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Bengals (6-9) vs. Dolphins (1-14)
Kickoff: 1 p.m., Dolphin Stadium (grass) Line: Bengals by 3 TV: CBS (Channel 12) Radio: WTVN-AM (1530) Forecast: Mostly cloudy, high of 80 degrees Story line
The Bengals end a disappointing season hoping to win consecutive games for the first time this year. Given the opponent, there's no excuse for that not to happen. The Dolphins seemed headed for a winless season until upsetting Baltimore two weeks ago.
What's at stake?
Pride and draft positioning. The Bengals are assured of finishing third in the AFC North. As of now, they hold the No. 9 pick in the 2008 draft. A victory could cause a considerable slip because of the glut of teams with six or seven victories. Series
Miami leads 13-4. Cincinnati won the last meeting 16-13 in 2004 in Paul Brown Stadium. On the hot seat
Bengals WR Chad Johnson. He returns to his hometown to wrap up a season that has been statistically impressive but largely disappointing. Barring a miracle, he will not lead the AFC in receiving yards as he has done the past four years. With 1,309 yards, Johnson trails Reggie Wayne by 114 yards and Randy Moss by 84 (before last night's game). He and quarterback Carson Palmer have not been in sync most of the season. Against an awful Dolphins defense, Johnson must have a decent game. Key matchup
Bengals LT Levi Jones vs. Dolphins DE Jason Taylor On a team ravaged by injuries and short of talent to begin with, Taylor is the one Miami player who can dominate a game. He combines unusual height (6 feet 6) with athleticism and determination. Jones' play has improved significantly from the start of the season, but this might be his biggest test. If he can keep Palmer's blind side protected, the Bengals should be able to have a big day passing.
Streaks/slumps
Palmer has thrown a career-high 19 interceptions. … Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh leads the NFL with 103 catches, two ahead of New England's Wes Welker (before last night's game) and six ahead of Baltimore's Derrick Mason. No Bengals player has ever led the NFL in catches. … The Bengals have allowed only 17 sacks. The team record for fewest in a season is 21, set two years ago. Palmer has not been sacked the past two weeks and was sacked only four times the previous four weeks. … Cornerback Leon Hall has tied the Bengals record for interceptions by a rookie with five.
The Bengals win if …
Miami plays as horribly as it has most of the season. The Dolphins have been outscored by more than 10 points per game. They rank 28th in scoring and 31st in points allowed. The Bengals have underachieved. The Dolphins have not achieved. The Bengals lose if …
Cleo Lemon follows in the footsteps of other obscure quarterbacks who manage to have big games against the Bengals. Cincinnati has lost to teams it shouldn't have, though none as awful as the Dolphins. Still, the Bengals often seem intent on proving the negative side of "any given Sunday." Prediction
BENGALS 27, DOLPHINS 16
Cincinnati finally has a chance to play in decent weather and simply has too many weapons for Miami to handle. Unless the Bengals already have visions of U-Hauls dancing in their heads, this is not a game they should lose. Schedule, results
Sept. 10: Baltimore - W, 27-20 Sept. 16: at Cleveland - L, 51-45 Sept. 23: at Seattle - L, 24-21 Oct. 1: New England - L, 34-13 Oct. 7: Bye Oct. 14: at Kansas City - L, 27-20 Oct. 21: New York Jets - W, 38-31 Oct. 28: Pittsburgh - L, 24-13 Nov. 4: at Buffalo - L, 33-21 Nov. 11: at Baltimore - W, 21-7 Nov. 18: Arizona - L, 35-27 Nov. 25: Tennessee - W, 35-6 Dec. 2: at Pittsburgh - L, 24-10 Dec. 9: St. Louis - W, 19-10 Dec. 15: at San Francisco - L, 20-13 Dec. 23: Cleveland - W, 19-14 Today: at Miami - 1 p.m. Columbus Dispatch http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/bengals/stories/2007/12/30/bengals_game_day_30.ART_ART_12-30-07_C4_U18TKE4.html?sid=101 |
