Cincinnati Bengals 2010 NFL Preview, Schedule, Odds, and Predictions: Cincinnati is buzzing with excitement and cameras are rolling nonstop as Terrell Owens joins Chad Ochocinco to become the biggest ego wide receiver tandem in the NFL. All is forgotten that last season the team got off to a hot start and won the AFC North then faded down the stretch losing 4 of its last 5 and getting shut down at home in the playoffs 24-14 by the NY Jets. The team also added Adam (no longer Pacman) Jones to a team with a history of player off field issues. With that said, Vegas oddsmakers have the Cincinnati Bengals as +1900 odds to win the 2011 Super Bowl.
Head football coach Marvin Lewis won his second AFC North title in 2009 and is in his eighth season with the Bengals – the 5th longest current streak among active coaches with their current team. Lewis came in with a reputation as a tough guy but continues to run a loose ship resulting in off field player issues and on the field antics that often overshadow the play on the field. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has done a good job toughening up the defense while Bob Bratkowski has been on and off calling the offensive plays and needs to get big results from this talented group in 2010. The odds makers at SBG Global have the Cincinnati Bengals listed at +1100 odds to win the 2010 AFC Championship.
Offensively the Bengals are loaded with Carson Palmer at quarterback healthy and elated to have the wide receiver duo Ochocinco and TO at his disposal. The Bengals also added in free agent wide receiver Antonio Bryant and first-round draft choice tight end Jermaine Gresham out of Oklahoma. If that is not enough running back Cedric Benson ran for over 1200 yards last season and is back healthy to give the team a balanced attack. The Vegas oddsmakers have the Cincinnati Bengals listed at +280 odds to win the 2010 AFC North.
Defensively the Bengals success starts with the corners Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph playing aggressive man-to-man coverage. The duo had 6 interceptions a piece and forced 4 fumbles. This allows the linebacker group to put pressure on the quarterback along with a solid if not outstanding front line. This year’s group needs to be more opportunistic than the 25 turnovers in 2009. The odds makers at SBG Global have the Cincinnati Bengals middle number listed at over/under 8 wins for the 2010 NFL regular season.
The outlook seems rosey for the Bengals but they will be playing a first place schedule in the tough AFC North with Pittsburgh and Baltimore both on the schedule twice. I see them having early success but when some adversity hits mid-season and they lose a couple games TO and Ochocinco will go off and the chemistry will be trouble for the team. I do see the Bengals going 9-7 but coming in third in the AFC North and missing the playoffs. Goodbye Marvin Lewis! Get more 2010 NFL Season Predictions at NSAwins.com from the nation’s top-rated NFL handicappers!
2010 Cincinnati Bengals Preseason Schedule
0 Sun, Aug 8 vs Dallas 8:00 PM NBC
1 Sun, Aug 15 vs Denver 7:00 PM
2 Fri, Aug 20 vs Philadelphia 8:00 PM FOX
3 Sat, Aug 28 @ Buffalo 6:30 PM
4 Thu, Sep 2 @ Indianapolis 7:00 PM
2010 Cincinnati Bengals Regular Season Schedule
1 Sun, Sep 12 @ New England 1:00 PM CBS
2 Sun, Sep 19 vs Baltimore 1:00 PM CBS
3 Sun, Sep 26 @ Carolina 1:00 PM CBS
4 Sun, Oct 3 @ Cleveland 1:00 PM CBS
5 Sun, Oct 10 vs Tampa Bay 1:00 PM FOX
6 BYE WEEK
7 Sun, Oct 24 @ Atlanta 1:00 PM CBS
8 Sun, Oct 31 vs Miami 1:00 PM CBS
9 Mon, Nov 8 vs Pittsburgh 8:30 PM ESPN
10 Sun, Nov 14 @ Indianapolis 1:00 PM CBS
11 Sun, Nov 21 vs Buffalo 1:00 PM CBS
12 Thu, Nov 25 @ New York 8:20 PM NFL
13 Sun, Dec 5 vs New Orleans 1:00 PM FOX
14 Sun, Dec 12 @ Pittsburgh 1:00 PM CBS
15 Sun, Dec 19 vs Cleveland 1:00 PM CBS
16 Sun, Dec 26 vs San Diego 8:20 PM NBC
17 Sun, Jan 2 @ Baltimore 1:00 PM CBS
PHOTO CREDIT: Chad Ohcocinco image by Keith Allison(Flickr.com – Creative Commons License)