Monday night, the stars come out
September 10th, 2007 7:20 am
by Big Dog
It’s an exciting two for the price of one affair on the first Monday Night Football extravaganza of the year. First up Carson Palmer and the Bengals face an enormous task taking on the Baltimore Ravens.
There’s no doubt that Palmer has the ability to make big plays in the air and he has the record against the Ravens to justify feeling confident. That said, his protection for tonight’s game is questionable. With key injuries and an offensive line that is undergoing changes, there’s a lot to watch out for. Added to this is the fact that the Bengals aren’t expected to have a strong running game that can provide them with enough balance to put the Ravens off. If the Bengals can’t get the running game going, then they’re going to struggle to get away with it in the air.
With Ken Whisenhunt making his NFL head coaching debut, the Cardinals have a lot to play for when they take on the 49ers. The big task for the team from Arizona will be to shake of the pass heavy offense they established last season, putting faith in their ability to establish the run right from the start. I’m not disputing that Matt Leinart can pass and do it effectively, but the simple fact is that Cardinals need to put the groundwork in. Keep an eye on Edgerrin James, there’s plenty left in his tank and the last time these two teams met, he put 105 yards on the board.
Enjoy your Monday night, as the stars come out to play.
Posted in Analysis, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals, Edgerrin James, Game, Ken Whisenhunt, Matt Leinart, Monday Night Football, NFL, NFL Coaches, NFL Franchises/Teams, NFL Players, San Francisco 49ers | No Comments »