Midway through the season, the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals had pundits arguing over which of these American Conference teams were the more likely Super Bowl participants.
The Broncos opened the season 7-0. The Bengals went 8-0.
Earlier this month, fans at Cincinnati and Denver felt good about having the top two teams in the conference, in position for first-round byes in the post-season.
How quickly things change.
When the two teams meet on Monday night in Denver, there will be a hint of desperation in the air.
Denver (10-4) have lost four of their past seven games, including their past two, and still have not clinched a play-off spot.
Cincinnati (11-3) did clinch a play-off berth but have gone 3-3 since their perfect start. They are in danger of losing a first-round bye if they cannot beat the Broncos.
Both teams also are playing their back-up quarterback.
Brock Osweiler got off on the right foot in relief of Peyton Manning but has struggled lately. The fourth-year quarterback recently led the Broncos on an aimless streak of 24 consecutive possessions without a touchdown before getting his team in the end zone four times against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.
Unfortunately for him, none of those scores came in the second half, and Denver blew a big lead and lost.
His has a 60 per cent completion rate, with eight touchdown passes and four interceptions in six games.
But his inability to stir the team in the clutch has been troublesome. Quarterbacks are judged by their late-game heroics. Osweiler has not produced in late-game situations in more than a month. Osweiler’s struggles have media and fans wondering out loud how soon the hobbled Manning can return. Coach Gary Kubiak shot down the speculation by naming Osweiler the starter again. For now.
Cincinnati have not had a chance to become disenchanted with their back-up yet.
AJ McCarron got his first taste of meaningful action two weeks ago when Andy Dalton broke his thumb against Pittsburgh. McCarron did not distinguish himself in the loss to the Steelers, but no one expected much on short notice.
With a week’s preparation he managed nicely enough against the dishevelled San Francisco 49ers last Sunday and picked up a 24-14 victory where the Bengals were handed three turnovers and a botched punt that they used to build a big, early lead
McCarron threw a mere 21 passes, completing a respectable 15 of them for 192 yards and one touchdown in his mistake-free, first start.
It does not figure to be as comfortable for McCarron on Monday. Denver have the top-ranked defence. They are tied for the league lead with 47 quarterback sacks and have forced 25 turnovers.
Osweiler will not have it much easier. Like Denver, Cincinnati’s strength is their defence.
The Bengals have surrendered the fewest points, picked up 38 sacks and forced 25 turnovers.
So it may come down to which quarterback does the least harm to his team.
“Turnovers get you beat,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis told reporters last week, explaining McCarron’s (and, in effect, Osweiler’s) responsibility to take care of the football.
If it seems a bit timid, so be it.
Better safe than sorry you blew it.
Try and keep your cool this time
Last week we wrote that the Odell Beckham Jr versus Josh Norman duel might result in some on-field histrionics, but we had no idea it would escalate to such ugliness.
The two took swings at each other, sunk to cheap shots and Beckham tried to injure Norman with a helmet-to-helmet hit.
Who won? Nobody. Norman’s Carolina Panthers won the game, but Beckham had a solid individual day making catches and scoring a critical touchdown when the New York Giants rallied.
Who cared?
The real news was Beckham incurring three personal fouls and getting suspended for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. Norman was fined about US$25,000 (Dh91,800) for his own dirty play.
What should have been a showcase moment between two of the sport’s brightest young stars, wide receiver Beckham against stellar cornerback Norman, ended up an NFL embarrassment.
There were allegations that Beckham was taunted in pre-game warm-ups by Panthers who brought baseball bats onto the field, allegedly swinging them for fun.
Carolina representatives denied their players threatened anyone, but the team agreed that having bat-wielding players on the field was pretty stupid and have banned the ritual.
At least it’s over.
Maybe Beckham and Norman will learn how to handle their stardom better in the future.
Fortunately, we can now move on to this week’s Carolina-Atlanta game. Did we say move on? Falcons receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White told reporters last week that Norman is not “tough”.
Norman called White a fifth-string receiver.
Here we go again?
Hopefully, this time, the talk will just be talk.
Previewing the NFL weekend
Games of the Week
New England Patriots (12-2) at New York Jets (9-5): A win for Tom Brady and the Pats gives them home-field advantage throughout the play-offs. The streaking Jets (four consecutive wins) are playing with desperation, still seeking a post-season spot.
Green Bay Packers (10-4) at Arizona Cardinals (12-2): For entertainment’s sake, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and Arizona’s Carson Palmer, two of the best arms in the game, should turn this into a shootout between two play-off-bound teams.
Odds and Ends
– Players, fans and coaches rewarded unbeaten Carolina by voting 10 Panthers to the Pro Bowl.
– Brandon Weeden will start at quarterback for the Houston Texans after coming off the bench to beat the Indianapolis Colts last week. Weeden was 0-4 as the Dallas Cowboys starter, and was released.
– The grind-it-out Seattle Seahawks have turned dynamic on offence, scoring 30 points in five consecutive games.
– Hall of Fame player, now broadcaster, Mike Ditka on the issue of brain damage to former players, and what he would advise if he had a young son: “I would probably say, ‘Hey, listen, you ought try golf’.”
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
