Bengals, Steelers battle in crucial AFC showdown
For all the bad news they make off the field, the Cincinnati Bengals have countered by making good news on the field this trouble so far this season. Carson Palmer is guiding the offense that has found a strong ground game behind Cedrick Benson while Antwan Odom anchors a defense that is fifth in the AFC in scoring. Cincinnati will face its toughest test of the season on Sunday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
How can you not love the Cincinnati Bengals? Coming off a season in which they started 0-8 and lost their franchise player and starting quarterback to a knee injury, the Bengals are tied for the division lead in the AFC North.
The organization is so colorful you’d think Jackie Moon himself was running the team. Cincinnati lost wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the offseason, but his name wasn’t even the strangest at his position. That distinction goes to ol’ Chad Ochocinco, who remains the league’s biggest prankster and the only player to literally change his name to a pair of Spanish numbers.
Bengals’ players have accumulated more arrests on DUIs and misdemeanor drug offences in the past few years than Amy Winehouse. Cincy still wears helmets that would be right at home on a Def Leppard album cover (best case scenario), or on Ron Jeremy’s bed sheets (you get the picture).
On the field, the Bengals are playing their best football since going to the playoffs in 2005.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-7, 42)
Sunday – 1 PM ET, CBS
The Bengals (6-2, 5-3 ATS) meet the team that eliminated them from the postseason four years ago when they clash with the Steelers (6-2, 3-5 ATS) on Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field.
Pittsburgh has won two Super Bowl titles since then, while Cincinnati has floundered at the bottom of the AFC North. The Steelers are back to their winning ways this season, but the Bengals have joined them at the top of the division largely because of the emergence of Cedric Benson in the backfield.
Along with Tennessee’s Chris Johnson, Benson is one of two running backs averaging 100 yards rushing per game this season. Benson ran for 76 yards on 16 carries in Cincinnati’s 23-20 win over Pittsburgh at Paul Brown Stadium on September 27, as the Bengals covered as 3.5-point underdogs.
Carson Palmer was the hero that day, hooking up with Andre Caldwell on a 4-yard touchdown strike with 0:18 remaining to lift Cincy to the upset. Palmer needs to be at his best again on Sunday against Pittsburgh, which will have Troy Polamalu in the lineup this time around.
Polamalu was out with a knee injury in the previous meeting, and he’s clearly the most important player for Steelers backers. A pedestrian wager at best this season, Pittsburgh is 4-0 (3-1 ATS) when Polamalu plays this season, and 2-2 (0-4 ATS) when he doesn’t.
The Steelers (-3) handled the Broncos 28-10 at Invesco Field in last week’s Monday nighter for their most impressive win of the season. Pittsburgh allowed only 27 yards rushing in the payday, while putting up 173 yards on offense. The Steelers have now won five in a row (3-2 ATS) since falling to the Bengals.
Dallas at Green Bay (+3, 47.5)
Sunday – 4:15 PM, FOX
Desperately needing a win to stay in the NFC playoff picture, the Packers (4-4, 4-4 ATS) tackle Mr. November Tony Romo and the Cowboys (6-2, 5-3 ATS) on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Green Bay fell 38-28 at Tampa Bay (+9.5) last week, even though it led 28-17 early in the fourth quarter. The loss was especially frustrating for Aaron Rodgers, who finished 17-of-35 for 266 yards with two TDs and three interceptions – two more picks than he had all season – for the Packers.
Rodgers faces a quarterback on the other sideline that should consider a career in the CFL if his gig in Big D doesn’t pan out, because the Canadian season doesn’t run past November. Going for his 14th straight win in November on Sunday, Romo has 37 touchdowns and a 115.9 passer rating in 17 career November contests.
Green Bay is getting points at home, but it’s in trouble against Dallas. Rodgers has been sacked a league-high 37 times, and he’s going up against DeMarcus Ware and one of the NFL’s best pass rushes on Sunday. To make matters worse, right tackle Mark Tauscher (knee) is considered doubtful for the Packers.
Bettors should play the over on the 47.5-point total. The Cowboys are 6-2 O/U in their last eight games as a favorite, and are 7-3 O/U in their last 10 games overall. For their part, the Pack has played over the number in 24 of its last 33 outings dating back to 2007.
