Two successive wins put the Bengals at 3-3, showing that underdogs don’t just win in the movies
Two weeks ago, the outlook appeared bleak for our Cincinnati Bengals. Wounded and weary from a beating administered by the Tennessee Titans, the Bengals had fallen to 1-3 on the season. Our offense was missing its punch and failing to deliver a solid fight. Our defense was pummeled and gashed from repeated body blows administered by the opposition. Our heroes had been knocked down and bullied. But they had not been fully defeated. Like Daniel LaRusso overcoming his tormentors in “The Karate Kid,” the Bengals have risen to regain their confidence and reassert their strength.
“The Karate Kid” is a classic 1984 film that tells the redemptive story of how a bullied teenager, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), harnesses his newfound karate tutelage to emerge victorious over his oppressors and win not only a karate tournament but the affections of his love interest. Daniel acquires his karate skills through the wise teachings and instruction of Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), a handy-man and war veteran who befriends Daniel in his time of need. Directed by John G. Avildsen, who directed the original “Rocky,” “The Karate Kid” employs many of the similar beats of a loner underdog who finds renewed purpose through a meaningful relationship and propels himself through intense training to realize the greatness inside himself.
Most Memorable Scene: Many fans likely prefer “The Karate Kid”’s concluding championship match when Daniel achieves both victory and immortality by way of a perfectly delivered crane kick to the face of lead tormentor and adversary, Johnny Lawrence. For my money, it’s the high school Halloween dance scene. Daniel, having been creatively disguised as a shower, attends the high school dance to continue pursuing Ali Mills, the cheerleader he met previously on the local beach and impressed with his soccer exploits. Daniel spies Johnny, clad in a full skeleton bodysuit, and seeks his revenge by dousing Johnny with water through a well-placed hose. Johnny doesn’t find this gag humorous and quickly bands with his fellow Cobra Kai cronies, all adorned in matching skeleton costumes, to pursue Daniel from the dance and all the way to the fence line of Daniel’s apartment complex. Daniel attempts to scale the fence but is pulled down by the Cobra Kai gang who then takes turns administering retribution on Daniel through karate moves. Then, a savior in the form of Mr. Miyagi emerges from the shadows and swings into action to promptly vanquish Daniel’s attackers. The scene is energetic and exciting, replete with 80s music, great Halloween costumes, effective fight choreography and an incredible introduction to Miyagi as a karate extraordinaire.
Like the Karate Kid, the Bengals found themselves backed up against their own fence line last Sunday trying to withstand an advancing enemy. Two times late in the 4th quarter, the Bengals’ defense made a stand to turn away the Seattle Seahawks from scoring the go-ahead touchdown. On the first opportunity, the Seahawks, trailing 17-13, were set up at first and goal from the Bengals 7-yard line with 3:27 remaining in the game. Trey Hendrickson sacked Seahawks quarterback, Geno Smith, for a 12 yard loss on first down. Hendrickson’s bookend partner, Sam Hubbard, then ended the drive with a sack of his own on fourth down. Two minutes remained but, unfortunately, the Bengals ensuing offensive drive lasted a mere 24 seconds giving the ball back to Seattle with 1:24 remaining. Once again, the Seahawks drove deep into Bengals territory and on the doorstep of the endzone. Once again, the Bengals’ stoic defense held the line as B.J. Hill and Sam Hubbard swooped in to apply the pressure to Geno Smith on 4th down, finally ending the Seahawks threat and preserving the Bengals victory. It was a return to form for the Lou Anarumo-coached defense: stopping the opposition from scoring touchdowns late in games to preserve wins. Incredibly, the Bengals are 21 percent better than any team in the league at preventing teams from scoring touchdowns in the second half or overtime. For example, two of the most memorable plays in franchise history have come in this situation: the (Sam) Hubbard Yard Dash last year in the playoffs against Baltimore and Germaine Pratt’s interception against the Raiders to end the 31-year playoff drought. After a difficult start to the season, the defense returned to form and re-discovered their identity again.
Runner-Up: The “wax on-wax off” reveal of karate moves learned through house chore muscle memory (Karate Kid). When Joe Burrow made sure to retrieve the football for rookie WR Andre Iosivas after his first NFL Touchdown (Bengals).
Best Performance: Noriyuki “Pat” Morita had primarily acted in television sitcoms and was best known as Arnold in “Happy Days” when he got the opportunity to take on the dramatic role of Mr. Miyagi in the Karate Kid. Morita more than delivered, stealing the movie and creating an indelible character that is the heart and soul of the Karate Kid. Morita imbues Miyagi with paternal comfort and quiet strength. Morita blends Miyagi into the perfect mix of sage teacher and restrained warrior, his formidable skills as a karate fighter disguised by his diminutive stature. Miyagi is given most of the best dialogue in the form of wise sayings but Morita delivers each of those lines authentically, in keeping with his character. Morita was nominated for a “Best Supporting Actor” Academy Award for his role.
