Tag: Cincinnati Bengals

Jets vs. Bengals: Game info, where to watch, notes

Here’s everything you need to know for the Jets’ matchup with the Bengals.

The Jets will look to extend their winning streak to four games when they take on Cincinnati on Sunday.

New York is playing its best football of the season right now, putting up exactly 34 points in each of the last three games. Meanwhile, the defense is continuing what it has done all season long — being the No. 1 team against the run.

For this game, the Jets are going to need a balanced attack offensively. Cincinnati is bad against both the run and the pass, but especially the run. The Bengals are dead last in run defense, allowing 166.3 yards per game. That suits Le’Veon Bell, who has yet to have a breakout game, as well as the other running backs. Sam Darnold also needs to take advantage of the Bengals’ weak secondary.

Defensively, the Jets have to continue to stop the run and put Andy Dalton in long yardage situations. This is Dalton’s first game back since being benched a few weeks ago, so getting him to throw in tough situations will make him uncomfortable.

As for the Bengals, they are 0-11 on the season and it would be typical if their first win came against the Jets. They are clearly looking ahead to 2020, so the Jets have to make sure they don’t stoop down to the competition.

Here’s everything you need to know for Sunday’s game:

  • Who: New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals
  • When: 1:00, p.m. ET, Sunday, December 1, 2019
  • Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • TV/Radio: CBS, ESPN 98.7 F.M. For a Spanish broadcast check out 1050 AM ESPN
  • Livestream: fuboTV (try it free)
  • Line: Jets -3

Jets-Bengals special teams battle among things to know in Week 13

Special teams and field position could play a huge role in the Jets’ Week 13 game against the Bengals.

The Jets and Bengals are heading in opposite directions. With every win, the Jets move closer to a record that takes them out of running for the best draft prospects but closer to competency in the AFC. The Bengals, though, look destined for the top pick in April and an unknown future in 2020.

The Week 13 matchup, then, is a crossroads for the two teams. The Jets can prove their win streak isn’t a fluke – despite it coming against the 0-11 Bengals – while the Bengals can prove how dedicated they are – or not, if they win – to tanking. Whichever outcome occurs won’t affect the AFC playoff picture in any real way, but it could play a huge role in the futures of the Jets and Bengals.

Here are four things to know for the Week 13 matchup.

(Emilee Chinn-Getty Images)

Battle of special teams

Special teams and field position can be critical components to a football game and Week 13 pits two teams with great units against each other. The Bengals rank first in Football Outsiders’ special teams DVOA, while the Jets rank third. 

Once again, Brant Boyer turned the Jets into one of the better special teams units in the league, and the Jets rank first in kick coverage DVOA. But the Bengals, meanwhile, are first in kick return DVOA and average 28.9 yards per kickoff return – second in the league. On punts, the Jets average the second-most yards per return (10.1) while the Bengals allow the fifth-fewest yards per return (5.3). Special teams may seem boring, but it could very easily swing this game one direction or another.

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Did a former Bengals coach take a swipe at Andy Dalton?

Did Paul Alexander comment on Andy Dalton?

Paul Alexander is one of the more interesting elements of football twitter.

The former Cincinnati Bengals offensive line coach has all sorts of quality content up on his feed since moving away from coaching itself.

More recently, an interesting note about a quarterback came up. And while it seemingly refers to Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, it’s hard not to make the connection between Alexander, the Bengals and a starting quarterback by the name of Andy Dalton.

Keep in mind while the Chicago-Trubisky angle makes sense, the Bengals are off to the worst start in franchise history and a new head coach just went back on his decision and reappointed Dalton the starter.

The tweet in question:

Maybe this has nothing to do with Dalton. But this tweet followed closely:

What’s interesting here is Alexander saw plenty of bad quarterback play in Cincinnati. He arrived in 1994 as line coach and was trusted so much he was a top assistant to Marvin Lewis in 2002 as assistant head coach (he lasted half a season in Dallas after 23 years in Cincinnati).

But the Dalton connection is notable given the veteran’s downfall since his strong 2015 campaign, all the way to getting benched in favor of a rookie as soon as a new head coach arrived.

