Wild Card Game Analysis: Cincinnati Bengals vs San Diego Chargers

Chargers have a tough matchup in Cincy

When the playoffs arrive, every player knows that a brand new season is about to begin. Many more factors play more significant roles in who wins a playoff game and continues on and who loses and packs up for the season. One of the most important aspects a team can bring into the playoffs is momentum. When the San Diego Chargers travel to cold Cincinnati to take on the Bengals, they will look to derail a team with a lot of momentum.

The Chargers are currently riding a thrilling four game win streak, highlighted by their most recent win against the talented Kansas City Chiefs and a 27-20 win over the top seeded Denver Broncos. If any team were to be riding the most momentum going into this weeks wild card games, San Diego would top that list.

The Bengals are coming off a big win over their divisional rival Baltimore Ravens, winning convincingly 34-17. While the Bengals offense has been inconsistent this season, their defense has held strong, finishing the regular season ranked fifth in the NFL. When the Chargers come to town on Sunday, one of the biggest factors playing for the Bengals will be their home field advantage, as they are undefeated at home this season.

When the two face off, it will be hard to bet against the hometown favorites. With a top tier defense highlighted by the league’s fifth best pass defense, and home field advantage the Cincinnati Bengals will look to ride their own momentum into the next round of the playoffs by never allowing quarterback Philip Rivers to get comfortable.

Tyler Eifert Enjoys Expanded Role with Bengals

When Eifert isn’t splitting snaps with Gresham, he’s a fantasy stud.

When the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Tyler Eifert in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, they knew they would be getting a potential difference maker at the tight end position. Eifert was a standout player during his time at Notre Dame and raised many eyebrows this year during the Bengals training camp.

While Eifert had been mostly impressive in the first nine weeks of his rookie campaign, much of his production had been capped by the presence of veteran tight end, Jermaine Gresham. With Gresham sidelined on Sunday due to a groin injury, Eifert displayed the type of talent which made him a first round pick.

Eifert dominated the targets from quarterback, Andy Dalton, for much of the game as the rookie saw a season-high 10 targets. While Eifert only came down with five of them for a total of 55 yards, Eifert constantly looked like the elite player the Bengals hoped they had drafted. On one particular play, he managed to break free from two defenders for a 40 yard gain.

With his performance on Sunday, it would be easy to peg Eifert as the next Jimmy Graham or Jordon Cameron, but one has to remember that Gresham was sidelined on Sunday. Before Sunday, Eifert’s previous high in targets was seven, and he had not seen more than four targets in a game since Week 5. This is mostly due to the fact that he splits a majority of the snaps at tight end with Gresham.

There is no doubt in many people’s minds that Tyler Eifert may be one of the NFL’s next elite tight ends, but that’s still a year or two away from being the case. As long as Gresham is suiting up for the Bengals, Eifert’s production will continue to be limited on a weekly basis.

Cueto Considers Changes to Avoid Re-Injury

Johnny Cueto is set to return to the Reds rotation tonight with a start against the New York Mets. Cueto has been on the disabled list since mid-April with a recurring oblique injury.

Cueto was the Reds ace last season, as he won 19 games and finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting. He was 1-0 with a 2.60 ERA and 1.04 WHIP this season before being placed on the disabled list. The Reds and fantasy owners alike will be happy to get one of their best pitchers back, but it’s not entirely clear how it will go for him moving forward.

Cueto’s oblique injury was caused by his unorthodox mechanics that involves an “exaggerated turn” at the end of his delivery. He began throwing in this manner in 2011. Before tweaking his mechanics, Cueto had a career 4.27 ERA. Since tweaking them he has posted a fantastic career 2.58 ERA.

Cueto’s oblique injury has put him on the disabled list multiple times in the past few seasons. It even kept him from pitching in an important NLDS game last post-season. Cueto claims that he is going to consider tweaking his mechanics once again to avoid further injury. If he doesn’t change something, this nagging injury will likely come again. If he changes something, you just have to keep your fingers crossed that he will continue to pitch like an ace.

Cueto is a great pitcher, but an injury like this is causing a predicament for him moving forward. Pay attention to whether or not he changes his mechanics at all. If he doesn’t, it may not be the worst idea to trade the pitcher with the assumption that he will hurt himself again.

Cueto Considers Changes to Avoid Re-Injury

Johnny Cueto is set to return to the Reds rotation tonight with a start against the New York Mets. Cueto has been on the disabled list since mid-April with a recurring oblique injury.

Cueto was the Reds ace last season, as he won 19 games and finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting. He was 1-0 with a 2.60 ERA and 1.04 WHIP this season before being placed on the disabled list. The Reds and fantasy owners alike will be happy to get one of their best pitchers back, but it’s not entirely clear how it will go for him moving forward.

Cueto’s oblique injury was caused by his unorthodox mechanics that involves an “exaggerated turn” at the end of his delivery. He began throwing in this manner in 2011. Before tweaking his mechanics, Cueto had a career 4.27 ERA. Since tweaking them he has posted a fantastic career 2.58 ERA.

Cueto’s oblique injury has put him on the disabled list multiple times in the past few seasons. It even kept him from pitching in an important NLDS game last post-season. Cueto claims that he is going to consider tweaking his mechanics once again to avoid further injury. If he doesn’t change something, this nagging injury will likely come again. If he changes something, you just have to keep your fingers crossed that he will continue to pitch like an ace.

Cueto is a great pitcher, but an injury like this is causing a predicament for him moving forward. Pay attention to whether or not he changes his mechanics at all. If he doesn’t, it may not be the worst idea to trade the pitcher with the assumption that he will hurt himself again.

Patriots Right Tackle Sebastian Vollmer Stays in New England

In what so far has been considered an underwhelming free agent signing period, the Patriots made perhaps their best move of the offseason by re-signing right tackle Sebastian Vollmer.

Vollmer has battled some health issues in the past, but very few players protect the quarterback better.

Vollmer has battled back problems through out his entire career, which is perhaps why teams weren’t willing to outbid the Patriots on acquiring him.

The 28-year-old should play a key role in protecting Brady in a new look-offense that will be without Wes Welker, Danny Woodhead and Brandon Lloyd.

Fantasy Buzzer – NFL News from around the league

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Patriots Right Tackle Sebastian Vollmer Stays in New England

In what so far has been considered an underwhelming free agent signing period, the Patriots made perhaps their best move of the offseason by re-signing right tackle Sebastian Vollmer.

Vollmer has battled some health issues in the past, but very few players protect the quarterback better.

Vollmer has battled back problems through out his entire career, which is perhaps why teams weren’t willing to outbid the Patriots on acquiring him.

The 28-year-old should play a key role in protecting Brady in a new look-offense that will be without Wes Welker, Danny Woodhead and Brandon Lloyd.

Fantasy Buzzer – NFL News from around the league

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