First let me tell you why the Jets won the game the way they did Sunday. The Bengals didn't care, the conditions were terrible, the offense was just a little bit off, the Bengals had several injuries, and the Jets were the ones playing for something.
The Jets ran all over the Bengals for I believe a team record 257 rushing yards. In fact the 80% of the yardage the Jets gained was on the ground. Why did this happen? Many point to Rey Maualuga being injured against the Chiefs the week before. But that's only part of it. The Bengals entire defensive line was out. Tank Johnson, Shaun Smith, Domata Peko, and Robert Geathers are all gonna be back today against the Jets. When the Jets run fails, they get to test the rookie's (Mark Sanchez) arm against Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph. Not to mention that Cris Crocker is going to be back at safety. That Bengals defense you saw last week, will be completely different this week.
Now the offense is another story. Last week the offense was just a little bit off, I don't think that will be the case this week. The Bengals offense is gonna be in sync for this game. Cedric Benson who rested last week is gonna be back. Ochocinco who was injured in the game last week, should make a bigger difference in this game as well. We did lose an offensive lineman, but we should still be able to run the ball and pass a lot better than we did last week. Even if its cold, the Bengals field turf is heated, unlike the Jets which led to Ochocinco slipping on ice in warmups.
The Bengals fans will be there and create a 12th man for the Bengals. They are 6-2 at home this year, although the Jets are 5-3 on the road. Bengals never won at the Meadowlands, 0-11 all-time, so that was part of the curse last week. Conditions will be cold again in Cincinnati, but the Bengals are gonna come out hitting hard unlike last week.
The Bengals have not won a playoff game since 1990 season. 41-14 win over the Houston Oilers, a team that doesn't exist anymore.
The Jets and Bengals did meet in the playoffs in the 1982 season, and this game could be compared to last week's debacle. In the strike-shortened season the Jets beat the Bengals 44-17. The Jets were a 7th seed, because 8 teams made the playoffs due to the strike. Freeman McNeil ran for 211 yards in that game, much like the Jets ran over the Bengals Sunday. Here is the video of the game:
http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/multimedia/video/720-jets-24-7-greatest-moments-jets-at-bengals-1-09-83
The Jets and Bengals last meeting in Cincinnati went the Bengals way though. 38-31 Bengals won. The Bengals were down 23-10 in the third and then scored 28 unanswered. So essentially the Bengals just needed more time in the game last week, starters I mean haha. Jonathan Joseph returned a pick for a TD in that game to put the Bengals up 38-24, in garbage time the Jets scored on a hail mary as the clock ran out and went for 2 and got it. Laverneous Coles was the key weapon for the Jets in that game: 8 Catches, 133 Yards, and 2 Touchdowns of 57 and 36 yards. Coles is now with us!
I think its time for the Bengals to rise up and break the playoff win drought. I still say Jets will win though. JETS 24, BENGALS 20. But then again Carson Palmer's career playoff stats are: 1 for 1 for 66 yards with a quarterback rating of 118.8. He was of course injured on that play and the pass was to the late Chris Henry. There's two motivational events right there that should fire up these Bengals. Either way AFC North Division Champions 2009, and undefeated in the division, unless Ravens beat us in AFC Championship, highly unlikely.
Can somebody please tell me who the Steelers are playing this weekend, I seem to have forgotten!
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