NFL Predictions Week 4: Bengals Will End Buffalo's Unbeaten Run

Crazy things are always happening in the NFL, so why not let the Bengals be the week's upset special?

I'm one of those guys that just isn't a Buffalo Bills believer yet.  I give them credit for playing well and getting off to a hot start, but I take you back to the 2009 Denver Broncos who did the same thing. 

How did that turn out?  I'll let you remember.

The Bengals are a very young team with a boat load of talent.  Problem is, there have been some growing pains and problems on the offensive line.  It's hard for any quarterback to be effective under pressure all the time, let alone a rookie one.

On the other side, the Bills' offense has been clicking on all cylinders.  That being said, why should anyone believe that the Bengals have a chance?

The Bengals Are Playing in Cincinnati

OK, I understand that last week against the 49ers, home field advantage made no difference.

That's going to change this week.  The Bengals have quite a bit to prove to their fans—Week 3 against the Niners was the smallest home crowd for an opening game ever in Cincinnati.

The jungle is where the Bengals need to be right now.  They began the season with two consecutive games on the road.  This young team is finally beginning to come together, and any support they can get is going to help them.

More to the point, New England is a great team who lost in Buffalo.  Clearly, Buffalo would be a rough place to play for the young Bengals.  In Week 4, the Bengals are at home, so their home fans give them at least some sort of chance.

Ryan Fitzpatrick Has to Come Back to Earth Eventually

There's no doubt that Ryan Fitzpatrick is having one of the best starts to the year.  He's been on fire, to say the least. 

However, the Bengals know about Fitzpatrick. 

He was the starting quarterback in 2008 for 13 of the Bengals' games after an injury to Carson Palmer.  His passer rating was an abysmal 70.  In 13 games, he managed to throw eight touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Marvin Lewis knows Fitzpatrick and how he plays.  That could be enough to figure out a way to shut him down now. 

Strong Bengals' Defense

If nothing else is good about this Bengals' squad, the defense is at least a decent aspect to it. 

Leon Hall and Nate Clements are one of the best cornerback duos in the league.  Hall, in particular, is a young man who has just as much talent as anyone in the league.

A strong front line and linebackers supply an excellent blitzing defense.  They were breathing down Alex Smith's neck all day in Week 3 and also made Kyle Orton and Colt McCoy hurry their throws.

The Bengals' defense is strong and their quick.  They're the first step toward building a dynasty in Cincinnati.

Talented Rookies

Andy Dalton and A.J. Green are proving to be a couple of the better rookies in the league in 2011.  Dalton struggled in Week 3 but showed a bunch of talent in the first two weeks.

He connected with Green 10 times in Week 2, a game in which Cincinnati put up over 400 yards of offense. 

Am I implying that these two alone can be responsible for the Bengals upsetting the red-hot Bills?  No, it will obviously require more.  What I am saying is that these two give them a great chance to win.

They've already built up a solid chemistry and they're both very talented.  Expect for another impressive performance by the duo.

Buffalo's Poor Defense

The Week 1 edition of the Bills' defense looked impressive—then we learned how bad the Kansas City Chiefs really are.

Since then, the Bills have allowed 35 points and 31 points in consecutive weeks.  The Patriots put up 31, which isn't all that shocking.  However, 35 against the Raiders is a bit much.

What I've noticed is that the Bills have quite a bit of trouble keeping receivers in check and slowing the passing game.  If Andy Dalton comes out firing, that vulnerability will be exposed.

They may be 3-0, but that's thanks to the Bills' offense.  In this game, there will be matchups of a good Buffalo offense against a good Cincinnati defense, and a bad Buffalo defense against a young Cincinnati offense.

Game on.