Darrelle Revis on A.J. Green: 'One of the best receivers in the league'

During the Bengals regular season finale in 2009 -- a 37-0 loss in New York -- former Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson failed to register a reception. While one could argue that it was a meaningless game for the Bengals (and it was), Cincinnati kept starting quarterback Carson Palmer in the game throughout the entire first half (who famously completed one pass for zero yards). On the other hand, the conditions were awful. Winds were gusting over 20 miles per hour, creating a wind chill below zero with a field that was not unlike concrete.

Conditions were definitely a factor.

The following week, conditions improved. The wind was around 11 miles per hour and the game-time wind chill was nine degrees. With Revis mostly (but not always) assigned to Johnson, the former Bengals receiver caught two passes for 28 yards receiving in the '09 wild card loss. Johnson posted four receptions for 41 yards receiving when the Jets and Bengals met again on Nov. 25, 2010 -- the Jets won 26-10.

Interesting... Revis has never lost to the Cincinnati Bengals. This sounds like our Denver Broncos storyline later this year. Esh.

Revis, who has mostly played one-half of the field this year (rather than covering an assignment), could face a younger and even more talented receiver than what Johnson was. That doesn't mean that Green will glide towards his 18th career 100-yard receiving game (out of 51 regular season games played). He knows that Revis is a threat.

"He’s Darrelle Revis," Green said during a conference call Wednesday afternoon. "He’s been doing this for a long time at a high level. It’s going to be very competitive out there with him. I watch him a lot, so it’s going to be tough."

In four games this year, Revis has allowed 11 completions (out of 19 targeted throws) for 133 yards receiving, a touchdown and an interception. Despite allowing an opposing quarterback rating of 100 or more in three of four games this year, his overall opposing QB rating is 75.1 (allowed only one completion against the Vikings for a 0.0 rating). This comes after he allowed four touchdowns in '13 with an opposing quarterback rating of 81.4.

"Well I mean Darrelle’s skills are his ability to get up and press on people and run with them and really contest the catches," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Wednesday. "He’s a very strong guy at the top of routes and you see that."

Jeff Howe with the Boston Herald writes that...

Yet, the Patriots haven’t triggered Revis’ shadow mode for a full game to this point in the season. He remained on the left side for much of the Dolphins game before following Mike Wallace late in the second half. Revis drew a heavy dose of Vikings wideout Greg Jennings, limiting him to a 4-yard catch on six targets, but still had some other assignments. In Week 3, Revis primarily stayed on the left side with the exception of covering James Jones on third down. And on Monday, Revis drew Dwayne Bowe on occasion but not on a full-time basis.

Revis is well aware of Green's productivity.

"A.J. Green is one of the best receivers in the league," Revis said via the Boston Herald. "I've got a lot of respect for him."

The intriguing difference between the Bengals that Revis played five years ago and today, is that if Green is ineffective, the Bengals still find ways to win. Of games where Green was targeted less than five times since '11, Cincinnati is 4-1. And when Green posts four receptions or less, the Bengals are 12-5.

Sunday night's question is if Revis will cover Green full-time... and could he even do it?

"Maybe I could. I don’t know. But at the same time, it’s a team effort on defense. It’s not just one individual on defense. And that’s how you have to look at it," said Revis via ESPN. "Whatever is best for the defense gameplan-wise to help us win, that’s what we are going to do. The goal of this is getting a win. Doesn’t matter if I am inside, outside, coming off the edge."