Day: September 22, 2006

Date: Sept. 24
Time: 1pm ET CBS

Why to tune in:
By winning its first two games each of the past two seasons, Cincinnati has now put together back-to-back 2-0 starts for the first time in franchise history. The Bengals have won their last five September games by a combined score of 145-55. The Steelers on the other hand, come into this contest with something to prove offensively after being shutout by the Jaguars 9-0 on Monday night. The last time these two teams met in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati came out victorious 38-31, but that’s not the game everybody remembers. In last year’s Wild Card playoff round, the Steelers knocked out Bengals QB Carson Palmer on just his first throw of the game and almost cost Palmer his entire career. Pittsburgh won the game 31-17 and eventually became Super Bowl winners, but many in Cincinnati believe that if Palmer played the entire game, the AFC North champs would have routed the Steelers. Needless to say, hate wouldn’t be a strong enough word to describe how these two teams feel about each other.

When the Bengals have the ball:
Would you believe me if I said that the Bengals are ranked higher in the league rushing the ball than they are passing? Well, you should (Cincy is ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing and 13th in passing) and hear this – RB Rudi Johnson has been the biggest reason why Cincinnati has started 2-0 not Palmer or superstar WR Chad Johnson. Rudi Johnson has rushed for 241 yards and three touchdowns in two games this season, but the more alarming stat is that he has gained 221 yards and three touchdowns in his last two trips to Hines Field. That stat is interesting due to the fact that Pittsburgh is usually stout against the run. The Steelers are wilting an average of just 74 yards on the ground in two games as opposed to giving up almost 250 through the air. Watch for head coach Marvin Lewis to try and get a big play early on Pittsburgh’s secondary to try and take the crowd out of it. Cincinnati is banged up at receiver, however, and as John Paulsen reported in his fantasy football update, T.J. Houshmandzadeh didn’t practice on Friday. Palmer would love to have Houshmandzadeh back in the fray, but corners Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend would be no pushover and will get plenty of help from safety Troy Polamalu (who is battling a shoulder injury right now) even if the wide out were to play on Sunday. Bengals players throughout the week have mentioned Joey Porter in a couple of their quotes and it hasn’t been to congratulate the linebacker on winning a ring either. I don’t understand why anybody would want to motivate that guy anymore than he already is, but suit yourself Cincinnati.

When the Steelers have the ball:
To say the entire Steelers offense struggled in the Monday night loss to Jacksonville would be an understatement. QB Ben Roethlisberger looked shaky in coming off of emergency appendectomy surgery and winced in pain throughout the entire game. One thing he did that was unlike the Big Ben of his first two seasons was duck out of the way of being hit while throwing. Every time a Jaguars defender would get close to Roethlisberger, the big QB would quickly get rid of the ball to avoid getting hit. That led to interceptions and poor throws, so if Roethlisberger can’t stand in the pocket under pressure, the Bengals might have just as much success as Jacksonville did against Pittsburgh’s offense. However, if the Steelers can get RB Willie Parker going in the run game, Roethlisberger won’t be forced to be in so many passing situations. Look for coach Bill Cowher to attack the weakness in Cincinnati’s defense, which is mostly on the left side because of injuries. First year NFL player Rashad Jeanty was inserted into the starting lineup because of the season-ending neck injury that LB David Pollack suffered. Jeanty won’t be the only player that will get a starting nod because of injury, either. Kevin Kaesviharn will start in place of Dexter Jackson at the strong safety position, which makes TE Heath Miller an all around great option in the Steelers passing game because Kaesviharn might be too eager to play the run with Jeanty in front of him.

Prediction:
My head says to pick the Bengals, but my gut tells me the Steelers. Both teams have something to prove, if you will, with Cincinnati wanting to exact revenge on Pittsburgh for hurting Palmer last year while the Steelers would love to rebound from their first loss of the season. Another injury note for the Bengals is that their starting center Rich Braham is out and will be replaced by second year pro Eric Ghiaciuc. Ghiaciuc played in five games last year, so he isn’t a complete downgrade, but Pittsburgh’s Casey Hampton is possibly the best defensive tackle in the league at overpowering centers. Cincinnati might have too many injuries to overcome a pumped up Steelers team, even with the Bengals array of weapons on offense. RB Chris Perry would have helped in this game too, since Rudi Johnson will probably have to earn every inch he runs for this weekend.

