Date/Time: Thu, Aug 16 / 08:00:00 PM ET, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GeorgiaWeek 2 of the 2012 NFL Preseason kicks off this Thursday night with a primetime matchup featuring the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons. The game is set to take place at 8:00 p.m (ET) at the Georgia Dome and it will be televised nationally on FOX.
The Bengals opened the Pre Season last Friday night with a 17-6 victory over the New York Jets, but injuries to four team starters are a concern for tonight’s game. Injury list includes left guard Travelle Wharton (knee), running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis (foot), defensive end Carlos Dunlap (knee), linebacker Rey Maualuga (knee) and safety Taylor Mays (concussion). Rookie cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, the Bengals' first pick in the latest NFL draft also joins the injury list due to a reported fractured bone in his knee.
Meanwhile, Falcons’ first rehearsal of the season vs. the Baltimore Ravens was a lesson for its defensive team. Atlanta jumped out to an early 14 point lead before the halftime thanks to quarterback Matt Ryan and two touchdowns from Julio Jones and Jacquizz Rodgers. Ryan was 5 for 5 for 71 yards, including the 7-yard touchdown pass to Jones on the opening drive for Atlanta, and a 2-yard touchdown run by running back Rodgers that made the score 14-0.
Ryan was replaced by Chris Redman, who completed only 1 of 6 passes for 8 yards and then John Parker Wilson, who finally drove the Falcons into a field-goal late in the second quarter to make the score 17-7 before the halftime. However, the mood at the Georgia Dome turned sour after the second quarter. The Falcons dropped the lead and were drastically outplayed in the second half of the game. The Ravens forced three turnovers and scored 24 unanswered points to come away with a 31-17 victory.
Atlanta also lost some key players in Thursday's defeat. The Falcons enter tonight's game Rookie Bradie Ewing, who suffered a season- ending torn ACL in the first half. Starting middle linebacker Akeem Dent will be out tonight due concussion sustained in the team's preseason opener. Corey Peters and Vance Walker are both out with long-term injuries, and rookie defensive end Louis Nzegwu will miss the game after sustaining a leg injury against Baltimore.
Game Odds:
Cincinnati Bengals: +4-110, ML +170
Atlanta Falcons: -4-110, ML -200
Game Total: 38, o/u: -110
Tonight’s match is the second straight game at home for the Falcons and the first on the road game for Bengals this year. Current odds on NFL show the Falcons listed at -4 point favorite to win this game.
Atlanta has won eight of the ten all-time preseason meetings against the Bengals. The last time the two teams met in the pre-season was back in 2007, when the Falcons defeated the Bengals 19-24. Cincinnati has not claimed a single victory over the Falcons in exhibition play since a 13-7 road overtime verdict on August 17th, 1974.
Despite its pre-season dominance over the Bengals, the regular season stats show a more balanced situation with 7 wins and 5 losses for Cincinnati. Atlanta has claimed victory in the last three regular season games between the two teams, the most recent being a 32-39 win registered in the 2010 Season. The last time the Bengals scored a victory over Atlanta was back in 1996, when Cincinnati outscored the Falcons 41-31.
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