LA Sports Hub
Fansided

2016 NFL Playoff Predictions: Wild Card

By Keith Rivas

facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 8
Next

Pittsburgh (10-6) @ Cincinnati (12-4)

Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

56. 17. 55. Final. 14

The Chiefs are not the only road team that has the odds stacked in their favor, as the Pittsburgh Steelers are set to clash with the Cincinnati Bengals.

For most of the season, at least when Andy Dalton was running the show, the Bengals looked unstoppable and had a great chance to top the AFC heading into the playoffs — but, as usual, there was a loophole.

And they fell hard on their face right through it.

Now stuck in the wild card weekend, Cincinnati must depend on A.J. McCarron to deliver in a way that the Bengals and their fans have not seen since the 1990’s.

A playoff win.

Winning at home would help the Bengals’ confidence tremendously should they go to the divisional round, but either Denver or New England would absolutely demolish Cincinnati in their current state.

And for that reason, I see the Steelers winning a close one on the road.

While the offense looks much different with McCarron at the helm instead of Dalton, Cincinnati’s defense could be the ultimate x-factor in this game.

Knowing how the AFC North teams like to play, expect this one to come down to whoever has the ball in the last two minutes.

Pittsburgh is a team that has the most Super Bowl wins in league history with six — that didn’t happen by accident.

Mike Tomlin has prepared his guys well going on the road into this game, and it’s hard to argue that this time experience will prevail no matter how ugly or chippy things get on the field.

Next: NFC Wild Card

Home/LA Sports