Bengals to face another division leader in sizzling Colts

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 07: Tyler Eifert #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals attempts to pull in the ball against Derrick Johnson #56 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 7, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

Credit: Peter Aiken

Credit: Peter Aiken

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 07: Tyler Eifert #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals attempts to pull in the ball against Derrick Johnson #56 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 7, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
Sports
By Jay Morrison
Oct 14, 2014
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The Cincinnati Bengals will make the shortest road trip in the NFL on Sunday when they bus across Interstate 74 to Indianapolis to face an explosive Colts team that has won four in a row.

Indianapolis opened the year with back-to-back losses, but those came against Denver and Philadelphia, who are a combined 9-2. Since the 0-2 start, the Colts have averaged 478.8 yards of offense during their four-game winning streak against Jacksonville, Tennessee, Baltimore and Houston.

The Colts lead the NFL in total offense (444.0 yards per game) and passing offense (328.7). Quarterback Andrew Luck leads the league with 17 touchdown passes, ranks seventh in passer rating (99.6) and owns four of the top 11 passing performances in the league this year.

Indianapolis leads the AFC South by one game ahead of Houston, marking the fifth time in six games the Bengals have faced a team that was in first place in its division.

Bengals-Colts connections

TE Tyler Eifert (Reserve/Injured, designated for possible return) played at Notre Dame and is from Fort Wayne, Ind. … Bengals G Mike Pollak was a 2008 second-round draft pick by the Colts and played for them from 2008-11. … Colts RB Daniel Herron played for the Bengals in 2012 and was on the Bengals practice squad for part of the 2013 season; Herron also played at Ohio State. … Colts G/T Jack Mewhort played at Ohio State. … Bengals T/G Emmett Cleary (practice squad) entered the NFL as a college free agent with Indianapolis in 2013. … Colts linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald coached for the Bengals from 2008-11 and at the University of Cincinnati in 1985. … Bengals running backs coach Kyle Caskey coached at Indiana State from 2006-08. … Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes coached at Notre Dame from 1988-91. … Bengals defensive backs coach Vance Joseph played for the Colts in 1996. … Bengals defensive assistant/quality control coach Marcus Lewis played at Indiana State.

AFC North outlook

Baltimore (4-2): vs. Atlanta (2-4) Sunday. The Ravens go after their fifth win in six games since the season-opening loss to the Bengals, and they'll go for it at home against a reeling Atlanta squad that has lost three straight games by double digits.

Cleveland (3-2): at Jacksonville (0-6) Sunday. The Browns are looking for their third win in a row and their best start since 2001. They're also beginning a stretch of three games where their opponents have one combined win — Jaguars (0), Raiders (0), Buccaneers (1).

Pittsburgh (3-3): vs. Houston (3-3) Monday. The Steelers will try to continue their pattern of alternating wins and losses against a Texans squad that has lost three of its last four.

Sunday’s game

Cincinnati Bengals (3-1-1) at Indianapolis Colts (4-2)

1 p.m.

TV: Chs. 7, 12

Radio: 700-AM, 102.7-FM, 104.7-FM

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About the Author

Jay Morrison