CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals are getting ready for Saturday’s AFC Divisional Playoff matchup with the Tennessee Titans and Bengals Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz says this year’s team is different and it has him excited about their run.
“I’ve said it and I’ll say it again, I think this team can play with anybody in the league right now if they eliminate mistakes and do the blocking and tackling type of fundamentals that we all talk about,” Muñoz told News Center 7′s John Bedell.
>> Bengals, Titans NFL playoff game airs on WHIO-TV
The Hall of Famer said he was at Paul Brown Stadium last weekend, when the Bengals secured their first playoff victory in more than three decades with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
“It was a lot of weight lifted off. But the atmosphere was none that I’ve experienced in the 22 years that Paul Brown (Stadium) has been up,” Muñoz said. “I’ve been to a lot of games. I’ve been to the playoff games there. But, man, I tell you what, it was the buzz, the atmosphere, it was just crazy.”
Muñoz was selected third overall in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Bengals and led the team to three AFC Central Division titles and two AFC Championships. He also was part of a 45 second segment on News Center 7 during his time on the team.
“We called it ‘My Bengals Diary.’ So I did that for several years,” Muñoz said.
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The buzz around the Bengals is continuing this week as the team prepares for its Saturday matchup at 4:30 p.m. in Nashville, which will air live on WHIO-TV Channel 7.
“I think it’s a tough matchup,” Muñoz said. “I think we match up well. I think we can get physical with them. They are a physical team. But I think it’s going to be a tough go, but I feel good about it.”
Muñoz said the way the playoffs have played out so far, has been interesting.
“The Raiders – the last team we lost to, we beat them. And when I talk to young people, I mention Houston Oilers and they’re like, ‘Wait, Tennessee Titans? The old Houston (Oilers)?’ – and that’s the last team we beat, and so it’s nice to get a win against the last team we lost to and continue with the last team we beat,” he said.
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