Trey Hendrickson is often overlooked in the national conversation about the league’s best pass rushers. Like Miyagi, Hendrickson isn’t showy—like many of his pass-rushing counterparts that command more of the spotlight. Hendrickson just continues to produce results that measure among the league’s best. Despite the rocky start by the Bengals defense, Trey is playing the best football of his career. Hendrickson is currently third in the NFL with seven sacks through the first six games, putting him on pace for 20 sacks this season. Hendrickson is also third in the NFL in Pro Football Focus Pass Rush Grade among edge defenders (which factors in speed of wins, win rate, finishing plays, forced fumbles, drawing penalties and more). He’s behind only Myles Garrett and Nick Bosa and ahead of the more celebrated T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons and Maxx Crosby. During the Bengals two-game winning streak, Hendrickson has been a force for the improving defense registering 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss and four QB hits over these last two games. To opposing offensive units, Hendrickson probably seems like the marauding Mr. Miyagi—swooping in from the shadows to wreak havoc and dispense justice. Trey is off to a sensational start and pacing to have a historic season in the annals of the Bengals franchise.
Runner-Up: William Zabka’s turn as the film’s primary heel, Johnny Lawrence, was so captivating and memorable that an entire television series, Cobra Kai, was created around his character nearly three decades later (Karate Kid). Cam Taylor Britt, known simply as CTB, is emerging as a star in the Bengals secondary (Bengals).
Worst Part of the Movie: The great chemistry between Ralph Macchio (Daniel) and Pat Morita (Miyagi) is one of the primary reasons the film succeeded and still endures. However, the good chemistry does not carry over to the film’s primary romantic relationship between Macchio and Elisabeth Shue’s Ali. Both are good actors—particularly Shue—but the authenticity of their attraction just doesn’t seem genuine. Perhaps because of how the part is written or how Macchio plays the role, Daniel can seem too eager and demonstrative whereas Ali carries herself with grace. Why would the well-established popular girl in school remain infatuated with the awkward and ostracized new kid in town?
The Bengals’ second half display on offense against Seattle seemed as awkward and short lived as Daniel and Ali’s relationship would have been in real life. The Bengals engineered touchdowns on their first two drives to start the game. Following intermission, however, the Bengals could only muster 62 total yards of offense on 7 possessions. The Bengals picked up 3 first downs after halftime while punting 4 times and turning over the ball on a Joe Burrow interception. Following a Cam Taylor Britt interception that set up the Bengals at the Seahawks 34 yard line, the Bengals failed to pick up a single yard. The previous week against the Cardinals, Ja’Marr Chase was “always open” as promised and produced a franchise record for receptions in a game with 15 catches. Chase’s performance prompted a tweet referencing 7/11, the 24/7 store franchise that is always open and a new partnership with the store chain was born. Chase even showed up wearing a 7/11 necklace against the Seahawks but apparently the store was closed in the second half. Chase had only one reception on a handful of targets against the Seahawks in the final two quarters.
Best Quote: “The Karate Kid” has many memorable lines. “Wax On. Wax Off.” “No Mercy.” “Get Him a Body Bag” to name a few. But it’s the line Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese utters to Johnny mid-way through the film’s concluding championship match that seems the most immortal: “Sweep the Leg.” The charge is Kreese’s instructions to Johnny to finish the match by injuring Daniel. In “The Karate Kid,” the bullies don’t win.
On Sunday, the bullies failed to prevail either. Emerging star cornerback Cam Taylor Britt (CTB) was given the assignment of guarding Seahawk star wide receiver, D.K, Metcalf. Metcalf is an imposing 6’4” 235 pound wideout who more resembles a linebacker than receiver. Metcalf plays a physical game on the edge, knowing he can overpower most defensive backs but CTB was unafraid and didn’t back down. “We know that’s Metcalf’s type of game,” the Bengals’ Mike Hilton said. “He wants to get in corners’ heads. But we knew once we put 29 (Taylor-Britt) on him, all that was dead.” At one point, Metcalf unnecessarily shoved Bengals CTB to the ground and was immediately slapped with unnecessary roughness and a 15-yard penalty. “Stop crying,” is what CTB said he told Metcalf. The best quote of the week comes from Mike Hilton again summarizing the match-up, “The bullies got bullied.”
Jon Bunch is an avid life-long Bengals fanatic. Raised in the 740. West Pointer, Army and Iraq War veteran. Passionate evangelist of the Who-Dey spirit. @WhoDeyBunch
