(6-2) Cincinnati Bengals 17
(4-4) Baltimore Ravens 7

So the Bengals are 4-0 in their division. Who saw that coming? Joe Flacco was less than his usual efficient self while Carson Palmer aired it out enough to win. The real difference maker was the running game. Baltimore’s Ray Rice only carried the ball 12 times for 48 yards while Cedric Benson garnered 117 yards on 34 carries. Benson definitely grinded it out, but he’s had two 100+ yard rushing days against the Ravens defense. That can’t be ignored. Also hard to miss is that Bengals defense. Yikes.

Continue reading "Joes Final Drive Week 9"

(6-2) Cincinnati Bengals 17
(4-4) Baltimore Ravens 7

So the Bengals are 4-0 in their division. Who saw that coming? Joe Flacco was less than his usual efficient self while Carson Palmer aired it out enough to win. The real difference maker was the running game. Baltimore’s Ray Rice only carried the ball 12 times for 48 yards while Cedric Benson garnered 117 yards on 34 carries. Benson definitely grinded it out, but he’s had two 100+ yard rushing days against the Ravens defense. That can’t be ignored. Also hard to miss is that Bengals defense. Yikes.

Continue reading "Joes Final Drive Week 9"

(5-2) Dallas Cowboys 38
(2-5) Seattle Seahawks 17

What’s with teams not wanting to tackle Cowboy receivers? Miles Austin and Sam Hurd have just been embarrassing defenders left and right. Tony Romo has put his team in a position to take first in the East following their next game, which comes against rival Philadelphia. In Seattle, injuries abound for the second straight year. There is no way this team could fight for a division title.

(4-3) Baltimore Ravens 30

Continue reading "Joes Final Drive Week 8"

This weekend Denver faces yet another stiff challenge, and four division match-ups make the Opening Drive! Oh yeah, and some guy named Favre returns to the second team he played for. No big whoop. Let’s analyze! 

(6-0) Denver Broncos at (3-3) Baltimore Ravens 

For the past few games, we’ve all said “this will be the week the Denver Broncos lose.” So far those prognostications have proved worthless, as Josh McDaniels’ team is still undefeated. Kyle Orton has played efficiently if nothing else with nine touchdowns and only one interception (a half-ending throw-up) to his credit. This Sunday he faces a Ravens squad who has lost three straight and is in danger of falling out of the division race. With Cincinnati and Pittsburgh both off this week, Baltimore has a shot to climb out of their hole, but they need to hold a team to under 30 points sometime this season. 

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(3-1) New England Patriots 27
(3-1) Baltimore Ravens 21 

Okay, so has everyone gotten the “don’t touch or breathe on Tom Brady’s legs” memo? Ray Lewis, you can complain all you want about bad penalties or ball spots; it still doesn’t change that fact that your defense let Tom Brady get fourteen points in the second quarter. You’re 3-1; it wasn’t the AFC Championship game. Man up and take the loss.

Continue reading "Joes Final Drive Week 4"

In week four of the NFL season, at least one more undefeated team will fall. AFC forces meet in Boston, and one of the best rivalries in the league takes it to a whole ‘nother level thanks to a certain unretiring quarterback. Week four Opening Drive commence! 

Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) at Cleveland Browns (0-3) 

Can you imagine the Bengals sitting in the driver’s seat in the AFC North at 3-1? Since they’re facing off against the offensively-challenged Browns, that’s becoming an extremely likely scenario. I don’t think anyone in Cincinnati could have imagined a better start in their zaniest dreams. Great job to Marvin Lewis and a defense that has been rightfully much-maligned over the years. Carson Palmer is as close to 100% as we’ve seen since his injury. Cleveland is still awful. Sorry. The players hate Eric Mangini and he can't stand firm on a quarterback for more than six minutes. Derek Anderson may be starting this week, but I don't think Brady Quinn will stay on the sidelines all season.

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Continue reading "Steelers are going down this Sunday"

(2-0) Atlanta Falcons       28
(0-2) Carolina Panthers   20

That Matt Ryan kid’s pretty good. Atlanta’s acquisition of Tony Gonzalez could be the most underrated move of the offseason. For Carolina, Jake Delhomme only tossed one interception. I’d call that an improvement.

(1-1) Cincinnati Bengals   31
(1-1) Green Bay Packers   24

HA! That’s just embarrassing for Green Bay fans. You take down your division rival in week one just to fall to the lowly Bengals the next week. Carson Palmer hasn’t been himself for a few years; maybe this is the season he can get back on track as being one of the best QB’s in football.

Continue reading "Joes Final Drive Week 2"

A positively putrid performance was put on by the Chicago Bears offense in what ended up being a defensive battle. Like it goes in the NFL, the quarterback is going to get most of the blame. Jay Cutler threw four interceptions in Chicago’s 21-15 loss to the rival Green Bay Packers Sunday night.

To his credit, three of those interceptions came in the first half, and the Bears were still only down eight points. Ron Turner’s play-calling did nothing to stop the bleeding, as he completely abandoned Matt Forte and the running game in the first half. Maybe Turner didn’t realize that you should take the ball out of your QB’s hands when he’s throwing interceptions? You let him settle back down with some hand-offs and then ease him back into throwing. Cutler is not Tom Brady; he gets emotional and needs to be reigned in every now and again. Deal with it.

Continue reading "Cutler tosses 4 INTs as Bears fall to Packers"

Wait, you didn’t know that? Stop reading this blog. Now. 

For the informed, let’s get you ready for this Sunday night opener on the not-yet frozen tundra! Lovie Smith and the Bears are coming off a solid preseason where they saw glimpses of what their new QB was capable of. Their first-team offense scored 17 first-half points on both the Giants and Broncos while the defensive starters held their counterparts to only a field goal in each of those contests. 

Continue reading "Joes Gameday Preview Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers"