Is Cinci vs Pitt really the most anticipated game of the season? (1 Viewer)

[Ministry of Pain]

Story Link

I want to watch the game but I'm not salivating over it like others. In fact I bet it's not even the best game this weekend. Big Ben has been ailing, Polamama is sort of gimpy, short week after MNF...might not be much of a game. I know Bengal fans are really wanting revenge but this is a regional game at best IMO.

I think the Jax vs Indy game appeals to more NFL fans... 2-0 teams battling for early control over the division and possible playoff byes.

Atlanta vs New Orleans too...who is not going to want watch the Saints return to the Superdome...that should really be getting all the press this week.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Atlanta vs New Orleans too...who is not going to want watch the Saints return to the Superdome...that should really be getting all the press this week.

That's the game of the week IMO, but only because I'm going HEAVY on ATL to stomp the Saints and cover the 3.5 they're giving.

 

[Sheriff66]

Story Link

I want to watch the game but I'm not salivating over it like others. In fact I bet it's not even the best game this weekend. Big ben has been ailing, Polamama is sort of gimpy, short week after MNF...might not be much of a game. I know Bengal fans are really wanting revenge but this is a regional game at best IMO.

I think the Jax vs Indy game appeals to more NFL fans... 2-0 teams battling for early control over the division and possible playoff byes.

Atlanta vs New Orleans too...who is not going to want watch the Saints return to the Superdome...that should really be getting all the press this week.

I think it is the sheer hatred these teams have for each other that makes it special, but I will agree that both teams are banged up and this game may not be up to snuff like the Dec 4th meeting at Heinz Field last year. A lot of good games this weekend....

 

[BigRed]

Atlanta vs New Orleans too...who is not going to want watch the Saints return to the Superdome

:raises hand: There's already been more than enough hype/attention given to that. I'd only be interested in it because it could/should be a good game. Course it'd have to be watched on Mute since the announcers will be going on and on and on about the "return to the superdome" and blah katrina this blah katrina that non-stop.

 

[PsychoMan]

Several good games this week ...

Bears @ Vikings

 

[nwgman]

Raiders vs. BYE should be a great game.

Or at least for us Raider fans it will be a break from having to suffer through the suspense of wondering whether the other team will have put the game on ice in the 2nd or 3rd quarter.

 

[Marc Levin]

Several good games this week ...Bears @ Vikings

Agree that there are as or more interesting games than the Cin-pitt matchup.I am also more interested in Jax-Indy than that game. I love Jax (loved them the last two years, actually), and I think they are ready to step into that upper tier of AFC east teams. The indy game is certainly their biggest test as winning in the division is a prerequisite to hosting games in the postseason and Indy is their only real challenge in the division.

 

[teamramrod]

Titans vs. Texans.......

 

[Grigs Allmoon]

Story Link

I want to watch the game but I'm not salivating over it like others. In fact I bet it's not even the best game this weekend. Big ben has been ailing, Polamama is sort of gimpy, short week after MNF...might not be much of a game. I know Bengal fans are really wanting revenge but this is a regional game at best IMO.

I think the Jax vs Indy game appeals to more NFL fans... 2-0 teams battling for early control over the division and possible playoff byes.

Atlanta vs New Orleans too...who is not going to want watch the Saints return to the Superdome...that should really be getting all the press this week.

I think it is the sheer hatred these teams have for each other that makes it special

Chad Johnson doesn't hate the Steelers. He said on Sirius today he loves everybody including the Steelers.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

Pats host the Broncos. Payback time.

Kind of ironic that the team labelled as getting preferential treatment got booted out of the post-season due to phantom pass interference calls.

Oh well, Dillon and Malroney will extract the requisite pound of flesh.

 

[walkwithme]

Titans vs. Texans.......

Yeah this is the TNT Bowl Sponsored by by the 2007 NFL Draft battle for number 1 pick in the draft next year.

 

[Tom Servo]

Were I not a , I would want to watch Jags - Colts. After the job the Jags D did to the Steelers, I'd love to see how they'd fare against PM and that offense.

But, there is NFL Replay later in the week...

 

[BGP]

Pats host the Broncos. Payback time.Kind of ironic that the team labelled as getting preferential treatment got booted out of the post-season due to phantom pass interference calls. Oh well, Dillon and Malroney will extract the requisite pound of flesh.

Here's how scary the Belichick-era Patriots are:A year ago they were 17th in points allowed. They were a terrible 26th in YARDAGE allowed.First playoff game? A 28-3 STOMPING of the 12-4 Jaguars. The Jaguars were 12th in points scored and 6th in points allowed.Second playoff game? They go to the Broncos. The Broncos were 4th in yards gained and 15th in yardage allowed. But in that game, the Patriots outgained them by a WIDE margin - 420 yards to 286 yards - it took FIVE turnovers by the Patriots to finally put them down, 27-13.Even with those crappy defensive numbers, it still came down to the fact that the Patriots had to shoot themselves repeatedly in the foot to lose.Scary.

 

[Sheriff66]

Several good games this week ...

Bears @ Vikings

Agree that there are as or more interesting games than the Cin-pitt matchup.I am also more interested in Jax-Indy than that game. I love Jax (loved them the last two years, actually), and I think they are ready to step into that upper tier of AFC east teams. The indy game is certainly their biggest test as winning in the division is a prerequisite to hosting games in the postseason and Indy is their only real challenge in the division.

