New York Jets vs Cincinnati Bengals preview, prediction, odds

Can I ask everybody a question real quick? Who is this New York Jets team?

This team is definitely not the team we are used to watching. So far they were able to knock off the Buccaneers in their opening game, almost beat Tom Brady in his home turf, beat Matt Ryan in his own turf then turned around and beat Tom Brady at home.

Oh, did I mention Tim Tebow isn’t on the roster and Mark Sanchez isn’t the starting quarterback? Rookie quarterback Geno Smith and this team look to be doing the right things as they currently sit at 4-3 on the year.

But this Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals will yet again be another tough task for this team. You can’t necessarily make these guys the underdogs of this match up because, well, look at the second part of this article.

It doesn’t matter if Matt Ryan and the Falcons struggled, it’s still Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons. Plus this defense kept Tom Brady from throwing a touchdown pass during that victory.

So both of these defenses who stopped the future first ballot Hall of Fame player Tom Brady from throwing a touchdown pass, will go head to head in what will surely be a defensive battle.

Of course Cincinnati still has one of the most athletic and strongest defensive fronts in the league. No matter how bad they’re playing, their ability to get off the ball and disrupt plays is freakishly amazing.

With guys like Geno Atkins, Domata Petko, Michael Johnson, Carlos Dunlap and Margus Hunt, these guys are easily a running back and quarterback’s worst nightmare. The scary thing about that group of players? They’re only going to get better.

Cincinnati’s defense is currently ranked 13th in the league against the pass and 8th in the league against the run game. They’ve allowed an average of 236 yards through the air and around 98 yards on the ground.

New York’s defense is currently ranked 10th in the league against the pass and are second in the league against the run game. That’s a pretty solid defense to help balance an offense that has been able to put some points on the board.

Something you need when you’re hoping to build a possible championship team. That may have been a stretch, but it’s a formula every team needs if they want to be successful in this league.

Looking at their offenses, things are almost balanced out when looking at both sides.

Of course Cincinnati’s offense features a young starting quarterback and wide receiver who are indeed franchise players. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green are going to be something special to watch.

I’m not saying they’ll be a Peyton Manning/Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne combo, but a starting quarterback/wide receiver you would want on your roster.

Cincinnati currently ranks ninth in the league in passing offense and 18th in rushing yards per game. Dalton threw for 372 yards against the Detroit Lions with A.J. Green pulling in six receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown.

Their longest connection of the day was that 82 yard bomb. Beautiful throw, beautiful play, just beautiful all around.

New York ranks 21st in the league in passing and 11th in rushing. Not that bad, but something they will want to improve on as the season grows older. It’s not that bad of a start considering this team has a rookie quarterback under center. It could be a lot worse. Cough cough, Mark Sanchez.

So with a little bit of a preview and both offensive and defensive stats laid out on the table, what do both teams need to do to make sure they walk out with a victory?

Obviously both defenses are strong, so both of these young offenses need to take what the defense will give them. It’s going to be nothing but a field position battle and whoever has the best field position needs to capitalize.

Opening up the running game may be tough for both teams but one of them is bound to break free and be able to move the chains on the ground, which will allow them to go over the top and chew up yardage through the air.

I know we have some exciting games this weekend, but this is going to be one I’ll have my television on once it starts. I love NFL Sunday Ticket.

Anyways, right now I would have to give the edge to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Yeah Geno Smith is having a decent season, but Andy Dalton and A.J. Green are on a mission to show that this team is for real and will no longer be a stepping stone for anybody else in this conference.

I’m giving props to both teams. Cincinnati was actually a team I was excited to watch play this season (even though they started off against my Chicago Bears) and know they’ll be successful in the future.

Dalton just has more targets available for him. Last week Dalton was able to find seven targets to stretch out those 372 yards and didn’t throw an interception.

He has guys like A.J. Green, Jermaine Gresham, rookie tight end Tyler Eifer, Dane Sanzenbacher, Marvin Jones and so on and so on.

That connection between A.J. Green and Andy Dalton may be too much for the Jets to handle right now. I think they connect around 10 times for almost 130 yards with two touchdowns.

It’ll be a close game, but I’m going to have to give it to Cincinnati.

I say Cincinnati Bengals 27 New York Jets 23

ODDS

New York Jets +6.5

Cincinnati Bengals 41