The late Art Modell would have been proud. His very own invention called “Monday Night Football” will be hosted by his Baltimore Ravens on the eve of his funeral.
Modell will be buried by his family the following Tuesday morning. His body will lie in state for a public viewing at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore over the weekend prior to the game.
Certainly a unique backdrop to the game itself, which is in fact a very tough matchup between two divisional rivals… the Ravens are not taking the Bengals lightly. They shouldn’t.
Kevin Pool (who is a very good football writer for TheExaminer.com) breaks this game down into a basic theme: The Dynamic Duo of Cincinnati (QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green) vs. the savvy and veteran defense of the Ravens.
I guess you could look at it that way. It is an easily digestible angle. Maybe it leaves out the possibility that the Bengals’ running game with newly acquired Benjarvus Green-Ellis could be just as much a threat to the Ravens D… Green-Ellis is a nasty quick-step one-cut runner.
Kevin Pool’s angle also minimizes somewhat the role Joe Flacco and Ray Rice will be playing as a “dynamic duo” all its own…
It promises to be an entertaining matchup, no matter who’s wearing the Batman cape, or the outcome…
This game will pit a relatively young Bengals offense against a veteran defense in Baltimore. The age does draw some concern as Ray Lewis is 37, while Ed Reed is 33. Baltimore is also without stud linebacker Terrell Suggs, who is out with an Achilles tear.
Last year Andy Dalton and A.J. Green connected for six touchdowns in their rookie campaigns. Dalton threw for 3,398 yards and 20 touchdowns all together while Green racked up over a 1,000 yards and seven TDs.
If Dalton is unable to go, the reins to the offense go to Bruce Gradkowski,who is in his second season with the team. Last year he filled in twice for Dalton, including week one when he threw a 41-yard touchdown to Green.
The Bengals will also showcase a running game without Cedric Benson (now in Green Bay) for the first time since 2007. The man in charge in the backfield will be BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who comes over from New England. Green-Ellis gained notoriety for never fumbling while with the Patriots. In four seasons with New England he carried the ball 510 times and had 26 receptions, but never lost the ball and scored 29 touchdowns in the process.
Benard Scott will back him up, but not on Monday night as he continues to heal from a broken hand that kept him out of the preseason. Scott had 380 yards and three touchdowns on 110 carries for Cincinnati last year.
Brian Leonard will also play a key role again this season on third down. In his career Leonard has more yards receiving (674) than rushing (540). Cedric Peerman and fullback Chris Pressley round out the Bengals backfield.
While Green poses the biggest threat at receiver, the Bengals acquired some help via the draft. Both Marvin Jones (California) and Mohamed Sanu (Rutgers) had strong performances in the preseason.
They’ll be needed to replace Jordan Shipley (released) and Jerome Simpson (now with Minnesota). The Bengals do return Andrew Hawkins (23 catches, 263 yards) and Ryan Whalen (4 catches, 27 yards), while Armon Binns moves up from the practice squad. Return man Brandon Tate may also play a role in the offense this season.
Cincinnati will also get contributions from tight ends Jermaine Gresham,(56 catches, 596 yards) who scored six times last year, and Donald Lee (11 catches, 115 yards).
The Bengals boast an offensive line that returns three lineman who made at least three starts including veteran Andrew Whitworth who has played in all but six games over the course of his seven seasons with Cincinnati.
Injuries to center Kyle Cook and recently acquired Travelle Wharton forced the Bengals to acquire free agent Jeff Faine. Faine has played in ten NFL seasons and appeared in 117 games, most recently with Tampa Bay. Kevin Zeitler, an All-American at Wisconsin, will start at guard.
Last year the Bengals allowed just 25 sacks in 535 attempts, tied for fourth fewest in the NFL. They also paved the way for another 1,000 yard season for Benson.
Kickoff is set for 7:00 P.M. on Monday.
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