If you just look at the records of the teams coming into this football game you would think the Patriots would kill the Bengals……not so fast my friend!  The Bengals lost two tough games on the road but this game is in the Jungle where the kitties tend to be vicious! 

The Patriots have been clicking on all cylinders on offense as they are averaging 151.7 yards rushing per game and 289.3 yards passing per game.  The Bengals defense is soft at defending both the run (145.0 yards per game) and the pass (257.7 yards per game) so the Patriots should have no problems moving the football.  Look for the Patriots to run the ball a little more this week to attempt to control the clock and keep the Bengals offense on the sidelines.  Laurence Maroney (252 yards rushing, 4.7 ypc) and Sammy Morris (151 yards rushing, 4.6 ypc, 2 TDs) will pose a serious challenge to the Front Seven of the Bengals’ defense.  Tom Brady has been remarkable this season and he will likely not have much of a problem shredding the defense of the Bengals.  WRs Randy Moss (22 rec, 403 yards, 5 TDs) and Wes Welker (20 rec, 221 yards, TD) will both have good games getting down the field against the Bengals.  But, TE Ben Watson (9 rec, 75 yards, 3 TDs) and Dontae’ Stallworth (4 rec, 64 yards) will be the secret weapons of the Patriots on Monday Night.

The Bengals would prefer to run the football this week to keep the Patriots offense off the field.  That will be easier said than done as they will be without Rudi Johnson.  Kenny Watson will step in for Johnson and he has played well this season as he has carried the ball 9 times for 60 yards (6.7 ypc) with 1 TD run.  The Patriots do have an outstanding run defense as they are only allowing 74.0 yards rushing per game and 3.4 yards per carry this year.  If the Bengals offensive line can give Carson Palmer time to throw the ball they will have success throwing the football.  WRs Chad Johnson (25 rec, 442 yards, 3 TDs) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (29 rec, 260 yards, 4 TDs) give the Bengals one of the best pairs of receivers in the league and they will play well this Monday Night.

PREDICTION:  I have more faith in the Patriots defense’s ability to stop the Bengals on offense a couple of times.  Look for the Bengals to fight hard at home and lost by less than a TD.

For more advice like this check this site out http://www.baysportspicks.com/

Rudi Johnson might miss the game on Monday Night against the Patriots due to a hamstring injury that caused him to leave last weeks game against the Seahawks.  Johnson has not been himself so far this season as he has carried the ball 58 times for 177 yards (3.1 ypc) and he has also caught 8 passes for 92 yards (11.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.  If Johnson can’t go, Kenny Watson will take over as the main back for the Bengals.  Watson has carried the ball 9 times for 60 yards (6.7 ypc) with 1 TD run and he also has caught 2 passes for 2 yards (1.0 avg) so far this season.  The Bengals have also signed running back de de Dorsey who was with them in past seasons which helps because he knows the playbook.

The Bengals came close again yesterday, but the bottom line is it was just another loss.  QB Carson Palmer completed 27 of 43 passes for 342 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 big interceptions.  Kenny Watson replaced an injured Rudi Johnson and he was outstanding with 9 carries for 60 yards (6.7 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Rudi Johnson had one of the worst games of his NFL career before leaving with a hamstring injury as he carried the ball 17 times for 9 yards (0.5 ypc).  WRs T.J. Houshmandzadeh (12 rec, 141 yards, TD) and Chad Johnson (9 rec, 138 yards) both were outstanding again like they have been all season long.  The Bengals finished up with 84 yards rushing on 30 carries (2.8 ypc) and they completed 27 of 43 passes for 328 yards.

The defense played better against the Seahawks than they did last week but that’s not really saying too much.  New addition Dhani Jones led the Bengals with 7 tackles after being signed after the Browns debacle last week.  Safety Madieu Williams also had a solid game with 6 tackles and a interception.  The Seahawks finished up with 102 yards rushing (4.1 ypc) and they completed 24 of 37 passes for 238 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=270923026

This game will likely be a shootout as both teams have good offenses and below average defenses.  The Bengals would love to run the football with Rudi Johnson (168 rushing yards) against a Seahawks defense that is allowing 111.0 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry.  The Bengals would love to control the clock and they their defense on the sidelines.  But the Bengals won’t be able to resist throwing the ball against the small corners of the Seahawks.  Chad Johnson (16 rec, 304 yards, 3 TDs) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (17 rec, 119 yards, 3 TDs) should both have field days against the Seahawks secondary.  The Seahawks had better blitz Carson Palmer if they are going to stop the Bengals because if he has time in the pocket he’s going to dissect this defense.

The Seahawks will likely have the same offensive gameplan that the Bengals will trot out.  The Bengals defense has allowed 166.5 yards rushing per game and 6.1 yards per carry so far this season.  RB Shaun Alexander is probably licking his chops thinking about Sunday as he has 175 yards rushing this season with 2 TD runs.  The Bengals will also have to try to blitz Hasselbeck because if he has time to throw he will have a good game.  Bobby Engram (8 rec, 135 yards), Deion Branch (7 rec, 122 yards) and Nate Burleson (4 rec, 80 yards) could all have good days against a Bengals defense that is allowing 267.5 yards passing per game.

PREDICTION:  The Seahawks will get a stop or two on defense in this game.  The same can not be said about the Bengals so look for the Seahawks to win a high-scoring, thrilling football game.

Sure, Carson Palmer’s last pass last week was picked off and the Bengals lost the game…..but he still threw for 401 yards and had 6 TD passes so you can’t blame him for the loss last week.  Palmer has now completed 53 of 82 passes (64.6%) for 595 yards with 8 TD passes and 2 interceptions (108.5 QB Rating) so far this season.  Look for him to keep playing at a high level as he will make a run at the MVP Award this season.