Carson Palmer's Top 5 games as a Cincinnati Bengal

Carson Palmer has said he's done playing football as a Cincinnati Bengal and is ready to retire if he's not traded or released by the team. Mike Brown has emphatically stated he will not cave in and let players hold his team hostage to get what they want, including Palmer, who’s already sold his Cincinnati home, and it appears his days as a Bengal are truly over. What's sad is how quick fans are to forget what Palmer did for the Queen City. After decades are obscurity, the Bengals selected Palmer #1 overall in the 2003 NFL Draft, and he was immediately expected to rejuvenate what was once a competitive franchise. When Carson was finally given the starting job in 2004, he would provide Bengals fans with a number of exciting and memorable victories over the next 7 years. Here are his greatest performances as a Cincinnati Bengal:

San Diego 2006

Since having offseason ACL surgery, Palmer had yet to regain the elite form that made him one of the NFL's best quarterbacks. He certainly found it against the Chargers in week 10. Palmer completed 31 of 42 passes for 440 yards and 3 TD's, and was robbed of a 4th when Chris Henry dropped a 4th quarter TD pass that could have potentially tied the game, and ultimately cost the Bengals the win. The game did however mark the resurgence of Carson Palmer, as he would go on to compile another pro bowl season, while also earning pro-bowl MVP honors.

Baltimore 2004

The Bengals entered the 4th quarter trailing 20-3 against one of the leagues best defenses. They were also starring at a 5-7 record if they lost and would have likely put them out of the playoff picture. Carson wouldn't let the team quit, and would engineer 4 4th quarter scoring drives, including 3 touchdown passes, as the Bengals came back to win 27-26.

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Pittsburgh 2005

Entering the game, Cincinnati hadn't tasted an AFC North Division crown in nearly 2 decades. The winner of this match-up would be in first place and primed to win the division with only 3 games remaining. The Bengals had already been embarrassed at home 27-13 by their division rivals earlier in the year, but not only was this a more mature Bengals team, they were lead by a more mature Carson Palmer. The Bengals QB came out hot, throwing 3 first-half touchdown passes, despite losing All-Pro receiver Chad Johnson early due to a leg injury. He compiled one of his best games as an NFL QB against one of the leagues' best defenses, and led the Bengals to victory, 38-31. The team would go on to clinch the AFC North a week later, and secured the team's first playoff berth in 15 years.

Chicago 2009

With the bye week coming up, the Bengals were looking to go into their break on a high note and maintain their AFC North division lead, and they wouldn't disappoint. Against the Bears, Palmer compiled his best game to date as an NFL QB, completing 20 of 24 passes with 5 TD's and no picks with a QB rating of 146.7, the highest in his career at that point. The Bengals demolished the Bears, 45-10.

San Diego 2010

Going into the game, the Bengals were 3-11, had lost both starting wide receivers, had virtually nothing to play for while San Diego still had hopes of winning their division. That didn't stop Palmer from having one last hoorah. Against the Chargers, the Bengals QB had the greatest game of his career against the most adversity he'd ever faced in the NFL. He'd lost not one, but two All-Pro receivers and had to throw to the likes of Jerome Simpson, who just two weeks prior had one career NFL catch. He was also going against the NFL's #1 defense. Palmer would slice and dice the Charger's defense, going 16/21 for 261 yards and 4 TD's and a QB rating of 157.2, his highest ever. This game will likely be remembered by Bengals fans as the last hoorah of Carson Palmer, as he has stated he will never play for the Bengals again. One has to wonder how well Palmer would have done in a more stable franchise with a better supporting class. Alas, the moments and memories he brought Bengals fans will be remembered forever by the ones who cry, “Who Dey!”

By Jason Marcum
ProFootball-fans.com Cincinnati Bengals Correspondent