TDBH: NFL sked makes Bengals ready for prime-time players

The final reward for the NFL's best turnaround in 2003 under head coach Marvin Lewis has turned the Bengals from America’s 1 p.m. team into a network attraction. When the NFL releases the 2004 schedule today, Cincinnati gets its first prime-time double-header in history when Paul Brown Stadium hosts its first two regular-season night games ever. The league re-discovers the Bengals with the help of their charismatic coach and a former No. 1 draft pick playing quarterback. The Bengals break their 12-year drought on Monday Night Football with an Oct. 25 game against the Broncos at PBS at 9 p.m. on ABC. They open their home schedule on the second week of the season in a Sunday night game against another team that won 10 games last year in the Dolphins on Sept. 19 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN. "Huge. Absolutely huge," says right tackle Willie Anderson, the dean who is destined to play his first Monday night game in his Bengals-leading 132nd game. "It's one of the things that players look for during the season. It's a big opportunity. Now everyone wants to see how much we've improved. I'm happier for the organization. People are going to get to see that Bengals' logo a lot."

…