The Bengals have now lost 9 games in a row as the season has gone down the commode.  But, a win against the Steelers on the road would be a nice thing to achieve.  They only lost to the Steelers 27-21 earlier this season in Cincy.  The Steelers have won three games in a row, allowing only 29 combined points in those games.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  Cedric Benson seems to play well against the Steelers so they might be giving him the rock more than usual even though the Steelers are only giving up 62.3 yards rushing per game and 3.0 yards per carry.  Bernard Scott could also see his role start to expand in this game.  If the Bengals can give Carson Palmer time to throw the ball (the Steelers have 36 sacks this year) he could have some success.  The Steelers are giving up 239.3 yards passing per game so there are plays to be made through the air.

When the Steelers have the ball:  With the O-Line having trouble protecting Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers might try to keep it  simple this week by running the football.  The Bengals are giving up 124.9 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry so far this year.  Rashard  Mendenhall (1,007 yards rushing, 9 TDs) is the guy the Bengals have to stop.  The Bengals only have 14 sacks so far this year but the Steelers’ O-Line is so bad that they will still get to Roethlisberger quite a bit in this game.  The Bengals have 14 interceptions already this year which is a testament to how good their corners are.

PREDICTION:  STEELERS 24, BENGALS 17

The Bengals are spinning out of control as they have lost 8 games in a row!  In comes the Saints to the “Jungle” this Sunday and they are on a 4-game winning streak in which they have outscored the competition 118-59!  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  It will be interesting to see what the Bengals try to do offensively in this game.  Will this be the game that they finally try to ride Cedric Benson in an attempt to control the clock and keep the ball away from the Saints?  Or are they going to fight fire with fire and let Carson Palmer throw the ball all over the field.  Usually I would think the Bengals would be smart to come out running the ball but Cedric Benson isn’t playing to well this year.  Therefore, I see Carson Palmer chucking the ball to T.O., Ocho Cinco, Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham on Sunday.

When the Saints have the ball:  The Saints are going to come out throwing the ball against the Bengals.  Drew Brees should have a lot of time to throw the ball as the Bengals only have 12 sacks so far this year.  The Bengals are in trouble when Brees drops back to pass because even though he likes throwing to Marques Colston he likes moving the ball around to other WRs, backs and TEs.  The Bengals are giving up 123.0 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry so the Saints will likely have some success on the ground with Chris Ivory, Reggie Bush and Julius Jones.

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 31, BENGALS 17

The Bengals have lost 7 games in a row and last week was a new low as they lost a game to the woeful Buffalo Bills that they were leading 35-14 at the half.  The Jets have won three games in a row but it wasn’t easy as the Lions, Browns and Texans gave them a run for their money.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals would be smart to try to stay balanced in this football game on offense.  The Jets are only giving up 90.3 yards rushing and 3.5 yards per carry this season so Cedric Benson is going to have to fight for every yard he gets tonight.  If Carson Palmer has time to throw the ball, their are plays to be made down the field against a Jets’ D that is allowing 220.0 yards passing per game.  Don’t be shocked if the Bengals throw more to rookies Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham than they do to Terrell Owens and Chad Ocho Cinco. 

When the Jets have the ball:  The Jets are going to come out and do what they do best so I don’t expect many surprises tonight.  I see them running the ball with LaDainian Tomlinson & Shonn Greene as the Jets are averaging 145.9 yards rushing per game and 4.4 yards per carry so far this year.  The Bengals have a better secondary than the Lions, Browns and Texans so Mark Sanchez might be forced into making some mistakes.  Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Dustin Keller will give the Bengals things to worry about in the passing game.