 

[jonessed]

I'm not so sure it's even the most anticipated game of the week. Bears-Vikings, Colts-Jags, Falcons-Saints, lots of good games this weekend.

 

[mhrutkowski]

Raiders vs. BYE should be a great game. Or at least for us Raider fans it will be a break from having to suffer through the suspense of wondering whether the other team will have put the game on ice in the 2nd or 3rd quarter.

That could go down to the wire.

 

[tombonneau]

Cincy vs. Pitt is being touted as game of the year? Maybe in the Rust Belt, but not in civilized America.

As others have said, not even the marquee game of the week. I'd put Pats/Donkeys and Jags/Colts over it. Even taking away the Superdome drama, NO/Atlanta intrigues me more.

 

[jbird5150]

Nope. Anticipated maybe, but not THE most anticipated.

I think that honor goes to a game that's already behind us--The Manning Bowl. No other game this year is going to be hyped like that one, with Dallas-Philly and the return of T.O. next week coming in a distant second.

 

[bostonfred]

You guys are nuts if you don't think Cinci-Pittsburgh is the biggest game of the week. With the possible exception of Indy-Jags, these are the best two division rival teams. The Steelers are the defending Superbowl champs, the Bengals arguably could have been if Palmer hadn't been injured, and the two game series between two teams that legitimately hate each other may decide the division, decide who makes the playoffs and who doesn't, and possibly much more in the AFC.

I'm a Pats fan, and I'm looking forward to Denver/NE, but I don't put it anywhere near the same scale. Indy/Jax is interesting, but it's still too one-sided for me to feel like it's the game of the week. If Jacksonville wins, it'll be looked back on as a bigger game, but right now it's nowhere near. Atlanta/New Orleans should be one of the most fun games to watch, with two of the most exciting players in football meeting for the first time and a new look for both teams, but the rivalry isn't as intense as Cinci/Pitt. Chicago/Minnesota is a longer term rivalry, but I still have a hard time seeing Chicago as a top team, and I definitely don't see Minnesota there yet.

Biggest game of the year? Maybe not, because they will play again later this season. Biggest division rivalry of the year? I think so.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

You guys are nuts if you don't think Cinci-Pittsburgh is the biggest game of the week. With the possible exception of Indy-Jags, these are the best two division rival teams. The Steelers are the defending Superbowl champs, the Bengals arguably could have been if Palmer hadn't been injured, and the two game series between two teams that legitimately hate each other may decide the division, decide who makes the playoffs and who doesn't, and possibly much more in the AFC. I'm a Pats fan, and I'm looking forward to Denver/NE, but I don't put it anywhere near the same scale. Indy/Jax is interesting, but it's still too one-sided for me to feel like it's the game of the week. If Jacksonville wins, it'll be looked back on as a bigger game, but right now it's nowhere near. Atlanta/New Orleans should be one of the most fun games to watch, with two of the most exciting players in football meeting for the first time and a new look for both teams, but the rivalry isn't as intense as Cinci/Pitt. Chicago/Minnesota is a longer term rivalry, but I still have a hard time seeing Chicago as a top team, and I definitely don't see Minnesota there yet. Biggest game of the year? Maybe not, because they will play again later this season. Biggest division rivalry of the year? I think so.

As usual, BF is dead-on.

 

[SoFresh&SoClean]

You guys are nuts if you don't think Cinci-Pittsburgh is the biggest game of the week. With the possible exception of Indy-Jags, these are the best two division rival teams. The Steelers are the defending Superbowl champs, the Bengals arguably could have been if Palmer hadn't been injured, and the two game series between two teams that legitimately hate each other may decide the division, decide who makes the playoffs and who doesn't, and possibly much more in the AFC. I'm a Pats fan, and I'm looking forward to Denver/NE, but I don't put it anywhere near the same scale. Indy/Jax is interesting, but it's still too one-sided for me to feel like it's the game of the week. If Jacksonville wins, it'll be looked back on as a bigger game, but right now it's nowhere near. Atlanta/New Orleans should be one of the most fun games to watch, with two of the most exciting players in football meeting for the first time and a new look for both teams, but the rivalry isn't as intense as Cinci/Pitt. Chicago/Minnesota is a longer term rivalry, but I still have a hard time seeing Chicago as a top team, and I definitely don't see Minnesota there yet. Biggest game of the year? Maybe not, because they will play again later this season. Biggest division rivalry of the year? I think so.

:whodey:

 

[Peyton Marino]

Not gonna be very close though.

 

[Sheriff66]

Not gonna be very close though.

 

[BoulderBob]

No, I'm guessing the game of the season will be their second meeting, or some other game in weeks 12-16.

 

[trogg78]

If you dont think cincy-pitts is the best game on sunday than you just dont love america.

 

[SoFresh&SoClean]

Well said.

 

[The Jacket]

You guys are nuts if you don't think Cinci-Pittsburgh is the biggest game of the week.

Far cry from "most anticipated game of the season", which it's not.

 

[Despyzer]

Cowher's Steelers are 23-8 against the Bengals. I have a hard time even seeing this as a rivalry. Bad blood? Sure. But a rivalry has to be somewhat two-sided, doesn't it?

 

[tikigods]

I like it 1) because I think Cincy will win 2) Carson Palmer's knee 3) Pitt is favored by a point and I think Cincy will win by 10.