Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 18, 2016
Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Steelers -3.
O/U: 44
PREDICTION: Steelers 20, Bengals 17

Oddsmakers currently have the Steelers listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Bengals, while the game’s total is sitting at 44½.

Just a month ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers were floundering amid a three-game losing streak, Mike Tomlin’s job was in jeopardy and there was serious talk about missing the playoffs.

But then the Steelers rediscovered Le’Veon Bell and the running game, and now Pittsburgh (7-5) is knocking on the postseason door. And all is well with everyone in the Steel City who waves the Terrible Towel.

That’s bad news for the Cincinnati Bengals, who need a lot of things to go right if they are going to make the playoffs for the six straight season.

After going winless in November, Cincinnati (5-7-1) has reeled off two straight victories to have just a minuscule chance at the playoff.

Now the road gets tougher for Cincinnati with Sunday’s home game against Bell and the Steelers. AFC North rival Baltimore comes to town before the Bengals close out the regular season with a road game at Houston.

“There are three big weeks left and it will be a challenge,” tackle Andrew Whitworth said. “It’s three really good teams, and so we’ll have an opportunity to really put our will forward. We have a great opportunity with Pittsburgh coming to our place and what should be a big battle.”

After running roughshod over the Buffalo Bills last week, the Steelers control their own destiny as they took over sole possession of first place in the North.

Pittsburgh turned its season around when the coaching staff realized Bell could take pressure off quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and shoulder the offensive load.

Against Buffalo, Bell set a franchise record with 236 rushing yards with an additional 62 receiving yards. He scored three touchdowns.

In the past four games that coincided with the Steelers becoming a serious contender again, Bell has averaged nearly 30 carries and 115 rushing yards. There’s nothing more valuable than a workhorse running back in wintry conditions.

“It’s December football,” Bell said. “We understand everybody is fighting for position. We just want to get the job done. That’s all there is to it.”

The Steelers control their own fate with games left against AFC North rivals Cincinnati, Baltimore and Cleveland.

“We are in a good situation right now, but we obviously have to win this game and (get) better,” Bell said.

During the Steelers’ four-game losing skid that preceded the winning streak, Bell was the forgotten man. In each of those games, he was held to 81 yards or fewer; in three of those four losses he was held to 60 yards or fewer.

“I can’t say enough about the run game, and when I talk about the run game, it’s not just Le’Veon Bell — our guys out front did a heck of a job,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “Fullback Rosie Nix and our big personnel packages did a really good job of blocking a myriad of fronts because as the game wore on, they threw a lot at us.”

The Bills challenged Roethlisberger, who struggled in the snow and wind at Orchard Park as he completed just 17 of 31 pass attempts for 220 yards and three interceptions. Roethlisberger will need to be more efficient this week against a Bengals’ defense that is all too familiar with the Steelers signal-caller.

The past couple of times the two teams have met, there have been accusations of dirty play as players on both sides have been injured.

“I hope it’s not dirty,” Roethlisberger said. “We expect a physical game. That’s what we want it to be. We expect them to be the same way. We are not going to be a dirty team. We are going to go out and play football and play hard and physical, not retaliate. Just play this game the way it’s supposed to be played. If there are a lot of nasty things going on, I guess we will know why.”

Against Cleveland last week, Andy Dalton wasn’t at his best — but he didn’t have to be as Cincinnati ran for 213 yards and averaged 5.6 yards per carry. Jeremy Hill ran for 111 yards and a touchdown as the Bengals earned a second consecutive win for the first time this season.

And they won both those games without All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Green, who was out with a hamstring injury. Green could return against the Steelers. On Wednesday, he took part in practice for the first time in 24 days.

Cornerback Adam Jones (ankle) did not take part in Wednesday’s practice, but is expected to play Sunday.

Dalton has 17 touchdown passes this season. He knows if the Bengals are to stay in the race until the end, he has to be at his best in the last three games. But Dalton is looking ahead — not behind.

“We wasted some opportunities early in the year,” he said. “We can’t worry about that. For us, it’s all about finishing strong.”

Both defenses are coming off solid performances.

