Sunday, December 03, 2000
Players to watch
• When Bengals run
Running back Corey Dillon is the Bengals' best offensive player.
He has 1,062 yards in 12 games and could enjoy a big day against an Arizona defense which ranks 28th in the league in rush defense at 148.8 yards a game.
The more Dillon gains the better the Bengals' chances of winning. They are 7-1 when he runs for 125 or more yards, and the first loss came last week when he had 126 yards in the 48-28 loss to Pittsburgh.
• When Bengals pass
Cardinals' right end Simeon Rice leads the team with 6.5 sacks and has 50.5 in his career. Rice also has 15 QB hurries.
He will be matched against Bengals left tackle Rod Jones, who has had trouble this year keeping speed rushers away from Cincinnati quarterbacks.
Rice had 16.5 sacks in a Pro Bowl year last season, and though he has been slowed a bit this year, he had three sacks two weeks ago at Philadelphia.
• When Cardinals run
Linebacker Takeo Spikes is often the first Cincinnati defender to a ball carrier. With six tackles last week, he went over 100 for the third time in his three-year NFL career.
He has 101 tackles in press box statistics and 158 in the more liberally defined coaches' tally. Spikes often drops back into pass coverage but will have to keep an eye on Arizona quarterback Jake Plummer, who has scrambled 29 times for 147 yards.
• When Cardinals pass
Michael Pittman's 61 receptions lead all NFC running backs. He has 10 catches last Sunday for 96 yards and a touchdown against the Giants.
He has 515 yards receiving and two TDs. He's also a threat to run with 570 yards, including a 107-yard day against Cleveland and 85 against the Saints.
Pittman's longest receptions have covered 36, 35, 24 and 21 yards, so he's a threat to gain a lot of ground after the catch.
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Players to watch
