Well, this game probably won't even be close, but since all Chiefs fans want San Diego to lose to take some pressure off of them, here is the pregame.
Cincinnati has struggled all year. They are 3-11 on the season which included 10 straight losses (If it makes you feel any better, 7 of those 10 losses were by 8 points or less). This is far from the success they had last season, sweeping their division and earning a playoff spot. To add injury to insult, one of their most productive players, wide receiver Terrell Owens, had a season ending knee surgery on Monday. Owens has 72 receptions for 983 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Their second leading receiver, Chad Ochocinco, has bone spurs in his right ankle that will require off-season surgery. He was limited in last week's victory over Cleveland and has not practiced the last two days. This, combined with his feud with head coach Marvin Lewis, leads many to believe that he, also, will not play Sunday. Ochocinco has 67 receptions for 831 yards and 4 touchdowns.
With the Chargers receivers getting healthy and Vincent Jackson back from his holdout and suspension, the advantage goes to San Diego.
Carson Palmer, the Bengals quarterback, hasn't been having a banner year. He has plenty of yards passing (3,396) but has a 78.7 qb rating. This is due to his 21 touchdowns but 18 interceptions and 3 fumbles. Compare Palmer's season to Philip Rivers and you see quite a gap. Rivers is having the best statistical full season of his career. A 105.7 qb rating, 4,141 yards passing, 29 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. You have to believe the advantage in quarterback goes to San Diego.
Cedric Benson has been a solid running back for Cincinnati all season and has over 1,000 yards. San Diego's leading rusher is Mike Tolbert and only has 737 yards rushing. This is probably the only advantage I would give to Cincinnati.
This is the Bengals final home game of the season but it has been blacked out on local television. I can't even give Cincinnati a home-field advantage.
All-in-all, San Diego should easily win this game. But it is the holiday season; miracles have been known to happen around this time.
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