Read the arguments from Sports Geek and Loyal Homer about which games they believe are the best of THIS weekend.
This weekend the NFL is featuring several very important divisional matchups that may go a long way in determining which teams will or w will not make the playoffs this season.
As Loyal Homer points out, one such matchup takes place between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. This should be an outstanding game in the NFC East! I, however, am much more interested in the battle at the top of the AFC North between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens are coming off an outstanding performance against Denver where they handed the Broncos the first loss of the season with an impressive final score of 30-7. Last Sunday marked the fifth time in seven games that the Ravens offense was able to put up at least 30 points, and this time it managed to do it against the Denver Broncos’ top-ranked defense.
Behind the strength of two very impressive second-year players – quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice – the Ravens have been able to score almost at will all season long. The Ravens have played outstanding football in 2009 with the only losses coming against teams at the top of their respective divisions, the New England Patriots (5-2), Minnesota Vikings (7-1), and the Cincinnati Bengals (5-2). Even in defeat, however, the Ravens have been extremely competitive and may have achieved a 6-1 record if not for a couple of unlucky breaks.
The Ravens had an opportunity to defeat the Vikings as time ran out, but missed a field goal in the closing seconds of the game and lost by only two points. During the matchup against the Bengals one week earlier the Ravens actually held a four-point lead in the final minute of the game. If not for a 20-yard Carson Palmer touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Caldwell with only 0:22 seconds remaining the Ravens would have won that game, as well.
This Sunday the Ravens have an opportunity for revenge against the Bengals, a team that is one of the NFL’s surprise success stories this season.
The Cincinnati Bengals, a team that had to scrape out wins against the Cleveland Browns – Kansas City Chiefs, and Washington Redskins during their final three matchups of 2008 just to reach a pathetic record of 4-11-1 on the season (did YOU know that teams in the NFL could tie?!) – have started off the 2009 season by winning five of the first seven games. What makes the 5-2 record so impressive is the caliber of opponent that defeated. With wins at Green Bay and in Baltimore, as well as being able to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cincinnati, the Bengals are proving to be just as good this season as any other Super Bowl contender in the league. And, like the Ravens, Cincinnati has also been very competitive even in defeat. If not for a miracle 87-yard TIPPED touchdown catch by Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley with only seconds left in the game, the Bengals would be 6-1.
The Bengals offense, which has shown the ability to put big numbers up on the scoreboard, seems to be rejuvenated behind the arm of Carson Palmer. With receivers Chad Ochocinco, Lavaraneus Coles, and Andre Caldwell, Palmer has found the end zone 13 times so far this season. Meanwhile, on the ground, running back Cedric Benson is one of only two players in the NFL currently averaging at least 100-yards per game (Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans is the other, and he needed a 220 yard game last week to bump his average up that high).
Playing in the same division as the reigning Super Bowl Champions normally would be considered a disadvantage. That is not the case in the AFC North this season. Granted, the Pittsburgh Steelers have played very well this season and have kept pace with Baltimore and Cincinnati, but the Ravens and Bengals have not let that get in the way. The matchup between these two teams could very well become the difference in whether or not one of these teams gets to play football in mid-January. I expect a very hard-fought, competitive rematch, and am very excited to see how this one turns out!
Posted by Bleacher Fan 
