Sunday, November 07, 1999Who's got the edge?
QUARTERBACK
Bengals: Jeff Blake has thrown for more than 600 yards in two Kingdome games, but that was back when Shawn Springs was going to freshman orientation at Ohio State.
Seahawks: If last season was the year of the recycled quarterback (Randall Cunningham, Doug Flutie), then Seattle's Jon Kitna and the Rams' Kurt Warner are the poster boys of blue-collar efficiency.
EDGE: Seattle
RUNNING BACKS
Bengals: Corey Dillon has just 39 yards on his last 20 carries, but going home should give him an extra bounce that he'll need against a super front seven.
Seahawks: Ricky Watters has three more yards on 29 more carries than Dillon and is getting just 3.3 yards per pop even after Monday's 45-yard run.
EDGE: Bengals
RECEIVERS
Bengals: On paper, you would give the edge to Darnay Scott and Carl Pickens. But on tape, they haven't been able to break the soft zones. They've scored just three touchdowns and don't have a 40-yard catch.
Seahawks: You'd think without Joey Galloway, this spot would be a lock for the Bengals. But Derrick Mayes has five touchdowns, Sean Dawkins three and Mike Pritchard has no TDs, but a 51-yard catch.
EDGE: Seahawks
OFFENSIVE LINE
Bengals: Right tackle Willie Anderson probably won't play and center Rich Braham and left guard Matt O'Dwyer are coming off a tough game in which the best rusher was the quarterback for the second straight week.
Seahawks: This is a unit struggling, giving up three sacks a game. The Bengals 3.3. Seattle gets just three yards per rush, the Bengals 4.4, but the crowd will be quiet when the Seahawks have the ball.
EDGE: Even
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Bengals: No Twilight Zone gaffes last week. But what's in store with the return of long snapper Steve Bush back after a month injured and punter Will Brice holding for just the second game?
Seahawks: Jeff Feagles has made a career and a million off of pinning teams inside the 20. Rookie punt returner Charlie Rogers has already slain one AFC Central foe with a 94-yarder against the Steelers.
EDGE: Seahawks
DEFENSIVE LINE
Bengals: End Jevon Langford is out and they need to get more pressure on the passer. They've got just four sacks in the last four games and were gashed last week for 5.4 yards per rush.
Seahawks: They've got 14.5 sacks among them and left end Michael Sinclair, who has 22.5 sacks in the last 25 games, will probably go against backup Jamain Stephens. Throw in the crowd noise of a 747 and it could get ugly fast.
EDGE: Seahawks
LINEBACKERS
Bengals: They're coming off probably their worst game after Fred Taylor ripped them for 126 yards on nine yards a run in just the first half.
Seahawks: Chad Brown, Anthony Simmons and Darrin Smith make this a game of what could be the fastest two sets of backers in the NFL. It's just Seattle has more experience with Brown's Pro Bowl ring and Smith's Super Bowl ring.
EDGE: Seahawks
SECONDARY
Bengals: How depleted are they? Suffice to say at Friday's practice, secondary coach Ray Horton, a University of Washington product, was on the field wearing a Seattle helmet for the scout team.
Seahawks: Corners Shawn Springs and Willie Williams have combined for seven interceptions and old friend Darryl Williams would love to remind the team how he went to the Pro Bowl after four years in Cincy. He won't start at strong safety with a hamstring injury, but another old friend, former Bengal QB Kerry Joseph, will.
EDGE: Seahawks
COACHING
Bengals: You know it's going bad when the gadget plays barely get first downs and only fool the camera.
Seahawks: Since Mike Brown hired Dave Shula in Cincinnati and Green Bay opted for Mike Holmgren after the '91 season, Holmgren has been to the playoffs six times and the Bengals have had a top 5 draft pick five times.
EDGE: Seahawks
THE PICK
Call it “Clueless in Seattle.”
Seahawks 35, Bengals 14
Bengals Stories
Bengals season can't get worse (can it?)
Dillon proves you can go home
Bengals-Seahawks by the numbers
Who's got the edge?
Players to watch
UC 107, B.C. Honved of Hungary 49
Louisville 23, UC 13
UC's Chatman out for the season
Williams looks to recover old form
Junior sweepstakes to spice up GM meetings
Pokey's glove gold?
No grass or goodwill from Brown
Bearcats close again, still so far away
Miami 32, Akron 23
Michigan State 23, Ohio State 7
Livid Knight ready to take on the NCAA
Ready or not, here come RedHawks
Basketball nomad Hughes finds NBA home in Dallas
Colerain team, Anderson's Homan run to state titles
Ohio girls cross country results
LaSalle's Padgett runs to glory
Ohio boys cross country results
St. Ursula volleyball streak snapped
Four reach Ohio soccer semifinals
Inspired Brossart runners win state
Ludlow runners win school's 1st girls title
Pandas shut out in Ky. soccer finals
St. Henry loses Ky. soccer final
Cyclones 4, Detroit 3
Drive time cuts into Marty's time
NKU volleyball team begins quest for national title