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5 Bold Predictions For Bengals vs. Colts in AFC Wild Card Playoff

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5 Bold Predictions For Bengals vs. Colts Wild Card Matchup

Bengals at Colts
Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

The Colts (11-5) will host the Bengals (10-5-1) on Sunday at 1:05 PM ET. Both teams are looking to atone for the bad losses they suffered in the playoffs last season. Indianapolis completed a great comeback against the Chiefs, but then lost at New England 43-22 in the Divisional Round. The Bengals continued their playoff woes and lost to the Chargers 27-10 on Wild Card weekend. What are five bold predictions for when these two teams clash?

5. Andrew Luck Will Throw For Over 350 Yards, 4-Plus TDs

Bengals at Colts
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

5. Andrew Luck Will Throw For Over 350 Yards, 4-Plus TDs

Bengals at Colts
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Luck averaged 298 passing yards per game (third) in the regular season and he threw 40 TDs (first) with 16 INTs. The Bengals' defense is good, but they are allowing 243 pass yards per game (20th) and 21.5 points per game (12th). In Week 14, they allowed 350 passing yards and three passing TDs. In Week 16, the Bengals allowed 311 passing yards and two passing TDs, and in Week 17 the Bengals gave up 317 yards through the air and two passing TDs.

4. Andy Dalton Will Have His Best Playoff Game of His Career

Bengals at Colts
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

4. Andy Dalton Will Have His Best Playoff Game of His Career

Bengals at Colts
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Dalton has played well in the regular season (40-23-1 as a starter) throughout his career, but the playoffs, where he has yet to win a game, have been an issue for him. The Colts beat the Bengals 27-0 in Week 7, but Cinci’s leading WR A.J. Green missed that Week 7 matchup, and the Bengals’ backfield is much improved, which will help to alleviate some of the pressure. Look for Dalton to play the best playoff game of his career.

3. Cincinnati Bengals RBs Will Rush For 120-Plus Yards and 2-Plus TDs

Bengals at Colts
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

3. Cincinnati Bengals RBs Will Rush For 120-Plus Yards and 2-Plus TDs

Bengals at Colts
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The Bengals’ backfield may not have run the ball effectively against the Colts in Week 7, but at season’s end, Cincinnati was the sixth best rushing team in the NFL (134.2 ypg). Much of that can be attributed to rookie RB Jeremy Hill (1,124 yards on 222 carries and nine TDs) and second year RB Giovani Bernard (680 yards on 168 carries and five TDs). Indy is allowing 113.4 rushing ypg (18th), so look for the Bengals' RBs to be effective.

2. Take The Over

Bengals at Colts
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

2. Take The Over

Bengals at Colts
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The over/under is currently set at 49 points. The Colts are averaging 28.6 ppg (sixth), and the Bengals are averaging 22.8 ppg (15th). Indy is allowing 23.1 ppg (19th), and Cinci is giving up 21.5 ppg (12th). It is highly likely that these teams score more than 49 points combined, particularly if Luck, Dalton and the Bengals' RBs perform as predicted in the previous slides.

1. Colts Will Not Cover

Bengals at Colts
Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

1. Colts Will Not Cover

Bengals at Colts
Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

Indy is favored by 4 or 3.5 points, depending on the site. If Dalton and the Cinci RBs have the days predicted in the previous slides, it is extremely possible they cover, or even win straight up, even if they haven’t won a playoff game since 1990 and are 0-6 both straight up and against the spread in their last six playoff games. Indy tends to struggle against good teams and right now, the Bengals are much better than they were in Week 7.

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