Well here we are, he Cincinnati Bengals are in the playoffs and will visit the Houston Texans today. First thing first, I mean how about them Bengals?!? This was a team who was considered by most media figure one the worst teams going into 2011 season. I can still remember people saying we would be fighting for that #1 overall pick, and all we did was compete all year long and earned a spot into the tournament. That is oh so bitter sweet when your one of the few fans that this team would have a .500 season or better, I be lying if I said I or anyone though they would be in playoffs, but we are here and facing a very good Texans football team. Keys to victory for the Cincinnati Bengals....... Cincinnati must establish Ced Benson and the running game, this Houston D is very good, and don't allow a lot at all. The Bengals must run the ball, and run it effectively in order to wear the Houston D down, keep theirs rested and control this football game. I know everybody want to see Dalton to Green, but if the Bengals try to get their offense going through Dalton it will be tough on him and the team. Defensively they MUST stop the Two headed monster in Foster and Tate. After the performance Ray Rice had last week, you best believe the Texans will do what I just said the Bengals need to do, especially with a banged up 3rd string QB. Expect to see Houston with a lot of Zone running, Rice had both his biggest runs on HB zone plays last week. If I'm the Bengals I'm playing man D with bracket coverages on Andre Johnson, and everybody else loading the box. Force Yates to beat you. When I do these articles, or post I have to be a realist before I'm a fan. With that said unfortunately I have the Cincinnati Bengals losing this football game. Yeah booo me, curse me, exit the page, do all that but I have to be real. The fan in me will be cheering them on, and I'll be screaming the loudest when good thing happen, AND I HOPE IM WRONG AND THEY WIN! Why do I think they will lose this game??? Well in recollections of the Keys to victory, I don't see Benson doing well. His productivity has been on a downwards fall all year and I don't see that changing today, I also think he'll fumble once or twice. Defensively I think the Bengals will be competitive all game, and make it a good game, but a double dip of Foster and Tate will wear that D down and the weakness of our safeties will hurt us on the run D as well just like last week. I also don't think it possible to keep Andre Johnson quiet. All those plus the inability of the Bengals to turn redzone possessions into TD's instead of FG's, in which they struggle to do ALL season, will result in a 21-16 lost for the Bengals! Ya'll know I can't ended it with that though. Cincinnati Bengals Fans should be damn proud of this football team, and organization for making it thus far! Also fans, get ready to see this team as a regular in the playoffs, no more of that every 2 or 3 years stuff, I'm telling get used to days such as this. ONCE AGAIN I HOPE MY PROJECTION IS WRONG, it just the realist in me, that did the research and logical thinking to come up with it. WHO DEY!!!!!
John G. Dunn II
Jgdunn.blogspot.com