So far, it doesn’t seem like Zac Taylor has lost the locker room. The players are fighting. But Dalton was also a guy looking for a trade, which is impressive given his reputation and character.

With Dalton about to undergo his first start since getting the job back, this might be something to keep in mind.

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Bengals make roster moves ahead of Week 13 vs. Jets

The Bengals promoted a player and waived another before the game.

The Cincinnati Bengals need some help at tight end with both Cethan Carter and rookie Drew Sample ruled out for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.

That in mind, the team announced the promotion of Mason Schreck off the practice squad and elected to waive offensive tackle Andre Smith in the process.

It’s a not-so-noteworthy move. Schreck had a big role on special teams before getting hurt last year, had fans within the building and even had teams calling about trading for him in the past.

And on the offensive line front, Smith started a handful of games at left tackle before getting hurt. Letting him go has more to do with Cordy Glenn than Jonah Williams, but it’s notable nonetheless.

We’ll see if Schreck has an impact Sunday — but the team sure needs somebody to step up.

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Jets aren’t overlooking Andy Dalton’s Bengals

The Jets are ready for Andy Dalton in Week 13.

Andy Dalton might be 0-8 as a starter for the Cincinnati Bengals this year and lost his job to a rookie.

Don’t tell the New York Jets.

Jets head coach Adam Gase, captain of a 4-7 team that is surging on a three-game tear, doesn’t want his team to overlook the Bengals and Dalton.

“He’s a dangerous guy, period.” Gase said, according to SNY’s Corey Hersch. “That’s just what it is. It’s not always easy when you’re a quarterback who’s been in the same organization for a long time under the same head coach and all of a sudden everything changes. It’s not always as smooth as you want it to be.”

It’s reasonable to think the Jets might overlook the Bengals. The week after is a game against Miami, a divisional foe, then Baltimore. The Miami portion might sound funny — but the Jets lost to the Dolphins in Week 9.

Still, Dalton doesn’t seem like the most threatening player right now. He just got re-appointed as starter and won’t have A.J. Green. He’s struggled to complete 60 percent of his passes and throw more touchdowns than picks.

And yet, the Jets have made it a point to respect the veteran. Not only is it due diligence, Dalton himself might have something to prove with it seeming like he could be auditioning for a new team next year.

As expected, the quest to get win No. 1 won’t be simple.

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Andy Dalton’s big return and other top pregame Jets vs. Bengals storylines

Top storylines to know in Jets vs. Bengals.

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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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Should the Bengals shut down A.J. Green?

Should the Bengals end this weekly saga?

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Is it time for A.J. Green to go on the shelf?

This isn’t what anyone really wants, obviously. Green wants to play for a multitude of reasons. His teammates want him to play. The coaching staff off to the worst start in franchise history wants him on the field.

And yet, Green still hasn’t participated in a Wednesday practice all season. Speaking to the media this week, Zac Taylor noted Green might need a full week of full-go practices — and then some — before getting back on the field:

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Whether the Bengals win a game in the next week or two might decide if Green ever gets on the field. If they eliminate the chance of 0-16, everyone might feel better about officially shutting him down.

On a personal level, Green probably wants to show NFL teams he can still go before he heads to free agency this offseason. He’s said his next contract isn’t about the money but he’s also human — each game he misses potentially shaves millions from a new deal in what could be his last NFL contract.

The other side to that is sheer risk of getting on the field at all. We’re talking about Green still working his way back from an injury he suffered on the first day of training camp.

No easy answer exists so we’ll throw it to the fans — should the Bengals shut Green down?

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NFL hot seat rankings don’t paint Zac Taylor in a great light

How hot is Zac Taylor’s seat?

Now that Zac Taylor’s Cincinnati Bengals have solidified the worst start in franchise history, it was fair game to consider if the coaching staff would be one-and-done.

And that’s far from the only example of such a sentiment making the rounds.

Over at CBS Sports, Patrik Walker raises a really good point while ranking Taylor’s seat as the second hottest behind only Pat Shurmur of the New York Giants:

It’s uncertain what Taylor’s goal is with the reinsertion of Dalton, other than not going 0-16, but Dalton might find himself returning still without the services of A.J. Green to help him in what will likely be his final few games in Cincinnati. Meanwhile, the veteran QB can no longer be used as the scapegoat, because Taylor couldn’t coach Finley to a single win, and gave up on the former fourth-round pick in less than a month’s time.

