Bengals vs Colts

[grogg]

The Battle of I-74.

First off I am on cloud nine that the Cincinnati Bengals look like they will be above .500 for the first time since the other George Bush was in the White House. In fact they have a slight chance to win their division this year.

That said I must admit the Indy Colts are the team to beat at this point. They look and play like favorites to be in the Super Bowl to run roughshod over the representative from the weaker conference.

I hope the Bengals can at least keep it close and I hope Coach Lewis can hide Mr. Chad's checklist again this week.

[Frank Capua]

It will be fun rooting for the Colts to run the table.

BTW there was an article in the Orlando paper (could have been the Lakeland paper as I read both) where a Florida Sports reporter was rooting for the Colts to do just that to shut up the arrogant and classless old fish who break out the champaign every year when each pretender has fallen.

BTW arrogant and classless were his words not mine.

However it would be sweet if the Indianapolis Colts were to make history as I was there with season tickets their first 4 seasons in Indy before I moved South. Plus having become a fan of Tony Dungy when he was in Tampa it would be nice to see him win a ring as well.

BTW what does the Indianapolis Star have to say now about Tony's new contract?

[Slim]

The last time the Bengals went up against a 9-0 team they won! (Kansas City in 2003)

Looks like it will be a very fun game to watch!

[turnrightgoleft]

It will be fun rooting for the Colts to run the table.

BTW there was an article in the Orlando paper (could have been the Lakeland paper as I read both) where a Florida Sports reporter was rooting for the Colts to do just that to shut up the arrogant and classless old fish who break out the champaign every year when each pretender has fallen.

BTW arrogant and classless were his words not mine.

However it would be sweet if the Indianapolis Colts were to make history as I was there with season tickets their first 4 seasons in Indy before I moved South. Plus having become a fan of Tony Dungy when he was in Tampa it would be nice to see him win a ring as well.

BTW what does the Indianapolis Star have to say now about Tony's new contract?

I hope that isn't the same sports writer who picked Purdue to win the national championship!

[Roadrage]

The last time the Bengals went up against a 9-0 team they won! (Kansas City in 2003)

Looks like it will be a very fun game to watch!

I know (ya darn Bengal fan!), that's why it concerns me when it appears to be easy but isn't.

[Truth Detector]

The Colts won't go undefeated.

The tougher portion of their schedule begins Sunday and continues through the end of the season.

Should the Colts be good/lucky enough to win the next five games there is no way Dungy will play his stars with home field locked up.

Going undefeated would be cool but being healthy heading to the playoffs with every playoff game in a dome would bode well for the Colts.

BTW, Denver scares me.

[crispy]

BTW, Denver scares me.

We are Denver's New England.

[Frank Capua]

... BTW, Denver scares me.

Why are you scared of heights?

Cause you don't really feel like you are a mile high when you are there.

[Powercat]

We are Denver's New England.

You're right, we (Denver) are trying to avoid going to Indy as much as possible. Champ Bailey is not 100%, plus we have three rookie CBs behind him on the depth chart. The Colts have a better defense this year, and sooner or later Jake will throw an interception. Hopefully we get a first round bye and a home game in the playoffs. We should be able to win the rest of our home games, but need to be above 500 on the road to have a shot at that and we have to go to Dallas on Thanksgiving, then road games at KC, Buffalo, and San Diego.

But just as the Colts are better, so are the Broncos. I think they have a great shot to go deep in the playoffs. They are a focused group, the running game is back with Anderson & Bell, Jake is playing better (even though he will turn the ball over before the season is over), and the Cleveland Broncos are playing well on the D-Line with Trevor Pryce.

[skypigeon]

The last time the Bengals went up against a 9-0 team they won! (Kansas City in 2003)

Looks like it will be a very fun game to watch!

There's some BIG differences between that 9-0 team and this 9-0 team, though:

*This 9-0 team has a legitimate defense.
*This 9-0 team has THE best QB in the league.
*This 9-0 team has a coach that doesn't flake out and do stupid things in critical situations (i.e., trusting a defense that hasn't held the line all game to hold the end zone against the game-winning score with seconds left to go).

I think Cincy will be a bit humbled...

[Clefo]

We are Denver's New England.

And the Colts beat New England this year, so something else's gotta fall

[Martyj]

I WANT the Colts to go 16-0 this year.

I THINK the Colts will go 14-2 instead.

One loss will be in Seattle on X-mas eve.

The other will be this Sunday against Cincy.

[Kurt Cobain]

The Colts will make Carson Palmer look ordinary.

[jkg]

The New England game was good considering the history of the two franchises, but the Cincy game is the most important game the Colts have played this season, and probably the best team they have faced.

If the Colts fall to Cincy, their lead for home field advantage falls to effectively 1/2 game, as Cincy would be 1 game back with the tiebreaker advantage.

It's unlikely to happen, but if the Colts drop games the next two games to a pair of 7-2 teams, they could be fighting an uphill battle even to get a 1st round bye in the playoffs.

[Frank Capua]

Which is why Dungy will want to play to win against both Cincy and Denver. he might fudge on some other games once we get the lead to protect players but not so much in those two games.