Max Miceli
The AFC north has a lot at stake this Sunday. We know that the Ravens and Steelers have clinched playoffs spots, and that the Bengals control their own destiny for the 6 seed. We don't, however, know whether the Ravens or Steelers will be the team to get a bye.
Remember how I said the Bengals control their destiny for the 6 seed. Well the Ravens control their destiny for the 2 seed, and these two teams are going to be fighting for their respective destinies today in Cincinnati. For the Ravens, it's a matter of playing at home, and for a team that is 3-4 on the road this season, playing at home means a lot.
For the Bengals, being in this situation in the first place is a success. Coming into the season, the Cincinnati had a rookie QB Andy Dalton, and not much to look forward to, but with the help of another rookie AJ Green, Andy has had a great season. This rookie duo for the Bengals has pushed Cincinnati past a Carson Palmer hangover and now they are a home win away from the playoffs.
Everything looks like it should be in favor of a bengals win. Baltimore is terrible on the road and the Bengals have won their last two games to put themselves in this situation. I can't help but think that the Ravens will win though.
All week long the Ravens have being listening to critics say that they NEED #2 seed because they can't win on the road. I believe that this gives the Ravens even more motivation to win this game.
I think the Ravens will prove their critics wrong and win one on the road to get the bye and go undefeated in the AFC north.
Ravens 24
Bengals 17
The other AFC north showdown doesn't have nearly as much importance. The Steelers need a Ravens loss and a win to get the #2 seed, and the Browns aren't even in playoffs contention.
This makes the real discussion about whether or not Pittsburg should play Big Ben. Despite a solid performance by back up Charlie Batch last week, according to the Pittsburg Post-Gazette, the Steelers will play Roethlisberger until "the game is decided".
This sounds like a bad idea to me. for starters, Big Ben could use the rest, and secondly, Batch can handle the Browns. He threw for 208 yards in his first start going 15 for 22, and the Browns are 4-11. The Browns have lost their last five games, and this week, I don't think the streak will stop regardless of whether or not Ben plays.
The Steelers defense will feed off their shutout from last week, and They will terrify a very disappointing Browns offense.
Steelers 28
Browns 10
No comments:
Post a Comment