I’ll go with my gut feeling and pick the Steel-curtain: Steelers 30, Bengals 27.

Date: Sept. 24
Time: 1pm ET FOX

Why to tune in:
There are just three match ups this weekend in the NFL that feature undefeated teams battling against each other. While the game in Indianapolis that features the Colts and Jaguars should get the most hype, the contest in Minnesota might be the most intriguing. The Bears defense has only allowed seven points in two games, which is no surprise since Chicago boasted the best defense in ’05. However, Chicago also has the seventh rated offense in the league and – get this – the top rated QB in Rex Grossman, who has posted a rating of 128.7. Rookie head coach Brad Childress has seemingly cleaned up the love boat mess in Minnesota and has his team buying into his disciplined philosophy. The Vikings have displayed a balance attack on offense and a much-improved defense. Minnesota has not blown away its opponents, but has beaten two playoff teams from ’05 in Washington and Carolina. The early battle for first place in the NFC North kicks off this weekend in Minneapolis – someone sound the foghorn.

When the Bears have the ball:
Grossman has done what? That’s right, the former Gator and injury-lover is completing over 70% of his passes and has thrown five touchdowns with just one interception. Is that a Desmond Clark sighting? While Muhsin Muhammad is starting to become the go to guy that the Bears singed him for last year, Clark and third year pro Bernard Berrian (hell of a catch against Detroit last week) have proven to be steady targets for Grossman. Head coach Lovie Smith would love for his running game to be more effective, but with Grossman throwing as well as he is, the Bears can get buy with averaging less than three yards a carry right now. Minnesota isn’t stifling opponents on running plays, but has been solid against the pass, so watch for Chicago to try and keep a balanced attack on the road. Smith loves to run the ball on second downs and put his offense in manageable third down situations, so if the Vikings can’t bear down early in possessions they’ll be susceptible to passing plays over the top of their defense (hear that Berrian?). Without DE Erasmus James (out for the year with a knee injury), the Vikings better generate a pass rush and force a turnover or two or else they’re going to have a hard time putting up points against the Bears defense.

When the Vikings have the ball:
Remember when Carolina’s Steve Smith torched the Bears in the playoffs last season? Lovie Smith sure does and that’s why after watching free safety Chris Harris struggle a bit in covering the ground necessary for the Tampa 2 defense, the coach announced after Wednesday’s practice that rookie Danieal Manning will start in Minnesota. Manning gives the Bears a better playmaker at the position while covering in space – where as Harris is bigger and more of run-stuffer. There isn’t any big secret to Childress’ offensive scheme – stick to the game plan, don’t turn the ball over and never abandon the run. Chester Taylor has given Minnesota a physical runner who has proven in two games that he can carry the load. If the Vikings are going to have any success running against the Bears defense, however, they better not try to run too many stretch plays against a Chicago team that is fast on the outside with Lance Briggs and Hunter Hillenmeyer. There’s no better middle linebacker that plays sideline to sideline than Brian Urlacher. If the Bears can be had, however, it’s against a downhill running game like the Packers showed with Ahman Green in week one. For some reason, the Bears defense can play a bit soft at times up the middle. If Brad Johnson can’t get the passing game going, however, that’s a moot point.

Prediction:
Anybody thinking that Minnesota is going to let Chicago come into its house and blow them out hasn’t been paying attention to the first two weeks of the season. However, the Bears defense loves playing these kinds of games in which a team tries to match wits with them on offense. Watch Chicago make Childress abandon his game plan for the first time this season and that’s when the Bears will strike. You can’t play catch up against Chicago and Smith won’t hand the game over to Minnesota the way that John Fox and his over-hyped Panthers did last week.

Close game, Grossman comes back down to earth a bit, but Da Bears get the run game going and escape the Metrodome undefeated: Bears 16, Vikings 10.