2010 NFL Kickoff, Bengals at Patriots: Bengals Are Mirror Image of Patriots
The 2010 NFL season kicks off this weekend and one of the better games on the slate is the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots.
BetMania has posted the odds for this game and they have the home team Patriots as 4.5 point favorites and the total set at 45. Sign up at BetMania and contact customer service with the NFL promo code REGAW and get a $50 free bet on the NFL in week one with no deposit needed!
These two teams enter this season with high hopes and huge expectations on winning a super bowl ring, but that is not the only thing that these two teams have in common. In fact on closer inspection it would seem as though these teams mirror one another in more ways than one.
Tom Brady and Carson Palmer
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Tom Brady and Carson Palmer
Patriot Nation would have my head on a stick in the middle of Boston Common if I even considered putting Tom Brady and Carson Palmer in the same category. Tom Brady is an elite QB in a class with a select signal caller’s in the league, but Palmer is not too far behind. Palmer is a veteran quarterback that runs the Bengals offense and without him the Bengals season would be lost. He may not be considered to be as good as Tom Brady, but there is no doubt he is just as valuable.
Randy Moss and T.O./Ochocinco
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Randy Moss and T.O./Ochocinco
Randy Moss does not talk as much as he used to but he is still considered one of the best receivers in the game and he will continue to thrive in an offense with Tom Brady.
T.O. and Ochocinco are built in the same mold. Brash and loud and are a threat to score on any play of any game, against any defense. When it comes to talented wide receivers these three seem to be interchangeable.
Wes Welker and Jordan Shipley
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Wes Welker and Jordan Shipley
Before the injury, Wes Welker was an all pro with the Patriots. One of the best slot receivers in the league, Welker is not afraid to go through traffic and make a difficult catch. He runs well with the ball and puts up great numbers year in and year out.
Jordan Shipley is a rookie and comparing him to Welker may seem like a stretch but I am not the only one that is doing it. Bengals receivers coach Mike Sheppard compares him to the great slot receivers in the league to include New England’s Wes Welker. Shipley has looked great in the preseason and seems to be filling a role similar to the one that Welker has with the Patriots.
Only time will tell if he will come close to matching the production of Welker.
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Rob Gronkowski and Jermaine Gresham
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Rob Gronkowski and Jermaine Gresham
These tight ends will be very productive this year and look for big numbers from each. Gronkowski has not missed a snap in practice and his hard work has paid off in preseason. He looks as though he has been playing with Brady for years and has become a favorite target already.
Gresham got to camp a little late for the Bengals, but it did not take him long to make an impact. He is a huge target and a great compliment to the arsenal of weapons available to Palmer. The Bengals finally got a tight end they have been lacking in the past.
Defense
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Defenses:
These teams are actually a bit similar on defense.
They both have tough defenses they play above their ability. They don’t have a big name that rules the field like Ray Lewis or Troy Polamalu, but they always rank high in most of the defensive categories. On Sunday both of these defenses will be tested in week one as they face off against two great offenses.
Game Time Prediction:
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Game Time Prediction:
This is just too many points to give the Bengals.
Both teams are very similar on offense, but the edge goes to the Bengals. The Bengals have a better running game that they can use to offset the passing game and keep the Patriots defense honest.
The Patriot secondary has injuries and they will be starting a young group of guys that are not battle tested in all scenarios. The Patriots are lacking in the pass rush department and if they bring linebackers to help that will leave them vulnerable to the pass as they leave the secondary in one-on-one coverage.
Cincinnati is 26-18-1 against the spread (ATS) in its last 45 road encounters and 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games in September. The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings and the Bengals will have a shot to win this game in the end.
NFL Kickoff Week One
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Check out Bookie Blitz.com for great articles, sports picks, and sports previews. Previews for Week one can be found at the site as well as other predictions on the upcoming season.
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