San Francisco 49ers: 5 Toughest Games in 2015
Jan 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back
Giovani Bernard(25) gets away from Indianapolis Colts free safety
LaRon Landry(30) in the first half in the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
5. Week 15-Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals certainly won’t be in the top five of the power rankings most of the year, but they should never be overlooked. Having made the playoffs four straight years, the team is not exactly a cupcake.
While quarterback Andy Dalton is anything but an elite quarterback at this point, he can convert downs and move the chains while young and explosive running backs Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard gash opponents for big yardage. Even with an average quarterback at the helm, you can never count out a team with a guy like receiver A.J. Green on the field.
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Add in a solid defense with the likes of Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap up front and you have the definition of a wildcard playoff team in the NFL. Not many will pick them to win it all, but they are likely a first round playoff team.
The Bengals rarely score big or dominate opponents, but they are consistently decent, and have major weapons on both sides of the ball. Enough weapons to give the 49ers issues late in the season when injuries and fatigue start to really hurt. Not to mention being sandwiched in between long road trips to Cleveland and Detroit in the cold weather of winter.
Next: Week 8: St. Louis Rams