The Bengals have really improved the offense adding Terrell Owens along with rookies (WR) Jordan Shipley and (TE) Jermaine Gresham.  I look for the Bengals to have a much more wide open offense in 2010 and they have a good match-up in the opener this Sunday against a soft Patriots’ D.  Here is a close look at the match-ups this weekend:

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals will give the Patriots a good dose of RB Cedric Benson in this game, which is to be expected.  But, I look for the Bengals to throw the ball early and often against a very young and inexperienced secondary.  Chad Ocho Cinco and Terrell Owens are the names on the marquee of the Bengals passing game.  But if the Patriots pay too much attention to those guys, look for Carson Palmer to check down to Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham on the short stuff.  I think the Bengals are going to have little problem moving the football Sunday but they can’t afford to leave any points on the field which puts a lot of pressure on inconsistent kicker Mike Nugent.

When the Patriots have the ball:  The Bengals are going to have to get pressure in Tom Brady’s face to cause him to hurry the ball.  That will likely have to come from DEs Antwan Odom and Robert Geathers because the Bengals will need the linebackers to help out covering passes.  The Bengals will likely leave CBs Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph on islands covering Randy Moss and Wes Welker which will be fun to watch.  But, Tom Brady uses everyone in the passing game so the outside linebackers and safeties are going to have to deal with the other WRs and TEs of the Patriots.  The Patriots will also run a little bit with Fred Taylor, Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris and Laurence Maroney and it will be up to the Bengals’ DTs and MLB to handle that.

PREDICTION:  PATRIOTS 24, BENGALS 21