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Sports TwitterBengals' playoff flame still flickering
While Cincinnati's chances aren't great, fans can find reasons to stay hopeful.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
CINCINNATI — The scenarios that will land the Cincinnati Bengals in the playoffs have been well-documented.
They must defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers and pray for one of two miracles — an Oakland victory over the New York Jets or combined losses by Denver and Jacksonville.
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Bengals fans have plenty of ...
Reasons for optimism
1. The Bengals have the offensive firepower needed to pound the Steelers into submission — a Pro Bowl quarterback in Carson Palmer; a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh; and workhorse tailback Rudi Johnson.
2. Oakland cornerbacks Fabian Washington and Nnamdi Asomugha should intercept Jets' QB Chad Pennington four times. Pennington is smart and savvy, but throws soft passes with his weak arm.
3. San Francisco tailback Frank Gore has the ability to rush for 200 yards and three touchdowns at Denver, and the Kansas City crowd will be tough on the visiting Jaguars.
Reasons for pessimism
1. The Bengals have endured a turbulent season marked by injuries, arrests and on-field mistakes. They'll either be fired up or ready to pack it in. They're not just a Jekyll-Hyde team. They're Heckle and Jeckle.
2. Art Shell returned to Oakland because he missed coaching and felt like the team "needed direction." All he got in return was a pathetic performance by his club. The Raiders won't quit. They'll just lay down.
3. Mike Shanahan looked demented benching Jake Plummer in favor of rookie Jay Cutler when the Broncos were 7-4. Now he looks like a genius. The Jaguars' "D" could wreck K.C.'s "O."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253
or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.
