Week 15 NFL Game Previews

Cincinnati Bengals (9-4) at San Diego Chargers (10-3)

Opening Line: Bengals +6.5 / Chargers -6.5 O/U 43.5

Time: 4:05 EST Sunday December 20, 2009 on CBS

The Chargers are on fire and have won 8 games in a row and lead the Denver Broncos by 2 games in the weak AFC West. The Chargers can secure a playoff with a win over the Bengals this Sunday. The Bengals are coming off a loss, but still lead the Baltimore Ravens by 2 games in the AFC North. If Cincinnati wins this game they will win the division. The Bengals were on a roll, but were schooled last week by Brett Favre and the Vikings. However, if they can beat a red-hot Chargers team they have to be thought of as legit Super Bowl contenders.

In their last game the Bengals were crushed by the Vikings 30-10 while the Chargers beat the Dallas Cowboys 20-17.

This season the Bengals are 6-7 ATS and the Chargers are 7-6 ATS.

The Chargers and their 5th ranked passing offense is led by stellar QB Phillip Rivers (3,583 yds 22 TD 7 INT. He has a couple of 6’5” targets in TE Antonio Gates and WR Vincent Jackson, who are both having great seasons and each is averaging at least 14 yards per reception. The Chargers’ rushing attack has struggled mightily this season ranking 31st in the league only averaging 87.5 rushing yards per game. RB’s LeDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles have not helped Rivers out much, as each is averaging about 3.2 yards per carry. If these guys can pick up some yards in this game it will be HUGE, as the Bengals’ D will be focused on stopping Rivers. This is not a good match up for the Bengals and their 5th ranked defense, as while they are solid at stopping the run they are just mediocre at defending the pass.

Cincinnati has the league’s 20th ranked offense and they are much better at running the ball than passing it. RB Cedric Benson is back and healthy and in his last 2 games since missing 2 with an injury he is averaging over 100 rushing yards per game. Carson Palmer (2,641 yds 17 TD 10 INT) needs Benson to rush for some yards to open up the passing game. The Bengals are also without WR Chris Henry who died because of an accident so we shall see if that is a distraction for this game. The Chargers’ defense, which has played much better in the 2nd half of the season, ranks 12th in the league and they are decent at defending the run and the pass. Their main goal is containing Benson, as if they do that the Chargers will be in good shape.

The Bengals are only 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games and the Chargers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games.

Green Bay Packers (9-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-7)

Opening Line: Packers +2 / Steelers -2 O/U 40.5

Time: 4:15 PM Sunday December 20, 2009 on FOX

What a freefall for the Steelers, as they look to avoid their first 6 game losing streak in 10 years with a win over the Green Bay Packers at home. The Steelers have lost 5 in a row and in that streak have lost to some really weak teams, such as Kansas City, Oakland, and Cleveland, who have a combined record of 9-30. The Steelers need to win their last 3 games to have any shot at making the playoffs and defending their Super Bowl title. The Packers have been en fuego as of late, as they have won 5 straight and are in good shape to at least get a Wild Card. Winning the NFC North is a long-shot since the Vikings swept them already this season and for that to happen the Packers have to win their last 3 games and the Vikings need to lose their last 3.

Last week the Steelers lost to the lowly Cleveland Browns 13-6 while the Packers beat the Chicago Bears 21-14.

This season the Steelers are 4-9 ATS and the Packers are 8-4-1 ATS.

The Steelers; offense has struggled lately, especially in last weeks loss to the Browns, and Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall have to play well in this game and pick up some yards. Big Ben was sacked 8 times last week against the Browns and Cleveland has the 2nd worst defense in the league. The Steelers’ offensive line is banged up and for the Steelers to win they have to protect Big Ben and open up holes for the running game. That will not be easy against a Packers’ defense that ranks 2nd in the league and is solid against both the run and the pass. The Green Bay defense also has 29 sacks this season and 33 takeaways, which ranks 2nd in the league. If the Steelers play like they did in the loss to Cleveland they will get crushed in this game.

Green Bay has the league’s 5th ranked offense led by QB Aaron Rodgers (3,579 yds 25 TD 7 INT) and RB Ryan Grant (1,068 yds 7 TD). Rodgers, who is the 4th rated QB in the league, also has a couple of legit targets in the WR duo of Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, who are each averaging at least 15 yards per reception. The Packers’ offensive line was killing Green Bay in the first half of the season giving up a ton of sacks, but they have really stepped up their play, as Rodgers has only been sacked 4 times in the last 3 games. The Pittsburgh defense ranks 4th in the league, but they have struggled and stud Safety Troy Polamalu will miss this game, which will really hurt the Steelers’ secondary.

The Packers are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games and the Steelers are 1-4 in their last 5 games.

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