Running against the Steelers is going to be a challenge for Hill, despite the Steelers missing Cameron Heyward, their best defensive lineman.

During their four-game winning streak, they haven’t allowed a team to rush for 100 yards. Buffalo was the top rushing team heading into Sunday, but the Bills were held to just 67 yards. Running back LeSean McCoy was held to 27 yards on 12 carries.

The Steelers also recorded five sacks and an interception.

Cincinnati held the Browns to 10 points and was led by defensive tackle Geno Atkins, who was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording two sacks and five tackles.

The Cincinnati defense has held its last four opponents to under 15 points per game.

Neither Vontaze Burfict nor Bell played in Week 2 when the two teams tangled in Pittsburgh, a 24-16 Steelers’ win. The Bengals also were without tight end Tyler Eifert.

One Bengal who did play, kicker Mike Nugent, was released on Tuesday. Cincinnati signed veteran Randy Bullock.

Neither Roethlisberger nor Maurkice Pouncey practiced on Wednesday, but neither was injured. Safety Shamarko Thomas (concussion) and wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot) missed practice.

The post Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens
When: 11/27/2016 1:00 PM
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Ravens -4.5.
O/U: 40.5
PREDICTION: Ravens 23, Bengals 20

Oddsmakers currently have the Ravens listed as 4-point favorites versus the Bengals, while the game’s total is sitting at 40½.

The Cincinnati Bengals will be without two of their top playmakers on Sunday against the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens, who are looking to snap a five-game losing streak in this divisional series.

Receiver A.J. Green (hamstring) and running back running back Giovani Bernard (knee) were injured in last Sunday’s 16-12 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Despite those injuries, Ravens coach John Harbaugh expects another hard-fought game against a rival he has not beaten since Nov. 10, 2013.

“We respect the Bengals, obviously,” Harbaugh said. “We have not beat them for a while. It is a big game for us. It is a big challenge for us. They have always been tough for us as long as I have been here. I’m sure (they were tough) before that as well. It is a rivalry game, a division game.”

Baltimore (5-5) has struggled to contain Green throughout his career. In eight games against the Ravens, Green has caught 41 passes for 726 yards with six touchdowns. Cincinnati has won five of those eight contests.

The Ravens have a revamped defense that is second in the NFL, allowing 295.1 yards per game.

Baltimore could get another boost with the return of linebacker Elvis Dumervil, who has not played since Oct. 9 against the Redskins because of a foot injury.

While the Ravens are looking to tighten their grip on first place in the division, Cincinnati (3-6-1) is simply trying to salvage its season. After managing a 27-27 tie against the Washington Redskins in London on Oct. 30, the Bengals lost their next two games by a combined five points.

“We haven’t won close games”, Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said. “We’ve had opportunities in the fourth quarter of football games. We’ve had leads. We’ve had opportunities, and we haven’t closed the games out.”

With Green out of the lineup. Baltimore can turn its focus to shutting down Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert, who missed the first six games of the season with an ankle injury. Rookie wide receiver Tyler Boyd also will likely get more targets.

The onus will be on Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton to get them the ball while facing an aggressive Ravens’ defense that has 23 sacks and 11 interceptions through 10 games.

“I feel like it is your typical Baltimore defense,” Dalton said. “They are big up front, they do a really good job against the run, and they get you in third-and-long situations, so they are good on third down. That is the style, and that is the way I know Baltimore has been for a long time.”

The Ravens and Bengals have a similar offense. Both teams are able to move the ball, but struggle finding the end zone. Baltimore and Cincinnati are each averaging 19.9 points per game, tied for 25th in the league.

The Bengals, however, are just 1-4 on the road this season.

“We have a lot of football ahead, and we have a big football game for us come Sunday in Baltimore,” Lewis said.

One of the keys for Baltimore will be establishing an effective running game to wear down the Bengals. Terrance West and rookie Kenneth Dixon have gotten better as the season progressed. However, penalties and late-game deficits has limited their opportunities.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who has also played better over the past three weeks, will also look to take some shots downfield to prevent Cincinnati from crowding the box.

