Bengals Bring Danger to the Meadowlands Published: Tue, October 7, 2008 - 5:57pm EDT By Randy Lange Lange is editor-in-chief of newyorkjets.com. He covered the Jets for 13 years for The Record of Hackensack, N.J. 10/07 ? We went through something like this ? but not quite like this ? last season. This year's Jets playing a winless Cincinnati team on Sunday is not the same as playing then-winless Miami in Week 13 of 2007. There's a lot more at stake for, both for the Jets and their opponents, this time. And from my tour of the locker room Monday, the players understand the premise that the 0-5 Bengals are a different danger than last year's 0-11 'Fins. Here is a sampling of opinion in the Atlantic Health Training Center in response to the question: How do you avoid falling into the trap of thinking, "We're going up against the winless Bengals"? CB Darrelle Revis: "Just don't go into the game saying they're 0-5. They're still a good team. They still have playmakers in Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and even [Chris] Henry is back. They've got a good receiving corps. The secondary, we've got to focus on those three guys and try to outplay them. ... We played against them last year. We know what kind of players they are, what they can do." WR Laveranues Coles: ?They?re just a scary team to play against whether they're 0-5 or 5-0 because they could just as well be 5-0 instead of 0-5. They?re a very good football team. You look at how explosive they are on offense with Chad and TJ. It?s not a game you look forward to. You have to respect them.? LB David Bowens: "You focus on what they do well, the kind of team they are, the identity they're trying to portray. They say a wounded dog is always dangerous. Even when our record was bad last year, I didn't think we were a bad team, and I know those guys are competitors, they don't think they're bad. So you can expect them to do anything to try to turn this year around." TE Chris Baker: "You can't worry about that. It's the NFL. Everybody has good players. Guys are getting paid, they're going to go perform. Everything else you can't really worry about. You've got to take care of business on your end." It's true the Bengals have played three pretty good teams close on the road, losing at Baltimore in their season opener, 17-10, to the Super Bowl-champion Giants, 23-20 in overtime, and to the Cowboys this past Sunday by 31-22. That's one reason the Jets should be fully prepared mentally for the Cinci challenge: Many of the players watched the late Sunday afternoon tussle at Texas Stadium as the Stripes scrapped to within 24-22 midway through the final period before the 'Pokes prevailed. Another reason is last year's meeting to which Revis alluded. The 1-5 Jets may have thought they were in control of a healing road win when they took a 23-10 third-quarter lead over the 1-4 Bengals. Then Carson Palmer, Houshmandzadeh, backup RB Kenny Watson and CB Johnathan Joseph combined for four unanswered touchdowns and a 38-31 comeback. And Baker provided a third reason for the Jets to be ready to charge out of their bye-week gate. "To have a big victory like we did over the Cardinals going into the bye is big," said C-Bake. "And they're a good team that I don't think anybody really respected. I guess we caught them at the right time. They are a good team." It was a big victory that brought this team together for the last two weeks. But it was only one win. The Jets will be in danger of squandering that good feeling if they're not ready for the Bengals. As head coach Eric Mangini said Monday about his counterpart in this game, Marvin Lewis: "I've known Marvin for years ? I had the office across from him when he was the defensive coordinator in Baltimore. "He's a very good coach and he's very thorough. It hasn?t gone the way he would have liked it to go in the early part of the season. They have played tough teams extremely tough. One thing I'm sure of is that he's getting things corrected. He's working at those things. I have a lot of respect for him. I've known him for a long time and know how he works and prepares, so I anticipate a very well‑prepared team." Sometimes it seems no matter how well you think you've prepared for one of those "trap" opponents, they still rise up and bite you. In franchise history the Jets/Titans have played 14 previous games against foes that had no wins after five or more games. Their record in those games is 9-5. Here is a list of those games: Season Opponent (Record) Final Score 1962 vs. OAKLAND (0-7) Titans, 31-21 1969 vs. BOSTON (0-6) Jets, 23-17 1971 at Buffalo (0-9) Jets, 20-7 1974 vs. BALTIMORE (0-5) Colts, 35-20 1976 vs. TAMPA BAY (0-9) Jets, 34-0 1978 vs. ST. LOUIS CARDS (0-7) Jets, 23-10 1979 at Baltimore (0-5) Colts, 10-8 1980 vs. NEW ORLEANS (0-14) Saints, 21-20 1986 vs. INDIANAPOLIS (0-10) Jets, 31-16 1991 at Indianapolis (0-7) Jets, 17-6 1991 vs. INDIANAPOLIS (0-9) Colts, 28-27 1993 vs. CINCINNATI (0-9) Jets, 17-12 1995 at Carolina (0-5) Panthers, 26-15 2007 at Miami (0-11) Jets, 40-13 0/5 : Rate this Post 0 ratings submitted __________________
I don't know much about Marvin Lewis, but I'm willing to take a chance on him instead of BS2 and I think Lewis will be available soon. I think having Lewis at DC and Kiffin at OC could really help this team.
