It's winning time in Cincinnati

The 2012 edition of the Cincinnati Bengals have kept fans on the edge of their seats all season. These Bengals have shown how great they can be, going on winning streaks of 3 and 4 games this season. However, they’ve also shown when they’re playing bad; they’re really bad losing to teams with losing records like Miami and Cleveland. They also struggled to move the ball on a Philadelphia Eagle team that has struggled defensively this season.

With that said the Bengals still have all of their goals in front of them. The message this Sunday is simple: Win and you’re in. If the Bengals win this Sunday, it will be the first time they have reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons in 30 years. This team made the playoffs last season and anything less this year would be a major disappointment.

The time to win is now. There isn’t a reason the Bengals shouldn’t win this game. They are healthier, younger and don’t have much pressure on them. The Steelers have the pressure on their shoulders. Most people expect them to win this game simply because of their track record. Former Super Bowl MVP Ben Roethlisberger has posted a 14-4 record against the Bengals since being drafted in 2004. He dominates the Bengals and should give them all they can handle on Sunday.
But, I still believe the Bengals can win this tough road contest. They have been playing like an AFC North team should: physical.

 Running Back Benjarvus Green-Ellis has proved his worth by averaging 5 yards per carry (YPC) in December games. The Bengals are 2-1 in December and Green-Ellis only had 12 carries in their lone loss to Dallas. In their wins he is averaging 25 carries per game and I would expect the Bengals to feed him the ball another 20-plus times.

The defensive line has been lights out this season pressuring the quarterback. They have a chance to set the franchise record for sacks in a season, and need to continue to put pressure on Roethlisberger this week. Led by Geno Atkins and Domata Peko, the D-line needs to have a big impact on Sunday.

The Bengals might be considered young, but the time to win is now. Players and fans have paid their dues. Now it is time to change the fortune around in Cincinnati. Andy Dalton is 0-3 against the Steelers, it’s time for him to go into Pittsburgh and get a victory. A.J. Green has yet to have a 100-yard game against the Steelers and only had 6 catches in his best game against the black and gold.

It is time for these young guys to become men. No matter how many spectacular plays they make, it will be pointless if they can’t take the next step and beat the Steelers. It’s winning time in Cincinnati and what better way to clinch a playoff spot than to eliminate the Steelers out of contention on their home field?

A.J. Green (18) and Andy Dalton (14) were both Pro Bowlers in their
 NFL Rookie campaigns, but they look to do something Sunday
that they've never done: beat the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ray Allen Shrugs Off Garnett, Scores 19 in Heat Win

It is no secret that Ray Allen is good at shooting from beyond-the-arc. In fact, he's made more three point shots than any other player in NBA history. The Miami Heat have dealt with guarding Allen for the past five seasons. But, they liked having Allen in a home jersey as one of their own as they faced the Boston Celtics.

Allen came into the game with two minutes left in the first-quarter. He greeted Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers and the rest of the Celtics bench, including old friend Kevin Garnett who didn't acknowledge Allen.

It would appear the snub motivated Allen as hit a three on the first possession with his new team. Garnett downplayed the fact that he ignored Allen after the game:

"I was just trying to focus as much as I could. I am such an intense person," Garnett said. "It was a blank. Obviously he's on the other side. It's time to play the game, man."

Allen went on to score 19 points for the Heat, making 5 of 7 shots from the field. Allen proved he still had gas left in the tank, which benefits superstars Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. “A Hall of Famer coming off the bench,” James said of Allen. “It’s a treat for us and just another example of the sacrifices that guys make to play here.”

The Heat won the game 120-107 and they looked every bit as dangerous as people speculated when they added Allen in the offseason. 

Time will tell if the Miami Heat can win more than one ring, but they were the better team on Tuesday night and have upgraded their roster from last year's championship team. It is a long season, but the Heat started it off the way the last one ended: with a victory.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/31/3075391/miami-heat-runs-rings-around-celtics.html#storylink=cpy

Ray Allen scored 19 points in his Heat debut against his former team.

Saints S Roman Harper: "We'd be 5-0 if not for bounty scandal"

On Sunday, the New Orleans Saints improved to 2-4 on the season when they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35-28 in a shootout. Saints Quarterback Drew Brees threw for four touchdowns and led his team to its second-straight victory, after starting the season with a 0-4 record. The Saints, who have struggled this season, would have a better record if not for "bountygate" according to starting Safety Roman Harper.