“We are trying to get everybody involved as much as we can,” Flacco said. “When you are short on numbers, you obviously can’t do as much as you would like to. I do not know if that has had a direct impact on it, but it may have affected it a little bit.”

Harbaugh is 7-9 all-time against the Bengals. The Ravens have not won an AFC North title since 2012. Cincinnati has won two of the past three division crowns. The importance of this game is not lost on Harbaugh or his players.

“We want to start fast, but mainly, we just want to play good football – complementary football, winning football, in all three phases and playing together,” Ravens safety Eric Weddle said. “If we can do that, we’ll have a good shot.”

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Cincinnati Bengals vs. New York Giants
When: 8:30 PM ET, Monday, November 14, 2016
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.
LINE: Bengals -1. O/U: 47
PREDICTION: Giants 27, Bengals 23

Oddsmakers currently have the Giants listed as 1-point favorites versus the Bengals, while the game’s total is sitting at 48½.

This Monday Night Football matchup pits two of the top six passing offenses against each other in a prime-time showcase. The Cincinnati Bengals (3-4-1), led by quarterback Andy Dalton, take their fourth-ranked passing attack into MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Giants (5-3) and two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Eli Manning. The Giants hope to counter the Bengals high-flying aerial attack with their own sixth-ranked air show.

After Monday night, both offenses could be even higher in the offensive rankings. The Bengals defense is 25th in total defense and tied for 19th in scoring defense. Cincinnati gives up 262.4 yards a game through the air and has allowed 16 touchdowns. The Bengals are 0-3-1 when an opponent passes for 250 yards or more. Their opponents are averaging six yards per play.

The Giants have the 23rd-ranked defense in the NFL. This unit gives up 371.2 yards a game. The Giants have the 25th-ranked pass defense in the NFL. New York is tied for a league-low 11 sacks generated. The Giants have not been able to consistently get pressure on the quarterback without blitzing.

Quarterback Eli Manning is coming off a four-touchdown performance against Philadelphia, the third time he has tossed at least three scoring passes in a game this season, but he also was picked off twice for the third time. Like Cincinnati, the Giants have a stud wideout in Beckham, who caught a pair of scoring passes against the Eagles to give him five in the past four games. The biggest problem for the Giants has been a stagnant running game led by Rashad Jennings that ranks last in the league with a meager average of 68.3 yards per game. Rookie Paul Perkins could see more time this week to help work the clock and protect a defense that yields 277.4 yards passing.

Team record: 5-3 SU,3-3-2 ATS
Current Streak: won 3 straight games.
NY Giants is 3-5-2 ATS in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Giants’s last 6 games at home
NY Giants is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Cincinnati

Though both teams have had success passing the football, the Giants have had struggles getting their rushing attack going this season. They rank last in the NFL, averaging only 68.2 yards a game. Some of those issues belong to the offensive line’s inability to open holes. Others blame the loss of running back Shane Vereen to a triceps injury in the preseason. Giants head coach Ben McAdoo thinks they have a good young player in rookie running back Paul Perkins. So does Manning.

If Perkins is to help improve the Giants running game, he will have a chance against a Bengals run defense that gives up an average of 116.1 yards a game. A once fundamentally strong defense led by coordinator Paul Guenther, the Bengals miss too many tackles and have produced 57 penalties. The defensive line has been impressive as pass rushers, getting 25 sacks on the year, but their insistence on getting to the passer has opened up run lanes.

Another rookie who could play a major role in the outcome of the game against the Bengals is wide receiver Sterling Shepard. Starting wideout Victor Cruz has a sprained ankle and could miss the Bengals game. This will put Shepard into the starting spot against a defense that gives up tons of yardage to passing teams.

Another rookie the Giants were counting on to play a significant role, cornerback Eli Apple, was benched against the Philadelphia Eagles. Apple, the Giants’ first-round selection out of Ohio State this year, had at least three mental mistakes against the Eagles and found himself on the sideline. “We’re going to dust Eli off and we’re going to put him back out there, and he’s going to get better and learn from it,” said McAdoo of the rookie defender.

