National Football League

Bengals back to winning by grinding it out

Published Sep. 16, 2011 11:12 p.m. ET

foxsports

Cedric Benson loves the way the Cincinnati Bengals' new offense is unfolding.

The running back has been the focus of a return to the grind-it-out style that helped them make the playoffs in 2009, one they got away from last year.

Benson has a chance to open this season with back-to-back 100-yard games, something he hasn't done in a couple of years.

''It would be a great step in the right direction,'' Benson said.

They've already taken the first step.

Benson ran for 121 yards and a clinching touchdown during a 27-17 win in Cleveland last Sunday, an indication of what the Bengals will try to do under new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden. He's likely to get a lot more chances when the Bengals visit Denver on Sunday with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton still recovering from a wrist injury.

Dalton bruised his right wrist and forearm when he was hit after throwing a pass on the final play of the first half in Cleveland. He didn't play the second half because he had trouble gripping the ball. The Bengals limited him in practice Wednesday and Thursday, but listed him as probable after his workout on Friday.

The Broncos (0-1) allowed Oakland to run for 190 yards in the Raiders' 23-20 opening win, and their defense is sapped by injuries, so it's likely that the sore-wristed Dalton is going to do a lot of handing off.

That's just fine with an offense that likes the straight-ahead approach.

''I think we all are excited,'' said left tackle Andrew Whitworth, also listed as probable with a sore knee and foot. ''We've got a young, young football team. I laugh every time I sit there in the offensive room and I am the old guy sitting there. I am thinking, `Goodness gracious, it's hilarious. The old guy in the room is 29 years old.'

''You can teach a young kid how to have effort and just be aggressive. That's the easiest way for them to learn. If we can run the football and be physical and be fast, the rest of the game can come later one.''

The Bengals have one of the youngest and least experienced teams in the league after getting rid of receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens and a few other veterans. Their opening-game roster was the AFC's youngest. Their players have an average of 3.6 years in the league, fourth overall behind Tampa Bay (3.3), Seattle (3.4) and Cleveland (3.6).

They'll be trying to pull off something they've never done when the visit Denver. The Bengals have never opened a season with consecutive road wins.

They haven't won in Denver since 1975, dropping eight in a row.

The last time they played them was the opener in 2009, when the Broncos came to Cincinnati and pulled off an incredible finish. Brandon Stokley caught a tipped pass and went 87 yards for a touchdown with 11 seconds left for a 12-7 victory.

The Bengals recovered by turning to their running game and winning the AFC North, only their second winning season in the past 20 years. They lost to the Jets in their first playoff games.

Cincinnati went away from its run-first style last season, trying to get more out of the passing game after signing Owens. Instead, the offense never got into a flow. The Bengals finished 4-12, fired coordinator Bob Bratkowski and changed to a West Coast style that accentuates short, quick passes and the run.

''I think this is the first time we have a style we want to be,'' Whitworth said. ''I think at times we were searching for that, but I think in '09 we found what we are. We still kept searching, but I think we realized now that we are a physical football team.''

Benson was unhappy when the Bengals leaned more on the pass last season. He decided to return on a one-year deal after the change in offensive coordinators and philosophies. Benson said he and Gruden get along well.

''He's a jokester,'' Benson said. ''Great sense of humor. I can't remember the last time I had that type of a relationship like that with an offensive coordinator. That's good. When you're a focal point or a big factor in an offense or on a team, you always want to have a relationship with your coordinator. He's the one calling the plays and coordinating the plays, and you always want to be on the same page.''