NFL - Vikings v Bengals

13 December 2009

Preview By Tipster Jumbo (New Zealand)

The Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings are each closing in on a division title, but both sides struggled last week.

The Vikings have a two-game lead in the NFC North over Green Bay and already has won both meetings against them this season, The Vikings can wrap up a playoff spot with a victory Sunday and a division crown will go along with it if the Packers lose to the Bears. The Vikings behind Favre and Peterson are second in the league in scoring, averaging 29.9 points, and are among the leaders in yards per game at 399.3. The Vikings also have the NFL's third-ranked rushing defense, giving up 84.3 yards per game - 60.2 in six home games. Minnesota has won all of those games - the last three by an average of 23.0 points. The Vikings are looking to win seven home games in a single season for the first time since 2000, when they went 7-1 at the Metrodome and 11-5 overall, losing to the New York Giants in the NFC championship game.Minnesota will be without injured LB Henderson and WR Harvin is also in doubt

A great defense has pushed the Bengals atop the AFC North, but they face their biggest challenge of the season Sunday while trying to hand the Vikings their first home loss. The Bengals have a 3 game lead over the Ravens and Steelers and are on the verge of clinching its second division crown in 19 years and first since 2005. The Bengals have already swept the season series with both the Ravens and the Steelers. However In 2006, they were 8-5 and a front-runner for the AFC wild card, but lost their final three games to miss the postseason.They'll be looking to win a third straight Sunday when their top-ranked scoring defense takes on one of the league's most potent offenses. Cincinnati is giving up a league-low 15.6 points per game and that average is down to 11.5 over the last six, a stretch during which none of its opponents have cracked 280 total yards. A great match up awaits on the ground though with Bengals RB Benson and Vikings RB Peterson two of the league's best running backs face off. Benson is third in the NFL with 96.9 yards rushing per game while Peterson is fifth at 91.9 with an NFC-best 12 touchdowns. Benson tied Cincinnati's franchise record with his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season last Sunday. After missing two games with a sprained hip, he ran for 110 yards on 36 carries against the Lions. Three of the former Bear's 100-yard games this season are against NFC North teams.

These two sides have played one another only 3 times since 1995 with the Bengals winning 2 of the 3 matches, how ever each game has been one by the Home side with the Vikings wining this fixture in 98, 24-3, Either side has won ATS in each of their home matches while the Total set has been passed only once and fell under in this fixture when the 2 sides met in 98 here.

The Bengals are 5-1 in their last 6 matches and are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 Road games while winning 5 of their last 6 away from Cincy, On the other side the Vikings are 10-2 in their last 12 games and are 5-0 in their last 5 home games, However the Vikings are 3-5-1 ATS in their last 9 Home games, The Total situation has fallen under in 6 of the Vikings last 9 home games.

The Bengals have scored 16 or more in their last 5 games but have only allowed more than 13 points in one of those most recent 5 matches, I should also say that the Bengals have not allowed more than 92 rushing yards in their last 5 games and have not allowed over 183 through the air in their last 5 games either, the Bengals lead the NFL in Total defence, On the other side the Vikings have scored 27 or more in 4 of their last 5 matches while only allowing 10 points or less in 3 of their last 5 matches, They have allowed over 100 rushing yards in only 1 of their last 5 matches but have allowed over 200 yards through the air in 4 of their last 5 matches.

This should be a really tight game with points coming at a premium, neither side has given much away and both sides are winning, To be honest the loss for the Vikings last week against the Cardinals has been coming and I’ve been waiting for it, I took a large bet on the cards last week and it paid off but now back at home the Vikings will really want to get back on track here, but against a Bengals side who have been out standing in defence all season long the task will not be easy, there is something about this Bengals side this season and they are looking very good, Palmer has not been as good as in recent seasons but the Bengals are winning and are confident, they kep hanging around in their games and winning breeds confidence, One last thing on this game is that the Vikings have had a negative Turnover ratio in 3 of their last 5 matches while the Bengals are in the positive in that regard, Both sides are playing well but the bengals look like specials to me and I’ll take them with the start….Good Luck.