The Bengals’ season ended with the big thud in the Jungle earlier today.  The Bengals just got too far behind to keep running the ball which they were doing very well which took them out of any kind of rhythm they had on offense.  Carson Palmer couldn’t get anything going throwing the ball as he completed 18 of 36 passes for 146 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT.  Cedric Benson had one of the best games of his career against the Jets’ solid D with 21 carries for 169 yards (8.0 ypc) with 1 TD run and he also caught 3 passes for 12 yards (4.0 avg).  Laveranues Coles led the way in the passing game for the Bengals today with 6 grabs for 48 yards (8.0 avg) with a TD grab but he also lost a fumble early in the game in the red zone which the Jets recovered.  Chad Ocho Cinco was pretty much taken out of the game by Jets’ CB Darrelle Revis as he only caught 2 passes for 28 yards (14.0 avg) today.  The Bengals finished up with 281 total yards on offense (171 rushing, 110 passing) in this game as they had the ball for 26:58.

The Bengals’ D got pushed around by the Jets’ O-Line and shredded by rookie QB Mark Sanchez.  Safety Chinedum Ndukwe led the way for the Bengals on D today with 10 tackles and 2 tackles for a loss.  Linebacker Dhani Jones pitched in with 7 tackles.  The Jets finished up with 353 total yards in this game (171 rushing, 182 passing) in this game.  The Bengals were also really hurt by kicker Shayne Graham who missed field goals from 35 and 28 yards today.  This loss really hurts but the Bengals still had a pretty good season as they did win the AFC North.

The Bengals didn’t show much at all last week as they got pounded 37-0 by the Jets while they were resting some players.  Look for a different team to show up tomorrow in the Jungle.  The Bengals will likely tighten up the chin straps on offense and turn Cedric Benson loose against a Jets’ D that only allowed 98.6 yards rushing and 3.8 yards per carry this season.  Remember though, Benson has had success against run defenses that are better than the Jets this year.  With Chad Ocho Cinco likely being covered all game long by CB Darrelle Revis the Bengals might look to use other receivers more tomorrow.  Watch for TE J.P. Foschi over the middle against the Jets’ safeties as he has earned Carson Palmer’s trust.  Also, look for the Bengals to use a lot of three receiver sets with Andre Caldwell and Laveranues Coles getting a lot of targets.  I expect Carson Palmer to get his fair share of passing yards in the Jungle tomorrow afternoon.

Defensively the Bengals need to go all out to stop the Jets’ running game with led the league averaging 172.3 yards rushing and 4.5 yards per carry.  That will be easier said than done as DTs Tank Johnson and Domata Peko will have to keep the linebackers clean to get to the running backs.  If the Bengals can stop the Jets on first and second down they will be in business because Mark Sanchez will have a hard time beating the corners.  Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall will likely be all over Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery as they fell jilted by not making the Pro Bowl. 

PREDICTION:  BENGALS 20, JETS 17

The Bengals turned into a run first offense during the 2009 season meaning that the QB didn’t have to make as many plays as in the past.  30-year old Carson Palmer started all 16 games for the Bengals this season and he completed 282 of 466 passes (60.5%) for 3,094 yards with 21 TD passes and 13 INTs (83.6 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 39 times for 93 yards (2.4 ypc) with 3 TD runs this year.  Palmer has now played in 81 games in his career with the Bengals and he has completed 1,662 of 2,631 passes (63.2%) for 18,724 yards with 128 TD passes and 80 INTs (87.9 QB Rating).  Palmer also has carried the ball 147 times for 266 yards (1.8 ypc) with 5 TD runs in this career.  Palmer is one of the best QBs in team history, period.

30-year old J.T. O’Sullivan wasn’t needed much in 2009 and that was a good thing for the Bengals.  He played in 3 games for the Bengals last season and he completed 4 of 11 passes (36.4%) for 40 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 INTs (47.5 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 4 times for 12 yards (3.0 ypc) this year.  O’Sullivan has now played in 17 games in his NFL career and he has  completed 145 of 257 passes (56.4%) for 1,866 yards with 9 TD passes and 13 INTs (70.0 QB Rating).  O’Sullivan has also carried the ball 39 times for 145 yards (3.7 ypc) in his career to date.  The Bengals’ fortune continues to ride on Carson Palmer’s health because if he does down to injury they are done.

The Bengals have signed 28-year old CB Keiwan Ratliff to replace Pat Sims on the active roster for the playoffs.  He played in 8 games for the Steelers this season making 9 tackles.  He has now played in 73 games (12 starts) in his NFL career and he has made 145 tackles, defensed 11 passes, forced 2 fumbles and he has 5 interceptions including one that he returned for a TD.  The addition of Ratliff should help them out on special teams.

The Bengals have lost 24-year old DT Pat Sims for the rest of the year due to a broken right forearm.  Sims played in all 16 games during the regular season for the Bengals and he made 34 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and he had 1/2 a sack.  This really hurts the depth of the defensive line heading into this week’s playoff rematch with the New York Jets.

The Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) played awful and were shut out by the New York Jets (9-7).  It was the first time the Bengals have been shut out since the 2001 season.  The Bengals were already in the playoffs, but they have lost three of their last four and are not looking their best heading into the postseason.  Carson Palmer went 1/11 for 0 yards and an interception.  J.T. O’Sullivan at least got some positive yardage, going 3/8 for 31 yards.  Cedric Benson didn’t play, and the Bengals managed to get only 72 rushing yards.

Defensively, the Bengals weren’t much better than the offense.  They let the Jets run all over them, giving up 257 rushing yards.  Jets’ quarterback Mark Sanchez barely had to throw the ball, going 8/16 for 63 yards.  This win got the Jets the final spot in the AFC playoffs, and they looked good.  The Bengals on the other hand, looked out of sync and not much of a playoff team.  Granted they were resting some of their key players, but they still are not looking very good heading into the playoffs.

The Cincinnati Bengals (10-5) have already clinched the AFC North, but they could play spoilers to the New York Jets (8-7) on Sunday.  If the Jets win they are in the playoffs, if they lose they are out.  The Bengals should not pull too many starters unless the game is a blowout, and not just to try and spoil the Jets’ season.  They need to continue to build momentum and rhythm heading into the playoffs.  It looks like head coach Marvin Lewis feels the same way, saying the Bengals “can’t turn it on and off”.  Still, reports are coming out that Carson Palmer and other key starters may be getting a lot of rest on Sunday so who knows?   Chad Ochocinco and Cedric Benson will be playing with chips on their shoulders though, with both getting snubbed in the Pro Bowl.  Even if they play a lot, it will still be a challenge since the Jets defense gives up only 264 total yards per game.

Jets’ rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez has had a very inconsistent season this year, and has turned the ball over a lot.  The Bengals are good at slowing down the run, giving up only 88 rushing yards per game, so that could force Sanchez to throw more.  Thomas Jones has rushed for over 1,300 yards this season though, so it won’t be easy.  If they can contain Jones, it makes it more likely for the Bengals to get a turnover or two, as Sanchez has thrown 20 interceptions this season.  If the Bengals rest their starters, then the Jets will probably win this game.  With contradicting reports coming out on the topic, it is still too early to know.  Since the Jets are fighting for their playoffs lives and the possibility that the Bengals will rest some starters, I am going with the Jets in this one.

PREDICTION:  Cincinnati Bengals 17, New York Jets 27