Batman and Robin debut against the Brady bunch; Bengals vs. Patriots preview
Two play-off teams and division winners will square off in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals visit the New England Patriots. The Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens show, or Batman and Robin as they are becoming known, will debut together and will be looking to pick apart a very young New England defence. In turn, the Patriots high-powered offence will take on a very physical defence.
The Bengals’ offence seems primed to execute a very balanced attack this season as running back Cedric Benson looks to repeat his Pro-Bowl performance last year. The Bengals’ plan A will be to run the ball down the Pats’ throats and eat up the game clock. That formula worked last year and carried the Bengals to a 10-6 record despite a pedestrian passing game.
Speaking of that passing game, in case you haven’t heard, Terrell Owens joined his buddy Chad Ochocinco and the Bengals this off-season. The two controversial and talented receivers face a secondary with little experience. With cornerback Leigh Bodden out for the season, the Patriots inserted rookie Devin McCourty, who will have to go up against some very experienced receivers.
While McCourty is talented, he’s inexperienced, and Carson Palmer may look to exploit that. Palmer will also have Jermaine Gresham at tight end. Gresham looks like a monster and could very well be a big weapon.
Probably the most outspoken player in the NFL, Ochocinco is not taking the young Patriots’ defence lightly: “They look very good on film. They game plan very well. They’re very smart. I have to play sound football myself in order to be successful.”
The Patriots defence is expected to struggle somewhat this season with Bodden and their best defensive lineman, Ty Warren out as well. Vince Wilfork is still up the middle and will command double teams. Wilfork will be instrumental in stopping the run. Jerrod Mayo also must have a big game and will need to be all over the field.
The Patriots’ gun-slinging offence welcomes back Wes Welker coming off off-season knee surgery. Welker led the NFL with a whopping 123 catches in 2009 and should be Tom Brady’s favourite target, if he’s 100%. Brady also has Randy Moss as his deep threat and an emerging Julian Edelman, who was impressive in Welker’s absence in the post-season last year. Rookie Rob Gronkowsi also looks like a star tight end that should give Brady a comfortable dump-off option.
The running game likely won’t be a major factor for the Patriots with Brady under centre. Lawrence Maroney, Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk will share duties and will mostly be used as targets in the passing game. The Patriots simply aren’t a running team but Brady should be able to have a big day, if he’s not pressured.
The Bengals’ tough defence will be keying on Brady and co. Middle linebacker Dhani Jones will lead the way as he will have to anchor his unit to a big game. If Brady cannot be shut down, then the Bengals will have a tough time matching the Pats score for score.
The key to this game will be for the Bengals to take advantage of an inexperienced defence. If they can control the ball and keep Brady off the field, then they should come away with the win. Owens and Ochocinco will have to be sharp as well and help Palmer out. This is a really tough game to call as both teams are very evenly matched and have tremendous talent. It just comes down to turnovers and controlling the ball.
Tags: