NFL Playoffs Info

[Spearit]

Carolina has been forced to rely too heavily on Smith because its running game is not as effective as it was in the past two seasons. DeShaun Foster led the team with just 879 yards and Stephen Davis was placed on injured reserve last month.

But the Panthers are still strong against the run, ranking fourth overall in the league (91.6 yards per game). They will need to be at their best on Sunday.

For the second straight year, New York's Tiki Barber led the NFL in yards from scrimmage. He nearly won the rushing title this season with 1,860 yards, 20 behind Seattle's Shaun Alexander.

Carolina also will need to worry about wide receiver Plaxico Burress and Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey. Burress caught 76 passes for 1,214 yards and Shockey had 65 receptions for 891 yards.

"I've never been on a team where we can just put up 300, 400 yards so easily and make it look so easily," said Burress, who spent his first five seasons with the run-oriented Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Giants will not have middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, who missed the last three regular-season games with a sprained ankle. Kevin Lewis was signed last week after sitting out the entire season and started at middle linebacker in the season-ending win at Oakland.

[Spearit]

Spear Play # 4 Pitt and Cinncy Over 46 1/2

Spear play # 5 Teaser
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Over 39½
Cincinnati Bengals +10 (Teased 7.0 points)

Cinncy will come to play today and +10 suits me fine.
I also like over as I expect this game to be the first playoff game to go over.

[Spearit]

NFL Preview - Pittsburgh (11-5) at Cincinnati (11-5)
Sunday, January 08, 2006

Latest Line: Pittsburgh -3 O/U: 46.5


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By Tony Moss, NFL Editor (Sports Network) - Any analysis of Sunday's AFC Wild Card matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium will ultimately beg the question: which team really has the advantage here? Is it the third-seeded, AFC North Champion, homestanding Bengals, who were seven-point road winners in their last meeting with Pittsburgh? Or is it the sixth-seeded Steelers, who needed a four-game winning streak just to reach the postseason and will be beginning their playoff run away from the friendly confines of Heinz Field? Believe it or not, most analysts, both of the armchair and professional variety, have concluded that the edge lies with the Steelers. Much of that assessment has to do with Pittsburgh's current winning streak, coupled with a two-game losing skid for Cincinnati that included embarrassing losses to the Bills (37-27) and Chiefs (37-3).

Another factor is the Steelers' current four-game winning streak in Cincinnati, which included a 27-13 whipping of the Bengals in the Queen City back in Week 7.

Then of course, there is the dismal legacy and playoff inexperience of the Cincinnati franchise. The Bengals will on Sunday be playing their first postseason game since 1990, and are entering the playoff field for just the eighth time in 38 years of existence. When compared to the Steelers' 22 postseason appearances and four Super Bowl titles, observers have yet another reason to pick against the orange and black.

Will the negative assessment of the Bengals' chances prove prophetic? SERIES HISTORY Pittsburgh and Cincinnati will be meeting for the first time in the postseason.

The Steelers lead the all-time regular season series with Cincinnati, 42-29, and have gone 22-8 against the Bengals since 1991. As mentioned, the Steelers were 27-13 road winners over Cincinnati in Week 7, and the Bengals returned the favor with a 38-31 victory at Heinz Field in Week 13. Pittsburgh is 4-0 in Cincinnati since last losing there in 2001 by a 26-23 count in overtime.

Pittsburgh's Bill Cowher has a 20-8 record against the Bengals in his career, while Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis is 2-4 all-time against both Cowher and the Steelers.

STEELERS OFFENSE VS. BENGALS DEFENSE Seeking a better playoff showing than the one he experienced last season is Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (2385 passing yards, 17 TD, 9 INT), who threw five interceptions in two postseason games as a rookie and failed to lead top-seeded Pittsburgh to the Super Bowl stage. "Big Ben" has five touchdown passes in two 2005 games against the Bengals, and threw for a career-high 386 yards against Cincinnati in Week 13, but has also been intercepted four times by the team this year. Wideouts Hines Ward (69 receptions, 11 TD) and Antwaan Randle El (35 receptions, 1 TD), along with tight end Heath Miller (39 receptions, 6 TD), will serve as Roethlisberger's top targets on Sunday. Ward had nine catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns versus the Bengals on Dec. 4th, and has gone over 100 receiving yards in three of his last four postseason outings. Randle El's only receiving touchdown of the year came back in Week 1, and Miller has not found the end zone since Week 8. The Pittsburgh line has allowed a modest 32 sacks on the season, and the Steelers rank 24th in NFL passing offense (182.9 yards per game).

[Spearit]

BENGALS OFFENSE VS. STEELERS DEFENSE Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer (3836 passing yards, 32 TD, 12 INT) will be seeking to build upon a regular season that saw him lead the NFL in touchdown passes and post a sparkling 101.1 passer rating. Palmer threw for 227 yards in each of his two outings against the Steelers this year, including in a three- touchdown performance during Week 13. Wideouts Chad Johnson (97 receptions, 9 TD) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (78 receptions, 7 TD) are in the midst of huge seasons, with Johnson leading the AFC in both catches and receiving yards (1432). Johnson combined for just nine catches and 148 yards without a touchdown in two games against the Steelers this year, but helped pick up the slack with 12 grabs for 163 yards and a pair of scores. Third receiver Chris Henry (31 receptions, 6 TD) had a season-high five catches against the Steelers in Week 13, but has just one reception since. Tight end Matt Schobel (18 receptions, 1 TD) has seven grabs in his last three games. Palmer was sacked just 19 times all year, as the Bengals ranked fifth in the league in passing offense (238.8 yards per game).

Looking to hold the Bengals' aerial attack in check will be a Pittsburgh defense that ranked 16th in the league against the pass (198 yards per game) during the regular season. Matching up with Johnson and Houshmandzadeh will likely be cornerbacks Deshea Townsend (54 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INT) and Ike Taylor (91 tackles, 1 INT), with Troy Polamalu (91 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INT) and Chris Hope (96 tackles, 3 INT) lending support from the safety slots. Hope and end Aaron Smith both had interceptions of Palmer in Week 7. The Steeler pass rush ranked near the top of the NFL with 47 sacks during the regular campaign, but had a total of just three sacks in two games against Cincinnati earlier this year. Outside linebacker Joey Porter (56 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 2 INT), who leads Pittsburgh in sacks this season, did not get to Palmer in either outing. Fellow OLB Clark Haggans (59 tackles, 9 sacks) was the only Steeler to sack Palmer on Dec. 4th.

Bengals running back Rudi Johnson (1458 rushing yards, 12 TD, 23 receptions) has quietly put together another outstanding season, but has just one 100-yard game in five career outings against the Steelers. Johnson fell just short of the mark versus Pittsburgh in Week 13, carrying 21 times for 98 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win. Fellow running back Chris Perry (279 rushing yards, 51 receptions, 2 TD) returned from a two-game absence due to an ankle injury last week, and should be ready to go for Sunday's contest. Fullback Jeremi Johnson (12 receptions, 3 TD) has done a good job of paving the way for Johnson and Perry this season. The Bengals ranked 11th in NFL rushing offense (119.4 yards per game) during the regular season.

The Steelers finished the regular season ranked an impressive third in the league in rushing defense (86 yards per game), and will try to keep up that suffocating trend against the Bengals. The team's three-man line of nose tackle Casey Hampton (42 tackles) and ends Kimo von Oelhoffen (35 tackles, 3.5 sacks) and Aaron Smith (39 tackles, 2 sacks) has been sturdy at the point of attack, combining for 11 tackles in last week's win over the Lions. Von Oelhoffen had a sack of Palmer back in Week 7. At inside linebacker, James Farrior (119 tackles, 2 sacks) and Larry Foote (102 tackles, 3 sacks) are 1-2 on the team in tackles. Farrior had three double-digit tackles games during the regular season, including a 10-stop effort against the Bengals on Dec.

4th.

SPECIAL TEAMS Cincinnati will want to pay extra close attention to Randle El (10.2 punt return avg.), who led the NFL with two punt returns for touchdowns during the regular season. Randle El had a 81-yard return for a score against the Lions last week, and went the distance from 72 yards out against the Jaguars on Oct.

16th. Quincy Morgan (25.3 avg.) and Ricardo Colclough (21.5 avg,) split kickoff return duties, and Colclough reeled off a season-high 63-yard return last Sunday. Kicker Jeff Reed (24-29 FG) missed just three kicks of shorter than 50 yards, but has not made a field goal of longer than 44 yards this year. Chris Gardocki ranked near the bottom of the league in both gross punting average (41.7) and net average (34.7).

