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The Cincinnati Bengals host the New York Jets on Sunday in a showcase of two teams falling well short of preseason goals.
Those Bengals still seek the first win of the season while the Jets look to keep riding momentum, potentially salvaging the season in the process.
These are the top storylines.
Andy Dalton’s return: Dalton is back in charge after the coaching staff balked after just three starts from rookie Ryan Finley. It seemed the veteran would sit on the bench for the final eight games while the team preps for the 2020 draft. Instead, there’s a sense of frantic desperation around the team, hence the move. Dalton’s time as a starter before getting benched wasn’t encouraging. He went 0-8, completing 60.4 percent of his passes with just nine scores and eight picks. The running game is showing signs of life compared to the last time Dalton started, but other than that he’s dealing with no A.J. Green and a poor offensive line. Whether he can put the team on his back and carry it to win No. 1 is the top item to consider. But he’ll have to contend with…
New York’s defense: Dalton has already noted Jamal Adams reminds him of Troy Polamalu. Adams is elite, but he’s just one facet of a steady Jets defense. The unit ranks first in the NFL with just 78.1 rushing yards allowed per game. As a whole, the team only permits an average of 23.5 points per game. That’s a middle of the pack number but consider the Bengals haven’t scored more than 20 points in six consecutive games and only twice all year. A reviving running game has to deal with a brick wall of a unit and if it can’t make something happen, Dalton’s re-debut could end up spoiled in a hurry.
0-16 vs. the playoffs: The sense of desperation surrounding the Bengals to avoid 0-16 might make some think they’re dangerous or ready to pull off an upset. But the Jets aren’t too dissimilar. The Jets have won three in a row and while the odds might be slim to none, they can still technically make the playoffs. Which is the better motivating factor? Hard to say but the Jets sure seem motivated after three straight wins featuring 34 points each. Gone are the strange injury developments and side storylines — the Jets are healthy and seem to be clicking on all fronts. As the old cliche goes, something has to give at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday.
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