Images from Boston.com and AZPigskin.com

Carson Palmer has bounced back from his knee injury like a man on a mission. Matt Leinart’s quickly climbing the quarterback ranks. It’s a countdown to week 11 of the NFL regular season, when the two former USC quarterbacks duke it out in Cincinnati. Yes, the Arizona Cardinals meet the Cincinnati Bengals on November 18th…The former backup will meet his mentor. But will the teacher become the teach-ed?

Arizona just juiced up both sides of the line with recent draft acquisitions, most importantly tackle Levi Brown out of Penn State. The fifth-pick overall, Brown should offer Leinart some much needed protection. At the same time Brown should open up some holes, to let Edgerrin James pound it out on the dance floor. The real question is: will Arizona have the killer finishing instinct they so visibly lacked last season?

The Bengals have it all, and have got more some since the draft. They are the most solid team to have had such an average 2006 season. This upcoming season, Carson is ready to lead. The real question is: will his teammates be willing to follow? Or will they spend more time suspended or in prison than they do on the field?