This Week VS Last Week

Last Week the Bengals lost to the Bills. Anybody who didn't see the game or hear about that yet just threw their laptops out of their windows or punched their desktop monitors right in the face. If they were on their office computer, tell them I said I'm sorry. If you saw the game and/or already knew that the Bengals lost to the Bills by a score of 49-31, then I'm sure that you're already numb inside and nothing I write can spark the kind of emotions needed to smash computers. Basically, the Bengals have turned you into a football zombie. A loss to the Bills hurts almost as much as a bite I guess.

This Week the Bengals move past the one game left in the season that we thought they could win and head back into the punch-to-the-groin-machine that is their schedule. With a short week, the Bengals will take on the New York Jets in the Big Apple. The Jets, who ended the AFC North Champion Bengals' season last year in the playoffs, are sitting on top of the AFC East with an 8-2 record and seem to be firing on all cylinders. The Bengals cylinders aren't really firing. Maybe they will on Thursday but recently, it has looked as if there's no amount of WD-40 that can get the machine moving again.

Anyway, here's how the Jets match up up to the Bengals compared to how the Bills did.

Mark Sanchez VS Ryan Fitzpatrick:

Well if you compare the records of these two quarterback's teams (Jets - 8-2, Bills - 2-8) you would automatically assume that Sanchez is the better quarterback. It would make sense too. He played for a major college program (USC), he was drafted in the first round and was made into a franchise quarterback almost over night. He helped lead the Jets to the playoffs in his rookie year and took them all the way the AFC Championship game, beating the Bengals in Cincinnati in the process.

So, you could make the argument that he's better than Fitzpatrick. But, there's a counter argument too.

Winner: Maybe Sanchez will be better; he's still young and will definitely improve. However, right now, I believe that Fitzpatrick is better. If you look at the stats and compare them, you would see how Fitzpatrick has had the better year (barely) and he has done it with less. He did it without the help of the Shonn Greene - Ladainian Tomlinson double headed running back monster. He did it without Braylon Edwards and without Santonio Holmes.

So, I believe that between the two quarterbacks, the Bengals faced the better one (at least for right now) when they played the Bills.

What the Bengals need to do:

Get pressure on the quarterback. Have good coverage in the secondary. You know, all the things that teams do when they win.

Jets Running Game VS Bills Running Game:

There was a reason that I said the Jets have a monster in the backfield named Shonn Greene Ledainian Tomlinson.

Winner: Jets. Greene is extremely talented and Tomlinson is a sure thing hall of famer.

What the Bengals need to do:

When a team stacks the box against the Jets, the often find themselves getting burnt in the secondary. With the shape of the Bengals secondary right now, it would probably be best if they have as much help as possible so stacking the box to stop the run is kind of out of the question. The Bengals offensive line needs to have a great game the the linebackers need to make quick and accurate reads and help stop the run.

Jets Receivers VS Bills Receivers:

Steven Johnson was very impressive in the career game he had against the Bengals and Lee Evans is just consistently good. However, Edwards and Holmes are better. Don't forget about Dustin Keller either. He's one of the most talented young tight ends in the league.

Winner: Jets receivers

What the Bengals need to do:

The Jets receivers both hail from the AFC North, Edwards from the Browns and Holmes from the Steelers. The Bengals should be familiar with them but once again, the Bengals secondary is so banged up right now that they're barely recognizable themselves.

Jets Defense VS Bills Defense:

ugh.

Winner: Jets

What the Bengals need to do:

Rex Ryan has helped turn the New York Jets defense into one of the best in the NFL. They can stop the run and they have one of the best secondaries around. Even though Terrell Owens thinks that Darrelle Revis is just an "average corner", he's not.

Winner: Jets defense

What the Bengals need to do:

What the Bengals need to do is what they haven't been able to do all season long. Benson needs to hold on to the ball, the receivers need to be where they are supposed to be when they're supposed to be there and Palmer needs to find them. If they can do that, they can win.

No, I'm not drunk or high. I'm serious. If they can bring it all together against the Jets, they can win.