The youth of the Cincinnati Bengals could finally be catching up to them as they visit the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.
Cincinnati is between 6-6½ point road favorites at Don Best with a low total of 38½. CBS will have the interconference matchup at 1:00 p.m. (ET) from Edward Jones Dome.
The Bengals (7-6 straight up, 7-5-1 against the spread) were looking good for a playoff spot after opening the season 6-2 SU (7-1 ATS). Quarterback Andy Dalton was playing anything but like a rookie and holdout Carson Palmer wasn’t missed in the least and subsequently shipped to Oakland.
Things have changed dramatically the last five games with a 1-4 SU mark (0-4-1 ATS). A tough schedule is largely to blame playing division foes Pittsburgh twice and Baltimore once. However, Cincy also lost to a Houston team playing with its third-string quarterback and needed a comeback to beat Cleveland (23-20) as 6½-point home favorites.
The Texans game was last Sunday and the Bengals blew a 9-point lead with under six minutes remaining. The 20-19 final went ‘over’ the 37 ½-point total. The ‘over’ is 4-1 in Cincinnati’s last five games (allowing 26 PPG) and an NFL-highest 10-3 on the season.
Dalton is still under Rookie of the Year consideration with his 82.1 quarterback rating, but he’s averaged just 162 passing yards the last two weeks. More big plays are needed from him and receiver A.J. Green (891 yards). However, both are battling the ‘rookie wall’ as they get used to the longer NFL schedule compared to college.
Veteran running back Cedric Benson is a good guy to rely on. He’s averaging 83 YPG on 4.5 per carry over the last three weeks. There are some offensive line issues with guard Bobby Williams (ankle) out for the year after getting injured last week. Right tackle Andre Smith (ankle) missed last game and is currently listed as questionable.
Defensively, Cincinnati is hurting at cornerback with Leon Hall (Achilles) gone for the season and veteran Nate Clements playing with a hamstring injury and losing a step at age 32. Houston’s rookie quarterback T.J. Yates threw for 300 yards last week in just his second career start.
This is a must-win for the Bengals, trailing the Jets by one game for the last wild-card spot. Tennessee and Oakland are also 7-6 SU as well. Home games follow against Arizona and Baltimore, neither a gimme.
The Rams (2-11 SU and ATS) have been one of the most disappointing teams in football. Their ATS mark is a league-worst as even winless Indy (4-9 ATS) got a couple of fortunate covers the last two weeks.
Coach Steve Spagnuolo is on the hot seat after another bad loss on Monday night, 30-13 at Seattle as 9-point underdogs. ESPN picked that game before the season figuring both would be competing for the NFC West. St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford was also a national draw after being the top offensive rookie last year.
Bradford started struggling towards the end of last season and it’s continued into a sophomore slump (70.5 quarterback rating). He’s been battling a sore ankle for a number of weeks, causing him to miss the San Fran game (26-0 loss) two weeks ago. He probably wouldn’t even have played Monday night except backup A.J. Feeley (thumb) was also hurt.
The Oklahoma product Bradford will try to play this week and Feeley is listed as questionable. If both can’t go, then the starter could be newly signed Kellen Clemens or Tom Brandstater. The latter has never played in an NFL game.
It’s hard to imagine the offense being any worse no matter who is at quarterback. The 11.8 PPG is an NFL-worst with both the run and pass struggling. No team has given up more sacks, which is a big reason why Bradford has had problems.
Running back Steven Jackson (895 yards) is still talented and running hard, but he’s averaging just 47 YPG the last four weeks and 3.0 per carry. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has been stubborn in not utilizing his best asset enough, with the 324 team rushes tied for 24th.
McDaniels’ game-plan this week should be to give the ball to Jackson 25-30 times, especially with the unsettled quarterback situation. However, there is no indication he will do that and points should be at a premium once again.
St. Louis is 1-5 SU and ATS at home. Cincinnati started 4-1 SU and 5-0 ATS on the road before losing the last two at Pittsburgh (35-7) and Baltimore (31-24) as 7-point ‘dogs each time.
These teams haven’t met since 2007 with Cincinnati winning 19-10 at home. The Rams did cover as 10-point ‘dogs and are 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings overall.
Weather is not an issue playing in the dome.