Tag Archives: Bengals

Week 17: Games to Watch

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Week 17 has finally arrived. Certainly every football fan’s favorite week of the regular season. Although by the end of the day, many of those fans are less-than happy with their team’s result. This year, there will certainly be some broken hearts as there are six teams fighting for the final three playoff spots. In the AFC we have Baltimore, Tennessee, Buffalo and the Chargers fighting for the two wild card spots. In the NFC, just one spot remains, which will be battled for by the Falcons and Seahawks. Below are the week 17 games which hold the strongest playoff implications.

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS

This clash of NFC South powerhouses is probably the biggest game of the week. For Carolina, it is an opportunity to win the division. However, this will be a tall task. Carolina has lost both games to New Orleans this year, so they will have to win in Atlanta and the Saints would have to lose in Tampa. Pretty unlikely but hey, we have seen crazier things. Carolina has already clinched a playoff spot and will likely be playing either the Rams or the Saints in the first round.

There is even more on the line for the Falcons in this game. At 9-6, a win or a Seahawks loss will give the last remaining seed in the NFC to Atlanta. It is impossible to know what to expect from this game as the Panthers tend to play like either a Super Bowl team or a division 3 high school team. It is difficult to know what to expect from them heading into this week. However, I do like Atlanta’s chances because they are at home. I also think Matty Ice and Julio Jones may be able to pick apart the Panthers secondary, which ranks 19th in the league in pass yards allowed per game.

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS

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lockedonbengals.com

Cincinnati is playing for nothing but pride this weekend as their dreadful season has them eliminated from the playoffs. However, I do expect Cincinnati to give it a valiant effort this week as they would love to help eliminate their division rival from the playoffs. For Baltimore, all they have to do is win to make the playoffs, as they have a one game advantage on the rest of the teams fighting to get in. The Ravens could lose and still make the playoffs as they have own the tie breaker with the Chargers. If the Ravens, Bills, and Titans all finish 9-7 then they would be eliminated because Tennessee and Buffalo both own the tie breaker over Baltimore.

BUFFALO BILLS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS

The Bills have probably the slimmest chances to snag an AFC wild card spot. They do hold a tie breaker over the Ravens if both teams finish 9-7. This will be pretty unlikely as the Baltimore has a very winnable home game vs Cincy. If the Ravens win then Buffalo will need both Tennessee and the Chargers to lose. On paper, this looks like a pretty winnable game. However, much like the Panthers, both of these teams are rather inconsistent. It is hard to know what to expect in this match-up. I do believe that Buffalo is the superior team and that they will be able to win this game.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT TENNESSEE TITANS

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atozsportsnashville.com

Jacksonville does not have much to worry about in this game as they will likely be AFC’s three seed. However, this is a huge game for the Titans. Luckily they own a tie breaker over all three of the other teams fighting to get in. A win would guarantee a playoff spot. If they lose, the Ravens win AND Buffalo or the Chargers win then the Titans would be eliminated. So they really need to win in order to avoid any risks. A win will be a tall task despite being the home team. Jacksonville’s defense is probably the best in the league. I expect starting corners AJ Bouye and Jalen Ramsey to completely shut down the passing game. It will be up to Demarco Murray and Derrick Henry to lead the Titans to this week 17 win

OAKLAND RAIDERS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

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raiderswire.usatoday.com

The Raiders will be playing to spoil this weekend. As arguably the league’s biggest disappointment, Oakland has to be itching for next season. If it makes them feel better, they can drastically decrease their division rival’s chances of making the playoffs with a win. A win will not guarantee a spot in the playoffs for the Chargers. They will need a loss from the Titans as well because Tennessee own the tie breaker. However, if they end up with the same record as the Bills then they will have the tie breaker and earn the 6th seed. LA should win this game rather easily as Oakland has struggled on both sides of the ball this year. I do not think Oakland has the ability to stop Rivers, Melvin Gordon and Keenan Allen on the road. Advantage LA.

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Weird to imagine the Seahawks not in the playoffs. For Seattle to make it in, they will need to win and need Atlanta to lose against Carolina. Both things could happen of course, but the chances are not that high. Seattle cannot control what happens down in Atlanta this week, but they can help themselves by earning a win. At home I do expect Russell Wilson and company to get the win. But Arizona has quietly been playing some pretty solid football as of late. Even though I expect them to win, I also expect Atlanta to win which would eliminate Seattle due to a head to head tie breaker in Atlanta’s favor.

 

*Questions or comments? Find me on twitter @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*

*Feature pic credit goes to panthers.com*

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XVI

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The Super Bowl is just 36 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 36 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Super Bowl XVI was played in the Pontiac Silverdome on January 24, 1982. The game pitted the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers against the Cincinnati Bengals of the American Football Conference.

