Bengals try to make biggest move in Pittsburgh
There are even bigger things at stake — the AFC Central title and maybe a week off in the playoffs. If the Bengals win they can take a two-game lead in the division with four games left; at 8-3 they are a game ahead of Pittsburgh and only a game behind Denver for the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
But the Steelers are quite an obstacle.
Marvin Lewis has returned Cincinnati to respectability in two-plus years as coach, but is just 1-4 against Pittsburgh. The good news is the win was at Heinz Field, 24-20 two seasons ago.
Carson Palmer? He is 0-3 against the Steelers and had his worst game of the season in their first meeting. In three games against Pittsburgh, Palmer has thrown three touchdowns and has five interceptions and a passer rating of 60.6, compared to his league-leading mark of 107.1 overall.
Despite that, the Bengals are confident.
“I think we can beat them,” Palmer says. “Everybody on this team thinks we can beat them.”
The pressure on Palmer may be literal on Sunday.
The Steelers’ dismal performance in Monday night’s 26-7 loss in Indianapolis is probably a motivating factor — a coach like Bill Cowher doesn’t let things like that lie. Adding to Pittsburgh’s problems was the disclosure late in the week that QB Ben Roethlisberger has yet another injury, this to the thumb of his throwing hand, and will protect it with padding that could limit his passing ability.
Still, Cowher doesn’t use injuries as an excuse.
“We’ve got to play better than we’re playing,” says Cowher, whose team would take the division lead with a win because it would give it two head-to-head victories, the first tiebreaker.
“There’s no margin for error. They’re playing with a lot of confidence and at a high level. But the opportunity is right there. If you have the opportunity to win this game, you have a chance to control a lot of your destiny. But we have to play a lot better than we are right now and (need) a sense of urgency to get there. “
———
There are three other head-to-head games Sunday between division leaders: Atlanta at Carolina (NFC South); Dallas at the New York Giants (NFC East); and Denver at Kansas City (AFC West).
In other games, Buffalo is at Miami; Minnesota at Detroit; Green Bay at Chicago; Houston at Baltimore; Tennessee at Indianapolis; Tampa Bay vs. New Orleans at Baton Rouge; Jacksonville at Cleveland; Washington at St. Louis; Arizona at San Francisco; the New York Jets at New England; and Oakland at San Diego.
Seattle is at Philadelphia on Monday night.
———
Tennessee (3-8) at Indianapolis (11-0)
The Colts’ next obstacle to an unbeaten season doesn’t seem as formidable as the following three: Jacksonville, San Diego and Seattle. So other than the likelihood of the Colts continuing their unbeaten run, the most interesting item here is the matchup of Peyton Manning and Steve McNair, who shared the league’s MVP award two years ago.
Not that it’s in doubt, but the Colts clinch a playoff berth with a win and the AFC South title with a win and a Jacksonville loss.
Dallas (7-4) at New York Giants (7-4)
Both can blame overtime losses last week on their kickers. Jay Feely missed three potential winners for the Giants at Seattle. And Billy Cundiff missed a 34-yarder midway through the fourth quarter that could have beaten Denver for Dallas on Thanksgiving.
The first meeting between these two went to overtime, a turnover-filled affair won by Dallas 16-13. That means if Dallas wins again, it will hold a two-game lead over the Giants because of the head-to-head tiebreaker.
An edge for the Giants: turnover-prone Drew Bledsoe against Michael Strahan and the player referred to by Mike Holmgren, Bill Parcells and Keyshawn Johnson as “No. 72” for pronunciation reasons. It’s Osi Umenyiora (You-Men-yora), who leads the NFC with 10 sacks.
Atlanta (7-4) at Carolina (8-3)
Tampa Bay (7-4) vs. New Orleans (3-8) at Baton Rouge
The first of two meetings between the Falcons and Panthers, fighting with the Bucs for the NFC South title and wild-card spots. Each of these four teams has played just two of six division games, so the fight could go down to the last week.
The Panthers, who entered the season as one of the NFC favorites, have been winning quietly, perhaps because they lost to New Orleans on opening day and fell a bit off the radar.
Atlanta had lost two straight before winning easily in Detroit on Thanksgiving. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, has been surviving with young Chris Simms at QB and might have beaten the Bears last week had Matt Bryant not missed a late game-tying field goal.
New Orleans is just trying to determine its future. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue will be at the game in Baton Rouge, along with owner Tom Benson, who had vowed not to return because of hostility from fans.