Harper was asked on NBC's Pro Football Talk “If you have none of this Bountygate in the offseason, if there's no problems, through five games, instead of 1-4, what's your best guess as to what your record would be?”

Harper's response: "5-0."

“Hey, it is what it is,” Harper continued when Kuselias suggested that the league punishment cost the Saints four losses. "It's all right. You know, you can't win ‘em all. And at the end of the day we have to climb out of it from here. And we still have a chance in this division -- that's the crazy thing. No matter how we started the season. I think the last two Super Bowl champs limped into the playoffs at 9-7. All you can ask for is a chance and an opportunity late in January and that's all we ask for." 

It is quite interesting to see a locker room leader admit how much "bountygate" has affected the team. Most people believed the Saints would contend even though Head Coach Sean Payton is suspended for the season. They do appear to be righting the ship, but would they have a 5-0 record with Payton? It's tough to say, but unless your head coach can come in and play defense, I highly doubt they would have an unblemished record.

Cincinnati Bengals Vs Atlanta Falcons Preview

The Cincinnati Bengals started out the preseason with a solid performance against the New York Jets, which led to a 17-6 victory. Now, six days later, the Bengals face a bigger test when they go on the road to take on the Atlanta Falcons.




Injuries on Offense:

 The team came away injured from their first game and will be without key players including running backs Benjarvus Green-Ellis and Bernard Scott.  This opens up the door for players like Cedric Peerman and Aaron Brown to get some carries and show the coaching staff what they can do. The offense will also be without Guard Travelle Wharton who is out for the rest of the season. Second-year player Clint Boling will get a chance to start. After a summer of strength and balance training Boling has an opportunity to prove he belongs in the NFL. Coaches say he has made strides and with the departure of Bobbie Williams, Boling seems to be the best option at Left Guard following the Wharton injury.

Can Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Jordan Shipley
 show the Bengals staff he is the same player
he was prior to tearing his ACL?

Injuries on Defense:

The Bengals are entering Game 2 of the preseason without four of their cornerbacks. Dre Kirkpatrick, Jason Allen, Brandon Ghee and Shaun Prater are all out for tonight's game against Atlanta. Adam Jones has also been battling a calf injury and the team has not said whether he will play or not. The team is also without starting middle linebacker Rey Maualuga who was injured last week against the Jets. Defensive End Carlos Dunlap sprained his right knee during the Jets game and is out for the preseason and doubtful for the regular season opener against Baltimore. Robert Geathers is also out for the preseason which will give newcomer Jamaal Anderson a chance to make an impact. 

Questions I want answers to:

1. How will the wounded secondary handle the wide receiver tandem of Roddy White and Julio Jones?

2. Can Clint Boling show that he has improved and is a starting guard in the NFL?

3. Will MLB Vontaze Burfict continue to play well and cement a spot on the team?

4. Can Jordan Shipley show the explosiveness he had before he tore his ACL last season?

5. What will Brandon Tate and Armon Binns do to prove they deserve the 2nd wide receiver slot?

At the end of the day this is simply preseason game number two. The Bengals have injuries all over the field and the goal is to be as healthy as possible for opening night against the Baltimore Ravens. However, tonight's game will go a long way in answering some of the questions fans have about the Bengals. The game starts at 8:00pm on Fox. 




Follow me on Twitter: @JamesRapien

Why not Owens?

When New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie said he was the "second-best wide receiver" on the Jets team, most questioned if he was right or not. However, the fact that people are asking that question shows how weak the Jets are at wide receiver. Their current depth chart has four receivers that have never caught an NFL pass. The "number-one" receiver Santonio Holmes has only had one 1,000 yard season in his career and would be a second option on most teams.

Terrell Owens keeps himself in tremendous
shape and could bring experience to a
team like the New York Jets.

With that being said, the Jets are weak at the wide-receiver position. One free-agent wide receiver that could fit in with the Jets is Terrell Owens. Before you yell at your computer screen, please give this idea more thought. The Jets wide receivers have 449 receptions for 6,573 receiving yards as a position group. Owens has over 1,000 catches in his career for 15,934 yards. Bringing in a player of his stature would not only sell tickets, but it would lead to more wins. There is no doubt in my mind that Owens could be a top 25 wide receiver in the NFL this season. He is desperate to join a team and would come at a very cheap price.

