NFL Playoffs: Keys To The 4 Wildcard Games
By Bryce Olin
Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1) @ Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
Key to the game: Indianapolis Colts Defense
This game is a toss-up between two very inconsistent teams.
In all honesty, I could see either team winning in a blowout.
Lately, though, I think Cincinnati is playing better. Two weeks ago, the Bengals shut down Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos before losing a pretty close one to the Steelers in Week 17.
Indianapolis, on the other hand, hasn’t looked good against a good team since they beat the Bengals 27-0 in Week 7. Cincinnati didn’t have A.J. Green for that game, but Indianapolis’ defense played great and shut down the Bengals the entire game. Andy Dalton completed 18-of-38 passes for only 126 yards!
Although Indianapolis has a great offense, I don’t think Andrew Luck and co. can just outscore the Bengals in the playoffs. They’re going to need their defense to step up and make plays, unlike they did against the Dallas Cowboys did in Week 16.
In that game, Tony Romo and the ‘Boys dropped 42 points on the Colts, which was the fifth time this season that Indianapolis gave up 30 or more points in a game.
Cincinnati and Andy Dalton aren’t as good as the Dallas Cowboys on offense, but if A.J. Green, Mohamed Sanu, Giovani Bernard, and Jeremy Hill get going and Dalton plays well, I don’t think the Bengals’ defense is going to allow Luck to win the game.
Luck will put up some points, but it’s up to the Colts 19th-ranked scoring defense to stop the Bengals.
Next: Detroit-Dallas