COLUMBUS (WCMH) — I have watched countless Bengals games in my life.
I remember Stanford Jennings running the kickoff back in the Super Bowl, only to watch Joe Montana drives the 49ers right down the field for the winning touchdown.
I did the Ickey Shuffle. Poorly.
I tried throwing a football left handed because of Boomer Esiason. Poorly.
And there were Jeff Blake and Akili Smith and David Klingler. And Carson Palmer’s knee (thanks, Kimo).
The last time the Stripes won a playoff game I was 11 years old. Eleven. And I remember it vividly… a rout of Warren Moon and the Oilers. So in my adulthood, I’ve done very little cheering about pro football. And the past 3 years I’ve built up the Bengals playoff appearance as a change of fortunes. All 3 times I went to bed a tiger-striped bag of sadness.
And then 3 weeks ago Andy Dalton throws a bizarre interception, then promptly breaks his thumb will trying to make the tackle against… THE STEELERS. Of course, the Steelers! The ruiners of all my football hopes.Fun fact, my wife is from Pittsburgh and owns a terrible towel. You are wonderful, Mel! Now, back to work.
But will I approach Saturday night at PBS as a hopeless sack awaiting the inevitable? No. In fact, I think this is the time.
Steelers at Bengals, 8:15pm Saturday
This is the year the Bengals finally get moving in the postseason, and potentially make a run at the Super Bowl. They’ve proven this year they can compete with everyone. Now… just have to find a way past the black and gold. The Bengals must give A.J. McCarron some freedom to throw it, specifically in the 2nd half. I thought their conservative approach in Denver was why the game got away.
Who Dey.FINAL: Cincinnati 29, Pittsburgh 24
Chiefs at Texans, 4:20pm Saturday
I LOVE the way the Chiefs have played lately and I love Andy Reed calling a game. DE Justin Houston should play for the Chiefs, and I don’t have enough confidence in Hoyer and the Texans’ offense to do this.FINAL: Kansas City 17, Houston 10(Editor’s note: The station’s web manager, who is from Houston, strongly disagrees)
Seahawks at Vikings, 1:00pm Sunday
It’ll be so cold you can’t feel… anything. So I’m going with the experienced playoff squad, although I bet Adrian Peterson will run like a freight train.FINAL: Seattle 31, Minnesota 20
Packers at Washington, 4:40pm
A-Aron Rodgers (my favorite pronunciation of a name) has not played his usual A-game of late, but I think he’ll rebound against YOU LIKE THAT Kirk Cousins and the Skins.FINAL: Green Bay 25, Washington 18
