AFC Wildcard Lock Alert – New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The New York Jets will look to repeat the recent success they have had against the Cincinnati Bengals when the two teams clash for the second time in two weeks this Saturday.

This past Sunday, the Jets absolutely mauled the Bengals 37 to 0, but an asterisk should be put next to that game as Bengals’ coach Marvin Lewis, rightfully so I might add, rested some of his starters. With the Bengals going all out this Saturday, BetOnline NFL betting fans are wondering if the results will change or if they will stay the same.

There was a huge question mark surrounding the Jets’ playoff chances just a short three weeks ago. Since that time, New York has won two games in a row including beating the previously undefeated Indianapolis Colts 29 to 15 as 3 point underdogs. Of course, that game, like the victory over the Bengals this past Sunday needs an asterisk.

The Colts benched superstar QB Peyton Manning in the second half of New York’s victory. So, in essence, the Jets haven’t played against a team who kept their starters in for the full 60 minutes since a 10 to 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons three weeks ago.

Here are the NFL Football lines for this game.

New York Jets +2 ½ -110 O 34 ½
Cincinnati Bengals -2 ½ -110 U 34 ½

Below are the NFL wagering trends for this game.

• The New York Jets are 4 and 1 against the spread in their last 5 road games.
• The Under is 4-1-1 in the New York Jets last 6 games overall.
• The Cincinnati Bengals are 7 and 1 against the spread versus a team with a winning record.
• The Under is 9 and 0 in the Cincinnati Bengals last 9 games as the favorite.

Let’s see how the offenses and defenses matchup.

Jets’ Offense vs. Bengals’ Defense

The Jets offense relies heavily on the rushing of Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene. Jones had 1402 yards on the ground in 2009 and ran for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Bengals this past Sunday.

New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals -2.5 >> Join Now to Bet!

If Jones doesn’t do well, then the Jets turn to Shonne Greene who had 62 yards this past Sunday but ran for 95 yards two games ago when the Jets upset the Colts. Greene and Jones are pretty much New York’s offense because even though Braylon Edwards plays wide receiver for them, their rookie QB Mark Sanchez has been god awful this season.

Sanchez was 8 out of 16 against the Bengals this past Sunday for 63 yards. His overall QB rating on the season is 63.2. He’s thrown for 12 touchdowns and 20 picks. Sanchez may turn out to be a very good quarterback, but he isn’t right now.

The Bengals’ D let things get out of control this past Sunday but usually they are solid. Cincinnati has the 4th ranked defense in the NFL. They allow only 301.4 yards per game and give up only 98 yards per game on the ground. Teams on average score 18.2 points against the Bengals.

Expect the real Cincy D to show up on Saturday. The Bengals should be able to frustrate Sanchez and have a good shot at dominating the Jets’ offense in this game.

Jets’ Defense vs. Bengals’ Offense

The New York Jets boast the #1 ranked defense in the NFL. A lot has been said about how good Darrelle Revis, the Jets’ All-Pro cornerback, is but the truth is that unless the Jets can get to the quarterback and shut down the run, Revis doesn’t really mean all that much.

Sure, he can shut down Ochocinco in this game again, but that’s not going to bother the Bengals. The Jets big strength is that they, like the Bengals, allow only 98 yards rushing per game. Sometimes, though, because the Jets’ offense is so terrible, those 98 yards can mean a lot.

Cincinnati’s offense is ranked 24th in the league but there is some beauty behind the awful ranking. The Bengals on average rush for 128 yards per game. Often times, that’s enough for them to secure a victory. If it isn’t, they utilize the awesome quarterbacking skills of Carson Palmer. Palmer’s 83.6 QB rating might not look like a lot but the man is awesome at managing a football game.

Palmer almost managed the Bengals to a victory over the San Diego Chargers two games ago by throwing for 314 yards and 2 touchdowns. It was his first and only 300 yard game of the season yet the Bengals won 10 games during the regular season. In 5 of the Bengals’ 10 victories, Palmer threw for less than 200 yards. It means that Cincinnati’s offense is balanced. The Bengals don’t have to rely on Palmer and Ochocinco.

The Best NFL Bet Is…

On the Cincinnati Bengals to cover the 2 ½ point spread. Don’t let last Sunday’s game fool you. Cincinnati is a very good football team.

Yes, the Jets showed them up and yes it looks like the Jets have momentum but the Bengals have Carson Palmer, are playing at home, and will utilize Cedric Benson and Larry Johnson, their two big, bruising, running backs all day.

Cincy is a very patient team. That patience is going to get to Jets’ QB Mark Sanchez who hasn’t looked good in a football uniform since Week 8. Expect Sanchez to make one or two boneheaded throws in this game.

The Bengals did the right thing by resting their starters for most of their last game. It will pay off in a victory both straight-up and against the spread on Saturday.

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