The controversial wide receiver would be able to show young players like Stephen Hill and Jeremy Kerley the work that goes into being one of the best. Owens may not mentor the players, but working hard is something Owens has done his entire career and that would continue. Holmes would be able to play with a consistent threat on the opposite side of him.

Football wise it makes complete sense. However, it remains to be seen if any NFL team will take a flier on the veteran wide receiver. One thing is certain, the New York Jets will have plenty of controversy whether they add Terrell Owens or not.

Could Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets
benefit by adding Terrell Owens?
YES!

National Writer Predicts 16-0

Twitter: @James_Rapien



Most national sports-writers make picks for the NFL season, but when Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com predicted that the New England Patriots would go 16-0 many people were dumbfounded. Media members referred to Prisco as "insane," while others didn't take him seriously. Prisco followed it up by saying the Patriots would lose in the Super Bowl to finish 18-1.

"As you rip the idea of an undefeated season, I dare you do find a loss on the New England Patriots' schedule as of right now.Pick one. I couldn't. I have the Patriots rolling to a second undefeated regular season in the past five years.Of course, it's probably not going to happen. But that's what made this so much fun to do.I had no idea the Pats would be 16-0 until I tallied up the records after inputting all the scores."

If this seems like deja-vu, it's because it is. The Pats also finished 18-1 in 2007. To repeat that feat and win 18 straight games just to lose in the Super Bowl would be devastating, but that isn't the question that should be asked here. Is it possible for the New England Patriots to finish 16-0 in the regular season and advance to the Super Bowl?

In 2007, they added a downfield threat and future Hall-of-Fame receiver with Randy Moss and reception machine Wes Welker. Pair that with Tom Brady and this team had tons of firepower. Can the 2012 Patriots replicate it?

First, the Patriots added the down field threat they were missing last season with Brandon Lloyd. Lloyd thrived under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels system when he was the head coach in Denver and that was without a quarterback like Brady. He is familiar with the offense and could be the Moss-like threat the Patriots had in 2007.

The Patriots defense had veterans on their team in 2007 and in 2012 they will have defensive anchors like Vince Wilfork and Jerrod Mayo. However, they added an abundance of young defensive talent in the draft with players like Chandler Jones and Donta Hightower. Both will compete for starting positions this season.

It seems silly to predict that a team will go undefeated, especially because it is so rare in the NFL. But, with the additions of Lloyd, Jones, and Hightower, the Patriots will be more dangerous than ever. Don't forget they have the best tight end combination in the league with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. There is so much talent on offense, that if the rookies can contribute on defense, the New England Patriots could go undefeated. Don't forget the Patriots do have one of the weakest schedules in 2012.  One thing is certain, the Patriots will be favored in every regular season game this season. 


Pete Prisco can't control whether or not New England finishes with undefeated record, but one thing is certain, they will be contenders once again in 2012.

Can the New England Patriots go undefeated in 2012? It is possible
with an abundance of talent and a weak schedule.

Follow me on twitter: @james_rapien

NFL Network Analyst: Dolphins Should Sign T.O.

It is no secret the Miami Dolphins are lacking reliable wide receivers heading into training camp.Everyone also knows wide receiver Terrell Owens is looking for a job after being unemployed last season.

NFL Network Analyst Jamie Dukes says the Dolphins should sign the 38 year-old veteran wide receiver.

"The guy [Miami] needs to bring in -- I’ve said it before and I will keep saying it -- is Terrell Owens,” Dukes said Friday on the NFL Network. “Terrell Owens, I believe if healthy, is a top-25 receiver. He had a great year in Cincinnati and Chad [Johnson] and T.O. have worked together before in Cincinnati." 

People will think it is a joke when they hear Dukes suggesting the Dolphins sign Owens, however I am not laughing. Owens is a proven NFL player and a future Hall-of-Famer. Just a few seasons ago Owens and Johnson played well together, but I do not think this team will go after T.O.

The Miami Dolphins are a young team who need to see what they have in their young pass catchers. T.O. does have a place in the league. I think he would fit well with the Carolina Panthers. Owens wouldn't be able to bully second-year quarterback Cam Newton and this would give the Panthers two legitimate wide receivers by pairing Owens with Steve Smith.

There are a few other teams that Owens could work well with, but I don't want to speculate too much. Overall, T.O. does have top 25 ability like Jamie Dukes said, but the Miami Dolphins do not seem like the place for him.

The Johnson-Owens duo played well together in 2010, but Miami fans shouldn't
hold their breath on a Batman and Robin reunion this season.