Cincinnati Bengals Will Prove Naysayers Wrong

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article for the keys on how the Bengals can win at Baltimore.

Luckily, I was able to predict with accuracy what would happened. The Bengals opened up the spread formation and took it the house on the last drive of the game, sending the Bengals in the national spotlight and highlighting question marks all over the Ravens franchise after an impressive 3-0 start.

That was three weeks ago. What have the Ravens learned from the Bengals since in the following weeks that will allow them this time around at Paul Brown? My conclusion, nothing.

The Bengals dropped an egg against a playoff-hungry Texans and smashed the Bears at home. The Bengals did this by opening up the spread formation with their deep talent at wide receiver and forcing the Bears to try and beat the passing game. When Carson Palmer wasn’t throwing more touchdowns than incompletions, Benson was having a career game versus the Bears.

Marvin Lewis made a judgment call and left Benson in for the entire fourth quarter, including when he pulled virtually all of his other offensive starters off the field. You can bet Benson will pay back his gratitude towards Coach Lewis by having another sensational game against the Ravens defense.

The most interesting story for me is not that Chad Ochocinco sent his usual gifts to the Ravens defense.  But more interestingly, the Bengals are ranked ahead of the Ravens in all the power rankings for the NFL.

Power rankings are not based on "Wins" but rather the quality of the team. Surprisingly most analysts except for Cris Collinsworth are picking the Ravens over the Bengals. So why are the Bengals ahead of the Ravens on most power rankings? That, I do not know.

I am picking the Bengals again over the Ravens this weekend.

The Bengals proved they can pass and the Ravens have proved they cannot stop the run and stop the pass. Palmer will solidify the Bengals in the AFC North and his contention for NFL MVP this season.