Kiffin at OC? Which Kiffin are you referring to, wonderboy Lane who just got fired by Al Davis? Or Monte Kiffin, the Defensive Coordinator of the Bucs?
This is definitely a trap game for the Jets. Then again, Mangini has always had his team prepared after the bye week. Then again, the Jets might feel too good about themselves after manhandling the Cards. There was a poll about which game after the bye week looks like it could be the most challenging? Well, here we go. I am glad this is the second road game in a row for the Bengwads... The Jets should be able to win and cover.
Bengals dont bring shit to the meadowlands. There an 0-5 Team who's terrible on Defense and there QB isnt 100% and there star receiver is still pissed from not gettin payed. That being said hope this doesent become a trap gm.
It's a trap game for the very reason you say it isn't. I will list a few of the other reasons: "The Jets always come out of the bye week strong." "The Bengals are 0-5." "The Bengals have one of the worst defenses in the NFL." Bottom line: The Bengals don't know they're a bad team. The Bengals have a bunch of Pro-Bowlers on their roster. Right now they are a pissed-off NFL team. They almost beat the Cowboys on the road last week. The Bengals know that they are not as bad as their record. The Bengals look at the schedule before this season begins and think to themselves: "The Jets? That's a gimme! We can beat them in opur sleep!" Meanwhile, the Jets look at their schedule after their recent success, see the Bengwads, and think: "This should be easy." And then the Bengals look at this game and think: "If we don't win this game, everyone in the world will think that WE STINK!!! We CANNOT afford to lose this game!!! No way, no how!" And the Jets look at their game film from last week, and the recent game film for the Bengwads, and become overconfident. Look, I am a Jets fan and all, but if you do not realize that this is a trap game, then you just don't know the NFL. This game is a big test for Mangini and his staff. I think the Jets should win, but on the other hand, I would not be shocked if the Jets somehow lose. They are facing a VERY dangerous team.
It would be pretty encouraging to come out after the BYE and crush a team we should crush. I think we will win but I'd prefer a convincing win for peace of mind. An easy schedule will f*** with you in its own way...
Anyone who says this isn't going to be a tough game is kidding themselves. But there are many reason why the Beangals are 0-5. One of which is Palmers horrendous inconsistancy. We need to get ahead by 2 scores early on to force the Beangals hand and force Palmer into bad decision making.
im having trouble believing this team will fall into the "trap game" mentality. mangini hasn't let his teams get complacent at any point since he has been here that i can think of. second favre being in the locker room is huge, just his presence has to get these guys hyped to play every game. im not saying the jets can't lose this game. if they do lose it will be because the bengals play better, not because the jets play down to their level. the bengals should be at least 2-3 at this point. they have not had anything go their way at all this year. hopefully for our sake that continues this week.
My sentiments exactly. I know the players all say the right things in this situation but hopefully they aren't taking CIN for granted behind closed doors because that's all it would take for CIN to pull off the upset. P.S. We need to get tons of pressure on Palmer! TONS!!
I believe this will be an easy game, I think the Bengals are a dead team walking and believe the Jets will blow them out. This is not a trap game, I don't think you guys understand the meaning of a trap game.
They took Dallas to the Mat. .... And Dallas ate us alive last November. I know every season is different, and we are a Different team, but 0-16 is tough to do... If I were Mangini, that is exactly what I would be telling my team.
Yes they did take Dallas to the mat and they lost to get to 0-5. The record and that type of loss takes alot out of a team, i could see this being their give up week.
I'm with you, I see the Jets winning fairly easily. Once we start to pressure Palmer and he and/or his receivers make a few mistakes the wheels may very well fall off the bus. Lewis will not be able to keep this ship afloat much longer. They can't stop the run and they have no pass rush. They can't run the ball so all they have is the passing attack. Pressure Palmer and that's gone too.