Quarterback Andy Dalton has a streak of four straight games with a 100-plus passer rating snapped in London, but he has thrown for 2,349 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Star wide receiver A.J. Green is second in the NFL with 896 yards, including three games with at least 169 yards, and the offense received an added boost with the return of tight end Tyler Eifert against the Redskins. Eifert had 13 touchdowns last season and showed what a difference-maker he can be in his first start with nine catches for 102 yards and a score. Cincinnati’s defense has been vulnerable through the air, allowing an average of 262.4 yards.

Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green has made a living out of embarrassing NFL cornerbacks, Pro Bowlers and rookies alike. Green is second in the NFL in receiving yards with 896. Against a secondary that continues to give up big plays, the Bengals will be attacking cornerbacks Apple, high-priced free agent Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with Green deep.

Coming off their bye week should work wonders for Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert. Eifert missed the early part of the season due to issues with his back. Now 100 percent healthy, Eifert is a tough matchup for any safety in the NFL. On Monday night, Eifert will be facing safeties Landon Collins and Nat Berhe. Collins has three interceptions on the year and is an improved coverage player. But his true strength lies in his physicality in the run game, not as a coverage player. Berhe is a smart player and will need to use his brains to hold up in coverage against a more athletic.

Team record: 3-4-1 SU,2-5-1 ATS
Cincinnati is 2-6-2 ATS in its last 10 games
Cincinnati is 2-4-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cincinnati’s last 6 games

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Washington Redskins vs. Cincinnati Bengals
When: 9:30 AM ET, Sunday, October 30, 2016
Where: Wembley Stadium, London
Oddsmakers currently have the Bengals listed as 2½-point favorites versus the Redskins, while the game’s total is sitting at 46½.

In their last action, Cincinnati was a 31-17 winner at home against the Browns. They covered the -11-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (48) was profitable news for OVER bettors.

Team record: 3-4 SU,2-4-1 ATS
Cincinnati is 2-5-2 ATS in its last 9 games
Cincinnati is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Cincinnati is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Washington

Washington lost its last outing, a 20-17 result against the Lions on October 23. The Redskins failed to cover in that game as a -1-point favorite, while the 37 combined points took the game UNDER the total.

Team record: 4-3 SU,4-3 ATS
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Washington’s last 12 games

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San Diego at Cincinnati
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 20, 2015
Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Bengals -3.5. O/U: 46.5
PREDICTION: Bengals 33, Chargers 24
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Oddsmakers currently have the Bengals listed as 3-point favorites versus the Chargers, while the game’s total is sitting at 45½.

Tyler Eifert enjoyed his best day as a pro last week, catching nine passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. The 25-year-old tight end, who hadn’t played since the 2014 season opener due to an elbow injury, had two TD receptions in his first 16 career games. The touchdown passes by Andy Dalton raised his career total to 101 as he joined Ken Anderson (197), Boomer Esiason (187) and Carson Palmer (154) as the only Bengals to reach the century mark.

Cincinnati won its last outing, a 33-13 result against the Raiders on September 13. The Bengals covered in that game as a -3-point favorite, while the 46 combined points took the game OVER the total.

Team record: 1-0 SU,1-0 ATS
Cincinnati is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Cincinnati’s last 10 games
Cincinnati is 13-4-1 ATS in its last 18 games at home
Cincinnati is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home

Rivers also set a team record Sunday by completing his final 20 passes of the game. He made his 146th consecutive start, the second-longest active streak among quarterbacks. Linebacker Kyle Emanuel had a strong showing in his NFL debut last week as he registered a sack and made an interception versus Cincinnati.

In their last action, San Diego was a 33-28 winner at home against the Lions. They covered the -3.5-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (61) was profitable news for OVER bettors.

Team record: 1-0 SU,1-0 ATS
San Diego is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games
San Diego is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games
San Diego is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games on the road
San Diego is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road

The post San Diego vs. Cincinnati Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

Cincinnati at Indianapolis
When: 1:05 PM ET, Sunday, January 4, 2015
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Colts -3½. O/U: 49½
PREDICTION: Colts 30, Bengals 20
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Oddsmakers currently have the Colts listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Bengals, while the game’s total is sitting at 49½.

