The Jets are going to come into this game with a lot of confidence after winning on the road last weekend in Cincinnati.  For the fuzzy feeling to continue the Jets are going to have to run the ball and play keepaway from the Chargers’ offense.  The Jets are thinking that C Nick Mangold and guards Alan Faneca and Brandon Moore will win battles against NT Ian Scott and ILBs Stephen Cooper and Kevin Burnett.  If that is the case then Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones could be in for big games on Sunday.  But, if the Jets are forced to pass the ball against the Chargers, Sanchez better be careful challenging CB Antonio Cromartie who is a playmaker.  More than likely, TE Dustin Keller will be targeted quite a bit just like last weekend against the Bengals challeging the Chargers’ safeties.

Defensively the Jets will likely have some issues defending the Chargers who have a much better offense than the Bengals do.  While LaDainian Tomlinson is past his prime the Jets’ outside linebackers could have trouble containing Darren Sproles because of his speed on the outside.  The Chargers have the biggest (size wise) WR corps in the league and that could cause huge problems for the Jets this weekend.  Darrelle Revis will likley lock up with Vincent Jackson but Malcolm Floyd could be a pain in the Jets’ side as he towers over Lito Sheppard.  The Jets’ corners will likely be on their own against the Chargers’ WR because they will have their hands full dealing with TE Antonio Gates.  The bottom line for the Jets is that they will have to put pressure on Philip Rivers on he is going to burn them in the passing game.

PREDICTION:  CHARGERS 27, JETS 20

The Jets are in for a fight tomorrow in the Jungle.  The Bengals won’t be the same team the Jets punished 37-0 last week as they will be playing the full team on the road this week.  This is the first time in three weeks that the Jets will be playing a team that isn’t resting players.  The Jets will have to try to control this game on the ground offensively just like they did last weekend.  The Jets will turn both Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene loose as they both helped the Jets rush for a league leading 172.3 yards per game this year.  The Jets will likely have a harder time this week as the Bengals will have all of their defensive players back this weekend and they only allowed 98.3 yards rushing and 3.9 yards per carry this year.  The Jets will also likely use WR Brad Smith a lot in the Wild Cat formation as it worked really well last weekend.  The Jets need to be effective running the ball because they don’t want to have to win the game throwing it with Mark Sanchez taking on CBs Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall who are both outstanding players. 

Defensively the Jets will have to deal with Cedric Benson who should be fresh and ready to go for the Bengals after sitting out last week’s game.  He has done well against physical defenses this season so the Jets will have to make sure they wrap him up.  If the Jets can stop the Bengals running game they should be in good shape as they will likely keep Darrelle Revis on Chad Ocho Cinco the whole game making Carson Palmer try to beat them by throwing to someone else. 

PREDICTION:  BENGALS 20, JETS 17

It is win or go home for the New York Jets (8-7) on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals (10-5).  If the Jets win then they will make the playoffs, but if they lose they are out.  The Bengals have already clinched their playoff spot, so they may be taking it easy on Sunday and resting some key players.  For the Jets sake, hopefully the Bengals do that.  Either way, the Jets need a solid day from their rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez.  Sanchez has had a lot of ups and downs this season, and if he has one of his down games Sunday then the Jets can kiss their playoff chances goodbye.  All they need Sanchez to do is take care of the ball and manage the game, and it will give the Jets a good chance at winning.  Thomas Jones can handle a lot of the offensive load at running back, but the Bengals do hold opponents to 88 rushing yards per contest so they may need Sanchez to make some plays at quarterback.  He has 20 interceptions this season though, so he needs to be careful.

On defense the Jets need to stay focused no matter who is on the field for the Bengals.  The Bengals may or may not rest their starters, but if they have a lead in the second half I would expect at least some of them to get some rest.  The Jets defense has been very strong all season, but they are going up against some talented offensive players.  Cedric Benson has rushed for 1,251 yards this season and Chad Ochocino is a big threat in the passing game, so if the Jets can contain those two they will most likely win the game.  The Jets need to treat this game like a playoff game, because that is basically what it is for them:  win or go home.  If they play with the determination they should be in a game like this, they should win.

PREDICTION:  New York Jets 27, Cincinnati Bengals 17

The New York Jets (7-6) are hosting the Atlanta Falcons this week and they are hoping that Matt Ryan and Michael Turner will still be out.  Ryan and Turner are the Falcons biggest offensive weapons but are both listed as questionable.  If they can’t go the Jets will have a much easier time slowing down the Falcons offense.  Chris Redman will be the starter if Ryan can’t go and Jason Snelling will be the running back if Turner can’t go.  Both are downgrades, but the Jets can’t relax.  Redman has made some very nice plays the last two weeks as a starter.  He does make a lot of mistakes though, so the Jets need to take advantage of them and try and get some turnovers.  Snelling shouldn’t be much of a problem as the Jets run-defense has been great lately.

Mark Sanchez is back after missing last week’s game with a knee injury.  The Jets should limit Sanchez and just let Thomas Jones do most of the work for the offense.  Jones has been running the ball great most of the season and had 2 touchdowns last game.  The Falcons give up 118 rushing yards per contest, so Jones should be able to find a lot of success.  Sanchez just needs to take care of the ball and let his running game do its thing.  This game could be much different if Ryan and Turner play, but I like the Jets in this one.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  New York Jets 27, Atlanta Falcons 17

Hopefully the Jets watched the Steelers/Browns game last night that way they know not to overlook any team including the 1-11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  The Jets will be starting Kellen Clemens at QB this week with Mark Sanchez out because of injury.  The Jets will likely only need Clemens as a game manager because they are going to come out running the football with Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene against a Bucs’ D that is allowing 160.1 yards rushing and 4.8 yards per carry.  A lot of the passing game will likely come of play action with Clemens taking shots deep to Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards. 

The Buccaneers will probably come out of the locker room trying to establish the running game with Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward.  Neither of those players should strike fear in the heart of Jets’ defenders.  If the Jets are successful in stopping the run then QB Josh Freeman will be a sitting duck all day long.  CB Darrelle Revis will likely be shadowing Antonio Bryant forcing the Bucs to use other receivers.

PREDICTION:  JETS 20, BUCCANEERS 10