Post by John on May 30, 2006 14:10:13 GMT -4
Sorry, Carson; Bengals-Steelers ain't Pats-Colts, yet
By Clark Judge
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
So Carson Palmer hates the Pittsburgh Steelers. Well, he should. Pittsburgh beat the Bengals last year in the only game that mattered.
People are trying to figure out what could've motivated Palmer to say what he did in this week's Sports Illustrated, but where's the mystery? Emotions usually spill over when you have two teams that are good, competitive and in each other's way.
History doesn't hurt, either, though the Bengals haven't been good for long. Pittsburgh has, and now Cincinnati ... or Carson Palmer ... wants a piece of the action. So he says he hates the Steelers. Big deal. So does everyone else chasing them.
Now my question is this: Is Pittsburgh-Cincinnati this year's best rivalry? Not here it's not. But it's close.
When I'm talking rivalries, I want teams that loathe each other; not simply games involving star players. And I want something at stake -- like a division title or a playoff spot. Which means I want a Big Game.
That eliminates something like, say, Oakland-Kansas City. Or Miami and the New York Jets. Or Green Bay-Chicago. Hey, I love watching Brett Favre too, but not when he's throwing 29 interceptions and chasing defensive backs.
No, I want teams that are competitive and teams that play for something other than draft positions. I want teams like ... well, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Which is why Palmer got me thinking of what rivalries I anticipate most this season.
These are my top five:
1. Indianapolis-New England
When the Colts moved out of the AFC East, they thought they put the Patriots in their rearview mirror. Uh-huh, Richard Hatch thought he was clear of the IRS, too. Since the NFL realigned in 2002, the Colts and Patriots have met five times -- with Indianapolis finally breaking through last year with a victory in Foxborough. The Colts didn't just shake off that 800-pound gorilla; they pinned him with a 40-21 rout of the then-defending Super Bowl champions. That was supposed to be the breakthrough, but wouldn't you know it? They get to play the Patriots again ... and again it's in Foxborough, site of their last four games with New England. So here we go again with Peyton against Bill, Adam against the wind and Indy against the odds. Hallelujah.
2. Dallas-Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Eagles don't talk about Terrell Owens. In fact, Donovan McNabb never mentioned his name at the team's minicamp. But you better believe he's on their minds. The two first meet Oct. 8 in Philadelphia, and no, I wouldn't want to be working security at the hotel where the Cowboys stay the night before. Owens is not liked by the Eagles, but he's positively abhorred by dyspeptic fans who insist he sabotaged their club. This is liable to get ugly, and I'm not talking about what happens on the field. This may be the first time we may have to cover the parking lot. A year ago the good people of Philadelphia burned Owens in effigy and tossed No. 81 jerseys into a bonfire ... and he wasn't even playing. I can't imagine what they do for an encore, but I'll be watching.
3. Cincinnati-Pittsburgh
Now we have a rivalry. The Bengals made sure of it last year when they zoomed to the top of the division, won in Pittsburgh and wide receiver Chad Johnson compared the Steelers to a black and white TV. Then the playoffs arrived, and, suddenly, the division is in black and white. Again. Now Palmer goes off on the Steelers, and so what? I'd feel that way, too, if I just lost a playoff game where my knee was twisted into a pretzel. "Carson Palmer only beat us one time," linebacker Larry Foote told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "so he should hate us." Exactly. But Carson Palmer is not the issue here; the Bengals' front seven is. In three of Pittsburgh's last four defeats of Cincinnati, the Steelers had someone run for at least 123 yards. So you hate the Steelers? Then hire someone who can tackle.
4. Denver-Kansas City
Fans would choose Oakland-Kansas City as the better rivalry; players would point to this game. So would I, and here's why: While Raiders-Chiefs games always seem to be separated by the thinnest of margins, the Raiders haven't won one since 2002. That's six straight and seven of the last eight. Plus, they're 13-35 the past three seasons. The Silver and Black is more like the Silver, Black and Blue, and no thanks. But Kansas City-Denver ... now, there's a pairing that's unpredictable -- unless, of course, you're talking about someone winning on the road. The Broncos lost six of their last seven at Arrowhead Stadium, while the Chiefs lost their last five in Denver. I love symmetry, and this series has it. Dating back to 1992, Kansas City has 15 wins. Denver has 14.
5. Any NFC East game other than Philadelphia-Dallas
There's a reason Dallas owner Jerry Jones insisted on staying in the NFC East when the league went through realignment: He wasn't about to surrender some of the best rivalries in the game. You have Dallas and Washington. Dallas and the Giants. Philadelphia and New York. The Giants and Washington. Washington and Philadelphia. OK, I admit it: Picking a group instead of one game is the coward's way out, but I had no choice. For the life of me, I couldn't single out one game in this division other than the Barnum and Bailey act in Philly. That one was a gimme. The rest? They're too close to call because there is no division out there this year that has the depth, balance and quality of the NFC East. And did I mention the interest? There are 10 prime-time games this year involving NFC East teams; 11 if you include the 5 p.m. Philadelphia at Dallas game on Christmas Day.
Honorable Mention:
Miami-New England
OK, so the Dolphins have had trouble reaching the surface lately. But look what they've done with the Patriots. The past two years they split with them, an achievement considering Miami didn't reach the playoffs, and are 4-6 since the Patriots moved into the AFC East attic. This game always seems to have something: a snow plow here; a drop kick there. Now it has Nick Saban vs. Bill Belichick, which means if you like defense you'll love this game. Belichick used to consult his former assistant in the offseason for advice; now he's forced to outwit him. Chess, anyone? A year ago, the AFC East was New England and the Three Dwarfs. Not anymore. In Daunte Culpepper the Dolphins are armed and dangerous for the first time since Dan Marino's retirement. More important, they're on New England's heels.
