Spin Zone Game Of The Week: Packers vs Bengals

Aug 23, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) scores a touchdown during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

We are going to select a game of the week here at Spin Zone and have all the staffers select who they feel will win that week. This week’s game of the week: The Green Bay Packers vs the Cincinnati Bengals. Here are our thoughts on the game:

Carter Mulvhill
After dropping the openers, both teams bounced back in Week 2 to be at 1-1. Aaron Rodgers had one of the best games of his career last week, throwing for a career-best 480 yards, along with four touchdown passes. The Bengals must get pressure on Rodgers with their front four, or else he’ll pick them apart. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green will have to be better than they were in Week 2 in order to compete and make this a shootout. The Bengals will likely give Giovani Bernard more reps after his two TDs on Monday night. While the Bengals are a playoff team in the AFC, the Packers are a true Super Bowl Contender in the tougher NFC. Final Score: Packers 34, Bengals 24.

Rishi Pochiraju
Either the Green Bay Packers or the Cincinnati Bengals will end up 1-2 after three weeks of play as the two 1-1 teams square off at Paul Brown Stadium. After tearing up the Redskins secondary and throwing for 480 yards, I don’t expect Aaron Rodgers to have a repeat performance against a solid, sure-tackling Cincinnati defense. Andy Dalton should have no trouble moving the ball against a Green Bay defense that has shown holes in the pass game. In a high scoring game, Cincinnati will sneak past Green Bay behind the home crowd. Bengals 31, Packers 30

Emily Gruver
The Packers and the Bengals are coming off two huge victories, and will now meet in week 3. This will be an exciting match-up, the battle of two great offenses, and two intriguing defenses. This is going to be a fairly close game with both Aaron Rodgers and Andy Dalton leading their teams with solid performances, but with Green Bay’s weapon-filled offense, I think it will be too much for the Bengals.
Packers 28 Bengals 21

Todd Frank
With the Bengals coming off consecutive games vs. very physical opponents (Bears and Steelers), they now face Aaron Rodgers and his high-powered offensive attack. This feels like a let-down spot for Cincinnati, coming off a big home win against Pittsburgh Monday night with cross-state divisional rivals Cleveland on deck next week. Meanwhile, the Packers were able to lick the wounds from their week 1 loss at San Francisco by returning home for a tune-up against Washington’s generous defense. Obviously Cincinnati’s defense will show more resistance than Washington’s porous unit, but Aaron Rodgers is very good at football.

The Bengals are 1-6 after playing on Monday Night Football and, over the last 3 years, they’re just 4-8 following a division game. Green Bay is 6-2 in their last 8 games vs. the AFC and historically they’ve fared well against AFC North opponents (16-9 since 1992). Cincy should be able to get some pressure on Rodgers and force the Packers to settle for a couple field goals, but Green Bay notches a nice win before heading into their early bye week. And let’s thrown in a safety, since they’re all the rage this season… Packers 29, Bengals 20.