Denver (9-2) at Kansas City (7-4)
Oakland (4-7) at San Diego (7-4)
The Chiefs and Chargers still could challenge the Broncos for the AFC West title, especially if Kansas City wins this week. That could happen — the Chiefs intercepted Tom Brady four times last week in a win over battered New England and are always tough at home, where they are 4-1 this year.
The Chargers also get a shot at the Broncos at home in the final week, but have to keep winning so that game can mean something.
Denver’s overtime win in Dallas indicated that the gap between the AFC and NFC might not be as big as a lot of people think. The Broncos were basically outplayed by the Cowboys for a lot of that game and might have lost (Ron Dayne notwithstanding) if Billy Cundiff had made a 34-yard field-goal attempt.
Oakland is playing out the string for coach Norv Turner, but only winning out might save his job.
Seattle (9-2) at Philadelphia (5-6) (Monday night)
Like the Broncos, the Seahawks won last week because the other team’s kicker missed — Feely went “bonk” three times in the overtime win over the Giants. If they win here, they clinch the NFC West, and can also clinch if St. Louis loses.
But they had better be on guard against the wounded Eagles, whose latest casualty is left tackle Tra Thomas. Mike McMahon, Donovan McNabb’s replacement, is sometimes hard to control the first time a team sees him because he scrambles very well.
Green Bay (2-9) at Chicago (8-3)
Most of the recent meetings in the NFL’s longest rivalry have come with these teams in positions diametrically opposed to where they are now. The Packers, in fact, have won 11 straight road games in this series, one short of the NFL record for one team against another.
The Bears, who have won seven straight, seem to have everything going for them, including luck. Like the Broncos and Seahawks, they won last week because the other team’s kicker failed, in this case Bryant’s miss in Tampa.
Minnesota (6-5) at Detroit (4-7)
The Vikings have won four straight since Brad Johnson replaced the injured Daunte Culpepper at quarterback and are back in contention — for a wild-card playoff spot if not for the NFC North title.
Johnson will go up against another veteran, Jeff Garcia, who was chosen the starter by interim coach Dick Jauron when he took over when Steve Mariucci was fired last Monday. That’s a bit of surprise, because team president Matt Millen said when he fired Mariucci he wanted to give his young players a chance.
New York Jets (2-9) at New England (6-5)
The collapse of the Jets is one of the reasons the Patriots should win the AFC East despite all their injuries. New York has it worse because it lost its top two quarterbacks, meaning that Brooks Bollinger starts against the vulnerable New England secondary.
Corey Dillon could be back for New England, which plays division rivals with a combined record of 10-23 in its last four games, including the Jets twice.
Jacksonville (8-3) at Cleveland (4-7)
A weak schedule is one reason the Jaguars are likely to make the playoffs despite losing quarterback Byron Leftwich for four to six weeks with a broken left ankle. David Garrard, his replacement, is a decent backup who may have a future as a starter with someone.
Cleveland’s Trent Dilfer has two bad knees, but should play. Still, Romeo Crennel again expects to get some action for rookie Charlie Frye, who he hopes is his future quarterback.
Washington (5-6) at St. Louis (5-6)
The biggest stir in St. Louis this week was a report that coach Mike Martz, on medical leave, might come back this season. That seems moot now.
After starting 3-0, the Redskins have lost six of eight, including their last three. Those losses are by a total of 10 points, including last week’s six-point overtime loss to San Diego.
Buffalo (4-7) at Miami (4-7)
Same record, different outlooks
The Bills entered the season with playoff aspirations that seem gone now, done in by inept offense and an 0-5 road record. Nick Saban came to Miami to rebuild the Dolphins. Still, he had to backtrack this week after saying before the win over Oakland that the team’s record this season didn’t matter.
Arizona (3-8) at San Francisco (2-9)
QB Alex Smith returns from a knee injury after missing five games for the 49ers, allowing Mike Nolan to give the first overall pick in the draft five games of experience in preparation for next season.
Arizona won the first meeting in Mexico City behind Josh McCown, but Kurt Warner remains at quarterback.
Houston (1-10) at Baltimore (3-8)
Last week had to be a new low for the Texans, who blew a 21-point lead over the Rams, allowing 10 points in the final 34 seconds. The Rams did it behind third-string quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, a seventh-round draft pick from Harvard, then won in overtime.
Fitzpatrick, who probably will get his first start, already has had a better career than Kyle Boller, a first-round pick for the Ravens in 2003.