The Colts have dropped one game behind the San Diego Chargers in the race for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Heading in the opposite direction are the Bengals, proud owners of a 4-0 record both straight up and against the spread  during the past four weeks.

Credit the turnaround to a Cincinnati defense that has allowed a microscopic 8.2 PPG over that four-game span. In addition, the Bengals have yielded just 17 points in their last three outings.

It’s not a surprise that the Colts are a pathetic 1-4 ATS in the last five games with a defense that is allowing 26.5 PPG during that span.

Cincinnati cornerback Deltha O’Neal, who was inactive last week following a driving arrest, is listed as “questionable” this week. The Bengals will need his help to slow the aerial combination of Peyton Manning to Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. The trio leads an offense that is averaging 381.4 YPG.

Indianapolis safety Bob Sanders is once again listed as “questionable,” while both Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes are expected to play.

All eyes will be on Bengals running back Rudi Johnson this week after the Jacksonville Jaguars exploited the Indy defense for 375 rushing yards in its previous game. Rudi’s 30 carries last week versus Oakland were a season high.

If Johnson is successful, expect Carson Palmer to have great success finding Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry. The Bengals have averaged 24.3 PPG overall this season and 28.4 PPG in their last five contests.

Not surprisingly, the ‘total’ for this game has sky-rocketed from 51 to 54 ½. The ‘over’ has cashed during the two previous meetings between these clubs, with Indy winning both games and going 1-1 ATS.

Manning got the best of Palmer during the Colts’ 45-37 win at Cincinnati in November 2005. Manning threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns, while Palmer passed for 335 yards and two scores with an interception.

The game featured 943 yards, with 492 accumulated by the Bengals and 451 by the Colts.

Manning was nearly flawless on Indianapolis’ first five possessions, which all resulted in touchdowns. He compled 16-of-20 passes for 272 yards and three scores as the Colts built a 35-17 lead.

Indianapolis has a stellar 6-0 SU and 4-2 ATS home record this season, while the Bengals have been an impressive 4-2 both SU and ATS on the road. Cincinnati has been outscored on the road in the first quarter by an average of three points, but has responded to outscore the opposition by an astonishing 22.6 points the remainder of the game.

This has ignited the Bengals to a 13.6 margin of victory, while the Colts have won by an average of 8.4 PPG. The Colts have averaged 29.3 PPG at home, while the Bengals have allowed just 16.3 PPG on the road.

New England is the lone opponent these teams have in common. Indy traveled to Foxboro Stadium and defeated New England by seven points. Cincinnati played the worst game of its season, losing at home to the Patriots by 25 points.

Cincinnati has three tough games to end the season. After Indy, the club faces Denver on the road before returning home versus Pittsburgh. The Colts finish the season at Houston and then return home against Miami.

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