The Cincinnati Bengals are set to face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card portion of the NFL Playoffs. What five bold predictions can be made for the game and what should fans be on the lookout for throughout the game?
1. A.J. McCarron Will Perform Admirably in His First Playoff Start
Once again, the Bengals will be without Andy Dalton and will have to start A.J. McCarron at the quarterback position. He will be making his first career playoff start and there will be many nerves on the field. McCarron will perform admirably against a tough defense in a rivalry playoff game and will give his team a chance to pull out a huge win.
2. Antonio Brown Shreds the Cincinnati Secondary for 130 Yards, Two Touchdowns
There is no doubt that Antonio Brown is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL and he is going to have to step up in the playoffs for his team. Brown will do just that this week against the Bengals and will shred the Cincinnati secondary for 130 yards and two touchdowns. He is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the league and that will show in a big way on Saturday.
3. Jeremy Hill Breaks Out with a Big Performance
Coming into the 2015 season, Jeremy Hill was expected to be one of the top running backs in the league. That has not ended up being the case and he has been a major disappointment. Hill will break out with a big performance against the Steelers this week and will put up solid all-around numbers to help McCarron out.
4. Ben Roethlisberger Once Again Puts Up Huge Playoff Numbers
Pittsburgh is going to come into the game with a game plan of putting the football in Ben Roethlisberger's hands. They know that he has powered them during the playoffs in the past and will do so again. Roethlisberger will put up another huge game and will make things very difficult on the Bengals' defense.
5. Pittsburgh Heads on the Road and Pulls Off an Upset
It isn't going to be a blowout for either team, but the Bengals are going to miss Andy Dalton. McCarron is going to play a solid game, but they just don't have the firepower to beat the Steelers. This game will come down to the wire, but the Steelers are going to head into Cincinnati and pull out a huge win to advance.
Who do you think will win this game and what are your final score predictions? Let us know in the comment box below!
