Sixth Victory Is Most for Bengals Since 1997

The Cincinnati Bengals insist they are learning from Coach Dick LeBeau. Their next lesson? Playing as well during the middle of the season as they do at the end.

Neil Rackers kicked three field goals, including the game winner with 20 seconds left, as the Bengals defeated the Tennessee Titans, 23-21, for their second consecutive victory and their most wins in a season since 1997.

The Bengals (6-10) finished as they started, with a two-game winning streak. But they preceded the closing spurt with a seven-game slide.

It’s their best finish since going 7-9 in 1997, and they also ended a seven-game losing streak to the Titans (7-9).

LeBeau called it a good ending as the Bengals beat the Pittsburgh Steelers last week and overcame a 14-0 deficit against the Titans.

“That’s reflective of the character of this team,” he said. “We need to play a little bit better, but I think we can do that.”

Linebacker Takeo Spikes said he thinks leadership finally has replaced the negative attitude that has permeated the Bengals in previous seasons.

“That comes from the top with Coach LeBeau,” he said. “He taught principles all year long. That is basically what it comes down to--what he teaches and what he believes in. Everybody believes in him, and once you have everyone believing in our head coach like that, then it just filters down to everyone else.”

The Titans blew a 14-point lead for the second consecutive week as they finished with their first losing record since Coach Jeff Fisher’s first full season in 1995.