals defense held them to a field goal as the game headed into halftime.

Fans who attended Sunday's game were in for a real treat at halftime as the Cincinnati Bengals Marching Band took the field to play an orchestrated version of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines."

Things got a little ugly starting in the second half as a Jermaine Gresham fumble led to a turnover, giving the Packers an opportunity to take the lead.

The ensuing Packer drive would set up a monstrous 41-yard touchdown run by Eddie Lacy, giving his team a 17-14 lead over the Bengals in the third quarter.

The Bengals would bounce right back, marching all the way down to the Packer 12-yard line where they faced a 4th down and 3 situation.

The smart choice would probably have been taking the easy field goal to tie the score at 17. But Green-Ellis told his team in the huddle, "This is a video game, and in video games, you always go for it on 4th down." The Bengals would convert, giving them a great opportunity to take a fourth-quarter lead.

It would be Green-Ellis again bulldozing his way into the end zone to make the score 21-17 with about 3:30 left to play in the game.

Following the next kickoff, Aaron Rodgers knew he was going to have to lead his team down the field once again if the Packers wanted to escape Paul Brown Stadium with a win. But the Bengals defense, which had been rock solid all day, made another huge stop on fourth down giving Cincinnati possession of the ball late in the game.

The Packers would use all of their timeouts, hoping for one last chance to get the ball back.

But Andy Dalton and the Bengals offense were able to convert and run out the clock for a huge 21-17 win over the visiting Packers.

The Bengals were led by BenJarvus Green-Ellis' 150 yards on the ground which produced two touchdowns. The Bengals defense also came away with two very clutch interceptions of Aaron Rodgers. Dalton and his receiving crew never really got in sync, however, as he only connected on half of his passes for a total of 87 yards.

At the end of Week 3 in the Cincinnati Bengal Tecmo Super Bowl Season, the good guys find themselves still leading the AFC North with a record of 3-0-0. But a Browns victory over the Vikings allowed them to keep pace as they remain just one game behind.

Addictions (Day 6 of 7)

ASK — God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down, inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you.

READ — the section of Scripture below slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT — on what grabs you. What connections do you see at this point in your life? How might God be speaking to you through these words? Stop long enough to let this take root and thank God for engaging you.

RESPOND — to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what's on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you've uncovered - individually and with your church. And look for ways to bring what you have discovered to others.

Romans 8:26-27 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

Addictions (Day 5 of 7)

ASK — God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down, inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you.

READ — the section of Scripture below slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT — on what grabs you. What connections do you see at this point in your life? How might God be speaking to you through these words? Stop long enough to let this take root and thank God for engaging you.

RESPOND — to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what's on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you've uncovered - individually and with your church. And look for ways to bring what you have discovered to others.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

Addiction (Day 4 of 7)

ASK — God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down, inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you.

READ — the section of Scripture below slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT — on what grabs you. What connections do you see at this point in your life? How might God be speaking to you through these words? Stop long enough to let this take root and thank God for engaging you.

RESPOND — to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what's on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you've uncovered - individually and with your church. And look for ways to bring what you have discovered to others.

Isaiah 43:1-2 "But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."

Bengals Tecmo Super Bowl Season — Week 2

In Week 2, all eyes were on the Cincinnati Bengals as they took on Pittsburgh in Monday Night Football.

It would be the Steelers who struck first as Emmanuel Sanders hauled in his first touchdown grab of the day, making the score 7-0 early in favor of Pittsburgh.

Following a quick three-and-out, the Bengals were forced to punt the ball away — and the Steelers would take advantage.

Ben Roethlisberger found Sanders again in the endzone for Sanders' second touchdown of the day giving Pittsburgh a quick 14-0 lead.

Things would only get worse for the Bengals as return man Brandon Tate had to be helped off the field following the Pittsburgh kickoff.

Following the injury, the Bengals offense capped off an inspired series of plays with a BenJarvus Green-Ellis touchdown run.

But the Steelers were not fazed by the Bengal scoring drive as they marched back down the field where Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown this time for six more points making the score 21-7 in favor of Pittsburgh.

Just before the half, the Bengals picked up some much-needed momentum heading into the locker room as Andy Dalton connected on a 55-yard bomb to A.J. Green in the endzone.

At halftime, the Steelers maintained a seven-point lead over the Bengals with a score of 21-14.

In the 3rd quarter, the Steelers came right back out firing on all cylinders, and Will Johnson capped off the long drive with a short TD scamper to give Pittsburgh a 28-14 cushion.

But the Bengals still would not back down as Dalton found Green in the end zone two more times to tie things up at 28 late in the 4th quarter.

With about 1:30 to play, the Steelers were thinking "touchdown" as they went for it all on their final drive. But Carlos Dunlap would come up with a huge sack on 4th down giving the Bengals one last chance before overtime with 0:01 left on the clock.

What is now being called "The Monday Night Miracle," Dalton found tight end Jermaine Gresham in the back of the end zone for the touchdown and the win as time expired.

The extra point by Mike Nugent would make the final score 35-28 in favor of the Cincinnati Bengals.

At the end of Week 2, the Bengals improve their record to 2-0-0 holding a one-game lead over the Cleveland Browns.