From NFL. Com:
Center Rich Braham, the longest-tenured Bengal, became the 15th player to go on season-ending reserve Saturday with a knee problem stemming from a play in last week’s 35-28 loss in New England. Braham, 34, who arrived in Cincinnati via the waiver wire two weeks after his 24th birthday, missed three games earlier in the season after a knee injury in the opener, and is the 13th player still with the team on injured reserve this year.
Cornerback Deltha O'Neal (ankle) is not going to be ready until the Giants game next week, giving rookie Keiwan Ratliff his third straight start. Injured left end Duane Clemons and his team-high 6.5 sacks won't start for the first time in 25 games with Carl Powell getting the call.
Another tough "D" on tap
The Bengals offense is going to have to come up with something strong Sunday. The Bills, with old friend Takeo Spikes their playmaker, are coming off a game they held Cleveland to 17 total yards.
“Personnel-wise, they’re the best defense we’ve played,” said Pro Bowl right tackle Willie Anderson. “I know we’re going to vote for their two big tackles for the Pro Bowl. I think everybody is. They’ve got speed on the outside, smart athletic linebackers, and their DBs are making plays.”
Spikes, coming off his first Pro Bowl season, should send Adams and Williams to Hawaii if they can’t get there on their own. They probably offer 670 reasons why Spikes is making the big plays consistently in Buffalo that he couldn’t do all the time in Cincinnati. Like he did with Brian Simmons, he has developed a nice chemistry with middle linebacker London Fletcher.
“He’s one of the top one or two middle linebackers in the league," Anderson said of Fletcher. "He’s very underrated. He’s the guy making sure everything is under control. Takeo brings that big-time guy that makes a big-time play. He doesn’t make as many plays as London makes, but Takeo makes one or two huge plays a game that turns their games around.”
Spikes, who has three sacks and three forced fumbles, started to turn the tide of this season when he opened the Miami game back on Oct. 17 with an 11-yard interception return for a touchdown. "I think it's the stability of the playmakers,” Spikes said. “We're in our second year with the same group of core guys knowing the same system and knowing each other. The role guys are playing their roles. There are no big-time egos on this team. Everybody knows what they have to do. Everybody, when their turn comes up to make a play, they make it. They're not any goals set. We try to do nothing more, nothing less. Just make the play when it's your turn."
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