Luck threw for 344 yards and a pair of TDs against Cincinnati in October, which came during a stretch of eight straight 300-yard games en route to career-best totals of 4,761 yards and an NFL-leading 40 scoring passes. Postseason standout T.Y. Hilton and veteran Reggie Wayne each were hobbled late in the season but expect to be ready to go while tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen must be monitored after hauling in eight TD receptions apiece. The Colts amassed a season-high 171 yards on the ground in the first meeting, but Ahmad Bradshaw is done for the season and Trent Richardson has all but disappeared, leaving Daniel “Boom” Herron as the lead back. Indy allowed at least 30 points in all five of its losses – including 42 apiece to the Patriots and Cowboys.

Indianapolis won its last outing, a 27-10 result against the Titans on December 28. The Colts covered in that game as a -7.5-point favorite, while the 37 combined points took the game UNDER the total.

Team record: 11-5 SU,10-5-1 ATS
Indianapolis is 14-6-1 ATS in its last 21 games
Indianapolis is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Indianapolis’s last 6 games
Indianapolis is 9-2-1 ATS in its last 12 games at home

Much has been made of the big-game failures of quarterback Andy Dalton, who is 0-3 with one touchdown and six interceptions in the postseason. Dalton has 19 scoring passes versus 17 picks this season, including a pair against Pittsburgh in last week’s showdown for the AFC North title, which is among the reasons Cincinnati will lean heavily on rookie running back Jeremy Hill – even if Green is healthy. The 240-pound Hill was a bit player in the first meeting between the teams but took over the starting job two weeks later and rushed for 100 yards five times in the last nine games, including four of at least 147 yards. The Bengals tied for the AFC lead with 20 interceptions but ranked last in the NFL with 20 sacks.

Last time out for Cincinnati, they were a 27-17 loser as they battled the Steelers on the road. The Bengals failed to cover in the match as a +3-point underdog, while 44 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Team record: 10-5-1 SU,8-7-1 ATS
Cincinnati is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Cincinnati’s last 8 games
Cincinnati is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cincinnati’s last 5 games on the road

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It’s all because his No. 1 cheerleader, the little girl whose story has captivated a nation the past two months, will be in attendance rooting for him and his teammates.

Leah Still, Devon’s 4-year-old daughter who is battling Stage 4 pediatric cancer, has gotten well enough to travel, Still said Monday afternoon. For the first time since her father was drafted by the Bengals in 2012, Leah will make the trek to Cincinnati and see him play in person.

“It’s going to be added motivation just knowing that my daughter is watching me,” a smiling Still said about playing Thursday. “I want her to be able to hear how the crowd cheers loud whenever I make a tackle, so I’m going to go out there and do whatever I can do to put a smile on her face.”

That’s been his mission since her June 2 diagnosis with neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer that has left her with a 50-50 chance to live. Leah already has had successful surgery to remove the cancerous tumor from her abdomen, but she still has several rounds of radiation, chemotherapy and stem-cell treatments before doctors know they have rid her of the disease. She is set to undergo another round of radiation next Monday.

From the late-September day the Bengals announced they would be giving a check for more than $1 million to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Leah’s name during this week’s game, Still has been hoping to get her healthy enough to be part of the celebration. Last week, it looked unclear as to whether or not she would be able to make it. She was losing weight, and rapidly, because of an adverse reaction to a feeding tube doctors had her hooked up to.

“They had to put a G-tube [gastronomic tube] inside her stomach because she wasn’t able to down the NG-tube [nasogastric tube] that was in her nose,” Still said. “They said a couple weeks ago that she lost about 10 pounds. That’s why we decided to go ahead with [the G-tube] procedure, so she could maintain her weight for when she starts radiation.”

At her lowest point, she got down to 34 pounds, he said. Now, she’s up to about 36 and making strides with proper weight gains.

