Bengals vs. Jets: 10 Things To Know About the Thanksgiving Matchup
The Jets are coming off a dramatic win over the Houston Texans, and the Bengals are coming off an embarrassing defeat at home to the Buffalo Bills. Just like that, they're about to play again.
Week 12 starts this Thursday with a Thanksgiving triple-header, and it's time to take a look at some facts for this Bengals vs. Jets matchup.
It's going to be an interesting battle, already fueled by comments made from Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens.
The Jets have been a team that can't put opponents away, making them fight until the very end, but you'd think they'd win comfortably over a 2-8 Bengals team.
This will be a rematch of last year's regular season finale and Wild Card playoff game. The Jets beat the Bengals in Week 17 at home to make the playoffs and beat them again the following week in Cincinnati to advance.
Here are 10 things to know heading into this midweek matchup.
Bengals Are The Most Overrated Team In Football
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The Bengals never seem to do anything yet stunned the world last season with a playoff appearance.
They always bring in players with huge egos and off-the-field issues—and it always bites them. After winning 10 games in 2009, they decided for whatever reason on the recommendation of Chad Ochocinco, to sign fellow diva wide receiver Terrell Owens.
Although Owens is having a fine season, Ochocinco isn't—it's been a bust. For the talent that's on this team, they shouldn't be 2-8. But they are, and it's because they're overrated and so are their two receivers.
They can certainly win any given week, but the Bengals are proving that 2009 was most likely a fluke.
Although Bad, Bengals Are Seeking Revenge On Jets
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The Bengals may be 2-8 and may have an overrated roster, but they will certainly be seeking revenge against the Jets. It's very rare for a team to lose two straight games to an opponent which is what happened last season.
Many people believe the Bengals didn't play hard in Week 17 of 2009, knowing they'd have to face the Jets the following week. It didn't work out, as the Jets beat them, 24-14, in Cincinnati to end their season on Wild Card weekend.
Chad Ochocinco made comments before the Week 17 matchup about Darrelle Revis and how he wasn't going to be shut down, but Ochocinco didn't even play in the game due to injury. In the playoff game, Ochocinco only caught two passes for 28 yards in the loss against Revis.
Now, the Bengals will at least try to get something out of their dreadful season by setting the Jets back a game. Look for them to play hard.
Jets Have Making Of Dangerous Passing Game
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The Jets have always wanted to be about their ground and pound offense, and for the most part they're trying to stick to that game plan.
But all of a sudden, especially late in games, the Jets are establishing a fearsome pass attack—and Mark Sanchez is looking better than ever.
Statistically, the passing numbers don't stick out, as the Jets are only 17th in the league, but looking at the last three games, it's only the fourth quarter and overtime that counts.
In each of their last three games, they've won with the big play being a pass from Sanchez to Santonio Holmes.
One was in overtime to set up a game-winning field goal, one was a game-winning touchdown in overtime and last week was the clinching catch with 10 seconds left in regulation.
If the Jets keep this game close, the Bengals pass defense is only 16th in the league.
A wild card for the Jets passing game is LaDainian Tomlinson. The running back caught seven passes for 71 yards in Sunday's win over the Texans.
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Shonn Greene Is Becoming Jets Primary Rusher
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In each of the last two games, Shonn Greene has picked up more rushing yards than LaDainian Tomlinson. With the way Tomlinson has declined—although not to a huge extent—Greene has picked up the load.
There's nothing wrong with that, as it keeps Tomlinson fresh for crucial games down the stretch, but Greene is a fumbling machine. He had a fumble in Sunday's win that at one point appeared to have been the turning point in the Jets' fourth quarter collapse.
The rushing numbers in the game were split down the middle for the most part between the two backs, with Greene getting three more carries than Tomlinson.
The Bengals are not good at stopping the run as their overall defense is poor, so look for the Jets to mix up the play selection in this game.
Bengals Quarterback Carson Palmer Having Average Season
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After being selected first overall in the 2003 Draft by the Bengals, Carson Palmer hasn't been as great as he should've been.
This year he's having an average season, throwing 18 touchdowns along with 13 interceptions. In Sunday's loss against the Bills, Palmer went 19-for-34 for 230 yards passing, throwing two touchdowns and two interceptions.
It was his seventh straight game with at least two touchdown passes but his fourth game this season with multiple interceptions.
Palmer could have a chance at being successful at passing in this game, as the Jets are only 16th in the league against it.
The Bengals are averaging close to 250 passing yards per game, and being as they won't be able to run against the Jets, look for perhaps 40 attempts from Palmer.
