PatsFan37

We're not counting peanuts, these are teams with 53 players competing in a complex game. After 3 weeks, few statistics have any meaning.

I'll go with this: the Bengals are desperate and they're playing at home in prime time, with one of the league's best QBs and two of the best receivers. The Patriots have a good secondary and a superb front seven. It's a classic battle, and I'm not picking the winner. (winning on D means holding the other team below, say, 20 pts, and giving the O decent field position)

When the Pats have the ball, it's a different matter entirely.

PatsFan37

What I like about this, is if Addai gets dinged up, Cincy has taken a shadow-roster RB off the Colt's board.

Jacky Roberts

Patriots have injured 2 QB's in their first three games. Who is going to come in after Palmer gets broken?

Just kidding, if the Pats can keep TJ Houshwhatever and Johnson from having historically great games, the Pats roll. I can see the Patriots with a 2 to 1 time of possession advantage in this game.

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cartmen

Rudy is the only real reason to fear the Bengals. Not that OC and TJ can't kill you but the play action is a huge part of their offense. If you dont respect the run you can sit on the pass and rush the passer without worry

Patsfanin Philly

Amen. Bill Belichick doesn't attack your weakness, he takes away your strength ( See Marshall Faulk in SB 36 for example) Without Rudi, their strength is the passing game to Chad Johnson and TJ Houshalphabet. I expect to see some defense designed to force Palmer to find alternate receivers or go to a running game......
They may get their catches but the Pats aren't Romeo's Browns..

Patriot_in_NY

Oh gee, sorry I have a different opinion then you...... and for the record, I've watched all 3 Cinci games (I'm a closet fan and TJ is my #1 fantasy WR). Watson is a serviceable #2, but he is NOT as good or versatile as Morris can be (who has great hands and eventually will prove very valuable out of the backfield).

Cinci's O-line is not providing great holes and we should be able to get some penetration with our big 3 up front. Watson is a #2 for a reason, and he will struggle this week. That's MY prediction. Bottom line, it starts in the O-line, which is built for pass and for whatever reason, not doing as well in the run game so far for them.

OC and TJ are explosive and will be the first test for our secondary, however, if we get pressure up front and rush Carson (who's been well protected so far) a bit, we can hope to limit their productivity.

On defense, Cini's is struggling, and they don't match up well against us anyway. They seem to play alot of nickel and are very vulnerable in the slot. Welker will have a field day.

Cincinnati is not that great a team. They have a great passing offense which makes people notice them stats wise, but as a team they are perhaps on par with the Jest and not nearly at good as the Chargers (talent wise). Not to say we can overlook them cuz we certainly can't. They can be explosive, but this is a game we SHOULD win going away.

On paper, we have more talent accross the board, we just have to go out and execute and we will be fine. I'd say 35-21

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Patroit_in_NY is now Patriot_in_ABQ

slash83

Rudi Johnson, Bengals: Johnson disappeared in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game, (although some might argue that they never saw him to begin with) and later we were told that this was the result of a hamstring injury. Indications at this point are that the strain is not serious and Johnson states that he will be ready for Week 4. We will monitor his practice activity throughout the week to see how the hamstring holds up.

per ESPN

Wotan_the_Wanderer

Like Rudi would have made such a difference even when healthy after the Pats jump out to a 14-0 lead against this defense?

bungholio

If Rudi is healthy enough to play that is a huge boost for the Bengals, provided they gameplan him correctly, which means not calling tosses and sweeps that Rudi, as a north-south back, isn't good at.
We have a really good offensive line, especially at pass protection (we have given up, what, 3 sacks in 3 games and thrown the ball a bazillion times?), and if the meat up front can generate push and Bratkowski keeps Rudi inside the tackles, we'll be much more effective as we won't become one-dimensional.
This of course is all predicated on our defense not playing like a Div II-A squad and allowing Brady and Co to jump out to an early big lead.
Oh yeah, and our ST's are going to have to show up, too. Bad field position due to horrible kick/punt coverage has absolutely KILLED the Bengals so far this year, which is a result of our monumental amount of injuries.

BDDFC

Yes I was. I am quite old and my brian doesn't always work the way it use to.
I might Levi, of course.
If we get the bal in DeeDee's hands we may get some explosive plays.
Now who's having flashbacks. lol You mean Dan Coats.