![]() ![]() When Lynn Swann and Dave Stallworth are healthy the Steeler offense is special. Pittsburgh is favored by 3 1/2 Monday night in Oakland. The Eagles can run on Washington, and if Dick Vermeil will quit being more conservative than George Allen ever was, the Eagles will cover at Washington, giving 4 1/2. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh also attract $250 apiece. I'll take the 4 1/2 points and the Bills for $250. He did not throw deep last week against Denver and he often appeared to be in pain. ![]() I wonder about Fouts' physical condition. Buffalo has the aerial game capable of giving the Charger secondary some real problems, and while nobody shuts down Dan Fouts the Bills' pass defense is excellent. ![]() San Diego, meanwhile, might have difficulty keeping pace with Denver. I look for Denver to snap back and regain at least a piece of the AFC West lead, and will give three points for $500. The Broncos have lost two straight, their excellent defense having been overwhelmed on the road by Cincinnati and San Diego. Everything points to Cincinnati, for an imaginary $750.ĭenver faces a critical situation at home against Kansas City. The visitors have clinched the NFC West, while the Bengals are still under pressure from Pittsburgh in their division. Both clubs are 10-3, but I can't see San Francisco staying within seven of Cincinnati. Gregg and 49er Coach Bill Walsh deserve to be coach of the year in their respective conferences. Sunday, in Cincinnati, the Bengals are favored by 6 1/2 points over San Francisco. Most of these contests were not as "close" as the score indicates, with many of the opposition's touchdowns coming late in the game, meaninglessly. Then, after going to sleep in New Orleans (7-17), they punished Houston, 34-21 San Diego, 40-17 Los Angeles, 24-10 Denver, 38-21, and Cleveland, 41-21. The next week they buried Pittsburgh, 34-7. So has the switch, in 1980, to the 3-4 defense. We are going to have to secure some people who can get downfield and catch the ball."Ĭincinnati's first two choices were wide receivers, David Verser of Kansas and Florida's Collinsworth. "We know that the game has changed," Gregg said last winter, before the draft. They go after opponents, aren't afraid to gamble, offensively or defensively. Now, the Bengals are extremely aggressive, physically and philosophically. For a decade it was one of the most conservative teams in the league. What has been astonishing, however, is Cincinnati's style of playing. The line play has been outstanding, particularly the pass rush generated by Wilson Whitley, Eddie Edwards and Ross Browner and the pass protection provided by Anthony Munoz. Isaac Curtis has come back and rookie Cris Collinsworth has come on to lead the receivers. Kenny Anderson, in his 12th season, is throwing - and occasionally running - as he did seven years ago, before he suffered a series of injuries. This weekend, as the NFL teams play their 14th of 16 regular-season games, the Bengals deserve the role of favorite for Super Bowl XVI.Įverything has fallen together perfectly for Paul Brown's organization during Forrest Gregg's second year as coach. Cincinnati was picked by many experts to finish last, again, in the AFC Central in 1981. ![]()
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