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October 1, 2007

By The Numbers

CINCINNATI -- The numbers don't add up for the Bengals heading into tonight's Prime Time matchup with the Patriots.
Start with the fact that the Bengals are 1-2, having lost their last two games, while New England is 3-0.
The Patriots lead the NFL in both total offense (441 yards per game) and total defense, allowing just 207 yards per game. Although Cincinnati ranks fourth in the league in total offense, the Bengals are 30th defensively.
New England is averaging a league-high, 38 points per game. The Bengals are next-to-last in scoring defense, yielding an average of 31.7 points per game.
The Bengals have finished over .500 just once in the last 16 years. The Patriots have played in the AFC championship game in four of the last six years, and won three Super Bowls in four years from 2001 through 2004.
The numbers aren't all bad for the Bengals, however. They are 6-2 when playing at home on Monday Night Football, and are 4-0 in night games at home under coach Marvin Lewis since 2003.
That said, the Patriots have won four of their last five MNF road games, and 10 of their last 11 road games overall.
All of which helps explain why New England is favored by 7-1/2 points tonight.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 4:22 PM | Permalink