Fearless Prediction: Bengals in SuperBowl XLI

[DesperateDerelict]

I love this guy - this site and Pigskin addictions are the two most entertaining football sites out there.

Here's the Link: Walters 2006 Playoff Prediction

. . . and here's the article:

2006 Season Playoff Previews

AFC Seedings:

1. New England 13-3

2. Pittsburgh 12-4

3. Denver 10-6

4. Indianapolis 10-6

5. Cincinnati 12-4

6. Miami 10-6

NFC Seedings:

1. Chicago 13-3

2. Carolina 12-4

3. Seattle 12-4

4. Dallas 12-4

5. Washington 10-6

6. Minnesota 10-6

NFC Wild Card

Minnesota Vikings (10-6) at Seattle Seahawks (12-4)

Seattle is the third seed and not the second, because I projected them to win 10 NFC contests to Carolina's 11. But like the Panthers, the Seahawks should be able to advance to the second round. I'm not confident in Minnesota's ability to contain Shaun Alexander, or to get pressure on Matt Hasselbeck. Meanwhile, Seattle should be able to score enough points to keep the Vikings' offense at bay. Minnesota is 4-25 when playing outdoors the past four seasons. I can't envision an indoor team prevailing in the rainy Pacific Northwest.

Seattle Seahawks 34, Minnesota Vikings 17.

Washington Redskins (10-6) at Dallas Cowboys (12-4)

In seven postseason contests, Drew Bledsoe has thrown six touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Like the Manning brothers, Bledsoe often comes up short in the playoffs, even though he went to the Super Bowl with Bill Parcells in 1996. While Parcells is probably one of three coaches in this league (Bill Belichick, Joe Gibbs) who could take Bledsoe to the Promised Land again, I don't see it happening if the Cowboys have to play the Redskins. Washington's hectic pass rush will force Bledsoe to throw into a very talented secondary. This will come in long-yardage situations because Julius Jones won't find any running room. Washington will score just enough to win the rubber match.

Washington Redskins 17, Dallas Cowboys 13.

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AFC Wild Card

Miami Dolphins (10-6) at Denver Broncos (10-6)

Speaking of quarterbacks who come up short in the playoffs, we have Jake Plummer, who is just 2-4 in the postseason. If Plummer has time to throw, he should be able to find an open Rod Smith or Javon Walker downfield, given Miami's problems at defensive back. However, Plummer will not have the luxury of standing in the pocket for an extended period of time; the Dolphins registered 49 sacks last year. Conversely, the Broncos accumulated only 28 in 2005.

With both rushing attacks nullified, the only unit that will have success moving the chains is Miami's passing game. Daunte Culpepper will abuse Denver's old safeties by throwing long bombs to Chris Chambers, Marty Booker and Randy McMichael. Under Dave Wannstedt, the Dolphins would have froze to death at Mile High. That won't happen with Nick Saban.

Miami Dolphins 24, Denver Broncos 20.

Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) at Indianapolis Colts (10-6)

I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this game. If you've been reading my Web site, you know how I feel about Peyton Manning's playoff endeavors. If you haven't, Manning is 3-6 in the postseason, and will continue to choke, especially without the services of Edgerrin James.

Cincinnati Bengals 41, Indianapolis Colts 20.

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NFC Divisional Round

Washington Redskins (10-6) at Chicago Bears (13-3)

There's no denying that Washington and Chicago have two of the top defenses in the NFL. So, much like the Panthers-Bears playoff contest last year, the winner of this game will obviously be the team that has more success moving the chains. If the Bears would have acquired a solid tight end this offseason, I would give them the nod. However, I still feel Rex Grossman doesn't have enough targets to throw to. Plus, Mark Brunell has much more playoff experience than Grossman does. When these two teams played in 2005, Clinton Portis gained 121 yards on 21 carries against a healthy Chicago defense. If Washington can run effectively, I can't see the Bears winning.

Washington Redskins 19, Chicago Bears 17.

Seattle Seahawks (12-4) at Carolina Panthers (12-4)

The Seahawks beat the Panthers in last year's NFC Championship Game, which was a pretty unfair situation for the latter. Carolina was playing in its fourth-consecutive road contest, and the team didn't have DeShaun Foster's services. I guess it was a good thing the Panthers drafted DeAngelo Williams, who gives them insurance if Foster gets hurt again. With Keyshawn Johnson on the roster, the Seahawks won't be able to triple-team Steve Smith. I have to give the nod to the team that will be seeking revenge.

Carolina Panthers 27, Seattle Seahawks 20.

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AFC Divisional Round

Miami Dolphins (10-6) at New England Patriots (13-3)

Miami's hectic pass rush may have been able to rattle Jake Plummer, but that won't work with Tom Brady. And speaking of Brady, who has a 10-1 career playoff record, I think New England has the edge at the signal-caller position. That's just a hunch. Daunte Culpepper won't have much success against the Patriots' defense, assuming the unit is actually healthy for a change.

New England Patriots 28, Miami Dolphins 13.

Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

It's a shame Carson Palmer got hurt against the Steelers in last year's opening-round playoff game. Not that I favored either side; I think Ben Roethlisberger and a healthy Palmer would have put on one of the greatest postseason performances in recent memory. Prior to Palmer's devastating knee injury, the third-year quarterback threw a 66-yard pass to Chris Henry, and looked like he was going to have Cincinnati's offense scoring at will. As long as Palmer is healthy, I think the Bengals will claim revenge. Cincinnati may be hungrier for a Lombardi Trophy than the Steelers, who won last year, and will not have Jerome Bettis' inspiration and their side. That said, this game will go down to the wire, and could go either way.

Cincinnati Bengals 34, Pittsburgh Steelers 31.

