Ravens @ Bengals predictions.

**sailorsam** · 12-29-2012, 09:38 AM

guys, this will be the most meaningless game the Ravens have played in the Harbaugh era!
Cinci 20
Ravens 19
Rice, Reed, Ngata, Boldin and maybe Birk get the second half off.

**ed from Bel Air** · 12-29-2012, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by CincyCat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_playoffs,_1970-71

Thanks Cincy. Appreciate the thread. That was a long time ago.

**GOTA** · 12-29-2012, 10:39 AM

I think both teams are looking for some momentum going into the playoffs. They're going to play as long as the score is close. They both need to get on a roll if they are going to do anything in the next couple of weeks.

**CincyCat** · 12-29-2012, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by ed from Bel Air

Thanks Cincy. Appreciate the thread. That was a long time ago.

That was the first season I really started following football. Bengals started 1-6 and reeled off 7 in a row to sneak into playoffs. Baltimore clobbered us but we were so excited just to be there. Fitting because the Orioles had clobbered the Reds in World Series the same year. Ouch!

**mickeyotc** · 12-29-2012, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by Paintballguy

My prediction is that we'll see a lot of injured players rested and the other key starters get 2-3 quarters like a preseason game.

Agree. This looks to be the most likely to me too. It's an exhibition game. What incentive is there to get the 3 seed? I think there's more to be gained by resting key players and not risking injury to other key players.

**GOTA** · 12-29-2012, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by CincyCat

That was the first season I really started following football. Bengals started 1-6 and reeled off 7 in a row to sneak into playoffs. Baltimore clobbered us but we were so excited just to be there. Fitting because the Orioles had clobbered the Reds in World Series the same year. Ouch!

Losing Greg Cook was the difference. Virgil Carter just wasn't close to the same QB. Cook had an incredible season the year before and did it with a torn rotator cuff. He was rookie of the year and his career was over. You put Cook on the next years Bengals team and they could have gone to the Super Bowl. At the very least that Bengals offense against the Colts defense would have been a classic game. The Bengals seem to have had more than their fair share of players forced to retire way too soon because of injury with Cook and Ickey being the most notable.

**CincyCat** · 12-29-2012, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by GOTA

Losing Greg Cook was the difference. Virgil Carter just wasn't close to the same QB. Cook had an incredible season the year before and did it with a torn rotator cuff. He was rookie of the year and his career was over. You put Cook on the next years Bengals team and they could have gone to the Super Bowl. At the very least that Bengals offense against the Colts defense would have been a classic game. The Bengals seem to have had more than their fair share of players forced to retire way too soon because of injury with Cook and Ickey being the most notable.

You know your history well. Greg Cook was phenomenal. Such a shame that today's technology didn't exist then. Greg's career would have been saved. Greg Cook passed away last year quietly.

**GOTA** · 12-30-2012, 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by CincyCat

You know your history well. Greg Cook was phenomenal. Such a shame that today's technology didn't exist then. Greg's career would have been saved. Greg Cook passed away last year quietly.

Before the Ravens existed I was Bengals fan. I'm too young to have seen Cook except on a limited amount of tape but I've heard the stories and talked to some very smart football people who thought he could have been an all time great QB. He was Mr. Cinci having grown up there and gone to college there. It should have been one of those great fairly tale careers. It really sucks the way life can throw you a curve ball when you least expect it.

**NCCRavensFan** · 12-30-2012, 08:27 AM

Although it would be nice to be playing for a bye or even a #1 seed, how nice is it to have a (football) stress free Sunday? I mean we can all sit back and enjoy whatever happens today in the NFL. Hell, maybe go watch a movie or play with the kids because what the Ravens do today doesn't matter very much and should have little bearing on next week. The only way you could be stressed about today's game is if you're stupid enough to put money on either the Ravens or the Bengals.

**GOTA** · 12-30-2012, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by NCCRavensFan

Although it would be nice to be playing for a bye or even a #1 seed, how nice is it to have a (football) stress free Sunday? I mean we can all sit back and enjoy whatever happens today in the NFL. Hell, maybe go watch a movie or play with the kids because what the Ravens do today doesn't matter very much and should have little bearing on next week. The only way you could be stressed about today's game is if you're stupid enough to put money on either the Ravens or the Bengals.

The only game that really seems interesting out of all the ones being played today is the Cowboys/Redskins game. That will be a the playoffs 1 week early. The rest don't mean much