More photos » by Tony Tribble - AP

5 days ago: Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, left, looks at Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones after Jones tackled him during the first half of their NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble)

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On the morn after the Browns' defeat of the Pittsburgh Steelers (essentially knocking them out of the playoff picture), things are pretty quiet around the interwebs in regards to our 9-3 Bengals. 

I hope you all enjoyed that game as much as I did last night.  Living in Northeast Ohio, you should have seen my facebook homepage during and especially after the game.  It was quite entertaing, to say the least.  Of course, I didn't participate in the ribbing or the smack talk.  I would never do such a thing.  Now, links ensue! 

Florio notes in his Friday One-Liners that Chris Crocker has returned to practice and he says he plans to play Sunday at Minnesota.

Mr. Florio also questions the validity of the Bengals however in his weekly 10-Pack for SportingNews, wondering if the Steelers' and Ravens' recent struggles undermine the Bengals' achievements so far this season. 

Clark Judge over at cbssports.com calls Bengals at Vikings the game of the week in his Peek-at-the-Week.

cbssports.com also gives us a video preview of Sunday's game.  I typically like Pat Kirwan, but he seems to be much higher on the Vikes than he is for the Bengals going into the weekend.  Nothing like continuing to prove folk wrong, am I right?  

Finally over at cbssports, here's the page containing their expert picks.  Even split over the six writers as to whether the Bengals cover the 6.5 point spread this weekend.   

Heading on over to ESPN, Adam Schefter is the only expert on the panel picking the good guys on Sunday.  Bang it here. 

More Schefter here, pondering Percy Harvin's chances of playing through a migraine this weekend.  He also gives the Bengals' offensive line major props toward the end of the article. 

James Walker has a very, very enjoyable edition of "Remember the Offseason?" in which he posts comments from Bengals fans and fans of the other teams in the division in regards to the Bengals' chances in 2009.  It's a quality read.

The experts over at Fox Sports are in line with the others, all but Adam Schein pick the Vikes.   

Here's Fox Sports' preview of the Bengals/Vikings game this weekend.  They also ilst the game as the game of the week. 

The folks over at WDR opine (sarcastically as per uzhe) about Sunday's game. 

Have fun clicking, and we'll see you over the weekend for CLINCHFEST 2009!!!!1!!!1!!1

Sorry.  Got a little excited. 

A Pragmatic Bengals Fan

More photos » by David Kohl - AP

5 days ago: Cincinnati Bengals running back Brian Leonard leaps through the air while jumping over a Detroit Lions defender during the second half of their NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/David Kohl)

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The Cincinnati Bengals, nay YOUR Cincinnati Bengals, today beat the Detroit Lions to extend their record to 9-3.  They are now 6-0 in the AFC North and 3-3 outside of it. 

Had it not been for a tipped pass and a fumble on a kickoff return, your Cincinnati Bengals would be 11-1. 

Yes.  The Cincinnati Bengals are two plays away from being 11-1. 

Was it a pretty win today?  Absolutely not.  Did the Bengals leave some points on the board?  Absolutely. 

Oh, by the way?  The Vikings are getting their heads knocked around by the Arizona Cardinals right now. 

Mike Zimmer and Bob Bratkowski, I hope you're watching Sunday night football.

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More photos » by Tony Tribble - AP

12 days ago: Cincinnati Bengals running back Bernard Scott (28) tries to fend off Cleveland Browns safety Mike Adams while running the ball during the first half of their NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble)

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Well, what's the climate of Bengal Nation this evening?  What are the fans of the Cincinnati Bengals franchise on the evening following their completion of a season sweep of their division?  It seems to me that the climate in Bengaldom is pretty tame; it seems to me that many of us are overly disappointed after today's win in the Jungle.  Perhaps I could be included in that number, perhaps not.  By nature I tend to take the pragmatic view on things ranging from literary adaptions to film all the way to sports contests in which my favorite teams participate, hence my chosen moniker. 

I also have the tendency to be overly verbose at times in my writing, but that's another matter entirely. 

Additionally, Maple and Brown Sugar Cream of Wheat is awesome.  I'm just saying. 

For my weekly gut reaction to the game, hit the jump.

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Hello, Raider Nation! 

I'm Craig (A Pragmatic Bengals Fan), Site Editor and one of the bloggers over at CincyJungle.com, the SB Nation Bengals community.  We've been sharing FanPosts with our opponents' blogs this season and so far it's been a very enjoyable experience.  If you have any questions or comments in anticipation of Sunday's game in your backyard, post them here in the comments section!  Myself and our other members will try to come around and answer any questions you have and we may have some of our own.  We'll do our best to keep it civil (and those of us on staff will ensure nobody gets out of line), but bear in mind we're pretty excited throughout Bengaldom this year.  It's been a long time since it's felt this good to be a Bengals fan, you know?  :) 

Nice to meet you all, and I look forward to a healthy exchange as we discuss Sunday's upcoming battle and I hope our boys log their first ever win (0-9 lifetime) in Oakland! 