By Clark Judge
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
So Carson Palmer hates the Pittsburgh Steelers. Well, he should. Pittsburgh beat the Bengals last year in the only game that mattered.
People are trying to figure out what could've motivated Palmer to say what he did in this week's Sports Illustrated, but where's the mystery? Emotions usually spill over when you have two teams that are good, competitive and in each other's way.
History doesn't hurt, either, though the Bengals haven't been good for long. Pittsburgh has, and now Cincinnati ... or Carson Palmer ... wants a piece of the action. So he says he hates the Steelers. Big deal. So does everyone else chasing them.
Now my question is this: Is Pittsburgh-Cincinnati this year's best rivalry? Not here it's not. But it's close.
When I'm talking rivalries, I want teams that loathe each other; not simply games involving star players. And I want something at stake -- like a division title or a playoff spot. Which means I want a Big Game.
That eliminates something like, say, Oakland-Kansas City. Or Miami and the New York Jets. Or Green Bay-Chicago. Hey, I love watching Brett Favre too, but not when he's throwing 29 interceptions and chasing defensive backs.
No, I want teams that are competitive and teams that play for something other than draft positions. I want teams like ... well, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Which is why Palmer got me thinking of what rivalries I anticipate most this season.
These are my top five:
1. Indianapolis-New England
When the Colts moved out of the AFC East, they thought they put the Patriots in their rearview mirror. Uh-huh, Richard Hatch thought he was clear of the IRS, too. Since the NFL realigned in 2002, the Colts and Patriots have met five times -- with Indianapolis finally breaking through last year with a victory in Foxborough. The Colts didn't just shake off that 800-pound gorilla; they pinned him with a 40-21 rout of the then-defending Super Bowl champions. That was supposed to be the breakthrough, but wouldn't you know it? They get to play the Patriots again ... and again it's in Foxborough, site of their last four games with New England. So here we go again with Peyton against Bill, Adam against the wind and Indy against the odds. Hallelujah.
2. Dallas-Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Eagles don't talk about Terrell Owens. In fact, Donovan McNabb never mentioned his name at the team's minicamp. But you better believe he's on their minds. The two first meet Oct. 8 in Philadelphia, and no, I wouldn't want to be working security at the hotel where the Cowboys stay the night before. Owens is not liked by the Eagles, but he's positively abhorred by dyspeptic fans who insist he sabotaged their club. This is liable to get ugly, and I'm not talking about what happens on the field. This may be the first time we may have to cover the parking lot. A year ago the good people of Philadelphia burned Owens in effigy and tossed No. 81 jerseys into a bonfire ... and he wasn't even playing. I can't imagine what they do for an encore, but I'll be watching.
3. Cincinnati-Pittsburgh
Now we have a rivalry. The Bengals made sure of it last year when they zoomed to the top of the division, won in Pittsburgh and wide receiver Chad Johnson compared the Steelers to a black and white TV. Then the playoffs arrived, and, suddenly, the division is in black and white. Again. Now Palmer goes off on the Steelers, and so what? I'd feel that way, too, if I just lost a playoff game where my knee was twisted into a pretzel. "Carson Palmer only beat us one time," linebacker Larry Foote told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "so he should hate us." Exactly. But Carson Palmer is not the issue here; the Bengals' front seven is. In three of Pittsburgh's last four defeats of Cincinnati, the Steelers had someone run for at least 123 yards. So you hate the Steelers? Then hire someone who can tackle.
4. Denver-Kansas City
Fans would choose Oakland-Kansas City as the better rivalry; players would point to this game. So would I, and here's why: While Raiders-Chiefs games always seem to be separated by the thinnest of margins, the Raiders haven't won one since 2002. That's six straight and seven of the last eight. Plus, they're 13-35 the past three seasons. The Silver and Black is more like the Silver, Black and Blue, and no thanks. But Kansas City-Denver ... now, there's a pairing that's unpredictable -- unless, of course, you're talking about someone winning on the road. The Broncos lost six of their last seven at Arrowhead Stadium, while the Chiefs lost their last five in Denver. I love symmetry, and this series has it. Dating back to 1992, Kansas City has 15 wins. Denver has 14.
5. Any NFC East game other than Philadelphia-Dallas
There's a reason Dallas owner Jerry Jones insisted on staying in the NFC East when the league went through realignment: He wasn't about to surrender some of the best rivalries in the game. You have Dallas and Washington. Dallas and the Giants. Philadelphia and New York. The Giants and Washington. Washington and Philadelphia. OK, I admit it: Picking a group instead of one game is the coward's way out, but I had no choice. For the life of me, I couldn't single out one game in this division other than the Barnum and Bailey act in Philly. That one was a gimme. The rest? They're too close to call because there is no division out there this year that has the depth, balance and quality of the NFC East. And did I mention the interest? There are 10 prime-time games this year involving NFC East teams; 11 if you include the 5 p.m. Philadelphia at Dallas game on Christmas Day.
Honorable Mention:
Miami-New England
OK, so the Dolphins have had trouble reaching the surface lately. But look what they've done with the Patriots. The past two years they split with them, an achievement considering Miami didn't reach the playoffs, and are 4-6 since the Patriots moved into the AFC East attic. This game always seems to have something: a snow plow here; a drop kick there. Now it has Nick Saban vs. Bill Belichick, which means if you like defense you'll love this game. Belichick used to consult his former assistant in the offseason for advice; now he's forced to outwit him. Chess, anyone? A year ago, the AFC East was New England and the Three Dwarfs. Not anymore. In Daunte Culpepper the Dolphins are armed and dangerous for the first time since Dan Marino's retirement. More important, they're on New England's heels.