And there’s a good point to consider — it isn’t all on Dalton anymore.

Taylor went to his rookie quarterback he traded up to get in the fourth round and things were just as bad. Now he’s going back to Dalton in an effort to salvage things.

Maybe it works. But if it doesn’t, the well of excuses continues to dry. Injuries smack around every team and there isn’t another one-win team in the NFL, let alone another winless team. Even the newest of coaching staffs and most injured rosters have found ways to win.

If the Bengals can’t grab the first win of the year in the next week or two, it might be hard to keep Taylor out of the No. 1 slot when it comes to hot seats. The Bengals operate differently than everyone else, yes, but one has to wonder if there is a breaking point and where it might be.

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New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals sports betting odds and lines, with Week 13 NFL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The New York Jets (4-7) and Cincinnati Bengals (0-11) meet at 1 p.m. ET Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. We analyze the Jets-Bengals sports betting odds and lines, with NFL betting picks and tips for the Week 13 matchup.

Jets at Bengals: Week 13 preview, betting trends and notes

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  • The Bengals turned back to QB Andy Dalton under center after ‘evaluating’ QB Ryan Finley over the past three games. The offense averaged 11.0points per game under Finley, while posting 18.0 PPG with Dalton under center.
  • Cincinnati has hit the Under in five of the past six games, and seven of the past nine.
  • The Bengals are a dismal 2-5 against the spread in the past seven games against losing teams and 1-7 ATS in the past eight at home vs. teams with a losing road mark.
  • The Over cashed in four of the past five for the Jets while going 4-1 in the past five overall and 4-0 in their past four against losing teams.
  • The Under is 5-1 in Cincinnati’s past six overall and 33-16-2 its past 51 vs. AFC teams.
  • The Jets rank 31st in the NFL in total yards per game (262.1), passing yards per game (188.5) and rushing yards per game (73.5), but they have scored exactly 34 points in each of the past three outings.

Jets at Bengals: Key injuries

Jets: WR Demaryius Thomas (hamstring) is questionable.

Bengals: WR A.J. Green (ankle) remains out.

Jets at Bengals: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 3:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Jets 23, Bengals 17

Moneyline (?)

The JETS (-167) are expected to add to the misery of the Bengals (+135) and keep them with a goose egg in the win column. The way QB Sam Darnold and the offense have been operating lately, there’s no reason to believe they can’t top these winless Bengals.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the moneyline returns a $6.00 profit with an N.Y. Jets victory.

Against the Spread (?)

The JETS (-3.5, +105) opened a little higher, but the public has been all over the Bengals (+3.5, -125). Perhaps they like the fact Dalton is back, perhaps they’re just going on percentages that the Bengals have to win sooner or later. Either way, take the Jets. It’s always pleasing to go against the public.

Over/Under (?)

Pass. The projected total of 41.5 (-115) is perfect for this game. If Darnold and the offense do what they have the past few weeks, this is an easy Over play. But when do the Jets ever do what they’re supposed to do and live up to their potential?

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Former Bengals kicker Jake Elliott earns massive extension with Eagles

Jake Elliott just got a massive deal with the Eagles.

Remember Jake Elliott?

The current Philadelphia Eagles kicker was a point of frustration for Cincinnati Bengals fans a few years back. The team drafted him in the first round, attempted to stash him on the practice squad and the Eagles swooped and swiped.

Now Elliott’s is the NFL’s highest-paid kicker.

Eliott’s fresh five-year extension with the Eagles makes him the highest average salary at the position and highest total dollars at $21 million. This on the heels of hitting 26 of 31 attempts over his last two seasons before a 14 of 14 mark this year. He’s hit longs of 61, 56 and 53.

Which isn’t to say Randy Bullock has been a bad presence for the Bengals. He’s hit 18 of 20, 19 of 23 and 15 of 18 over the same span. The problem is spotty accuracy from deep (three of eight from 50-plus since 2017), which can influence offensive decisions.

Either way, it is interesting to see how it has all worked out so far. Elliott after the big deal: