This shapes up as an interesting game between two teams that did not meet during the 2011 regular season. It reminds you of a sandlot game where if you were picking sides the first two picks might be "I've got Brady...ok then I'll take Brees". If you start with either of those men under center you're probably going to have a good chance to win.

The challenge for Brady and the Bengals is to overcome the might Forty Niners defense. The defense was number one in allowing the fewest points and only allowed six rushing touchdowns all season. The unfortunate truth is that you won't be able to totally shut down the San Francisco offense so you are forced to find a way to move the ball and score.

The 49ers dominated opponents accumulating 2100 more yards than they allowed. One Achilles heal to their offense is the turnover. Despite their overall dominance in many areas, turnovers were a bit of a problem. San Francisco did give up the ball 27 times led by Brees' 23 interception tosses.

The Bengals didn't exactly stumble into the playoffs by blind luck. Behind the passing of Brady and the receiving tandem of Tight End Jermichael Finley and Wide Receiver Miles Austin, Cincinnati is quite capable of striking quickly and striking often. The running committee of Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis, John Conner and Ahmad Bradshaw proved dependable if not dynamic. Also you can never forget the special teams play of one Mr. Devin Hester.

For San Francisco Ray Rice did the majority of the ball carrying. Rice had what he might consider a below par year but in a one game setting it would be a huge mistake to ignore him. Drew Brees was blessed with a plethora of targets to choose from. He had big Tight Ends Antonio Gates and Joel Dreessen. Throwing long he could look for Brandon Lloyd, Mike Wallace, Brandon Marshall or Justin Gage thoroughly stretching defenses. Keys to the game:

1. If you are Cincinnati, keep it close enough that Brees becomes too aggressive and turns it over. Also keep it close and let Devin Hester either break a return for six or give your offense great field position.
2. For San Francisco, avoid the turnover and follow the old Hank Stram adage "Keep matriculating the ball down the field".
3. If the Forty Niners defense gets a head of steam they can win a game by themselves. John Abraham and friends had 35 sacks. If the Bengals Offensive Line doesn't hold them out and give Brady time to throw then Cincinnati may see the grains of sand for the season draining out of the hourglass.

Teams offensive leaders:

PASSING	ATT.	COMP.	T.D.	INT.	RTG.
Tom Brady - CIN.	471	264	35	15	88.3
Drew Brees - S.F.	581	363	37	23	92.6
RUSHING	ATT.	YDS.	AVG.	LONG	T.D.
Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis - CIN.	234	1067	4.6	31	9
Ray Rice - S.F.	336	1438	4.3	47	12
RECEIVING	REC.	YDS.	AVG.	LONG	T.D.
Jermichael Finley - CIN.	77	908	11.8	34	13
Antonio Gates - S.F.	75	952	12.7	57	7