Bengals kicker Shayne Graham (28-32 FG) led the AFC with 131 points this season, earning his first career Pro Bowl citation for his efforts. Graham was 7-of-10 on field goals of 40 yards or more, including a season-long 49-yarder against the Chiefs last week. Graham has not been quite as strong on kickoffs, as just two of his 91 kicks went for touchbacks. Punter Kyle Larson (43.2 avg.) struggled at times, with his 35.6 net average ranking among the league's bottom tier. The Bengals tied for the league low with just 5.6 per punt return, as Keiwan Ratliff failed to break any long returns. Kickoff returner Tab Perry (24.4) fared a bit better, with his 94-yard return against the Steelers in Week 13 setting up a key third-quarter touchdown.

OVERALL ANALYSIS There is little question that the Steelers are the hotter team coming into this game, and that Pittsburgh is more sure of itself in playoff situations than is Cincinnati. But one must also consider the circumstances that surrounded the Bengals' last two losses, as Cincinnati had already secured a postseason berth and suffered a letdown, something that is far from unusual in NFL annals. Now that the stakes of the game are tangible, you can expect the Bengals to look like the team that was an 11-3 media darling just three short weeks ago. The average-at-best Steelers secondary will again have little answer for the Cincinnati passing attack, and the Pittsburgh offense will make its share of plays but will also be forced into one too many mistakes by the attacking Bengals defense.

[Spiccoli]

Damn good info Spearit.

Thanks!

[Spearit]

Notes for game
Home underdogs are 6-4 SU & 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 playoff opportunities.

Fading-When the line in an NFL Playoff game opens at under 3 play the Under:
10-0 ATS since 1993 and 17-3-1 since 1983

1st seed: 33-14 SU, 25-22 ATS (53.2%)
2nd seed: 29-17 SU, 22-21-3 ATS (51.2%)
3rd seed: 24-25 SU, 27-21-1 ATS (56.3%)
4th seed: 26-22 SU, 24-19-5 ATS (55.8%)
5th seed: 9-26 SU, 14-18-3 ATS (43.8%)
6th seed: 7-27 SU, 12-22 ATS (35.3%)

[Spearit]

After careful consideration and speculation and indigestion and constipation- I have made my picks early to ease my mind. 2 dogs and 2 favs. Now I can sit back and enjoy the games. $1000 - Sorry --Pitt, Redskins, Bears, and Bronco fans. These all cover.

Seattle Seahawks +4
New England Patriots +16
Indianapolis Colts +3½
Carolina Panthers +16
(Teased 13.0 points)

[lowrider66]

After careful consideration and speculation and indigestion and constipation- I have made my picks early to ease my mind. 2 dogs and 2 favs. Now I can sit back and enjoy the games. $1000 - Sorry --Pitt, Redskins, Bears, and Bronco fans. These all cover.

Seattle Seahawks +4
New England Patriots +16
Indianapolis Colts +3½
Carolina Panthers +16
(Teased 13.0 points)

GL Spear! Looks good.

[BigWeiner]

That's how I would play a four teamer too, good luck Spearit

[STaylor36]

I know I'm biased but I'd rather have Redskins +22 than Seahawks +4.


Good luck Spearit. Let's hope the Skins win by a field goal!

[milker]

Spearit.......

I think the safest bet for a 13pt teaser is the following:



Sea + 4

Indy +3.5

Car +15.5

Chic/Car Under 43


Happy trails


Steve

[Spearit]

Milker- I swear that was my thought before going to bed last night- But looking at it now--Bodog has circled the game and two others on totals. I would certainly take it if I could.

[Spearit]

Humor Time
A man walks into a building and tells the manager that he wants to join their organization. The manager says, "Okay, but there is one rule you have to follow. You cannot get an erection while you are trying to join this group." The man says O.K. He is stripped of his clothing. A bell is tied around his penis and he is put into a room with nine other men who are also trying to join. Then a naked woman is sent walking across the room and nine bells are quiet, and his is ringing away. The man begs for another chance and is given this chance. The woman walks by again and again the man's bell rings again. The manager says to the man, "Pick up your stuff and go. You are unfit for this organization."
As the man bends down to pick up his stuff, the other nine bells start ringing.

[Spearit]

From post 67----After careful consideration and speculation and indigestion and constipation- I have made my picks early to ease my mind. 2 dogs and 2 favs. Now I can sit back and enjoy the games. $1000 - Sorry --Pitt, Redskins, Bears, and Bronco fans. These all cover.

Seattle Seahawks +4
New England Patriots +16
Indianapolis Colts +3½
Carolina Panthers +16
(Teased 13.0 points)

Looks much better than a straight play - 2 dogs and 2 favs. sounds about right to me.

[PatrickB]

Spearit, Nice write-up Buddy!! I for one really appreciate all the time and effort you put into this. This is some good shit....LOL I like your play for this weekend also!! Good Luck!!