San Francisco 49ers 36 Years Ago

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The 1981 49ers experienced a decade of mediocrity. Alas, a QB from Notre Dame came upon a white horse. His name was Joe Montana and he was about to rewrite the San Francisco and NFL history books. Bill Walsh, a Paul Brown disciple ironically from his Bengals’ days, served as 49ers head coach. His offensive scheme featured short passing plays mixed with runs by unheralded backs.

The 49ers’ best offensive weapon was wide receiver Dwight Clark. He possessed great hands and ran great routes.

On defense, the Niners were excellent in the defensive backfield. However, they were very young. They started three rookies every game of the season. Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson were good from week one. Lott was special. Dwight Hicks was in his third season. He finished the year with 239 interception-return yards and was invited to the Pro Bowl.

San Francisco added Jack Reynolds and Fred Dean to bolster their run defense and pass rush. And it worked. In fact, the ’81 49ers finished 2nd in the league in defense and just 13th in team offense. So, their dynasty began like most of the greatest in NFL history after all. Defense wins championships.

The Catch

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Phil Huber

They finished the 1981 season with 15 wins in their last 16 games. Atlanta and Philadelphia were suppose to be the best teams in the NFC. But, the Falcons never got off the ground and the Eagles slumped down the stretch and lost in the wild card game. In the end, the Niners and Cowboys were the leaps and bounds the two best teams in the conference.

The Niners beat the Giants and the Cowboys walloped the Buccaneers to set up the game of the season in the NFC. The teams went back and forth in an instant classic. The 49ers controlled the tempo of the game. But, whether it was nerves or whatever, they were mistake-prone. They turned over the ball an incredible 6 times.

Still, they only trailed 27-21 with five minutes left. They moved the ball slowly, but surely. They mostly relied on the running of veteran Lenvil Elliott and the catching of Dwight Clark. Indeed, it was a spectacular catch by Clark which is known as “the catch” that propelled the Niners into the Super Bowl. When Montana threw the pass, it looked as if he was throwing it away. But, Clark outjumped Everson Walls and scored. Dallas’ QB Danny White fumbled on the final series and the 49ers were Super Bowl-bound.

Cincinnati Bengals 36 Years Ago

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The Bengals were surprisingly the best team in the AFC in 1981. They proved that with a 40-17 thrashing at San Diego. Their only loss during the last two months of the season came at home to the 49ers.

Three-time World champion Forrest Gregg was the Head Coach of the 1981 Bengals. Their defense was average, finishing 12th. However, their offense was excellent. League MVP and longtime Bengals’ starter Ken Anderson had a brilliant season. Rookie wide receiver Cris Collinsworth and fullback Pete Johnson also made the Pro Bowl.

In the playoffs, Cincinnati outlasted Buffalo 28-21. Next up, the high-powered San Diego Chargers. The Chargers defeated Miami in overtime in an epic. San Diego went from that hot, humid victory in Miami to Cincinnati to play in one of the coldest games ever recorded.

The Chargers were once again no match for the Bengals, losing 27-7. Cincinnati with their brand-new stripes were on to their first Super Bowl.

Joe Cool

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The Bengals got the first break when the Niners fumbled the opening kickoff. But, Anderson gave it right back with a red zone pick by Hicks. San Francisco took their opening drive to the one-yard line. Subsequently, Montana dove in for the first score.

The Bengals consistently moved the ball. But, they turned it over 4 times. For one, Collinsworth committed a critical red zone fumble. The Niners took advantage of these miscues, scoring 10 points in the second quarter. They squibbed a last-second kickoff at the end of the half. Sure enough, the Bengals fumbled again. San Francisco added one more field goal and the score was 20-0 at the break.

The Bengals did not fold. They scored the next 14 points around a superb 49ers’ goal-line stand. However, Joe Cool sealed the deal with a FG drive that put the game in hand. And the Niners intercepted Anderson again in the closing minutes.

Thus, the 49ers won their first of five Super Bowls over the next 14 seasons. The Bengals would rebuild and be back seven years later. Unfortunately for them, Cincy lost Super Bowl XXIII…to Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers.

 

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

NFL Week 8: Key Match-ups, “Must Wins” and Score Predictions

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Week 8 has arrived, and that means we are just about half way through the NFL’s regular season. It should be quite an eventful weekend, despite six teams being on bye. Week 8 features nine games between teams with at least three wins each and three divisional match-ups. I’ve highlighted some of the match-ups to keep an eye on. I’ve also called out which teams face a “must-win” scenario and score predictions.

