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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Leave it to Chad Ochocinco to provide the game-winning point in a Bengals victory.

Not points, but point.

With Shayne Graham sidelined for Thursday’s preseason game against New England, Ochocinco kicked the extra point after Chris Henry’s 24-yard touchdown pass from J.T. O’Sullivan late in the second quarter. That ended up being the margin of victory as the Bengals defeated the Patriots 7-6.

“He reminded me that he could do it,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “It was good for him to get the chance and he hit it good and his kickoff wasn’t bad. He had the game-winning points. Ocho strikes again. He reminded me to make sure I said something.”

After a nice hold by punter Kevin Huber, Ochocinco booted it soccer style with a high follow through as the ball went straight down the middle.

“Nothing suprises me. All joking aside, he still kicked the ball through the uprights and it ended up winning the game,” said O’Sullivan, who started in place of Carson Palmer at quarterback. “Some people think it's funny, but it's important.”

Ochocinco didn’t know that Graham was not going to play until special teams coach Darrin Simmons told him during the first half to get ready.

“I proceeded to warm up. I didn’t need much,” Ochocinco said. “I went out there and did what I do. I just kicked. … Everyone has to remember, I’ve always said that soccer is my No. 1 sport. I think Ronaldinho would be proud of me right now.”

Ochocinco could have had a chance to kick a field goal early in the second quarter, but it was determined that the kick was on a far hash mark. The Bengals drove to the Patriots’ 27 and went for it on fourth-and-7 before O’Sullivan was sacked by Adalius Thomas.

The extra point was not Ochocinco’s only boot of the night. With the Bengals kicking off to open the second half, he got the ball to the Patriots’ 9.

While the Bengals did win, some of the problems that sprouted up in last week’s loss to the Saints manifested themselves again. The first-team offense had 212 yards in the first half in seven series, but just one touchdown.

Of those drives, the Bengals did not have a three-and-out. But they self destructed at the most inopportune times with penalties, fumbles and turnovers.

It started on the first drive when right tackle Anthony Collins was called for holding, which essentially stalled the drive.

Three series later, O’Sullivan connected with Daniel Coats on a 27-yard reception but Brandon McGowan forced a fumble that was recovered by Terrence Wheatley.

It wasn’t until the Bengals’ sixth drive that everything came together. After they pinned the Patriots deep and got the ball at the New England 47, O’Sullivan directed an eight-play drive, culminating in the pass to Henry, who beat Wheatley in single coverage. That combo has accounted for both of the Bengals touchdowns in the preseason.

“With Chris you can just throw it up there and let him go get it,” said O’Sullivan, who was 10 of 13 for 141 yards and a TD. “We did what we wanted to do, Chris saw the adjustment and the guys gave me the time to throw and he beat his guy.”

It almost looked though as if the Bengals were going to have that drive die, too. Two plays earlier, Jerome Simpson made a nice diving catch in the back of the end zone, but was called for offensive pass interference.

While O’Sullivan was solid again, the offensive line was not. Bengals’ quarterbacks were sacked four times in the first half (Jordan Palmer played a series) and Cedric Benson (10 carries, 28 yards) was under pressure in the backfield often.

Tom Brady (4 of 8, 57 yards) played only two series, but led the Patriots to a field goal, a 32-yarder by Stephen Gostkowski, on the first one.

In a drive that will give defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer fits, the 10-play, 57-yard drive featured missed tackles by Chris Crocker and Leon Hall. Crocker missed the tackle on a 32-yard reception to Wes Welker while Hall came up empty on a 9-yard reception to Greg Lewis.

After the Bengals scored, the Patriots drove downfield and Gostkowski made one from 47 yards with 27 seconds left in the half.

In the second half, both teams had scoring opportunities.

The Bengals had another touchdown wiped out on an offensive pass interference call when Andre Caldwell pushed off before catching it in the end zone. The 13-play drive stalled at the Patriots 6 when Jordan Palmer’s pass intended for Simpson in the end zone was incomplete.

In the fourth quarter, the Patriots drove to the Bengals’ 12 and an apparent go-ahead score when Marvin White recovered a BenJarvus Green-Ellis fumble. Tom Nelson forced the fumble.

Said Lewis of the game: “I think the thing I was pleased with was the play of our quarterbacks. Defensively I thought we responded to the no-huddle right away. I thought it was a good outing. In the second half with the guys left our guys kept battling.”

The Bengals will face St. Louis next Thursday at Paul Brown Stadium.

By Joe Reedy
Chad's kick wins for Bengals | Cincinnati.com | Cincinnati.Com

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Chad's new role --- kicker!!