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NFC Championship Game

Washington Redskins (10-6) at Carolina Panthers (12-4)

Although Joe Gibbs has won Super Bowls with Doug Williams and Mark Rypien, a 36-year-old Mark Brunell can only take the Redskins so far. That distance will be the NFC Championship Game, where the immobile signal caller will be subjected to Carolina's hectic pass rush. Unlike the Chicago-Washington contest, the Redskins will not have the more effective scoring unit. The Panthers will run with the duo of DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams, setting up a few Jake Delhomme (5-2 in the playoffs) bombs to Steve Smith. As great as Washington's defense is, it does not have anyone who can stay with Smith. Not that anyone else does.

Carolina Panthers 24, Washington Redskins 16.

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AFC Championship Game

Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) at New England Patriots (13-3)

Bill Belichick and Marvin Lewis, two of the NFL's greatest minds, go head to head in what should be one of the best AFC Championships this decade. Tom Brady has much more playoff experience than Carson Palmer, but that doesn't mean the latter won't be able to score. In fact, Palmer is good enough to exploit the few weak points of New England's stop unit -- inside linebacker Monty Beisel and aging strong safety Rodney Harrison.

And speaking of weak points, imagine this scenario: Down two, Brady has less than a minute to get into field-goal range. After four consecutive passes, Brady manages to get down to Cincinnati's 28-yard line. He spikes the ball with four seconds left, setting up a 45-yard field goal for Adam Vinati... I mean Stephen Gostkowski. Gostkowski kicks it... and it's... wide left! Why didn't the Patriots re-sign Vinatieri?

Cincinnati Bengals 33, New England Patriots 31.

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Super Bowl XLI

Carolina Panthers (12-4) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4)

Five years ago, these two teams had a combined record of 7-25, and no one in their right mind would have predicted them to meet in the Super Bowl. It just goes to show what great coaching can do. John Fox and Marvin Lewis have both phenomenal jobs turning their respective franchises around.

Above all, what I'm really taking into consideration is the fact that Cincinnati did not improve its pass rush this offseason. I don't think the Bengals will be able to get to Jake Delhomme, who threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns against the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII. And as good as Cincinnati's secondary is, they don't have anyone who can cover Steve Smith. Conversely, the Panthers will be able to put pressure on Carson Palmer. That will be the difference in Super Bowl XLI.

Carolina Panthers 32, Cincinnati Bengals 27.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

You know, Walter is usually pretty accurate about his predictions too, so I'm stoked about this one!

[ArmyBengal]

Not many teams could put pressure on Carson last year due to the outstanding play of the O-line, so I don't see that as a huge thing. We may live or die by the result of our pass rush this year...

WHODEY !!!

[Stripes]

It looks like Walter is losing confidence that Palmer will play. He updated his predictions... No Superbowl this time around.

http://www.walterfootball.com/season2006_PLAYOFF.php

Just add one more guy to the list when the time comes to distribute the necessary crow for munching.

[andybren]

Does anybody know who "Walter" is?

A few days ago he posted a link to a page of "banter" with an uninformed punk straight out of journalism school. If I need those kind of opinions, I'll hang around the water cooler at work.

Just because he picked your team to win doesn't mean he knows anything.

[DesperateDerelict]

Does anybody know who "Walter" is?

A few days ago he posted a link to a page of "banter" with an uninformed punk straight out of journalism school. If I need those kind of opinions, I'll hang around the water cooler at work.

Just because he picked your team to win doesn't mean he knows anything.

I don't really know who he is - at one time he has / had some affiliation with Penn State, 'cause that's part of his e-mail address. I've read his site for 5-plus years, and have found him to be entertaining and opinionated - but he's insightful and original enough to go out on a 'limb', and he's right alot more often than some of the better known afficianados (SI, ESPN, Fox, etc - which is probably why they never seem to have an original opinion).

He also has alot more gumption than most other football site authors - he leaves his picks and analysis up AFTER the fact so anyone can see his track record.

Now, if you want real entertainment from some VERY opinionated lunatics, check out Pigskin Addictions during the season. They are avid FF players, and really get pi$$ed when their players implode. Hysterical! (Pigskin Addiction). They'll give you material YOU will repeat at the water cooler.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Pigskin addiction is funny as hell! Walter is actually pretty damned accurate. Both are a lot more fun to read than SI/ESPN/ETC.

[angst]

I actually find it amazing that any team since the CBA can maintain the same starting 11 for three consecutive seasons. It isn't gonna happen a fourth year. The #4 ranked offense led the league in TD passes, had a 1400+ rusher, and allowed the fewest sacks in the league - and they all come back. If they don't go all the way this year they will miss the best chance ever. Wasn't Madeiu on the field for all the four interception games last year? If the defense can stop imploding and stay reasonably healthy, it is going to happen.

[JaxonFord87]

This year seems to be the best chance we have had to make the superbowl in years. If Carson can get back to his last year form, we have a very good chance. If carson can't get back, the only way we could make it is if our defense greatly improves.

[stilldiesel]

You know, Walter is usually pretty accurate about his predictions too, so I'm stoked about this one!

I would be more stoked about this prediction if they picked the Bengals to WIN the SB; not just get there. (if I were a Bengals fan that is)

[ArmyBengal]

Predictions are predictions and for all intents and purposes, the guy can predict rain showers of $100 dollar bills in the Cincinnati area, but that doesn't make it so regardless of how stoked anyone may be...

I get what's being said, but I'm just not concerned as I'm sure few are...

WHODEY !!!

[Stripes]

It's just nice to see our team in Superbowl discussion outside this fanbase. Kinda validates our hopes and expectations and proves we're not all pathetic homers.