PREDICTION:  JETS 27, BENGALS 20

The Bengals have lost six games in a row by a combined 33 points.  They are only 1-3 at home and the Bills represent the last “easy” game on the schedule.  The Bills won their first game last weekend beating the Lions 14-12 so they are likely going to be more confident than they should be.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals should come out running the ball with Cedric Benson against a Bills’ D that is allowing 166.9 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry.  Opposing QBs have 18 TD pass and only 2 INTs against the Bills this year so I look for Carson Palmer to have his best game of the year this weekend.  I have a feeling that T.O. is going to have a huge game against the Bills who he played for last season.

When the Bills have the ball:  The Bills are likely going to come out running the ball with Fred Jackson against a Bengals’ D that is allowing 115.8 yards rushing per game and 4.3 yards per carry.  The Bengals only have 9 sacks this year so Ryan Fitzpatrick (an ex-Bengal) is going to have time to throw the ball down the field.  Lee Evans and Steve Johnson are going to be the guys the secondary are going to have to deal with all day long.

PREDICTION:  BENGALS 24, BILLS 20

The Bengals have lost 5 games in a row after starting the year strongly.  They are 1-3 on the road this year and they are heading to Indianapolis where the Colts are 3-0 and have outscored their competition 87-40!  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals don’t want to get into a firefight with the Colts.  With that in mind look for them to keep the ball on the ground more than usual with Cedric Benson & Bernard Scott against a Colts’ D that is allowing 140.9 yards rushing per game and 5.1 yards per carry.  If the Bengals establish a running game I think Carson Palmer could have a huge game if he spreads the ball around to Terrell Owens, Chad Ocho Cinco, Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham. 

When the Colts have the ball:  The Colts are going to come out throwing the ball trying to kill the Bengals will to win early in the game.  The Bengals only have seven sacks this year so Peyton Manning should have all day to throw the ball.  Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Blair White and Jacob Tamme will be his top targets in this game.  The Bengals will have to stop Donald Brown when the Colts decide to run the ball.

PREDICTION:  COLTS 33, BENGALS 20

The Bengals are running out of time this year so they need to defend the Jungle this Monday Night or they can start preparing for 2011.  The Steelers are 2-1 since the Scumbag (Ben Roethlisberger) has come back into the fold.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals are likely going to follow the blueprint that the Saints used in the second half last Sunday Night.  They can spread the field with Terrell Owens, Chad Ocho Cinco, Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham and have Carson Palmer hit whoever is open.  The Bengals’ O-Line should be able to handle the Steelers’ blitzing as they have only given up 10 sacks so far this year.  Also, look for Cedric Benson to try to bang heads with the Steelers’ front seven to keep them honest.

When the Steelers have the ball:  The Bengals are likely going to leave CBs Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall on islands with WRs Hines Ward and Mike Wallace and they can afford to because they are that good.  The Bengals only have six sacks this year so Roethlisberger is going to have time to throw the ball.  The safeties will have to handle Heath Miller while the front seven is going to have to deal with likely a heavy dose of Rashard Mendenhall.

PREDICTION:  BENGALS 23, STEELERS 20

The Bengals have lost three games in a row as they are in quite a tailspin.  The Dolphins lost a game because of the refs last week against the Steelers.  The Bengals are going to need the Jungle to be jumping this weekend because the Fins are road warriors.  The Dolphins are 3-0 on the road so far this year.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals want to force the Dolphins into a shootout.  That means that Carson Palmer is going to come out of the tunnel at Paul Brown Stadium throwing the football.  The O-Line will have to keep Dolphins’ OLB Cameron Wake (6 sacks this year) out of Carson Palmer’s face.  If Palmer has time to throw the ball he’s going to spread the ball around to Chad Ocho Cinco, Terrell Owens, Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham.  The Bengals will also get the rock to Cedric Benson 20-25 times on Sunday to keep the Fins’ D honest.

When the Dolphins have the ball:  The Bengals are giving up 118.0 yards rushing and 4.5 yards per carry so I see Ronnie Brown & Ricky Williams getting a lot of work on Sunday.  Chad Henne should have all day to throw the ball as the Bengals only have six sacks this year.  That means that Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess and Brian Hartline could have big games this Sunday.

