In a matter of minutes after the two teams played in one of the least entertaining football games in history, New York and Cincinnati fans have began what will be a week-long battle of debate and name calling.
Message boards and blogs are overflowing with comments.
Are the Jets that good or are the Bengals that bad?
Did the Bengals try to win or did they try to lose?
What is going to happen when they play again in the playoffs?
In New York, fans are riding high from a 37-0 thrashing of the Cincinnati Bengals and the majority of the Jets’ fan base is expecting a similar result this Saturday when the two teams face off again at 4:30 p.m. (NBC) at Paul Brown Stadium.
Meanwhile, Bengals’ fans are doing their best to defend the loss by pointing out the absence of Cedric Benson, three defensive starters and a fluke knee injury suffered by Chad Ochocinco during the pregame warm-up.
Cincinnati fans are also quick to point out the vanilla play calling on both sides of the ball, claiming this was no different than a preseason game with the AFC North title already clinched. If that is true, let it be known that the Bengals lost to the lowly St. Louis Rams (went on to finish 1-15 this season) and crushed the Indianapolis Colts, 38-7, this preseason.
However, the fact is, this wasn’t the preseason and Bengals appeared to be helpless against the Jets. Cincinnati couldn’t run, it couldn’t pass and worst of all it couldn’t stop the run.
The Wildcat offense led by ex-Missouri quarterback Brad Smith gashed the Bengals’ rush defense, which had been known as the team’s strength until the last week of the season. No matter if the play was broken or poorly executed by the Jets, the Bengals allowed Smith to rush for 92 yards and a touchdown on only four carries.
New York’s other top rushers included Thomas Jones (78 yards and 2 TDs on 27 carries) and Shonn Greene (62 yards on 13 carries).
This week, the Bengals will add run-stuffer Domata Peko and the athletic Robert Geathers to the defensive line. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer also hopes to add safety Chris Crocker to the starting lineup this week.
The other missing link, Cedric Benson, figures to play a large role in the Bengals’ playoff matchup. On the year, Benson has rushed for 1,251 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games. The Bengals are also a perfect 6-0 when the running back rushes for more than 100 yards this season.
Also, you have to expect a better performance from quarterback Carson Palmer. The 6-foot-5 Californian completed only 1 of 11 pass attempts for zero yards and threw an interception in the loss to the Jets. In his career, Palmer has completed 63.2 percent of his passes compared to 9.1 percent this past Sunday and has a passer rating of 87.9 compared to 1.7. The odds are in Palmer’s favor to have a better performance as he actually set an NFL record for most passing attempts in a game without gaining a single yard.
Speaking of odds, the Bengals are currently a four-point favorite in Las Vegas to beat the Jets.
So, what will happen?
Will the Jets pummel the Bengals like they did recently on national television or will the Bengals pound the Jets by running the football and by stopping the run?
Before I open this forum, my honest opinion is that you see a much different game this Saturday. I expect both teams to play a boring low-scoring game. If the Bengals can stop Smith from running wild then I like Cincinnati’s chances to advance to the second round.
QUICK UPDATES: A couple of quick points. I wanted to keep this discussion going until Saturday, however I felt that I should still keep up with other Bengal news.
First, the Bengals signed cornerback Keiwan Ratliff Monday evening. Ratliff will take the roster spot of defensive tackle Pat Sims, who was injured early in the Jets game this past Sunday night. Ratliff was actually drafted by the Bengals in the second round in 2004. Despite being a cornerback at heart, Ratliff is expected to contribute at safety. Cincinnati does plan on having Chris Crocker back for the first time since the Vikings game (re-injured early in that game) this Saturday. Crocker’s backup, Tom Nelson played poorly this past Sunday night and injured his knee.
Also, as coaching staffs around the league are replaced there is a rumor out there (a lot of sources seem to be repeating it) that Mike Zimmer will become the new defensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins. Zimmer’s contract with the Bengals is up after the season. It is also likely Zimmer’s name to be discussed as a possible head-coaching candidate this winter.
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Perhaps, the Jets paid Carson/Lewis to throw the game so they could go to the playoffs?? Regardless, the game was pathetic. I hope we don’t have a repeat of this performance on Saturday, but perhaps it will work in our favor as the Jets will think they can easily beat us again…and all long it was one big hustle and we will come back with the domination we can throw down on the Jets.
I say the Bengals win it by 8.
Who Dey!!
The Jets game does not speak well for the bench. We can’t afford to lose any key starters.
I would have thought knowing that your football peers were watching on national television that the Bengals would have played with a little more zeal and pride. I am shocked that they are 4 point favorites!
I hope those odds guys in Vegas know their stuff!
GO BENGALS!!!
Thanks for the comment BENGALFL, sorry that it took me awhile to approve it.
Feel free to post comments from now on, they should show up immediately without my moderation.
As Bengals fans we can only hope that our team turns it around. I do expect that line in Vegas to drop closer to EVEN, but after losing 37-0 knowing that the Bengals and Jets are EVEN is somewhat comforting.
The Bengals are awful and the Jets will win again by 14. I thought the Jets were cursed, but then we drew the Bengals. Seriously, you had your 1st team out there and could not complete a pass. Ocho has 2 catches for 24 yards and Jets win 24 to 10. You Suck!!!
Aww man u guys r n 4 a tru beating again sat. Benson betta not play cuz he gonna get hurt talkn bout david harris. Is ocho i mean johnson off that island yet? He always talkn but aint doin no walkn!!!
Thanks Eugene and Jetsup bengalsdown – if you can remember your usernames and passwords then I shouldn’t have to moderate your comments. Your posts should show up immediately from now on.
I admit the Bengals looked awful and deep down I just hope we don’t get embarrassed again. However, the defense will be much better. After backup DT Pat Sims went down with his injury, Orien Harris and Shaun Smith played the majority of snaps at DT. Don’t expect those two to play much, Smith may get some snaps due to the Jets lack of a passing game and Sims’ injury, but both of those players were signed midseason as emergency backups and were not meant to the see the field all year.
The offense looked terrible, it would have been better without those drops (Caldwell should have had a touchdown) and with Cedric Benson. It should be an exciting game, at least for Bengals and Jets fans, but probably boring for the rest of the country. I predict, Bengals 13, Jets 10.
I think Cedric may know who David Harris is after Saturday. I just think after the beating we gave you on Sunday it will be hard to have confidence coming into this game. Unlike some of the other Jet fans though, I love Chad Johnson. I hope he comes to the Jets. It would be better to hang with Revis than face him. We have similar teams I just think ours is better.
Well I wish you goodluck (you know not really though) and hope for a good game with no injuries.
Thanks northjetfan for your comment. Sorry it took me a bit to moderate it. From now on, if you remember your name and password you should be able to comment without any moderation. It should immediately appear.
Be careful for what you wish for, Chad Ochocinco is a tough player to have on your team. He can drive you nuts as a fan. This season, however, he has been great. Sometimes you like him, sometimes you hate him, but he definitely keeps things interesting for Cincinnati fans even when things might be boring.
I do agree about both teams being similar. Both teams run the football and both focus on stopping the run. I believe it is anyone’s game. I do not believe that the Jets will blowout the Bengals, which by what I am reading online seems to be the opinion of most New York fans.
See shall see what happens very soon.
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