Playoff Hopefuls Meet as Arizona Cardinals Visit Cincinnati Bengals

Saturday, December 24, 2011

by Aengus Moorehead

Brandon Tate - Playoff Hopefuls Meet as Arizona Cardinals Visit Cincinnati Bengals

Analysis:
The Cincinnati Bengals still have a shot at reaching the postseason for just the third time in the last 21 years. The Arizona Cardinals, on the other hand, need the equivalent of a Christmas miracle to reach the playoffs despite having won four straight and six of their last seven.

Two teams heading in opposite directions clash on Christmas Eve in Cincinnati, when the Bengals try to keep their postseason hopes alive by cooling off the Cardinals. Cincinnati is tied with the New York Jets for the AFC’s final wild card spot. It needs to win its final two games and hope the Jets lose one of their final two to clinch its first playoff berth since 2009.

Once challengers for the AFC North title, the upstart Bengals eliminated themselves from a chance at first place in the division thanks to a 1-4 span that included consecutive setbacks to Pittsburgh and Houston at the start of December. Cincinnati, though, got its playoff hopes back on track with a 20-13 win over hosting St. Louis last weekend, moving into a tie with the Jets for the conference's second playoff spot.

Both clubs are 8-6 after the Jets lost to the Eagles last Sunday, but New York appears to have the inside track with regards to the tiebreakers. The Jets host the Giants this weekend before wrapping up their season at Miami, while Cincinnati hosts Baltimore in Week 17.

The Bengals did their part on Sunday, shaking off a rough first half to notch a 20-13 win over the Rams. A big punt return by Brandon Tate helped set up Cincinnati's go-ahead score as it got rushing touchdowns from Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott in the second half.

The Bengals also have three teams at 7-7 hot on their heels and must contend with a Cardinals team that is 6-1 since a six-game slide from Sept. 18-Oct. 30. Arizona got back to .500 on Sunday with a 20-17 overtime win against the Cleveland Browns.

Special teams also helped Arizona as Patrick Peterson's return in overtime helped set up Jay Feely's 22-yard field goal.

John Skelton got the call under center for Arizona with Kevin Kolb missing the game due to a concussion. The backup threw for 313 yards.

It was yet another comeback for Arizona, which has overcome second-half deficits in all seven of its wins this year, one shy of the NFL's modern-era record. Its sixth fourth-quarter comeback leaves it one shy of the league record set by the Colts in 2009.

The Cardinals have played in a league-leading 11 games this season decided by seven points or fewer, but will need their biggest comeback this season to make the playoffs. In order to stay alive for a wild card spot heading into the final week, Arizona must win and see either Atlanta or Detroit lose this weekend.

Winning five in a row for the first time since Oct. 16-Nov. 20, 1977 would also give the Cardinals their first four-win month since October of 1984.

Cincinnati holds a 5-4 edge in the all-time series between these teams, but the Cardinals have closed the gap by taking the last two matchups in the set. One of those wins took place at Paul Brown Stadium in 2007, a 35-27 Arizona victory, and the Cardinals also prevailed by a 17-14 count in a home date with the Bengals back in 2003. Cincinnati last bested the Cardinals on Dec. 3, 2000, a 24-13 triumph in the Queen City, and is 5-1 lifetime against Arizona as the host.

Marvin Lewis has lost both his two career meetings with the Cardinals during his tenure as the Bengals' head coach, while Ken Whisenhunt won his only previous encounter with both Cincinnati and Lewis with that 2007 result. The two men worked together on the staff of the Baltimore Ravens for two seasons from 1997-98, with Lewis then a defensive coordinator and Whisenhunt a tight ends coach.

Time & Venue:
- 1:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 24, 2011. Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Last Week's results:
- Arizona Cardinals (-7) beats visiting Cleveland Browns 20-17.
- Cincinnati Bengals (-6) beats host St-Louis Rams 20-13.

Last week's ATS:
- Favourite Arizona Cardinals (7-7) wins but does not cover
- Favourite Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) wins and covers.

NFL Football Odds: Bengals -5, O/U 41.5

Next up:
- Arizona home to Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, January 1
- Cincinnati home to Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, January 1

Who saw this coming? The Cardinals have risen from the ashes of University of Phoenix Stadium. All seven of their wins have come after trailing at halftime – including the last three in overtime. Arizona rallied from a 17-7 halftime deficit for a 20-17 win over Cleveland last week. Rookie Patrick Peterson had a 32-yard punt return prior to John Skelton’s 32-yard completion to Larry Fitzgerald, which set up Jay Feely’s game-winning field goal.

Skelton finished 28 of 46 for a career-high 313 yards with one touchdown and one interception in place of Kolb. Kolb was limited in practice Wednesday and split repetitions with Skelton. Coach Ken Whisenhunt hasn’t announced a starter. Skelton is 4-1 in place of Kolb this season. The Cardinals’ defense has been a big reason for the turnaround. Arizona has allowed just eight touchdowns in the last seven games.


Cincinnati has exceeded expectations behind the outstanding rookie QB-WR combination of Andy Dalton (3,012 yards, 18 TDs, 13 INTs) and A.J. Green (61 catches, 1,006 yards, 7 TDs). But the Bengals have sputtered down the stretch with their only two wins coming against teams with a combined record of 6-22. Their 20-13 win over a woeful two-win St. Louis team didn’t do much to inspire hope.

Dalton was 15 of 26 for 179 yards and had a streak of 107 passes without an interception snapped. He also failed to throw a touchdown for the first time in 11 games. Green, who finished with six catches for 115 yards, suffered a separated shoulder in the game but is expected to play this week. Cincinnati’s biggest problem lately is red zone efficiency. The Bengals are 22nd in that category (48.8 percent) and even worse in the last three games (44.4).

It should be a battle of rookies this weekend with Peterson set to try and shut down the explosive Green. The task is a tough one for the Arizona corner given Green's ability to out leap nearly anyone on the field of the same mold as Fitzgerald. Peterson's main impact could come in the return game as he is 21 punt return yards shy of breaking Louis Lipps' 1984 rookie record of 656.

The Bengals have their own skilled returner in Tate, whose 71 punt return yards last week helped him snap Quan Cosby's 2009 team record of 474. Tate has 496 on the season, ranking only behind Peterson and Houston's Jacoby Jones.

With so much on the line, Cincinnati will need to keep its composure on its home field. Last weekend versus the Rams, the Bengals were flagged a season- high 11 times for 101 yards.

Green, the fourth overall pick of April's draft, is four yards and seven catches shy of breaking Chris Collinsworth's franchise rookie receiving records set in 1981.

With so much on the line, Cincinnati will need to keep its composure on its home field. Last weekend versus the Rams, the Bengals were flagged a season- high 11 times for 101 yards.

If both teams win out, New York would win the fourth tiebreaker over Cincinnati based on strength of victory. The teams the Jets have beaten are currently a combined 45-69 compared to the 34-79 mark of teams the Bengals have defeated.

Arizona is in the midst of its longest winning streak since 1999.

Arizona is in the midst of its longest winning streak since 1999
Cincinnati is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Arizona
Cincinnati is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Cincinnati is 0-3-2 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Arizona's last 7 games on the road
Arizona is 2-12 SU in its last 14 games on the road
Arizona is 6-12 ATS in its last 18 games on the road

RHERE

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NFL Football Pick: Take Bengals.

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a.j. green - andy dalton - arizona cardinals - bernard scott - brandon tate - cedric benson - cincinnati bengals - cleveland browns - jay feely - john skelton

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