By Dr. Vegas
Here is a game of teams going in opposite directions. Cincinnati is 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS, while Dallas is 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS.
The Cowboys thus far have fared better on the road than at home. They managed a 4-point home win against Philly on 9/15 and lost by two to rival Washington last week. Of course being at home against one of the few remaining winless teams promises to give the Cowboys a bit of relief after last week’s loss. What’s worse than being 0-4 for Cincinnati is that they lost to the 0-3 Browns last week.
By Nevada Sharpshooter
The 0-2 Bengals go on the road to face the 2-0 Giants. Cincinnati has looked horrible in its first two games. The offense has only scored 1 touchdown as QB Carson Palmer has compiled a QB rating of 37.1, the lowest in the league. The Bengal troubles cannot completely be laid at the feet of Palmer. The offensive line play has been very poor, providing no pass protection, while the play of WRs Chad Johnson and T J Houshmandzadeh has been subpar as well. Defensively the Bengals have also struggled giving up 213 yards per game rushing.
By Totals 4U
Cincinnati (0-0) recently made some tough choices by cutting former Pro Bowlers RT Willie Anderson, RB Rudi Johnson, and CB Deltha O’Neal, adding $8 million in cap room, in a move to reverse the aging of a team that opened last season at 2-6 before finishing out of the playoffs at 7-9. Offense again will be a strength for Coach Marvin Lewis’s (42-38 in 6th season) crew with a strong offensive line (17 sacks allowed in ’07, average 6’5 ½” and 326 pounds) providing the time for QB Carson Palmer to grab chunks via former Oregon State teammates WR Chad Johnson and WR TJ Houshmandzadeh who combined for 205 catches, 2583 yards, and 20 touchdowns in 2007. The addition of 6’6” 250 TE Ben Utecht to 6’4” 256 TE Reggie Kelly should beef up the running game and if starting RB Chris Perry continues his career struggle with remaining healthy, reliable 7th-year RB Kenny Watson (178 for 763 yards and 7 TD in ’07) can step right in. Keep your eye on 6’2” 195 rookie WR Jerome Simpson (2nd round Coastal Carolina) who earned the 3rd receiver sop with a big preseason while WR Antonio Chatman will again handle returns. Cincinnati will certainly score with this squad but if they are to return to the post season, Coordinator Mike Zimmer’s defense must show more up front. 3rd-year 6’3” 325 LDT Donato Peko comes off a superb season (52 T, 1 ½ S) on the inside but RDT John Thornton is aging, LDE Robert Geathers managed just 3 ½ sacks last year, and RDE Antwan Odom hasn’t suited up since the first preseason practice. The Bengal back 7 is capable of a big season. WLB Brandon Johnson, MLB Dhani Jones, and Rashad Jeanty are a good group, backed up by strong depth in 6’2” 241 rookie OLB Keith Rivers (USC) and 6’3” 255 OLB Darryl Blackstock. Safety is a bit of a concern with FS Marvin White moving to the starting lineup and SS Dexter Jackson battling an ankle but look out for these corners. 5’11” 193 3rd-year LCB Johnathan Joseph (58 T, 4 INT) and 5’11” 199 2nd-year RCB Leon Hall (60 T, 5 INT) are primed for huge seasons. With the money on the line, few kickers are better than Shayne Graham (133 of 152 career field goals, 31 of 34 last season) while P Kyle Larson are returns.
2008 NFL Sneak Peek – AFC North
By TD at Totals 4 You
Welcome to the 4th edition of our eight-week series taking an off-season look at the National Football League. This week we check in the AFC North where big expectations in 2007 were never quite realized as the member squads pounded each other into the middle of the pack and failed to notch a playoff win. It’s a tall order to crack the elite tier of the AFC so let’s find out what’s shaking in the land of the 3-4 defense.