Jets-Bengals Playoff Opener to Answer Critics

The first Jets-Bengals game officially ended the NFL regular season. Today's Jets-Bengals game will finally start the NFL's second season, but only one team hopes it ends the same way. New York got into the playoffs by slaughtering Cincinnati, and although they're on the road this time, many have faith that they'll win again. Even though they got in by beating backups two weeks in a row, New York has at least a 50-50 chance, because of doubts about Cincinnati. The Jets-Bengals game today will at least prove that one of them is for real.

The Jets struggled after starting 3-0, while the Bengals had an emotional, ugly December. Cincinnati lost three of their last four, was manhandled by New York's defense last week, and is still mourning Chris Henry's death. On the other hand, no one knows what to expect from the Jets, or Mark Sanchez, either.

Today's Jets-Bengals matchup is considered an under card to the Eagles-Cowboys showdown tonight. Out of all the wild card games, this one may be the least respected, as the winner is expected to be clobbered by the Colts or Chargers next week. But there is historical precedent for this game to mean something more.

Last year, the very first game of the NFL playoffs featured a team that came in struggling. They were an historically inept franchise, were considered lucky to be there, had no recent playoff success, and were expected to lose their first game at home. Even though the road team had a rookie quarterback, they were favored - but the disrespected home team won anyway, and then went to the Super Bowl.

That team last year was the Arizona Cardinals. The Cincinnati Bengals may not be as underestimated as that team, but they open the playoffs with low expectations anyway. In a way, so do the Jets, given how they got in and their inexperience with playoff success.

The Jets-Bengals match will let one team advance that hasn't gotten so far in a while. The Bengals haven't won a playoff game in 19 years - which makes the Cowboys' playoff slump better by comparison. The Jets haven't won a playoff game in five years, and haven't gotten to the AFC title game in 11 years.

Though hopes are low that the Jets and Bengals can be Super Bowl threats, anyone can get on a shocking roll - like the '07 Giants and '08 Cardinals. Rex Ryan is extremely confident that the Jets can do the same, while Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco are starving for the playoff spotlight. If they take the first step tonight, then anything can happen next week.

The road to the Super Bowl begins in Cincinnati, as the Jets and Bengals take their first steps at 4:30 pm est on NBC.

Sources

Washington Post- "Bengals' emotional journey continues in Saturday's playoff opener"

Bleacher Report- "NFL Playoffs: Labeling Our Contestants"