For all the bad news they make off the field, the Cincinnati Bengals have countered by making good news on the field this trouble so far this season. Carson Palmer is guiding the offense that has found a strong ground game behind Cedrick Benson while Antwan Odom anchors a defense that is fifth in the AFC in scoring. Cincinnati will face its toughest test of the season on Sunday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
How can you not love the Cincinnati Bengals? Coming off a season in which they started 0-8 and lost their franchise player and starting quarterback to a knee injury, the Bengals are tied for the division lead in the AFC North.
The organization is so colorful you’d think Jackie Moon himself was running the team. Cincinnati lost wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the offseason, but his name wasn’t even the strangest at his position. That distinction goes to ol’ Chad Ochocinco, who remains the league’s biggest prankster and the only player to literally change his name to a pair of Spanish numbers.
Bengals’ players have accumulated more arrests on DUIs and misdemeanor drug offences in the past few years than Amy Winehouse. Cincy still wears helmets that would be right at home on a Def Leppard album cover (best case scenario), or on Ron Jeremy’s bed sheets (you get the picture).
On the field, the Bengals are playing their best football since going to the playoffs in 2005.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-7, 42)
Sunday – 1 PM ET, CBS
The Bengals (6-2, 5-3 ATS) meet the team that eliminated them from the postseason four years ago when they clash with the Steelers (6-2, 3-5 ATS) on Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field.
Pittsburgh has won two Super Bowl titles since then, while Cincinnati has floundered at the bottom of the AFC North. The Steelers are back to their winning ways this season, but the Bengals have joined them at the top of the division largely because of the emergence of Cedric Benson in the backfield.
Along with Tennessee’s Chris Johnson, Benson is one of two running backs averaging 100 yards rushing per game this season. Benson ran for 76 yards on 16 carries in Cincinnati’s 23-20 win over Pittsburgh at Paul Brown Stadium on September 27, as the Bengals covered as 3.5-point underdogs.
Carson Palmer was the hero that day, hooking up with Andre Caldwell on a 4-yard touchdown strike with 0:18 remaining to lift Cincy to the upset. Palmer needs to be at his best again on Sunday against Pittsburgh, which will have Troy Polamalu in the lineup this time around.
Polamalu was out with a knee injury in the previous meeting, and he’s clearly the most important player for Steelers backers. A pedestrian wager at best this season, Pittsburgh is 4-0 (3-1 ATS) when Polamalu plays this season, and 2-2 (0-4 ATS) when he doesn’t.
The Steelers (-3) handled the Broncos 28-10 at Invesco Field in last week’s Monday nighter for their most impressive win of the season. Pittsburgh allowed only 27 yards rushing in the payday, while putting up 173 yards on offense. The Steelers have now won five in a row (3-2 ATS) since falling to the Bengals.
Dallas at Green Bay (+3, 47.5)
Sunday – 4:15 PM, FOX
Desperately needing a win to stay in the NFC playoff picture, the Packers (4-4, 4-4 ATS) tackle Mr. November Tony Romo and the Cowboys (6-2, 5-3 ATS) on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Green Bay fell 38-28 at Tampa Bay (+9.5) last week, even though it led 28-17 early in the fourth quarter. The loss was especially frustrating for Aaron Rodgers, who finished 17-of-35 for 266 yards with two TDs and three interceptions – two more picks than he had all season – for the Packers.
Rodgers faces a quarterback on the other sideline that should consider a career in the CFL if his gig in Big D doesn’t pan out, because the Canadian season doesn’t run past November. Going for his 14th straight win in November on Sunday, Romo has 37 touchdowns and a 115.9 passer rating in 17 career November contests.
Green Bay is getting points at home, but it’s in trouble against Dallas. Rodgers has been sacked a league-high 37 times, and he’s going up against DeMarcus Ware and one of the NFL’s best pass rushes on Sunday. To make matters worse, right tackle Mark Tauscher (knee) is considered doubtful for the Packers.
Bettors should play the over on the 47.5-point total. The Cowboys are 6-2 O/U in their last eight games as a favorite, and are 7-3 O/U in their last 10 games overall. For their part, the Pack has played over the number in 24 of its last 33 outings dating back to 2007.