Because of the last-minute nature of Leah’s recovery, the Bengals are still finalizing what her role may be in Thursday’s check presentation. Still is hopeful that she will join him on the field when the team gives the check for more than $1.25 million to the hospital for pediatric cancer research. The proceeds came from a jersey-sale donation drive the Bengals coordinated throughout September and October. The sale ended about two weeks ago, with the Bengals having sold nearly 15,000 of his Still’s No. 75 jerseys.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said in a “SportsCenter” feature that aired Sunday morning that he gave Still the No. 75 because former Steeler “Mean” Joe Greene wore that number.

“This is our Joe Greene, with Leah,” Lewis said.

Greene’s jersey was retired in Pittsburgh on Sunday night. His appearance galvanized the Steelers’ crowd in a 43-23 win over Baltimore, and the Bengals are hopeful Leah’s presence can do the same Thursday.

Her father wants the sight of her on the video board to get fans even more animated.

“I hope she gets the crowd going so that we have a lot of energy in that stadium and can come out with a win,” Still said.

The post Still’s daughter well enough to attend game appeared first on IdealCapper.

When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, November 2, 2014
Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Bengals -11.5. O/U: 43.5
PREDICTION: Bengals 24, Jaguars 10
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Oddsmakers currently have the Bengals listed as 13½-point favorites versus the Jaguars, while the game’s total is sitting at 43.

Cincinnati entered last week having allowed an average of 36 points and 481 yards in its past three games, all winless, but held Baltimore to 294 yards. Dalton, who was signed to a big contract extension this offseason, has just six TD passes – lowest among all starters – and his 89.7 passer rating ranks 20th. He’s found a new go-to receiver in Mohamad Sanu, who had a career-high 125 receiving yards last week, but Dalton hopes A.J. Green will be healthy after missing the last three games with a toe injury.

In their last action, Cincinnati was a 27-24 winner at home against the Ravens. They covered the +2.5-point spread as underdogs, while the combined score (51) was profitable news for OVER bettors.

Team record: 4-2-1 SU,4-3 ATS
Cincinnati is 15-7-1 SU in its last 23 games
Cincinnati is 12-2 ATS in its last 14 games at home
Cincinnati is 12-1-1 SU in its last 14 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Cincinnati’s last 10 games at home

It has been a rough indoctrination into the NFL for the rookie Bortles, who ranks second-to-last in passer rating (68.3) with six touchdowns and a league-high 12 interceptions. “Obviously, I’m not happy with the way I’m playing,” Bortles said. “I understand that being down and mad at myself and pouting won’t help. I have to learn from it and get better.” Converted Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson has been a pleasant surprise at running back, gaining 235 yards on 40 carries the last two weeks, becoming the first Jaguars back to have consecutive 100-yard games since Maurice Jones-Drew had three straight in 2011.

Last time out for Jacksonville, they were a 27-13 loser as they battled the Dolphins at home. The Jaguars failed to cover in the match as a +7-point underdog, while 40 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Team record: 1-7 SU,2-6 ATS
Jacksonville is 2-8-1 ATS in its last 11 games
Jacksonville is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Jacksonville’s last 5 games
Jacksonville is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

The post Jaguars vs. Bengals Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.

With a push from his linemen, he surged into end zone for a last-minute win.

Surged the Bengals back into first place, too.

Dalton made up for his two fourth-quarter turnovers by scoring on a 1-yard sneak with 57 seconds left on Sunday, rallying Cincinnati to a 27-24 victory over Baltimore that changed the AFC North’s pecking order.

After three very bad weeks, the Bengals (4-2-1) were back atop the tightly bunched division.

“That was a cool moment, a cool experience and exactly what we had to have in that situation,” said Dalton, who scored Cincinnati’s first and last touchdowns on 1-yard sneaks.

It was especially satisfying for Dalton, who had a fumble and an interception in the fourth quarter that let an 11-point lead slip away. The Ravens (5-3) took advantage and pulled ahead 24-20 with 3:59 to go.

Dalton pulled it out with a 10-play, 80-yard drive against the NFL’s stingiest defense.

“He was like, `We’re good, we’ve got this,” receiver Mohamed Sanu said.

Dalton threw a 53-yard pass to Sanu on third-and-10 — safety Terrence Brooks got turned around and couldn’t make a play on the ball — to get Cincinnati in range.

