The Bengals control their own destiny tomorrow against the Ravens as they will win a wild card spot in the playoffs with a win.  The Bengals have won two games in a row.  The Ravens have won five of their last six games and they also have something to play for tomorrow.  If they win the game, they will win the AFC North and get the #2 seed and a bye in the first round of the playoffs.  If they lose and the Steelers beat the Browns in Cleveland, then the Ravens will be the #5 seed in the playoffs and they would play the winner of the AFC West.  The Ravens beat the Bengals 31-24 in Baltimore earlier this year.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals are likely going to come out running the ball with Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott.  They are going to have to work hard for every yard they get as the Ravens are only giving up 91.8 yards rushing per game and 3.5 yards per carry so far this year.  The O-Line is going to have to protect Andy Dalton good in this game, if they are going to be able to make plays in the passing game.  That won’t be easy as OLB Terrell Suggs (13 sacks) and the Ravens (47 sacks this year) love to put pressure on the QB.  Andy Dalton has a lot of poise and he’s a gunslinger, so look for him to challenge a solid Ravens’ secondary tomorrow.  A.J. Green, Jerome Simpson and Jermaine Gresham are going to have to step up and have good games if the Bengals are going to win this game.

When the Ravens have the ball:  The Ravens are going to try to feed the ball to Ray Rice.  When he’s effective, they win.  When they get away from the running game, they lose.  The Bengals will aim to gang up on Ray Rice and put all the pressure on Joe Flacco to beat them with his right arm.  The Bengals get a good pass rush from their defensive line, which will help them cover zones with the linebackers in the passing game.  The Bengals probably need to double team Torrey Smith, who torched them for 165 yards on 7 catches in the first meeting between these teams.  That would force Flacco to beat them by throwing to someone else.

PREDICTION:  RAVENS 20, BENGALS 17

23-year old rookie WR A.J. Green has been elected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie.  Green has played in 14 games for the Bengals so far this year and he has caught 63 passes for 1,031 yards (16.4 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  He also has carried the ball 5 times for 53 yards (10.6 ypc) so far this year.  Green has had 4 games so far this year with 100+ yards receiving, which is very impressive for any player…let alone a rookie.  Green is going to grow as a player along with QB Andy Dalton and that’s going to be scary for the rest of the AFC North going forward.

The Bengals have lost 26-year old WR Andre Caldwell for the rest of the season as he has been placed on the Injured Reserve List due to a groin injury.  Caldwell played in 13 games for the Bengals this year and he caught 37 passes for 317 yards (8.6 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He has played in 51 games in his four years with the Bengals and he has caught 124 passes for 1,172 yards (9.5 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  This is going to hurt the Bengals a little bit as Caldwell was their #3 WR this year.

The Cincinnati Bengals won a tough battle with the Cardinals last Saturday.  Andy Dalton was solid in this game as he completed 18 of 31 passes for 154 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 5 times for 48 yards (9.6 ypc) in this game.  Cedric Benson led the way on the ground for the Bengals in this game with 16 carries for 57 yards (3.6 ypc) but he also lost 2 fumbles.  Bernard Scott pitched in with 28 yards rushing on 10 carries (2.8 ypc).  TE Jermaine Gresham (5 rec, 56 yards, TD) and WR Jerome Simpson (5 rec, 42 yards, TD) led the way for the Bengals in the passing game.  A.J. Green pitched in with 2 receptions for 25 yards and he also carried the ball 2 times for 25 more yards.  The Bengals finished up with 165 yards rushing on 34 carries (4.9 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 31 passes (58.1%) for 136 yards as they had possession of the ball for 31:39.

The Bengals’ D was pretty solid in this game.  Safety Reggie Nelson (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, 1 pass defensed, 1 QB hit and 1 interception) and LB Thomas Howard (6 tackles and 1 pass defensed) led the way for the Bengals in this  game.  CB Nate Clements (4 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 pass defensed, 1 QB hit and 1 interception), LB Rey Maualuga (3 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interceptions) and DE Jonathan Fanene (2 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 tackles for a loss and 4 QB hits) also had solid games for the Bengals.   The Cardinals finished up with 59 yards rushing on 18 carries (3.3 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 44 passes (52.3%) for 257 yards.  The Bengals are now 9-6 on the year and they will earn a wild card spot in the playoffs if the can beat the Ravens this Sunday in Cincy.

The Bengals are trying to get into the playoffs, but they have been going backwards lately, losing four of their last six games.  The Cardinals on the other hand have won four games in a row and 6 of their last 7 games.  They are also trying to surge into the playoffs.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals are going to try to stay balanced offensively in this game.  Cedric Benson will likely have a heavy workload against a Cardinals’ D that is allowing 117.4 yards rushing per game and 4.0 yards per carry so far this year.  The O-Line is going to have to keep Andy Dalton clean if he’s going to be able to make some throws down the field.  WR A.J. Green routinely beats double teams and he is likely going to have a lot of attention from the Cardinals’ corners and safeties tomorrow.  If they give Green too much attention, Dalton will just check down and get the ball to Jermaine Gresham, Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson.