Bengals May Not Be Able to Run, But Cedric Benson Is a Threat
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You wouldn't figure the Bengals would be able to run against the Jets in this game. The numbers are on the Jets' side as the Bengals are 23rd in rushing and the Jets are fifth in stopping it. That doesn't mean the Bengals won't be able to get something going on the ground.
Arian Foster of the Texans was able to run for 84 yards and so could Cedric Benson.
He had a great game against the Bills, carrying the ball 25 times for 124 yards. It was really a breakout game for him. In his previous game against the Colts, he only rushed for a grand total of 24 yards on 14 carries which was frankly awful.
His biggest game of the season came against the Buccaneers in Week 5 when he ran for 144 yards.
Benson didn't play against the Jets in Week 17 of last season but had a monster game against them in the Wild Card playoff game. He rushed 21 times for 169 yards and a touchdown. He'll be a dark horse in this game.
Jets Could Be Doomed Against Palmer With Lack Of Pressure
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As mentioned in a previous slide, Carson Palmer is having an average season, but he is still throwing his touchdown passes.
The Jets are becoming known all over the league as a team that can't put any pressure on opposing quarterbacks. If their defense doesn't blitz, it isn't getting the job done.
With Darrelle Revis back to being healthy, the Jets could use the blitz a lot which will help, but it still isn't working. When games come down to the wire, their defense is collapsing and giving up crucial points.
Last week against the Texans, it collapsed even with a big lead at home. The Jets blew a 16-point fourth quarter lead, and if wasn't for the offensive help, it would've cost them the game.
It was similar to what the Bengals had happen to them, although not to the tune of 35 second-half points.
With the way Palmer has been able to get into the end zone and with the way the Jets defense has played late, they have to put up big points on the Bengals' mediocre defense and not let down. They can very easily blow another big lead.
Jets Need To Win to Keep Pace With Patriots Before Week 13 Game
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Entering Week 12, the Jets and Patriots and tied for the AFC East lead record-wise at 8-2. The Jets beat the Patriots at the Meadowlands, so they are technically in first place.
Both teams play on Thanksgiving, and both should win, as the Patriots go to face the Detroit Lions. Both games could be lost by the favorites, as both the Bengals and Lions have talent, but assuming the Patriots win their game in the afternoon, the Jets must win to keep pace.
It doesn't look like a big deal for both teams to have the same record, but it is. Whichever team goes up by a game will have an advantage the rest of the way, making the Week 13 matchup between the two a little less exciting.
It'll still be a huge game no matter what on Monday night, December 6, but it would be nice for both teams to be 9-2.
The Jets also must win this game in order to establish some kind of home-field advantage. Assuming the Jets will host a playoff game, they need to be better than what they've been at home which is mediocre.
So although it's against a 2-8 team, this is still a big game for the Jets.
Darrelle Revis Out to Prove He Isn't an "Average Corner"
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Clueless is the perfect adjective to use when describing Terrell Owens. The Bengals' outspoken receiver said on Tuesday that he feels Jets corner back Darrelle Revis is an "average corner." What is he talking about?
Now, he did acknowledge that Revis had a good season in 2009 but said too much is being made out of him over "one good season."
Maybe Owens doesn't realize that the reason Revis has been "average" this season is because of his holdout and resulting hamstring injury. His holdout was due to the fact he's good enough for the long term to be a star corner in this league.
Perhaps Owens doesn't realize that he was shut down by Revis twice last season as a member of the Buffalo Bills.
He combined for six catches and 44 yards without a touchdown against Revis. So in other words, Revis was trying to tell him to "shut up."
Now, with Owens calling him out days before the game, we know who Revis will cover more. Ochocinco or Owens? I'll go out on a limb and say Owens.
Bottom Line: Jets Will Improve to 9-2
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There are 10 things you needed to know about this game. The one thing that stands out above all is that the Jets will come out victorious.
Just think about what has gone down over the last few weeks. The Jets have won three games they could have easily lost but have seen their young quarterback step up in the clutch, while the Bengals blew a 31-14 halftime lead to the just-as-bad Buffalo Bills at their own home.
If the Bengals couldn't put away the Bills at home, what's the logic in thinking they'll beat an 8-2 Jets team on the road on Thanksgiving night?
It isn't going to happen as the Jets will utilize their offense in both the rushing and passing game to blow the Bengals out, 38-14.
Darrelle Revis will shut Terrell Owens down—again—and the Jets will improve to 9-2 before getting the maximum 10 days rest before facing the Patriots a week from Monday.
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