CBS changes late afternoon game to Ravens and Patriots

Originally when the Cincinnati Bengals completed their game on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, CBS was going to air the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers as the late afternoon game in the region.

Someone wised up.

CBS has changed the late afternoon programming to show the Baltimore Ravens and New England game, which is scheduled for a 4:25 p.m. (ET) kickoff.

That makes more sense, doesn't it?

If the Bengals beat the Minnesota Vikings during the early afternoon, it only makes sense that CBS shows the Ravens game due to the immediate and direct impact it could have on the Bengals. If the Ravens lose to the Patriots (and the Bengals win), then Cincinnati secures the AFC North. In any other combination (Bengals lose, Ravens win, both teams win or both teams lose), the regular season finale between the Bengals and Ravens will determine the division champions.

"Honestly, I think we're going to win and I think Baltimore has momentum and I think they're going to win, too. I think that last game is going to mean a lot," safety Chris Crocker said via Bengals.com. "We just need to take care of business."

However, left tackle Andrew Whitworth is a bit more internal and applies responsibility entirely on the Bengals and only the Bengals.

"We control our own destiny," he said via Bengals.com. "If we win our last two, we go to the playoffs."

I like that plan. Simple. Easy to remember.