Caution to Cowboys...Do NOT Overlook the Bengals

Ok, I have strep throat so this might not be very long. I'm just tired of laying down so I had to get up and do something. The Bengals come calling tomorrow afternoon and even though they are 0-4, they are not to be overlooked...at all. Remember, 2 weeks ago they took the Giants to OT, in New York no less. So they are very capable of winning in Texas Stadium.

A big key in winning tomorrow is to get back to a balanced attack on offense. Last week, Dallas only had 11 rushing attempts the whole game, the fewest since 1990. However, it's impossible to imagine Pro Bowl tailback Marion Barber and first-round pick Felix Jones having such a limited role this Sunday against a struggling Cincinnati Bengals run defense. The Bengals defense are near the bottom of the league in rushing defense giving up 164 yards on the ground per game. You have to run the ball against a team that is giving up that kind of yardage on the ground. Seriously, if you don't do that against that type of team, you lose the game. We all know how potent the passing game can be with weapons like TO Owens, Witten, Crayton, and Miles Austin. Balance is the key though.

The defense is where I'm most concerned though. They have some potent WRs in Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and then newly activated Chris Henry, who just finished serving a 4 game suspension from the league for off the field problems. Honestly and objectively, I don't think Dallas secondary can stop Houshmandzadeh and Ocho Cinco and if Chris Henry gets into the mix, watch out. They can contain them, but they can't stop them. The secondary hasn't stopped anyone all year other than the Cleveland game. Greg Jennings went over 100 yards. DeSean Jackson had over 100 yards and Santana Moss had over 100 yards. They haven't stopped an offense yet, other than Cleveland. And Terrance Newman, who missed the season opener and did not start in game two because of the slightly torn groin suffered the first week of training camp, landed on the injury report, listed as questionable after being limited in the final full practice of the week. That means he is 50-50 to play and if he can't go, then Pacman Jones will start in his place at left corner.

So, even though Dallas is playing an 0-4 team, they need to remember that Cincinnati still have enough offensive firepower to hang with Dallas. I think the key for Cincinnati will be the success in their run game...which I don't think they will have. Last week, Clinton Portis gashed Dallas for 120 yards so I think the defense will be keying on stopping the run and forcing the Bengals to pass. And that will be the difference in the game. I think the Bengals will score some points but I believe Dallas' defense will make a few more stops than Cincinnati's defense and Dallas will get back in the "W" column while Cincinnati will continue the slide.

Prediction: Dallas 31, Cincinnati 21