This Bengals team continues to find new ways to lose. This is not the old Bengals where they find different ways to reach all time lows, but this team just cannot make the transition to an elite team. They keep losing games they should win and keep losing control of manageable situations. Gingerballs Graham and his kickoff out of bounds followed by Glen Holt’s fumble is a tough one to take. It is a long season and you cannot let wins get away from you. The Bengals are still not in terrible shape as most people thought a 2-2 start would be good for the season. They are 1-2 going into the Patriots game which, if they lose, only puts them 1 game off pace. The Bengals are 7 point underdogs with the over/under being 52.5. Odds makers expect a high scoring game which could play into the Bengals favor.

Keys to the Game.
The Patriots are clearly the team to beat in the NFL right now. They are 3-0 with three blowouts. However, with San Diego’s loss to the Packers Sunday, the Patriots victories do not appear as strong as first seemed. The Jets have one win, a 3 point win over a bad Miami team, San Diego has one win, an opening week slugfest with Chicago, and the Bills have 3 bad losses. So while the Pats have been winning easily, they may not be the juggernaut the media portrays. And again this is the NFL, if you do not bring you’re A game, any team in the league can beat you. The Bengals lost to the Browns, and I would argue that there is a bigger difference in talent between the Bengals and Browns than the Bengals and Patriots. However, the main difference is the Patriots are an elite team that does not play down to the level of their competition, while the Bengals are a different team every week.

When the Bengals are on offense: Rudi Johnson looked to be running tentatively all game against the Seahawks. Holes were there, but Rudi was not able to hit them. We will never find out the full extent of his injuries, but he did not look good Sunday which does not bode well for the future. While Kenny Watson ran hard and had a successful day running the ball, he is not a 25 carry a game back. If the Bengals can get a competent rotation between Watson, Rudi, Jeremi Johnson and DeDe, they should be okay.
As for the Patriots, the Bengals match up well with the Patriots defense. The Pats philosophy on defense is to have a strong swarming front seven that can stop the run and apply pressure to the QB. Their DBs are not very strong, play zone, and keep everything in front of them. If you are going to beat the Pats D, you will have to take your time, work for it, and avoid mistakes. Last year, the Bengals had some success against the Pats, and it was only Carson’s 4th game back off his knee injury. The Bengals took an early lead on long drives that resulted in field goals not touchdowns. And still it was a one score game into the 4th quarter. The Bengals had their chances, but late turnovers and a tired Bengals defense allowed the Pats 2 late 4th quarter TDs that turned the game into a blowout. If the Bengals are to win, they must protect Palmer from the Pats front 7 and allow him to attack the Pats weak DBs and zones. This job is easier without Richard Seymour and Rodney Harrision running with the Pats defense. And the Bengals line has done a good job of protecting so far. As long as the Bengals take care of the football, they will put up points. The Bengals should give the Pats defense their first real test of the season.

When the Bengals are on defense: Lord help us. With the Pats versatility on offense, look for a strategy similar to the one the Bengals used last season against the Colts, very soft, limit the big plays, bend but don’t break, and we will win the shoot out. However, against the Colts last season, the defense did break and did not hold the Colts to any field goals. While they did limit the big play, they did not accomplish the next step of also limiting points. The Patriots offense is similar to the Colts in that their line is designed for pass blocking. They pass, run screens and run draws in order to open up the defense. Once the defense opens up, it is easier for smaller, quicker linemen to create the angles and seams needed for a strong running game. The Pats do not have any of the monster offensive linemen that the Bengals have, and will not line up for a power running game. They win with scheme, versatility, speed and thinking, not power. If the Bengals defense can limit the big play, control the line, make the Pats kick field goals instead of extra points, and grab a turnover, they can set up the Bengals offense with a chance to win the game.

What you do want to see: Laurence Maroney put the ball on the ground.
What you don’t want to see: The Squirrel……. Or Tom Brady get off the airplane.

Match up of mullets: TJ vs Randy Moss

Let’s see, his name is Randy, he is from West Virginia, he likes fishing, and he has a mullett. The profile checks out, but the picture just doesn’t seem to match. I think there was an identity theft here. BENGALS WIN

Match up of Moustaches: Kenny Watson vs Logan Mankins

Mankins moustache would be the runaway winner if he would clean up the rest of his face. Instead he loses points and Kenny Watson is the winner as cleanliness is next to godliness. Kenny will get the job done. BENGALS WIN

Duel of the uglies: Jeff Rowe vs. Strength Coach Mike Woicik

Normally coaches do not qualify for the ugly list, but this week there is an exception for Coach Woicik. He looks like Jeff Rowe and Scott Kooistra had a baby in the stoneage.
+ + = PATS WIN

Battle of old men: Bryan Robinson(33) vs Junior Seau(38)

It’s amazing when you think that most LBs are considered old in their late 20s. Junior Seau was in the NFL when Lemar Marshall, the Bengals oldest LB, was in grade school. PATS WIN

Biggest loser fan: Stormtrooper vs Jon Kerry

When the stormtrooper walks the streets of Cincinnati, most people say, “Wow, look at that loser.” But that is just a local phenomenon. Jon Kerry lost an election for president of the United States, which is one of the most covered events in the world. Kerry could walk up to a group of Wopkaimin people in Tabubil, New Guinea, and they would say, “There’s Jon Kerry, he’s a loser.” PATS WIN

Trashiest looking cheerbabe: Tiffany vs Jessica

The Patriots made it too easy with some of the questions asked in the bio. For example:

What is your dream job? : Dance on tour for Justin Timberlake.

We all have dreams.

If you could be anyone in the world for a day, who would it be? : Jesus

I would also like to be Jon Kitna.

Community Service : I have performed in many benefit shows and at nursing homes.
What do you think a cheerleader dance performance at a nursing home would look like?

Great answers! I think the point of 'stuck on a deserted island' means you cannot talk on the phone with your friends. A hair straightener would be a necessity though.

YES!!

Little known Patriots fact: Sometimes people get lucky. The Patriots picked Tom Brady with the 199th pick of the 2000 draft. He was drafted to be the backup to Drew Bledsoe. If Bledsoe does not get hurt, Brady could have been a perennial backup and journeyman a la Jon Kitna.
Sometimes people are stupid. The Bengals had 6 picks before Brady went off the board, those picks were WR Peter Warrick, DB Mark Roman, WR Ron Dugans, RB Curtis Keaton, DB Robert Bean, and K Neil Rackers. None of them are with the Bengals, and only Roman(49ers) and Rackers(Cardinals) are still in the NFL. The following year, the Bengals took Justin Smith with the 4th overall pick. Two picks later, the Patriots took Richard Seymour who has made the Pro Bowl in 5 of his 6 seasons.