Let’s face it: The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t exactly storming into the playoffs looking for blood and ready to run over their competition as soon as the whistle blows.

The Bengals lost three of their last four games to wrap up the regular season and haven’t beaten an opponent of significance since they produced back-to-back wins over the Ravens and Steelers in mid-November. Their passing game is severely limited, they have injury concerns and they seem to lack big play potential on both sides of the ball.

In steps in the New York Jets, who might as well be the ’68-69 Jets compared to the Bengals. Led by Rex Ryan, New York has the No. 1 defense in the league, can run the ball behind their solid offensive line and is virtually impossible to pass on.

And-oh-by-the-way, they also just crushed the Bengals 37-0 last week at the Meadowlands. So why should anyone like Cincinnati to beat New York this Saturday?

Here’s why: The Bengals team that played on Sunday night won’t be the same squad that shows up this Saturday in Cincinnati.

Anyone that thinks that the Bengals will play as bad as they did last Sunday is dreaming. They couldn’t tackle, they were unmotivated and they were depleted on both sides of the ball. And if that was Cincinnati’s full complement of offensive plays, then Marvin Lewis and his entire coaching staff should be fired immediately.

Everything looks a little too easy for the Jets this week. They’re the hotter team, they crushed the Bengals last week and they seemingly have the better overall squad. But don’t forget that they’ll be starting a rookie quarterback on the road in his first ever playoff game. The Jets won this year despite Mark Sanchez, not because of him and there’s a very good chance that he’ll put that No. 1 defense in a couple of compromising situations that the Bengals can take advantage of.

The only thing we can come to expect from the NFL is the unexpected. Many people expect this to be an easy win for the Jets, but let’s not forget how good the Bengals’ running game and defense was throughout the season. And also keep in mind that this team won games this year that many counted them out from the beginning, including victories in Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Baltimore, as well as home games against those same Steelers and Ravens. They also fought hard in San Diego the same week Chris Henry died, although they eventually lost, 27-24.

The Bengals have overcome a lot just to get where they are now, including deaths of players and of coaches’ family members. (Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer tragically lost his wife earlier in the season.) So don’t just assume that they’re going to lie down and let a rookie quarterback walk into their home and steal a victory.


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