Sincerely,

A Pragmatic Bengals Fan

More photos » by Keith Srakocic - AP

25 days ago: Cincinnati Bengals' Jonathan Joseph, left, and Rashad Jeanty celebrate after their defense stopped the Pittsburgh Steelers on fourth down with time running down in the fourth quarter of the NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. The Bengals won 18-12. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

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Rewind to December 4th, 2005.  Your Cincinnati Bengals had just beat the Pittsburgh Steelers at Pittsburgh to take ownership of the division.  I really don't recall what my specific reaction was, but I'm sure it was nothing short of epic.  I was bouncing off of walls.  I was talking smack to every Steeler fan within earshot.  I was thrilled to death when Chad Johnson said that the Bengals were the new reality, that the Steelers were black and white television and the Bengals were color. 

When the 2005 Bengals clinched the division two weeks later at Detroit's Ford Field, I was doubly ecstatic.  I was absolutely convinced that our long run of pain and suffering in Bengal Nation had come to an end. 

That is very different compared to the emotions I feel today as your Cincinnati Bengals have completed their first season sweep of the Pittsburgh Steelers in eleven years.

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C. Trent Rosecrans, the Bengals' official Twitter account and Joe Reedy (in that order) confirm that Maurice Purify is indeed joining the 53-man roster today.  To make room for Purify, safety Roy Williams was/will be placed on season-ending Injured Reserve.

And I was really looking forward to having Roy back to scramble some Steelers' eggs on Sunday, too. 

Chris Henry had season-ending surgery on his broken forearm today and was placed on Injured Reserve.  Evan Mathis is considered week-to-week and Scott Kooistra is reportedly to be re-signed shortly. 

Per the Bengals' official Twitter account, first reported by C. Trent Rosecrans of CNati.com.  Rosecrans' Twitter account can be found here.  @ctrent

Please continue to debate the merits of Chase Coffman vs. Jerome Simpson vs. Maurice Purify in the event that the discussion is once again relevant when Evan Mathis is fully healthy after getting shaken up yesterday, I don't expect Kooistra to be around for very long.  This seems to be a stop-gap type of move to get the team through the next couple of weeks.  I still hope to see either Purify, Simpson or Coffman soon.

by Al Behrman - AP

about 1 month ago: Baltimore Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain (33) is gang-tackled by, left to right, Cincinnati Bengals defenders Domata Peko, Keith Rivers, Frostee Rucker, Dhani Jones and Leon Hall after a short gain in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

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Today was the first time in recent memory that I sat down to watch a Bengals division game and did not get nervous from the first snap.  Were there some things that happened today that give me pause?  Were there some things that happened today that concern me going forward? 

Of course there were.  I don't like that Ed Reed made Chad Ochocinco cough the ball up again today.  That bothers me.  I credit Chad for continuing his theme of improving his yards after catch, but when it comes at the cost of possessing the ball it can be a detriment.  Chad has been great at making things happen after catching the ball all year long, and it usually happens the same way.  He will catch the ball on the left side of the field, turn to his left and spin off a defender and take off like a bat down the field.  It is usually a thing of beauty.  Got to keep better control of the ball while he's running, but I'm sure he doesn't need to hear that from me. 

Let's do some breakdown after the jump, shall we?

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Decisive.  From the beginning bell, there was nary a doubt that the Bengals were going to win this game today.  They drove 77 yards on the opening drive to score on the Arm of the God of Golden Arms. 

Oh, by the way.  Carson Palmer, who many have doubted of late, had twenty completions out of twenty-four attempts.  He threw for five touchdowns on only 233 yards passing. 

I'd say that's pretty efficient, wouldn't you? Perhaps even...elite?

Hit the jump. 

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More photos » by David Kohl - AP

about 1 month ago: Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson (32) runs past Houston Texans linebacker Zac Diles (54) on his way to a 10-yard touchdown run in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)

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Okay everyone, I'm not going to tell you that the sky is falling but I may have reached for my umbrella once or twice yesterday.  There is much bad and precious little good to talk about from yesterday's game, so let's get right into it.  

I sat down to watch yesterday's game excited.  I was anticipating a fight from the Texans, but judging by the mental fortitude shown by our Bengals over the past four weeks I expected the men in stripes to prevail in what I hoped to be the fifth consecutive victory from the Bengals.  I was hoping to see a team come out swinigng at home for their fans, for their pride and for a continued sense of respectability in the national media.  That wasn't what I saw yesterday. 

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