When the Cardinals have the ball:  The Cardinals are likely to come out throwing the ball against the Bengals tomorrow.  The Bengals will need to get to the QB, and Cardinals’ QB have been sacked 47 times already this year.  Cardinals’ QB John Skelton is a very confident gunslinger, but that sometimes gets him into trouble.  The Bengals are hoping to get a couple of pickoffs as they will be giving help over the top against Larry Fitzgerald.  If Skelton can beat the Bengals by throwing the ball to Todd Heap, Early Doucet and Andre Roberts….so be it.  The Bengals will also have to be ready to stop RB Beanie Wells as he will likely be jacked about returning to Ohio.

PREDICTION:  BENGALS 20, CARDINALS 17

The Bengals played well defensively today and it covered for the offense, which was so-so.  Andy Dalton completed 15 of 26 passes for 179 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 INT.  Cedric Benson led the way on the ground for the Bengals today with 76 yards rushing on 22 carries (3.5 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Bernard Scott pitched in with 7 carries for 20 yards (2.9 ypc) with 1 TD run in this game.  WR A.J. Green turned in another solid game for the Bengals with 6 catches for 115 yards (19.2 avg) to lead the way in the passing game.  The Bengals finished up with 110 yards rushing on 34 carries (3.2 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 26 passes (57.7%) for 173 yards as they had possession of the ball for 30:03.

The defense was solid once again for the Bengals in this game.  LB Thomas Howard led the way for the Bengals on D today with 10 tackles.  CB Nate Clements (7 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 QB hit) and DT Geno Atkins (4 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 2 QB hits) also had solid games for the Bengals today.  The Rams finished up with 95 yards rushing on 24 carries (4.0 ypc) and they also completed 25 of 36 passes (69.4%) for 210 yards in this game.  The Bengals are now 8-6 on the season and right in the thick of the wildcard hunt.

The Bengals have lost four of their last five games, so they need to right the ship if they are going to have any hope of securing a Wild Card spot in the playoffs.  The Rams have lost four games in a row by a combined score of 103-40!  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals are likely going to be balanced on offense tomorrow.  They are going to give Cedric Benson a heavy workload tomorrow against a Rams’ D that is giving up 156.8 yards rushing and 5.0 yards per carry.  The Rams aren’t that good on pass defense either so Andy Dalton should have a decent game throwing the ball.  A.J. Green, Jerome Simpson and Jermaine Gresham are in line to have solid games for the Bengals tomorrow.

When the Rams have the ball:  The Rams are likely going to start Kellen Clemens at QB tomorrow, so look for them to rely on RB Steven Jackson.  Jackson is a good runner and receiver out of the backfield, but the Bengals are going to be keying on him and they have a good run defense.  The Bengals will try to force Kellen Clemens to beat them with his right arm.  The Bengals will get after Clemens, trying to force him into making some mistakes.  The Bengals will likely double cover Brandon Lloyd and dare the Rams to beat them by throwing to someone else.

PREDICTION:  BENGALS 23, RAMS 10

“Draft experts” were lamenting the fact that Andy Dalton had red hair, which would exclude him from being a good NFL QB….at least that was what was said on draft night on ESPN.  Boy, where they wrong.  Dalton has played in 13 games for the Bengals so far this year and he has completed 245 of 415 passes (59%) for 2,833 yards with 18 TD passes and 12 INTs (82.1 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 26 times for 89 yards (3.4 ypc) with 1 TD run so far this year.  Dalton does not pass as much as Cam Newton does, but Dalton has 3 more TDs and 4 less interceptions than Newton does so far this year.  I’m thinking that Dalton could wind up being the best QB in the 2011 draft class when all of the players’ careers are over.

The Bengals will be without 35-year old starting right guard Bobbie Williams for the rest of the year due to a broken ankle.  Williams played in 9 games (all starts) for the Bengals last year.  He has now played in 118 games (all starts) in his first 8 years for the Bengals.  This is going to hurt the Bengals as Williams has plenty left in his gas tank.

The Bengals were up 16-3 at the half, as things were looking good, but in the second half they folded up the tent.  Andy Dalton was so-so in this game as he completed 16 of 28 passes for 189 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  Cedric Benson led the way on the ground for the Bengals in this game with 21 carries for 91 yards (4.3 ypc).  WR A.J. Green (5 rec, 59 yards), TE Jermaine Gresham (3 rec, 45 yards) and WR Jerome Simpson (2 rec, 38 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Bengals yesterday.  The Bengals finished up with 101 yards rushing on 29 carries (3.5 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 28 passes (57.1%) for 184 yards as they had possession of the ball for 28:16.

The defense was solid in the first half and awful in the second half for the Bengals.  LB Thomas Howard (12 tackles) and safety Reggie Nelson (9 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception) led the way for the Bengals on D yesterday.  DT Domata Peko (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss), LB Rey Maualuga (6 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 fumble recovery) and DE Jonathan Fanene (fumble recovery) also pitched in for the Bengals on D in this game.  The Texans finished up with 144 yards rushing on 28 carries (5.1 ypc) and they also completed 26 of 44 passes (59.1%) for 268 yards.  The Bengals continue to slide as they are now 7-6 on the season.