Playoffs
Everyone seems to think the Bengals are going to lose tomorrow's playoff game. Here's an interesting article from ESPN.com. Let's hope they're right!
Click here for full article.
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BENGALS (+3) over Steelers
As far as trilogies go, this one is somewhere between Lewis-Rahman III and Ruiz-Holyfield III. In other words, NFL Films isn't getting the A-team documentary crew ready or anything. With that said, this game gave us the most shocking line of the week (and maybe the whole season); I was 5 points off with my guess on Sunday night. Just five weeks ago, the Steelers were giving 3½ to the Bengals in Pittsburgh, lost the game ... and now they're giving 3 in Cincinnati? Huh?????
Anyway, I see three rules from the Manifesto in play here, including ...
Rule No. 2: When in doubt, seek out the popular opinion and go the other way.
Not to keep bringing this up, but Pittsburgh hosted Cincy with its playoff hopes on the line last month, turned the ball over four times and blew the game ... and then San Diego saved their butts the following week by choking at home to the Dolphins. Everyone forgets this now, just like everyone forgets how Roethlisberger choked for two straight weeks in the playoffs last year. But because the Bengals lost a fluky home game to Buffalo two weeks ago (highlighted by a kick-return TD and an interception TD), then rested everyone in a blowout loss to KC last week, suddenly they're reeling and Pittsburgh is fine? Huh??? This line perplexes me. It's vexing. I'm vexed.
Rule No. 7: When in doubt, research special teams and turnovers.
I'm not crazy about Cincy's special teams, but the Bengals forced a league-leading 44 turnovers this season, including four from Pittsburgh in their Dec. 4th game, and if you don't think this stuff matters in the playoffs, you're crazy. Also, if Cowher has a pattern in January, other than the spit freezing in mid-air as it comes flying from his mouth, it's this -- his teams keep blowing winnable games with dumb interceptions, fumbles and special teams miscues. That's their M.O. I don't see why that would change in Cincy.
Rule No. 8: Beware of the Road Favorite.
The oldest rule in the book. If you're going against a good team at home, you better have a really good reason. I'm not crazy about this Bengals team, but what have the Steelers done, really? They lost to the Pats at home, lost to Jacksonville at home, got killed by Indy on the road, lost to Cincy five weeks ago ... what am I missing here? Just because they beat the Browns by 41 points, I'm supposed to take them as a road favorite against an 11-5 team? No thanks.
The Pick: Bengals 28, Steelers 26
Click here for full article.
-----------------
BENGALS (+3) over Steelers
As far as trilogies go, this one is somewhere between Lewis-Rahman III and Ruiz-Holyfield III. In other words, NFL Films isn't getting the A-team documentary crew ready or anything. With that said, this game gave us the most shocking line of the week (and maybe the whole season); I was 5 points off with my guess on Sunday night. Just five weeks ago, the Steelers were giving 3½ to the Bengals in Pittsburgh, lost the game ... and now they're giving 3 in Cincinnati? Huh?????
Anyway, I see three rules from the Manifesto in play here, including ...
Rule No. 2: When in doubt, seek out the popular opinion and go the other way.
Not to keep bringing this up, but Pittsburgh hosted Cincy with its playoff hopes on the line last month, turned the ball over four times and blew the game ... and then San Diego saved their butts the following week by choking at home to the Dolphins. Everyone forgets this now, just like everyone forgets how Roethlisberger choked for two straight weeks in the playoffs last year. But because the Bengals lost a fluky home game to Buffalo two weeks ago (highlighted by a kick-return TD and an interception TD), then rested everyone in a blowout loss to KC last week, suddenly they're reeling and Pittsburgh is fine? Huh??? This line perplexes me. It's vexing. I'm vexed.
Rule No. 7: When in doubt, research special teams and turnovers.
I'm not crazy about Cincy's special teams, but the Bengals forced a league-leading 44 turnovers this season, including four from Pittsburgh in their Dec. 4th game, and if you don't think this stuff matters in the playoffs, you're crazy. Also, if Cowher has a pattern in January, other than the spit freezing in mid-air as it comes flying from his mouth, it's this -- his teams keep blowing winnable games with dumb interceptions, fumbles and special teams miscues. That's their M.O. I don't see why that would change in Cincy.
Rule No. 8: Beware of the Road Favorite.
The oldest rule in the book. If you're going against a good team at home, you better have a really good reason. I'm not crazy about this Bengals team, but what have the Steelers done, really? They lost to the Pats at home, lost to Jacksonville at home, got killed by Indy on the road, lost to Cincy five weeks ago ... what am I missing here? Just because they beat the Browns by 41 points, I'm supposed to take them as a road favorite against an 11-5 team? No thanks.
The Pick: Bengals 28, Steelers 26
posted by Patrick at 11:52 AM
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