Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco is psyched about Sunday's Nov. 16 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles for more than one reason. However, the biggest reason could be his long awaited face-to-face meeting with Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel.

"I can't wait to see Asante," Ocho Cinco said Wednesday during a conference call with Philadelphia media. "I owe him a little bit, and I'm really looking forward to it. I can't wait. I'm excited."

Apparently, Ocho Cinco's over exuberance to face Samuel stems from an incident that took place during the 2007 season when Samuel played for New England.

"I think I owe him from a year ago," he said. "He picked off a ball which caused Carson (Palmer) and I to have a little bickering on the sideline, caused a lot of negative headlines about him and I not getting along.

"Now it's my time to get him back, every time I see him in the offseason I'm always talking trash, and so I think this is a good time to redeem myself, and I will commence to baptize him on Sunday."

Something tells me that Ocho Cinco had this date circled on his calendar since the start of the season.

The play came in the second quarter of a Monday night game with the Bengals offense driving down the field trailing 17-7 just before halftime. Palmer threw a deep pass down the middle of the field intended for Ocho Cinco. It was intercepted by Samuel at New England's 2 yard-line.

The play has been on the mind of the receiver for some time, and he blames the tiff between him and the quarterback on Samuel's performance.

"It's his fault," Ocho Cinco said laughingly. "He's a very, very, very extremely smart corner which makes him one of the best in the game. I mean, it's not so much about his talent, his cover skills, but really his film study is unbelievable and being able to gamble and pick and choose the right times to jump balls and just all that stuff, he's what you would call a complete cornerback and that's why I respect him so much and look forward to this challenge because he's one of the best in the game."

The Bengals have a 1-8 record and Ocho Cinco's numbers are down this season with 37 catches for 349 yards and four touchdowns, but that hasn't stopped the team's top receiver from taking a winner's approach to the game.

"I'm playing like we're 8-1," he said. "I'm not playing like we're 1-8. That's how I'm approaching each and every game. Like we're winning. That's one of the ways I've been able to keep myself very positive."

Ocho Cinco will have to bring his A-game on Sunday, going head-to-head with one of the top corners in the league in Samuel.

Carlos "Big C" Holmes covers the NFL for the Dayton Daily News.