Jets vs Bengals Preview

After late game heroics brought the Jets their first win of the young 2022 season last weekend, the Jets return home today to take on the defending AFC Champion (but still winless) Cincinnati Bengals. Today will most likely be the last game with Jets QB Joe Flacco starting for a bit barring the return of QB Zach Wilson for next weekend. This game nonetheless will be a test for the Jets to see where they are as a team, and it will be "The Battle of the Joes" at Metlife. Big steps were taken last weekend, but there is still much to improve. Before we preview the threats of the Bengals, let us check out today's injury report. 

For the injury report, the Jets have 7 players listed as questionable this week, and 6 of those 7 players are more than likely to play, with the only doubt being QB Zach Wilson. It is safe to say he will be ready next weekend after taking limited snaps in practice during this past week. The other players listed as questionable are WR Corey Davis (knee), TE CJ Uzomah (hamstring), DE John Franklin-Myers (toe/quad), S Jordan Whitehead (calf), OT George Fant (knee), and DT Quinnen Williams (foot). For the Bengals, TE Drew Sample is out today with a knee injury, while OT La'el Collins and TE Hayden Hurst are both listed as questionable as well. WR Tee Higgins was a late add on to the injury list, but he more likely than not will play. 

Now, time for the team preview of the Bengals. Despite being defending AFC Champions last season and losing a very competitive Super Bowl game, they are off to a rocky 0-2 start this year and desperately are looking for a win today at Metlife Stadium to avoid going 0-3. They are led by an elusive QB in Joe Burrow, who can pose a threat on any given Sunday with his passing abilities. 

Even though the Jets were able to beat the Bengals last year on Halloween Day, The Bengals and Burrow very well could still pose a threat to this Jets team. Offensively, they utilize both the pass and run game very well, with RB Joe Mixon in the backfield and star WR Ja'Marr Chase, who played at LSU with Burrow as well. Along with those guys, WR Tee Higgins is a big part of this offense along with WR Tyler Boyd and RB Samaje Perine. This offense can beat you in two different ways and is dynamic, and the way the Jets' defense can beat this is by putting constant pressure on Joe Burrow and forcing them to run the ball.  

For the Bengals' defensive preview, a lot of their threats come from each of their DEs who are Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. They are guys who can put pressure on just about any QB they are put up against. It will be a true character test for Jets OT George Fant and rookie OT Max Mitchell, who has stepped up big having been forced to start with Fant injured. In the secondary, the Bengals have S Jessie Bates III and CB Chidobe Awuzie along with former Giants draft pick CB Eli Apple. 

Jets Rookie WR Garrett Wilson has already made huge
strides after having a huge performance against
the Browns last weekend with 8 RECs for 102 yards and 2 TDs

If the Jets are smart offensively, Joe Flacco should try to throw towards Apple's side of the field, since he has been known for getting "exposed" in the league in games. Overall, if the Jets can contain the pressure from Hubbard and Hendrickson up front, they will be able to find holes in the defense and be able to gain yards efficiently downfield. 

For the Jets to win this game today, they need to work off of the end of last week's game, and that energy will make a major difference in a game like this. The fans are going to be in full swing at Metlife Stadium today, and hopefully, they play a factor into the Jets' success. Will Joe Burrow continue to have his Halloween spooks at Metlife from last year? Will Jets WR Garrett Wilson strive to the WR1 role after a huge game last week? Will Joe Flacco throw for over 300 yards again today? How will Jets CB Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner play when he has to cover WR threat Ja'Marr Chase today? These questions will all be answered in what could be an entertaining game in East Rutherford. 

For the prediction today, after the Jets capped off a spirited comeback win last week, this momentum will ride high into this week, and with a struggling Bengals team to start the year, this could be a dog fight right to the finish. However, this dog fight falls into the hands of the Jets and they can finally ride the wave and be over the .500 mark for the first time since 2015. I will take the Jets in a high scoring contest winning this game by a score of 27-24. 

-Miles Chamberlain 

It is the Battle of the Joes today at Metlife Stadium
(Burrow on the Left and Flacco on the Right)