After a historic win over the Cleveland Browns last week, the New York Jets will be seek to go over .500 for the first time in what feels like forever. Our opponent this week comes in the form of a surprisingly lacklustre Cincinnati Bengals, possibly still feeling the hangover of their fairytale 2022 season.
The Jets are in a bit of an unfamiliar situation in September, well at least it’s unfamiliar for the past few regimes. Winning this game would lay down an impressive marker, and would ensure we don’t have a losing record from our stretch of AFC North teams, a proposition that would have been attractive when the schedule came out. We spoke to @WhoDey_UK about all things Bearcats, Boomer Esiason and former fan favourite ahead of tonight’s game.
How can the Bengals recapture their form from last year?
Hi! First of all, how did you become a Bengals fan? I joined a new secondary school in 1986, and all the new friends I made were into the NFL. The league had already attained cult status thanks to Channel 4’s coverage and William ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry from Chicago’s Super Bowl-winning team the year before, who caught the imagination of the British press during the Bears’ run. So the sport wasn’t a completely alien thing to anyone, it was just that my mates were all into it and already had their teams. I watched the weekly highlights show on Channel 4 to try and find someone for me to support. Then I saw this blonde-haired, left-handed quarterback slinging it all over the shop, and he had tiger stripes on his helmet. What wasn’t to like? That QB, of course, was Boomer Esiason, a person I know Jets fans are very familiar with. It was love at first sight for me.
How did you feel about the Bengals off season? Free agency? Draft? What was the mood of Browns fans going into the season after the fantastic 2021 season. The Bengals’ deficiency was laid bare for everyone to see. After a fairtytale run to the Super Bowl, it was obvious we needed to upgrade the offensive line and we did that, and everyone was pretty happy with the signings of Karras, Cappa and Collins. With the Jessie Bates situation resolved in time for the season, we were basically the same team – and same group of coaches – from last year. Hopes were high that we would be a playoff team again, at least. And, as we all know, it’s the hope that kills you.Still early days but the Bengals have struggled in the new season at 0-2, where do you think it’s gone wrong so far? It’s the hot topic that has Bengals fans up and down the land, in pubs and parlours, scratchig their heads. Our offensive weapons are up there as some of the best in the league, and we have a pretty good – if underrated – defense. However, Burrow looks nervous in the pocket and is a tick off with his accuracy, the offensive line looks undercooked to say the least and the running game isn’t functioning – all elements that feed into and out of one another. The defense has been good, but isn’t picking up the turnovers like last year. Some fingers have already been pointed towards Zac Taylor, thanks to some strange situational decisions and overall play calling and scheme design.
Zac Taylor may be feeling the heat ahead of this game, can he turn it around?
Burrow and Chase are the obvious threats the Jets should be worried about, but are there any underrated players we should be concerned about? Anyone primed for a breakout game? Not really. That duo really is as good as advertised and our main threat, and Chase has started the season well even though the team hasn’t. Higgins is also very good, but the hope is the running game will click. Teams have been playing a lot of Tampa 2 against us so far to negate the big play downfield, which has left light boxes galore. We’re just not running the ball well enough to take advantage.
Despite his stuttering start, Joe Burrow is still a massive threat under centre
Jets had a disappointing opener to the season, then a wild victory over AFC North rivals Cleveland Browns, but how did you view their off season acquisitions and their start to the season? Are there any Jets players you are cautious of going into the game? We’re eager to see how former Bengals fan favourites Carl Lawson and CJ Uzomah are doing, and of course we come up against our former AFC North foe, Joe Flacco. We’re hoping he’s as generous to us now as he was when he used to play for the Ravens. I’m a fan of your receiving corps, so I’m looking forward to seeing them play. And then of course, there’s Sauce – a former Cincinnati Bearcat and loved by Bengals fans.
Overall Prediction for the game The Bengals will have a huge chip in their shoulder going into this game, not just because of the position they find themselves in this season – last year’s defeat in the Mike White Bowl really stung. I think it’ll be a good, close game, but I’m going for a Bengals away win. But only just. A lot of Bengals fans think that there really is no room for error when it comes to the result in this game or our season – or at least in terms of playoff aspirations – could be over, such is unforgiving nature of the AFC this year.
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