IN GAME THREAD Bengals vs Cardinals
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Cardinals on offense
Quarterback Carson Palmer was under too much pressure last week in Seattle. The running game was unproductive for much of the game last week in Seattle. The Cardinals committed three turnovers last week in Seattle. The Cardinals also scored 39 points and gained 451 yards last week in Seattle. That?s how good this group is. It can make mistakes, wallow around a bit, and still put up 39 against a very good defense. The Bengals run a 4-3 alignment, but in a lot of ways, they resemble the Cardinals defense. They rotate defensive linemen. They bring a variety of pressures. They mix up coverages. The Cardinals' starting guards are hurting. Mike Iupati is coming off a concussion and has a sore neck. Jonathan Cooper has a knee issue. It looks like Ted Larsen will start in place of Cooper. Bengals tackles Geno Atkins and Domata Peko are quick and strong. The Bengals have 26 sacks, led by end Carlos Dunlap with 8 ?. Receivers John Brown and Michael Floyd have sore hamstrings. In Brown?s case, the soreness has lingered for weeks, and it might be time to rest him again. Floyd is on a roll, scoring touchdowns in the past four games. It?s going to be hard to get him out of the lineup. But the Cardinals might have to use their depth, as they did last week when Jaron Brown and Brittan Golden made contributions.
Edge: Cardinals
Bengals on offense
The Cardinals had considerable book-learning to do this week in preparing for the Bengals. A handful of Cardinals used the same word - ?funky? - to describe some of what the Bengals do. They will use unique formations, such as flanking linemen out wide to use them as blockers on screen passes. The Bengals don?t butter their bread with those kinds of plays. They run the ball fairly well, averaging 3.9 yards a carry. Backup running back Giovani Bernard has been more productive than Jeremy Hill. Cornerback Patrick Peterson will defend receiver A.J. Green all day. Both were taken in the 2011 draft and are playing well. Tight end Tyler Eifert is a matchup problem for any team, provided he isn?t dropping passes like he did against Houston on Monday night. Eifert has nine touchdown receptions. Quarterback Andy Dalton, like Palmer, is very comfortable in this system. Nothing rattles him. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Dalton has the second fastest release in the NFL, exceeded only by Tom Brady. The Cardinals are still trying to come up with a way to get consistent pressure. Outside linebacker Dwight Freeney has been with them a month now, so he should be ready to carry an increased load.
Edge: Bengals
Special teams
Cardinals punter Drew Butler is stringing together solid games, making the improvement that was needed. Kicker Chandler Catanzaro has made his past seven field-goal attempts, including three last Sunday in Seattle. Patrick Peterson is beginning to find more room on punt returns. Kick returner David Johnson needs to do a better job of fielding the ball and deciding when to bring it out of the end zone. Last week, he was moving backward as he caught a couple and still brought them out. The results weren?t good. The Bengals? cover teams are solid.
Edge: Bengals
Quarterback Carson Palmer was under too much pressure last week in Seattle. The running game was unproductive for much of the game last week in Seattle. The Cardinals committed three turnovers last week in Seattle. The Cardinals also scored 39 points and gained 451 yards last week in Seattle. That?s how good this group is. It can make mistakes, wallow around a bit, and still put up 39 against a very good defense. The Bengals run a 4-3 alignment, but in a lot of ways, they resemble the Cardinals defense. They rotate defensive linemen. They bring a variety of pressures. They mix up coverages. The Cardinals' starting guards are hurting. Mike Iupati is coming off a concussion and has a sore neck. Jonathan Cooper has a knee issue. It looks like Ted Larsen will start in place of Cooper. Bengals tackles Geno Atkins and Domata Peko are quick and strong. The Bengals have 26 sacks, led by end Carlos Dunlap with 8 ?. Receivers John Brown and Michael Floyd have sore hamstrings. In Brown?s case, the soreness has lingered for weeks, and it might be time to rest him again. Floyd is on a roll, scoring touchdowns in the past four games. It?s going to be hard to get him out of the lineup. But the Cardinals might have to use their depth, as they did last week when Jaron Brown and Brittan Golden made contributions.
Edge: Cardinals
Bengals on offense
The Cardinals had considerable book-learning to do this week in preparing for the Bengals. A handful of Cardinals used the same word - ?funky? - to describe some of what the Bengals do. They will use unique formations, such as flanking linemen out wide to use them as blockers on screen passes. The Bengals don?t butter their bread with those kinds of plays. They run the ball fairly well, averaging 3.9 yards a carry. Backup running back Giovani Bernard has been more productive than Jeremy Hill. Cornerback Patrick Peterson will defend receiver A.J. Green all day. Both were taken in the 2011 draft and are playing well. Tight end Tyler Eifert is a matchup problem for any team, provided he isn?t dropping passes like he did against Houston on Monday night. Eifert has nine touchdown receptions. Quarterback Andy Dalton, like Palmer, is very comfortable in this system. Nothing rattles him. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Dalton has the second fastest release in the NFL, exceeded only by Tom Brady. The Cardinals are still trying to come up with a way to get consistent pressure. Outside linebacker Dwight Freeney has been with them a month now, so he should be ready to carry an increased load.
Edge: Bengals
Special teams
Cardinals punter Drew Butler is stringing together solid games, making the improvement that was needed. Kicker Chandler Catanzaro has made his past seven field-goal attempts, including three last Sunday in Seattle. Patrick Peterson is beginning to find more room on punt returns. Kick returner David Johnson needs to do a better job of fielding the ball and deciding when to bring it out of the end zone. Last week, he was moving backward as he caught a couple and still brought them out. The results weren?t good. The Bengals? cover teams are solid.
Edge: Bengals
JJ Nelson. A nobody, never heard of comes and has all the receiving yards for zona.
Never betting a prop over again
Never betting a prop over again
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