Will the Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) ever score a touchdown? That mystery might be solved this week when they travel to the not yet frozen tundra of Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers (1-1).
It’s the featured afternoon game of the week and I’ll be live blogging this one for the enjoyment of America and, really, all of humanity. It’ll be broadcast on your local CBS station at 4:25 p.m.
The Game: Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers (-7)
O/U: 47.5
The History
The Bengals and Packers have only met 14 times since 1971 with Cincinnati holding a two game lead in the all time series, 7-5.
Cincinnati has won the the last three meetings, their longest victory streak in the rivalry, from October, 2005 to September, 2013.
The last time the Bengals traveled to Lambeau Field they came away with a 31-24 victory on September, 20, 2009.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-2)
First off, the Bengals have to score a touchdown this week, right? I mean, come on. One of these losers will stumble into the end zone at some point. You’ve got to believe that.
One guy that won’t be falling over in the paint with a football betwixt his paws is tight end Tyler Eifert. The oft-injured star is, GASP, injured again. This time it’s his back and he won’t play. Neither will guard Trey Hopkins or rookie wide receiver John Ross.
According to the Bengals’ injury report, five different players are dealing with an illness right now and if my middle school football team taught me anything, this is what you get for sharing sodas when mono is going around.
It appears that quarterback Andy Dalton might have hit his career wall. If he can’t turn it around over the next couple of weeks, his time as a starting quarterback in the league might be wrapping up. It’s hard to believe that just two seasons ago he was one of the best QBs in the NFL statistically, but something has clicked in a bad way. It’s happened to more accomplished guys than him in the past. Hell, it happened with two consecutive Washington Redskins quarterbacks in the 1980s and 1990s, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien and both those guys won Super Bowls.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-1)
The Packers are a mess of injuries after Sunday night’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Aaron Rodgers should get one of his starting offensive tackles back, Bryan Bulaga, who is listed as questionable, but David Bakhtari is doubtful as is Randall Cobb.
On defense, it’s even worse with Kentrel Brice, Mike Daniels, Davon House, Nick Perry and Jake Ryan all designated as doubtful. Fielding a defense full of back ups could mean we’ll actually see a decent offense out of Cincinnati.
One guy who is going to play is Rodgers and that always gives the Packers not only a puncher’s chance, but makes them a real danger to light up the scoreboard on anybody. The question is, who will he throw the ball to? Jordy Nelson will probably play, but he’s questionable. Devante Adams will get plenty of targets and this could be the game where Martellus Bennett is finally worth the contract Green Bay handed him this off-season.
The Packers defense didn’t do much to slow down Atlanta last week, but this Bengals team isn’t them by a longshot. They do have tons of talent, with A.J. Green on the outside and three NFL level running backs in Joe Mixon, Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard alternating in the backfield.
The Pick
The Bengals’ success in this game all comes down to Dalton. I’m not sure he can do a lot, but I do feel like it’ll be closer than people expect with all the injury troubles Green Bay has been hit with. Ty Montgomery could be in for a big game for the Pack. Packers 24, Bengals 20
This week
Straight up: 1-0
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 11-5
Against the spread: 8-8
Season
Straight up: 21-10
Against the spread: 16-15
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