Sunday, September 26, 1999BENGALS-PANTHERS MATCHUPS
QUARTERBACKS
Bengals: One Kevin Greene blitz on Jeff Blake's shoulder and rookie Akili Smith is the man.Panthers: One more two-point conversion pass from Steve Beuerlein and Kerry Collins looks pretty good.
EDGE: Bengals.
RUNNING BACKS
Bengals: Corey Dillon seeks a breakout game with his fullback hurting.Panthers: Speedster Ty Biakabutuka and plodder Fred Lane getting 5.1 yards per try. behind fullback William Floyd.
EDGE; Even.
RECEIVERS
Bengals: They're coming off one of their weakest efforts, but tight end Tony McGee has 2 TDs after 1 all last season.Panthers: Carolina's one true threat is Pro Bowl tight end Wesley Walls. Only two wideouts have catches.
EDGE: Bengals
OFFENSIVE LINE
Bengals: Time to exploit Panther defensive front last in NFL vs. rush with Cincinnati's big run blockers.Panthers: Two new tackles plus one new line coach equals 11 sacks.
EDGE: Bengals
DEFENSIVE LINE
Bengals: They have one more sack and doing a better job vs. the run than the Panthers' front.Panthers: They're allowing 4.1 yards per carry as they try to adjust to a 4-man front from a 3-man front.
EDGE: Bengals
LINEBACKERS
Bengals: Hard to find fault with young guns who keep putting up good numbers.Panthers: They have an all-time performer in Greene and get tireless production from Mike Barrow.
EDGE: Panthers.
SECONDARY
Bengals: They'll be paying for their inexperience all season against veterans with 20 NFL games between them. Observe Jim Harbaugh.Panthers: Experience? Corners Doug Evans and Eric Davis have been in 25 playoff games.
EDGE: Panthers.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Bengals: Allowing league-high 14.5-yard per punt return and fourth worst kickoff position at 31.4.Panthers: With Eric Metcalf around, Bengals may want that punt blocked b ack from the opener.
EDGE: Panthers.
COACHING
Bengals: With Bengals, Bruce Coslet has better winning percentage (.395 ) than Dave Shula (.268).Panthers: Carolina's George Seifert has better winning percentage (.7 54) than Vince Lombardi (.728).
EDGE: Panthers.
THE PICK
The Bengals are now the Charlie Browns of the NFL, complete with the how-will-it-happen-now black cloud over them. PANTHERS, 20-17 (OT).
Bengals Stories
Bengals' boss needs to see improvement
BENGALS NOTEBOOK
BENGALS TO WATCH
PANTHERS PLAYERS TO WATCH
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