Bengals/Steelers NFL Playoff Pick

I find it amusing that the football experts that we listen toon a daily and weekly basis, suddenly have changed their stanceon the Cincinnati Bengals! I for one though, like their chanceseven more today, and then the rest of a America did last month.

This Sunday afternoon Marvin Lewis’s herd will host their divisionrival the Pittsburgh Steelers in the rubber match, with the winnermoving on and the loser heading home.

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Pittsburgh is 6-0 when Willie Parker rushes forat least 80 yards, and Cincinnati is 7-0 this season when RudiJohnson runs for 90 or more.

In a 27-13 win at Cincinnati in Week 7, Parkerhad 131 of the Steelers’ 221 rushing yards. Pittsburgh was heldto 95 yards on the ground — 71 by Parker — in last month’s lossto the Bengals.

Parker, one of the few Steelers who haven’t appearedin a playoff game, has rushed for 265 yards the last two weeks.

Besides having won their last four games at Cincinnati,the Steelers have won four straight road playoff games and haveopened with a victory in their last seven trips to the postseason.

Maybe more important than those factors is Pittsburghhaving so much more playoff experience, and having already beenforced to take a playoff-like attitude the last four weeks. TheBengals had no such concerns, having taken control of the AFCNorth with a 38-31 win at Pittsburgh on Dec. 4 and clinching thedivision title two weeks later.

So why do I like the Bengals?

Their coach Marvin Lewis has been around thisdivision a long time, if you take into account his years withthe Ravens and this recent two game slide, is exactly what heneeded to get his young players attention.

Cincinnati has the weapons on offense to movethe ball against an average Pittsburgh team and they can handlePittsburgh’s rushing attack with some adjustments. The big keyis cornerback Delta O’Neil’s ability to shut down Hines Ward andforce Roethlisberger to make a few mistakes.

My Pick: Cincinnati 27 Pittsburgh 17