Bengals vs. Jets Prediction: Joe Burrow and Cincy Facing Must-Win Situation

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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It’s rare that this early in the season a team finds itself in a must-win game, but the Cincinnati Bengals are there after dropping games to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dak Prescott-less Dallas Cowboys in the first two weeks of the season.

Cincy’s offensive line has struggled to protect Joe Burrow, who is on pace to be sacked 110 times this season, but it may get a reprieve against an average to below average New York Jets pass rush in Week 3. 

The Jets and Joe Flacco pulled off the upset of the year, coming back from 13 down in the fourth to beat the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, but is there any magic left in Flacco’s arm? 

Remember, Mike White and the Jets beat the Bengals last season right after Cincy climbed into the top spot in the AFC North. 

Here are the latest odds for this game from FanDuel: 

Bengals vs. Jets Odds, Spread and Total

Bengals vs. Jets Odds, Spread and Total Movement in NFL Week 3

There has been significant movement towards the Bengals in this game after they opened as 4.5-point favorites. They currently sit at six-point favorites and the total in this game has also moved from 43.5 to 45.5. 

Bengals vs. Jets Best Bet and Prediction

I played this Cincy team at -4.5 earlier in the week, but there is a bit of a cause for concern with the line moving all the way to six. 

That being said, I think bettors should feel comfortable backing the Bengals at anything less than a touchdown. 

New York did complete a wild comeback against Jacoby Brissett and the Browns, but the Baltimore Ravens handled them in Week 1 fairly easily. The key for Cincy, and one of the few good things it has done, is that the defense has held up fairly well early in the season. 

If the Bengals can force Flacco into a turnover or two, it should help jumpstart Burrow and this offense. With their backs against the wall, the Bengals are the team to bet. 


Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.