Cincinnati Bengals Week 2: Home vs. the Atlanta Falcons

Aug 8, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) runs for a big gain in the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

The Cincinnati Bengals enter their home opener after finishing their season 8-0 in the regular season in 2013. The Atlanta Falcons will be looking to come back to from a terrible 2013 season and make some noise on the road after finish 1-7 last year.

Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith and Cincinnati Bengals head coach are very familiar with each other. Having both coached with the Baltimore Ravens and last year’s joint spring training session, these two teams have history together.

According to bengals.com the last time these two teams played each other in the regular season was in 2010 in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won that game 39-32 and have one the past 3 meetings. The Bengals are 4-2 at home against the Falcons and hold a slight 7-5 edge in the regular season meetings going back to 1971.

The Cincinnati Bengals are much stronger than they were in 2010 and the Falcons will have a lot to prove after a 4-12 season last year. This game could go a number of ways but looking at recent history have resulted in a difference of 10 points or less between the teams 4 out of their last 5 meetings.