Running back Cedric Benson didn’t fumble the ball on his first 237 touches of the season and in the past two games he’s put it on the ground five times on his last 36 touches. Two with nearly unthinkable consequences last Saturday in the fourth quarter as the Bengals nearly blew a 23-point lead in the final 11:25 of the 23-16 victory over Arizona at Paul Brown Stadium.
But the Bengals are hanging with Benson, author of two of the nine 100-yard games the Ravens have allowed in the last 82 games.
“We’re married to him right now," offensive coordinator Jay Gruden said after Wednesday’s practice. “He’s a guy that has had great games against Baltimore in the past. We need him to run between the tackles and be his physical self and not worry so much about it. He’s had a ton of carries before the last couple of weeks where he hasn’t fumbled. He’s got to get back in that mentality, get his confidence going and protect the football better. Obviously putting the ball on the ground is unacceptable no matter your position.”
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