Today's rematch figures to be just as close as last season's Bengals-Patriots game, won 16-13 by New England when Adam Vinatieri kicked a 22-yard field goal with three seconds left.

        The outcome likely will be determined by three major factors: the Bengals defense and its patchwork line pressuring New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe, Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna moving the ball through the air and taking some pressure off running back Corey Dillon, and Bengals kicker Neil Rackers making a clutch kick with an inexperienced new holder - punter Nick Harris - after Rackers struggled even with a game-tested holder, former punter Daniel Pope.

        • Too much time. The longer Bledsoe has to scan the field from the pocket, the more he'll shred Cincinnati's secondary.

        “Bledsoe doesn't get rattled,” Bengals cornerback Mark Roman said. “He might make one bad throw. But he'll make a great throw on the next play.”

        Bledsoe, who ranks fourth among the NFL's active passing leaders, has been especially good in his eight openers. He's thrown for 289 or more yards in five of those eight, including a 421-yard effort against Miami in 1994.

        “He was a little nicked up against us last year, (but) still in those final drives threw the ball very well,” Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said.

        To prevent a similar fate today, the Bengals will have to find ways to hurry and hit Bledsoe. Top pick Justin Smith, in Day 52 of his holdout, will be watching on TV from Missouri. John Copeland is gone with a hamstring tear and was replaced on the roster by Jevon Langford four days after Langford's contract had been terminated. Seasoned tackle Tom Barndt was a questionable cut last week.

        The Bengals will be counting on end Reinard Wilson and down linebacker Steve Foley for a strong rush from the outside. The middle should be solid with Oliver Gibson and Tony Williams.

        With middle linebacker Brian Simmons back from injury and available to drop back in pass coverage, look for the Bengals to blitz outside 'backer Takeo Spikes all day. They'll have to.

        • Air ball. The key to the Bengals' offensive success is the passing game. The better Kitna and his receivers move the ball, the more room there should be for Dillon to hit holes in New England's defense, which was the league's best in the preseason.

        Left tackle Richmond Webb has worked himself into shape and is again pushing speed rushers away from his quarterback. Kitna has to see his receivers, and when the ball is delivered on target to Peter Warrick and Darnay Scott, it can't be dropped as frequently as it was in the preseason.

        A big play or two to Scott and rookie Chad Johnson would allow the Bengals to keep feeding Dillon, eat the clock and keep the ball away from Bledsoe.

        “They're very explosive in terms of the depth at receiver,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said.

        • Sticky fingers. Rackers was 12-of-21 on field goals last year with Pope.

        At the end of the exhibition season, the Bengals cut Pope in favor of Harris, a punter drafted in the fourth round by the Broncos, but cut in the preseason. Rackers said Harris is doing a good job, but Harris looked slow getting the ball down last week in practice.

Bengals finally sign No. 1 pick Kitna era begins, by God Bengals need to keep pressure on Bledsoe Key matchup: Dillon vs. Malloy Who's got the edge? By the numbers NFL power ratings Sizing up this week's NFL games

Pirates 5, Reds 2
Hamilton likely to join rotation
Boone back in full swing
Fans-eye view of the Reds
Pirates starter ends 7-game slide
Reds box, runs
UC 24, Army 21
Tressel's in harmony with OSU
Ohio St. 28, Akron 14
Iowa 44, Miami 19
Kentucky 28, Ball St. 20
Otterbein 56, Mount St. Joseph 14
Baseball Insider
Best and worst of week in sports
Boomer ready for some fun on FSN
PREP FOOTBALL COVERAGE
High School Insider
High school highlights
Cincinnati high school results
N.Ky. high school results

• Return to Bengals front page...