[Stardust]

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20091...++Asomugha

In two previous meetings against the Raiders, Chad Ochocinco has posted 100-yard games. In order to make it a three-peat though, he will have to go against one of the best corners in the league in Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha.

While Asomugha doesn't have any interceptions this year, and only has two over the past three seasons, he has a reputation as possibly the best shutdown corners in the game.

"I know my corners and there is no one a defensive coordinator feels as comfortable enough to leave on an island on his own and bump and run and let everybody else just play," said Ochocinco of Asomugha. "There's not another corner who has enough confidence to do that right now. He does it, he's consistent."

Ochocinco is looking to bounce back after a season-low two catches for 29 yards in last week's win over Pittsburgh. Before that game, the ninth-year receiver had 27 receptions for 381 yards and two touchdowns.

With Cedric Benson out for this game due to a hip flexor, it's possible that the Bengals will try to open things up more with the pass. At Pittsburgh last week, they did pass on the first five plays.

While Oakland enters the game with a 2-7 record, their pass defense is a respectable 14th. Besides Asomugha, who is in his seventh season, cornerback Chris Johnson has five interceptions since the start of last season and is aiming for this third straight game with a pick. Safeties Hiram Eugene and Tyvon Branch are also physical.

• Bengals vs. Raiders, at a glance

"Their run game has helped them in their pass; their pass game has helped them in the run," Asomugha said. "Carson Palmer's been doing a great job of spreading the ball around. It's always a threat when they drop back to pass."

If the Bengals are going to attempt to be a little more balanced, the Raiders are looking to key in on stopping one area early in order to force them to be one dimensional. "If you're going to stop the pass, stop the pass early, so you can concentrate on the run," Asomugha said. "If you let both of those aspects eat you up, you'll be in trouble the whole day because they'll have their whole playbook to work with."

For Ochocinco and the offense, he sees today's game as more of a statement than last Sunday's as Pittsburgh. If the AFC North-leading Bengals are going to be considered a good team, they must take care of business against the lesser ones.

"For us to be the team that we are, this is a game that we should win," Ochocinco said. "The good teams win the games they should and steal a couple on the road. No way are we overlooking the Raiders. You can ask Philadelphia what happened. This is the week where as an offense we have a chance to flourish."