The Bengals at Colts special teams preview looks at the kickoff and punt coverage units, the return teams, plus the kickers and punters for both teams. The Indianapolis Colts enter the game at 11-5, having conquered the AFC South. On special teams, they employ two strong specialists in Pat McAfee and Adam Vinatieri, in addition…
Confidence is an NFL gambling preview, using statistics, matchup analysis and other metrics to create predictions readers can use at their discretion. Week 15 Misses Reviewed Only Philadelphia failed to deliver last week, resulting in a tidy 1.73-unit profit. The opening kickoff proved an ill omen for the Eagles, as Cowboys placekicker Dan Bailey’s boot…
Each week Inside The Pylon takes a look at ins and outs of the latest offensive action from around the NFL in Reel Film Recap. In this edition Mark Schofield looks at how the first-ever Johnny Manziel start went for the Cleveland Browns against the Cincinnati Bengals. In his own words, his performance graded as…
The Reel Football Preview Week 15 is Mark Schofield‘s look at the most compelling matchups in the NFL on tape. Scouring the film, highlighting interesting play design, optimum offense, innovative defense and how the inches really matter. This week we have some divisional rivalry rematches: #OAKvsKCC, #HOUvsIND, #CINvsCLE and #SFvs#SEA. Oakland v. Kansas City –…
The Week 13 NFL playoff picture is coming into focus, as Marvin Lewis and the Cincinnati Bengals gained ground on their three AFC North rivals, the Arizona Cardinals sustained another blow without their starting QB, the Denver Broncos dealt the Kansas City Chiefs a huge setback, and the Philadelphia Eagles special teams roller-coaster kept pace…
Vince Wilfork is the rock upon which the Patriots defense is built. His torn Achilles tendon last season made the run defense porous and his loss to the pass rush hurt the pass defense. Jeremy Turner looks at Wilfork’s performance so far this season. Consternation abounds regarding the New England Patriots’ mammoth defensive tackle Vince…
The embattled New England Patriots ground game responded with an excellent performance over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night in NFL Week 5. You know your offensive line has had a good day when the running backs churn up over 200 ground yards. New England’s very first run from scrimmage Sunday dictated not only the…
The New England Patriots running game had a successful night against the Cincinnati Bengals defense. Mark Schofield explains who excelled and how it happened. Facing a stern challenge from the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense, the New England Patriots running game responded in a huge way on Sunday night, churning out 220 yards on the ground. Stevan…
After a tumultuous seven days in Foxboro, Tom Brady stormed the field on Sunday night. Before most spectators had even settled into their seats, Brady had staked the Patriots to a 7-0 lead they would not relinquish. By night’s end the veteran quarterback completed 23 of 35 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns, establishing…
The St. Louis Rams are not a good football team. They are not an average football team. They are a bad football team. In previous weeks, we detailed plays by the Patriots and Dolphins that broke down after multiple players failed to execute properly. This week, we examine another example of how mass ineptitude turns…
Patriots Offensive Play of the Week – Cincinnati The New England Patriots silenced pundits, prognosticators, and their critics with a convincing 43-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night. Tom Brady and the Patriot offense returned to form with an impressive display in both the passing game and on the ground. Following a missed field…
Each week, we’ll break down the Patriots numbers in certain key areas of interest and track them to see how they progress over the course of the season. Offense – Areas of Emphasis Keeping Brady Upright: 1 sack in 36 dropbacks – 2.8% sack rate. League average: 5.4 % sack rate. Run the Ball! Run v.…
Rested and refreshed off their bye week, Cincinnati travels to Foxboro this week for Sunday Night Football. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther leads a unit that has benefitted from early leads each week this season, allowing them to “pin their ears back” and attack the pocket while applying blanket coverage downfield. Guenther employs a 4-3 as…
Hue Jackson is a man on the spot. From 2011 to 2013, Jay Gruden called Cincinnati’s offensive plays and the Bengals were fairly successful, making the playoffs each season and finishing 6th in points and 10th in yards in 2013. The team flamed out in the playoffs each year, averaging just 11 points in their…
Based on each team’s performance to date, the Bengals should be bigger favorites than the current line (-1.5) when they meet the Patriots Sunday night in Foxboro. Cincinnati leads the NFL in DVOA at 41.7%, putting them 9.0% ahead of Seattle for the top spot, while New England ranks just 23rd at -5.8%. However, the…
The Cincinnati Bengals entered their bye week with a flawless 3-0 record, following wins over the Ravens, Falcons and Titans. In 2013, current Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer led a Bengal defense that finished third in the league in yards allowed per game, bested only by Seattle and Carolina. Newly promoted defensive coordinator Paul…