Cincinnati Bengals:
It all starts and ends with QB Isaiah Stanback… he’s having a career season and would likely be the SFL MVP if voting took place today. With 2,579 yards (ranked 4th) 24 touchdowns (ranked 2nd) and a QB rating of 103.7 (ranked 5th) Stanback has effectively spread the love… there are three targets on pace for a 1,000+ yard season. It’s worth pointing out, the Bengals are not one dimensional… Ryan Mathews has amassed 872 yards rushing (ranked 6th) and scored 8 rushing touchdowns (ranked 1st). The Bengals defense does well stopping the run (ranked 6th) and has benefitted from winning the turnover differential battle (ranked 2nd)… LE Darry Tapp has been a monster coming off the edge applying pressure and has recorded 7 sacks (ranked 7th) while CB Jerome Murphy has 5 interceptions (ranked 1st) and 13 deflections compared to 18 catches allowed. Special Teams has performed well… K Kyle Schlicher has made 20 of 22 FG attempts and converted all 36 extra point attempts / P Brook Black is just shy of the desired 45 yard punt average, but knowing he’s pinned the opponent inside the 20 twelve times (ranked 5th) which is 30% of the time (ranked 4th) he’s having a GREAT season. The return game has been average at best, WR/KR/PR Cordarelle’s has some growth as a return specialist, just a matter of time before he’s the real deal in this role.
Indianapolis Colts:
The Colts have the top ranked offense and they are well balance whether through the air (ranked 1st) or on the ground (ranked 4th) - they can move the ball and put up points (ranked 1st). Offensively it’s the BIG three leading the way: QB David Carr has 2,555 yard passing (ranked 5th), a QG rating of 125.1 (ranked 1st) with 25 TDs (ranked 1st). On the receiving end of most of that is WR Robert Meachem (acquired via trade) who has 940 yard (ranked 5th) on 54 receptions (raked 5th) with 9 TD’s (ranked 2nd). On the ground HB Demarco Murray has rushed for 937 yards (ranked 3rd) averaging 5.1 yards per attempt (ranked 4th) with 8 TDs (ranked 1st). The Colts defense employs the philosophy “Bend but Don’t Break”… the defense takes pride in stopping the run (ranked 1st) and has successfully held it’s opponent to minimal points most weeks (ranked 7th). Through the air the Colt would appear to be suspect as they do surrender yardage to a great degree (ranked 30th), but that might be more a result of the Colts giving up garbage yards when the game is well in hand. Special Teams Has performed well… K Jeff Chandler gets most of his action kicking extra points (37 of 37) but has been reliable when kicking FGs (12 of 13) – the only disappointment from Jeff Chandler is that in 60 kickoffs he has only had 1 touchback / P Brad Nortman has been spectacular averaging 47.79 per punt (ranked 2nd) and has pinned the opponent in sine the 20 8 times (24.24%) / HB/KR/PR Montee Ball has some growth as a kick return specialist but has thrived as a punt returner averaging 5.3 yards per attempt.
Offensively, it should be a display no one wants to miss, plenty of points should be scored. Defensively, I see the Bengals as having a slight advantage... though the units compare closely the turnover differential leans heavily toward the home team.
This is a tough one to predict... guess homefield advantage comes into play and factors into my prediction.
Cincinnati Bengals defeat the Indianapolis Colts
34-31
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