Quote Originally Posted by PistolPete21:
Nice write-up, Scalabrine.
But I really, really disagree with you.
The
Bengals committed a cardinal sin with their pitiful laydown last week
in the Meadowlands--they laid down in attempt to hand-pick their
first-round opponent. It was a blatant laydown, too. And the Jets
know it. And they're fucking pissed to have been insulted the way they were.
The
Bengals think they're getting a team with a rookie QB that were the
benefactors of fortuitous scheduling to make this playoff berth a
reality. Instead, they signed up to face the league's hottest defense,
one of the best run games. To top it all off, no one is playing with
more confidence right now than the New York Jets. The Bengals think
they're getting one thing, but what they'll face Saturday will be quite
another. Think about it: the Bengals didn't consider the Jets a meaningful threat, laying down like dogs in Week 17. Do you
really think the Bengals plan on coming out this game with the sort of
mindset that they'll need to slow down the steamroller the Jets have
become in the last couple of weeks? Especially when they hand-picked this team to be their first-round opponent. The Bengals will come out thinking, "We're playing a team that is lucky to be in the playoffs and has a rookie QB who can't play in the cold." If I'm not mistaken, this sounds a lot like what you've outlined above.
The NFL's the type of league where you don't get away with hand-picking your opponents. The Bengals had their chance Week 17 to make sure they wouldn't play the increasingly confident and resilient steamroller that the Jets have become.
Jets huge.
Pete...it's obvious you know what your talking about when it comes to capping...I'll address your points...
The Bengals committed a cardinal sin with their pitiful laydown last week in the Meadowlands--they laid down in attempt to hand-pick their first-round opponent. It was a blatant laydown, too. And the Jets know it. And they're fucking pissed to have been insulted the way they were.
I think the Jets or any other team would have reacted in the same manner. There is little difference between the 3 and 4 seed (you can't EVER look TWO games ahead and assume that you will face the 3 seed in the AFC championship and assume you will have the benefit of a home playoff game against a 4 seed if you both win out). Therefore, the laydown was primarily for RESTING purposes. Cedric will have fresh legs as will almost all the defensive starters (as will Carson really). All this on a short 6 day work week where the Jets taxed themselves keeping the pedal to the metal for the entire game to hype themselves even more 37-0. Plus, the Bengals got TWO weeks to game plan for their first round playoff opponent. The Jets would be stupid not to chart the same path.
In our heart of hearts, and in the Jets heart and in the Bengals heart, we ALL knew what you stated; that the Jets were the inferior opponent compared to a matchup with the Texans or the then eliminated Steelers if some other losses panned out.
But the Jets have enough bravado already. They truly believe they could be Super Bowl bound as their quotes have revealed. And you know what I think? None of this extraneous info matters that much if you want to make a bet. I just offered it for alternative motivation to take the Bengals if you were looking for something more.
Take the better team, at home, in a hostile environment, in zero degrees with a home team that loves it, on two weeks rest with the better QB and what I think are comparable D's (although the Jets ARE superior) giving less than a FIELD GOAL.
To top it all off, no one is playing with more confidence right now than the New York Jets.
In the Jets case, with all their unwarranted bluster and bombast, I have a quote that might be applicable, "Pride cometh before the fall." The Jets will fall hard today and someone will need to find a "Life Alert" for Rex because when he falls....he might not get up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQlpDiXPZHQ
REX: I'm having chest pains!
Operator: It's because your getting embarrassed in theplayoffs...We're calling paramedics right away sir!!!
GL
Hot Forum Topics