PREDICTION:  BENGALS 24, DOLPHINS 20

The Bengals lost two games in a row before the bye week so hopefully they got rested, healthy and more motivated & focused.  The Falcons are coming off a beatdown at the hands of the Eagles in Philly last weekend.  The Falcons are 2-0 at home, outscoring opponents 57-21!  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  This is the game the Bengals should consider getting back to the running game.  Cedric Benson will likely be able to get his fair share of yards against a Falcons’ D that is allowing 97.8 yards rushing and 4.2 yards per carry.  But don’t think for a minute that the Bengals aren’t going to pass the ball a lot in this game.  The Falcons are allowing 239.5 yards passing per game and top corner Dunta Robinson (concussion) is out for this game.  For some reason I have a feeling that Chad Ocho Cinco is going to get more targets than Terrell Owens this weekend.

When the Falcons have the ball:  The Falcons are going to come out trying to run the ball with Michael Turner against the soft run D of the Bengals which is giving up 111.0 yards rushing and 4.4 yards per carry so far this year.  The Bengals do have an excellent set of corners but they only have six sacks this year so Matt Ryan will likely have plenty of time to choose who to throw to.  With Michael Jenkins back, the Falcons have a lot of options in the passing game with Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White likely to get a lot of work. 

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 27, BENGALS 23

The Bengals look to rebound this week after losing to the Browns in Cleveland last Sunday.  The Buccaneers have had two weeks to get ready for the Bengals which is always a little bit of a concern.  Here is a look at the match-ups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  I look for the Bengals to give the ball to Cedric Benson a lot more than usual this Sunday against the Bucs.  The Bucs are giving up 141.3 yards rushing per game and 4.8 yards per carry so far this year.  Carson Palmer should have a lot of time to throw the ball this week as the Bucs only have 4 sacks this year so he should have success through the air.  Terrell Owens and Chad Ocho Cinco will get a lot of work in but watch for rookie TE Jermaine Gresham to get a lot of action as rookie safety Cody Grimm had big problems in coverage in his first NFL start against the Steelers two weeks ago.

When the Buccaneers have the ball:  With LeGarrette Blount getting a lot of action this Sunday, the Bengals will be dealing with another big, physical back like Peyton Hillis and they better be up to the challenge.  Because it the Bucs establish a running game they might be a live underdog in the Jungle.  Josh Freeman will likely be looking for TE Kellen Winslow a lot in this game so the safeties on the Bengals are going to be challenged.  The Bengals figure that CBs Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph should be able to stop the young WRs of the Bucs.

PREDICTION:  BENGALS 20, BUCCANEERS 10

The Bengals swept the Cleveland Browns last season by a combined score of 39-27 last season.  The Bengals come into this game as the favorite despite not having a big offensive game yet this year.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals averaged 182.0 yards rushing against the Browns last season so look for Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott to get a lot of work this Sunday.  The Browns gave up 3 TD passes to Anquan Boldin last week which has to have Terrell Owens and Chad Ocho Cinco happy.  Carson Palmer has not played too well yet this year but this could be the game that jumpstarts his season.  He will also be looking in Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham’s direction a lot this Sunday.

When the Browns have the ball:  I fully expect the Browns to come out trying to bully the Bengals’ D on the ground.  Peyton Hillis is a big back who always seems to be coming forward and he had a huge game against the Ravens D last week so the Bengals will have to focus on stopping him.  Ben Watson & Josh Cribbs have been the players targeted the most in the passing game so far this year but don’t be surprised if the Browns turn to Mohamed Massaquoi a lot in this game as he caught 9 passes for 160 yards (17.8 avg) against the Bengals last year.  It’s still up in the air as to whether the Browns are going to start Jake Delhomme or Seneca Wallace at QB this week.

PREDICTION:  BENGALS 20, BROWNS 17