Keith Brooks and Carmichael Dave Show - January 5th, 2015
Watch CBS News
Arguably the Cincinnati Bengals' best player, wide receiver A.J. Green is iffy for Sunday's playoff game in Indianapolis against the Colts. He didn't practice on Friday and hasn't cleared the league's concussion protocol after suffering the injury in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Green can't go, the pressure might double for the Bengals to win their first postseason contest since 1990.
The Cincinnati Bengals haven't won an NFL playoff game since January 6, 1990. They beat the Houston Oilers—right there, that tells you it was a long time ago—by a 41-14 score in the wild-card round of the AFC playoffs. Since then, the Bengals have lost all five postseason contests they've played in. That needs to change this weekend.
The Green Bay Packers do not have many holes in their game as they enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the NFC. However, one is their blocking in the kicking game. They allowed more combined blocked field goals, extra point attempts and punts than they had in the previous five seasons combined.
The Green Bay Packers do not have to play this Sunday. That is a good thing as quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be able to get some extra rest before the Packers begin their run toward the Super Bowl. They will host one of three teams in the Divisional Round. Their opponent will be determined by the outcome of the Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys game.
The Dallas Cowboys beat the Chicago Bears last night 41-28. Chicago scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to make it look respectable, but a 21-0 third quarter for Dallas essentially sealed this one.
These two teams meet tonight at Soldier Field in what should be a high-scoring game. There are plenty of fantasy points on the board here.
The Cowboys are 8-4, but if the season ended today they would not be in the playoffs. After Thursday's visit to Chicago, they go to Philadelphia, host Indianapolis, and finish at Washington.
Rumors are flying that the San Francisco 49ers might trade Head Coach Jim Harbaugh to the Oakland Raiders, and that's just the icing on the cake for this Bay Area rivalry. The 49ers need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, and the Silver & Black just need something to forget that beating they just took from the St. Louis Rams. The Sunday game at the Coliseum promises to be quite interesting.
Right now, the Oakland Raiders are 1-10, and if the season ended today, they'd get the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. There's not a clear-cut stud or even a lot of depth at the top of the draft next year, so the Silver & Black need to be very smart about their next draft.
The 4-7 St. Louis Rams may seem to be weak at first glance, but as coached by long-time NFL man Jeff Fisher, the team once referred to as the "Lambs" is anything but right now. Remember, St. Louis has wins over Denver, San Francisco and Seattle this year—and they almost beat San Diego last weekend with a third-string quarterback. They're still good.
From players to referees to fans, everyone is getting in on the Week 9 action...but maybe not in the way they imagined. Here's 5 people who were in the right (or wrong) place at the right time...