Dalton was 3 of 5 for 62 yards on the drive, converting a pair of third downs.

On the fourth-down play from just beyond the 1-yard line, Dalton had the option of taking it himself. The Bengals sent three receivers to the right, and he figured the sneak would work. His linemen gave him the final push over the goal line.

“They could have called forward progress stopped, yes they could have,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

It was the first touchdown that the Ravens had allowed in the final 2 minutes of a game this season. The 24 points were the most they have allowed overall.

The Bengals had to wait out a few scary moments before celebrating.

Joe Flacco eluded the rush and lofted a pass to Steve Smith, who went 80 yards for an apparent touchdown with 32 seconds left. Smith was called for pushing off on George Iloka to get open, nullifying the play.

“That was pass interference two years ago, it was pass interference last year, it’s pass interference this year, and it will be pass interference for the next two years,” Iloka said. “I knew it right away.”

With that, the Bengals had their first series sweep of the Ravens since 2009. They won the season opener 23-16 in Baltimore on A.J. Green’s juggling 77-yard touchdown in the closing minutes.

Green was inactive on Sunday for the third week in a row because of an injured big right toe, hurt in the opener at Baltimore. Sanu filled in and had two big plays while finishing with five catches for a career-high 125 yards.

Sanu also made a one-handed catch for a 48-yard pass play on Cincinnati’s game-opening drive, which ended with a 1-yard sneak by Dalton. He was 21 of 28 for 266 yards with an interception, a fumble and two sacks.

Those turnovers helped Baltimore take its first lead. Haloti Ngata forced a fumble by Dalton that Daryl Smith returned to the 8-yard line, and Lorenzo Taliaferro’s second touchdown run put the Ravens up 21-20.

C.J. Mosley intercepted Dalton’s tipped pass, setting up Justin Tucker’s 53-yard field goal with 3:59 to go. Just like in the opener, the Ravens’ defense couldn’t hold onto a late lead.

Flacco was 17 of 34 for 195 yards with two interceptions and a sack. The Ravens dominated the first half against a struggling defense — Cincinnati had allowed more than 500 yards in two of its past three games — but couldn’t get touchdowns out of long drives.

Baltimore had the ball for 18 plays on its first drive, but Flacco’s incompletion on fourth down from the 1-yard line made the Ravens come up empty. It was the longest drive without points in franchise history.

Game notes

Ravens WR Torrey Smith ran into a cluster of players in the second half and was tested for a concussion, but returned. WR Michael Campanaro pulled a hamstring in the third quarter and didn’t return. CB Jimmy Smith left with a foot injury during the Bengals’ opening drive. Harbaugh provided no specifics on the injuries. … Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict left during Baltimore’s opening series after hurting his left knee but returned. RG Kevin Zeitler reinjured his right calf, which forced him to miss three games.

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The Packers joined that list after they came up about 3,000 tickets short of selling out 80,750-seat Lambeau Field for Sunday’s NFC wild-card playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.

A Packers spokesperson said the league gave them until 5 p.m. ET on Friday to sell the remaining tickets and avoid a television blackout in their home market, which includes both the Green Bay and Milwaukee areas.

The Packers began the week with 40,000 tickets available.

The Bengals have until 4 p.m. ET Friday to sell the remaining tickets to Sunday’s first-round AFC playoff game against the San Diego Chargers.

Late Thursday afternoon, there was no official word as to how many Bengals tickets were left. The team’s Twitter account accidentally floated the number 3,500 before being quickly deleted. Team officials later said they weren’t able to provide an exact figure, only noting that it was low enough for an extension to be granted.

Many of the Bengals tickets purchased Thursday came from local businesses that are planning to donate them to local military families. By the end of business Wednesday, Bengals director of sales and public affairs Jeff Berding said about 8,000 tickets remained.

The NFL gave the Colts a second extension to try to sell their remaining 3,000 tickets for Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs to avoid having it blacked out in the Indianapolis area.

The Colts have until 4:30 p.m. ET Friday to sell their remaining tickets. The Colts have sold out 137 of their past 138 games.

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