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Posted 10.08.09 | 11:34 PM

Headliners: NFL Week 5 Preview

Bengal takes AFC North lead, Sanchez hits rookie wall
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By Danny Nicklin
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"Palmer, Bengals earn their stripes"
Cincinnati at Baltimore (1 p.m. EST - Sunday - CBS)
Commentators: Gus Johnson, Steve Tasker

This meeting of 3-1 teams could wind-up being a shootout, with both teams demonstrating the ability to toss the ball all over the field. Ray Lewis is always a storyline, but look for Carson Palmer (re-emerging from an injury-plagued season) and early Defensive Player of the Year candidate Antwan Odom to receive most the post-game buzz.


"Brady's bunch air it out against Broncos, former O.C."
New England at Denver (4:15 p.m. EST - Sunday - CBS)
Commentators: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

Despite Denver running out of the gate at 4-0, the juicy subplot of Bill Belichick facing his protégé, Josh McDaniels, will be too much too resist. The Master will show that the young grasshopper has much to learn and this beat-down may make national pundits rethink drinking the Mile-High Kool-Aid.


"Dolphins D grounds Sanchez, Jets "
New York Jets at Miami (8:30 p.m. EST - Monday - ESPN)
Commentators: Ron Jaworski, Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden

It's cliché, but the Monday Night crew will point to the Jets game last week and question whether or not the New Orleans Saints put together a "blueprint" on rattling rookie Mark Sanchez. And they might be right. The story after this game will be the Dolphins defense and the multiple blitz schemes they used to keep the Jets offense from developing any consistency.  And the Wildcat formation will be mentioned half-a-million times.


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