Week 8 Key Match-ups

Denver Broncos (3-3) @ Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)

Football fans have had this game circled on their schedule since the 2018 schedule was released. This match up features the top two teams in the stacked AFC West division. Both teams come off of back-to-back losses after strong starts to the season. For the Broncos it’s far uglier. They have choked in two winnable games vs the NYG and @ LAC. The offense looks terrible during this mini skid, notching just 10 total points in the past two contests. Denver’s defensive unit has not been its usual dominant self over the past two games, allowing 44 points during the span. It is not yet panic time for the Broncos, but they need to improve soon if they want to make the playoffs. The Chiefs have also dropped two straight, but they were both tough games. The first was a one-possession loss vs the 5-2 Steelers. The second, a tough loss in Oakland on the last play of the game versus a team that was desperate for a win (and played like it). The Chiefs do not have much to worry about at the moment, but a win could really help separate them from the rest of the division.

Dallas Cowboys (3-3) @ Washington Redskins (3-3)

Another enticing match up here between two divisional foes. Both teams sit at 3-3 and are tied for second in the division behind the high-flying Eagles. Dallas is coming off a huge 40-10 win in which they looked like a force to be reckoned with. Then again, it was against the win-less 49ers. Washington has played quite well this year despite just a 3-3 record. They have had an extremely tough schedule as their losses have come on the road against the Chiefs and twice against the 6-1 Eagles. They have won some quality games this year vs OAK and @ LAR. Expect a high-scoring affair as Dallas is currently ranked 7th in the league in points per game while the Redskins are 11th.  Buckle up.

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Houston Texans (3-3) @ Seattle Seahawks (4-2)

Interesting match up here. Houston rolls into Seattle off their bye week. The Texans will attempt to keep their third-ranked high-powered offense going against Seattle’s number one ranked defense. The Texans look a little bit like the Seahawks did a few years back. They feature an elite defense and an offense lead by a young, mobile quarterback. The difference is that Houston is on the rise while the Seahawks have been flying high for years now. This would be a statement win for Houston, though it will be tough without their superstar defensive end JJ Watt, out for the season.

Teams in “Must Win” mode

It may be a little early to start claiming games to fall under the  “must win” category. However, it certainly feels as though a few teams can not afford a loss this week if they want to be in the playoff race or at least meet their pre-season expectations.

Baltimore Ravens (vs Miami)

The Ravens currently sit at 3-4. Luckily they are second in the division but at 5-2 Pittsburgh is beginning to pull away. Their 3-4 record is a result of poor performance by QB Joe Flacco and a defense not playing to its potential. The Ravens limp into a week 8 match up at home vs the Dolphins. Backup QB Matt Moore will be starting for Miami, replacing Jay Cutler. If Baltimore can not win at home versus a mediocre team that is starting their back up QB then they do not deserve to be in the playoff hunt.

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Cincinnati Bengals (vs Indianapolis)

Luckily for Cinci, their “must-win” game is against a terrible Colts team. Cinci is just 2-4, but I believe they are better than their record shows. They have talent on both sides of the ball but have not executed well this year. Dalton needs to play better and they need to establish a run game. This game should be a “gimme” and the Bengals need it as they continue to fall out of the playoff race rapidly. With Pittsburgh at 5-2, it is unlikely that they will have a shot at the division title, but a wildcard spot is not out of the question yet.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs Carolina)

After just barely missing the playoffs and looking good for most of last season, the Bucs are just 2-4. It has certainly been a disappointing start to the season. Tampa really needs a win this week to stay competitive. It will be a tough game, but at home vs an inconsistent team that just lost to the Bears, it is a winnable game. The fact that it is a divisional game adds even more magnitude to this match up. The NFC South division is no joke as it feature the previous two NFC champions and a 4-2 Saints team. If the Bucs want to climb out of the NFC South basement, they will need a win this week against the Panthers.

Score Predictions

Miami – 16                Oakland – 24             LA Chargers – 23            Atlanta – 23                  Carolina – 20             Dallas – 27                     Denver – 13

Baltimore – 20           Buffalo – 23               New England – 34          NY Jets – 20                 Tampa Bay – 27        Washington – 31           Kansas City – 27

Minnesota – 26         Indianapolis – 13       Chicago – 17                  San Francisco – 14        Houston – 20            Pittsburgh – 24

Cleveland – 10          Cincinati – 24            New Orleans – 31           Philadelphia – 38           Seattle – 26                Detroit – 30

 

 

Every AFC North’s Fantasy Football Sleeper of 2017

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The AFC North has some good talent year in and year out when it comes to fantasy football. Guys like Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, A.J. Green, etc. all play in the AFC North. We also have three talented quarterbacks in that division as well. Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, and Andy Dalton are all QB1/QB2 options when it comes to fantasy football. The AFC North remains competitive year in and year out, because they have some star talent in that division.  Take a look at the list that @thefrizz87 and I put together for the sleeper pick on each team in the AFC North.

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