Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Sunday, October 24, 2010, 1:00 pm EST, TV: CBS
Opening Line: Falcons -4
Current Line: Falcons -3.5
Opening Total: 42
Current Total: 42.5
Money Line: Falcons -190 / Bengals +160
The Atlanta Falcons (4-2) will be glad to be back home and far away from the state of Pennsylvania when they host the Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) on Sunday. Both losses for the Falcons (-3.5 on the current pro football lines) have taken place on the road, falling 15-9 in overtime at Pittsburgh in the season opener and then getting crushed 31-17 at Philadelphia last week. Meanwhile, the Bengals are simply hoping to turn things around off their bye week, which followed consecutive losses as favorites to Tampa Bay and Cleveland.
Cincinnati is beginning a tough part of the schedule at Atlanta and plays Miami, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis in the three following weeks. The Bengals will be well-rested though and hope to take advantage of a Falcons defense that got torched last week against the Eagles. Philadelphia quarterback Kevin Kolb threw for a season-high 326 yards and three touchdowns against Atlanta’s secondary, and Cincy’s Carson Palmer would love to duplicate that feat.
Palmer has thrown seven touchdown passes and six interceptions in four games so far this season and was supposed to develop a lethal passing attack with wide receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens. But the Bengals have struggled to score, failing to surpass their season high point total which was achieved in a 38-24 loss at New England in the season opener.
The Falcons could be without cornerback Dunta Robinson, who sustained a concussion in his nasty collision with Philly wide receiver DeSean Jackson last week. Robinson’s hit was one of a few that prompted the NFL to impose larger fines and possible suspensions for helmet-to-helmet tackles moving forward. He was fined $50,000 even though his hit was not illegal.
Atlanta’s run offense never really got going against the Eagles due to a fast start by the home team that saw them take a commanding 21-0 lead early on. Falcons running back Michael Turner totaled just 45 yards on 15 carries after averaging 127 in his two previous road games. Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan managed to throw two touchdown passes to tight end Tony Gonzalez, but the last one came when the team was facing a 28-10 deficit.
Cincy’s run defense is allowing 111 yards per game while the team’s pass defense is giving up 206.6 yards per game. Both of those numbers rank in the upper half of the league.
The Bengals have failed to cover the last eight meetings with Atlanta, although five of those have taken place in the preseason. The OVER is also 6-1 in the last seven games between the teams, but again four of those were preseason matchups.
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