Jets-Bengals Preview
| SCOUTING REPORT |
Bengals must run to set up the passHead coaches Eric Mangini and Marvin Lewis must find a way to get their seasons turned around quickly. Do the Jets make a change with Chad Pennington at QB? Regardless of who plays quarterback for the Jets, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer must find a way to jump start his struggling offense against a Bengals' defense that is allowing 393.2 yards per game. Expect Bengals defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan to load-up the box with multiple defenders, while being physical on the outside and force the Jets to be a one-dimensional team through the air. The Bengals are an explosive team through the air with QB Carson Palmer, but they must find more balance this week against a Jets' run defense that is allowing 131.5 yards a game. Meanwhile, Jets defensive coordinator Bob Sutton must find a way to stop the run, while creating pressure schemes to attack Palmer in the pocket. |
· Full Scouting Report 
|
| Matchup |
| | W-L | PF | PA | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF |
| NYJ | 4-12 | 268 | 355 | 3-5 | 1-7 | 2-4 | 4-8 |
| CIN | 7-9 | 380 | 385 | 5-3 | 2-6 | 3-3 | 6-6 |
| · Complete Standings |
| NY Jets Passing | | | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | | Sanche... | 52.1 | 1791 | 10 | 16 |
| | Cincinnati Passing | | | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | | Palmer | 61.5 | 2217 | 14 | 8 |
|
| | Cincinnati Rushing | | | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | | Benson | 205 | 859 | 4.2 | 6 | | Scott | 50 | 214 | 4.3 | 0 |
|
| TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS |
| TEAM OFFENSE | TEAM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Total Yards | NYJ | 295.0 |
| CIN | 348.0 |
| Yards Passing | NYJ | 188.4 |
| CIN | 250.8 |
| Yards Rushing | NYJ | 106.3 |
| CIN | 97.3 |
| TEAM DEFENSE | TEAM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Yards Allowed | NYJ | 331.9 |
| CIN | 348.8 |
| Pass Yds Allowed | NYJ | 197.1 |
| CIN | 230.4 |
| Rush Yds Allowed | NYJ | 134.8 |
| CIN | 118.3 |
| HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001) |
| NY Jets leads 2-1 |
| Sep 12, 2004 | NYJ 31, @CIN 24 |
| Dec 16, 2001 | NYJ 15, @CIN 14 |
null
The Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets hope to begin turning around their dismal seasons when they meet Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.
The Bengals (1-4) have lost four straight, including a disappointing 27-20 loss at Kansas City last weekend coming off their bye week. Cincinnati is mired in last place in the AFC North, a division they won in 2005 before missing the playoffs last year.
It's also the first four-game skid for Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, who claims he is not feeling any pressure for the poor start. Cincinnati is on its longest slide since a six-game losing streak from Nov. 10-Dec. 15, 2002, the season before Lewis was hired.
"I guess I'll disappoint the fans if they think there's heat," Lewis said. "My only heat is internal and that's what drives me. That's the good thing, I guess, about this position. I'm not going to get concerned.
"Our margin for error is tight. That's the result of being 1-4. That's what we need to realize. Every play right now, we're not getting the benefit of the doubt. Balls are not really bouncing our way. That's what we need to realize and keep doing things the right way. Building upon the positive things and making corrections when it's not as positive and correct."
One of the problems Cincinnati has faced is a slew of injuries, including to star running back Rudi Johnson (hamstring). He sat out a 34-13 loss to New England on Oct. 1, and had only four carries against the Chiefs. Johnson has 185 rushing yards on 62 carries and just one touchdown catch.
Right tackle Willie Anderson missed last week's loss with foot and knee injuries. The offensive line has used four different combinations in Cincinnati's first five games.
The lack of a productive running game has put pressure on quarterback Carson Palmer and receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who have combined for 1,083 yards and 10 of Cincinnati's 13 offensive touchdowns. Houshmandzadeh has seven of those scores, two shy of his career-best set in 14 games last season.
