The amazing Bengals have staged last-minute comebacks in each of their last three games.
So it’s only fitting that one of their leaders is the potential comeback player of the year.
Then again, it’s not as if running back Cedric Benson is “coming back” to his old self.
As an NFL player, he never has been as good as he is now.
Benson, whom the Bears cut in 2008, leads the NFL in rushing with 487 yards on 111 carries.
He rushed for 141 yards in Green Bay in Week 3, and Sunday he became the first running back in 40 games to run for 100 yards against the Ravens, gaining 120 on 27 carries.
“You can see he’s hungry,” said Texans coach Gary Kubiak, whose team plays in Cincinnati on Sunday. “He has a new start there, and obviously they’re giving him great opportunities.”
In March, the Texans almost signed Benson, a former Texas standout, as a backup to Steve Slaton.
The Bengals wound up giving him a two-year deal, however, and clearly don’t regret it.
Benson, the fourth overall pick by the Bears in 2005, never lived up to the hype in Chicago, where he rushed for 1,593 yards and 10 touchdowns in three seasons.
After he was released, he signed with the Bengals and had a decent season, gaining 747 yards on 214 carries with two touchdowns. Nothing special, and nothing like the start he’s off to now.
Fab five: It’s hard to believe that, after all these years, Brett Favre is on a 5-0 team for the first time in his career.
When it comes to uncharted territory, though, he’s not alone.
This is the first time in NFL history that so many teams have been undefeated at this point in the season.
In addition to Favre’s Vikings, the Broncos, Colts and Giants are 5-0 and the Saints 4-0.
At least one of those teams will drop out of the mix Sunday because the Giants are visiting the Saints. While the Colts get a week off, the Vikings (vs. Ravens) and Broncos (at Chargers) face challenging opponents.
Eye of storm: The Raiders hoped JaMarcus Russell, 24, would take the NFL by storm.
Instead, he’s the most visible lightning rod for all that ails the worst team in football.
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Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in 2007, has had a cover-your-eyes bad start to the season, completing only 42.1 percent of his throws for the 1-4 Raiders and establishing a barely-there passer rating of 47.1.
Over their last three games, the awful Raiders have been outscored 96-16.
No bye for the rested: While most of his 49ers teammates skedaddled for their week off, rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree didn’t have that luxury. He stuck around this past week and caught passes from Alex Smith.
Running back Frank Gore was around the facility too, rehabbing his injured ankle.
Both Crabtree and Gore are expected to play next Sunday in Houston.
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