New York (1-5) enters on a three-game losing streak, and quarterback Chad Pennington has taken the brunt of the blame. Pennington has thrown all six of his interceptions this season during the skid, including one in a 16-9 loss to Philadelphia last week -- the first time the Jets failed to reach the end zone this year.
With fans and media clamoring for backup Kellen Clemens to be inserted, coach Eric Mangini is sticking with Pennington.
"There's a lot of different areas that need to get better: interceptions, tackling, run fits, all those things, coaching, strategy," Mangini said. "All those things need to improve and we're all in this together. It's not a one-person issue."
Pennington completed a season-low 11 of 21 passes for 128 yards in last week's loss as the Jets' offense stalled despite a season-high 130 yards rushing from Thomas Jones. Tight end Chris Baker also criticized New York's play-calling, but receiver Jerricho Cotchery backed Pennington.
"He's our leader," Cotchery said. "He's the leader of this team, not only on offense. One guy isn't going to create a spark because each individual has to create that spark within himself to help this team out. I think that's kind of a sensitive topic because everyone loves Chad in this building."
Jones' effort was a bright spot. Acquired from Chicago in the offseason, he is averaging just 2.8 yards per carry on the road.
The Jets' defense also ranks among the bottom five teams in the NFL with six sacks and two forced fumbles.
New York has won five straight against Cincinnati, including a 31-24 victory on Sept. 12, 2004 in the last meeting.
More From ESPN.com
- Twitter account of Jets' Clowney gets hacked
- The New York Jets say wide receiver David Clowney's Twitter account has been hacked, and a series of expletive-filled tweets are not being written by him.
- Jets' Ryan vows to be more involved on offense
- Rex Ryan is going on the offensive for the New York Jets. That means Mark Sanchez will be hearing a lot more from his head coach from now on.
- Source: 49ers drop tampering charges vs. Jets
- San Francisco 49ers president Jed York is dropping the team's tampering charge against the New York Jets over Michael Crabtree, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
- Jets' Ryan 'disrespected' by Pats' late pass play
- New York Jets coach Rex Ryan felt "disrespected" by the New England Patriots for throwing a deep pass with the game well in hand Sunday.
ESPN Local
- Leon Washington ends boycott, shows up for practice
- You step away from your desk for a few hours and stuff happens. Disgruntled RB Leon Washington apparently isn't disgruntled anymore , as he decided to show up today for practice at the Jets' off-season program.
- How to Lose Friends and Irritate People, Eric Mangini Edition
- It's not going to matter if Eric Mangini goes 11-5 with the Browns and Rex Ryan goes 5-11 with the Jets, but .. In a comparison of the two in the off-season, Ryan seems to be winning, 62-0. Most of it is Mangini's own doing.
- Jets' Rhodes Won't Talk About Investigation
- Relieved he is not a suspect, Jets safety Kerry Rhodes says he cannot discuss the investigation of a possible rape at his New Jersey home.
- Jets' Jones worked out while he sat out
- Sporting huge forearms and looking ripped, Thomas Jones was back on the field for a second straight day Thursday during the Jets' next-to-last week of offseason training activities.
- Jets Pro Bowl RB Thomas Jones practices at OTA after sitting out in contract dispute
- New York Jets running back Thomas Jones rejoined his teammates Wednesday after boycotting voluntary workouts while in a contract dispute.
- Chad Ochocinco: I will be at Bengals minicamp
- Besides warmer weather, what is another sure sign that Bengals minicamp is drawing closer? Talk about a wide receiver not at the team?s OTAs starts to dominate the conversation.
- Palmer: We still need Chad
- Carson Palmer has always been about loyalty, which is why during the past two weeks he has talked about the progress of the receivers who are participating in the Bengals offseason program.
- Bengals' Hall pleads guilty to reduced charge in DUI case
- Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Leon Hall pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in his drunken-driving case Monday, allowing him to avoid jail time.
- Odom: I know I have to play better
- You would expect when someone adds 28 pounds, that it would slow a player. Not in the case of Antwan Odom.
- Bengals counting heavily on Henry
- This time last year, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was entering a dark period of his NFL career.
NY Jets 31, 
Cincinnati 38