The Cincinnati Bengals have been a playoff team each of the past five seasons but haven’t won a postseason game in that stretch. What’s in store this year? Coach Marvin Lewis could be fired without a playoff victory in 2016. The Bengals open the season Sunday as favorites in NFL betting at the Jets.
When: Sunday, Sept. 11, 1 PM ET
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
TV: CBS
Stream: NFL.com
Opening NFL Lines: Bengals -2.5 (41.5)
The Bengals will be without Pro Bowl tight end Tyler Eifert for this game following ankle surgery. Eifert, who injured his ankle in the Pro Bowl in January, has not returned to the practice field since the injury. He has spent the preseason working on the rehab field with other injured players, and did more of the same during Monday’s practice. Eifert and defensive tackle Brandon Thompson, who is on PUP, were the only two players not practicing. They both worked on agility drills with trainers. Tyler Kroft, the No. 2 tight end behind Eifert, didn’t play in the preseason because of a knee injury but returned to practice on Monday. He’ll likely be taking the reps in Eifert’s place.
Right tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, who played 29 snaps in the Aug. 12 preseason opener before injuring his toe, said before Monday’s practice he expects to make his first NFL start Sunday. Since 2009, when Rey Maualuga and Michael Johnson arrived, the Bengals have gone 16-7 in the month of September. The Bengals have won eight straight games in September dating back to a season-opening loss at Chicago in 2013.
Jets coach Todd Bowles explained the decision to cut CB Dee Milliner, the ninth pick in 2013: “The other guys were healthier. When he got a chance to play, he gave up some plays. He was banged up quite a bit. We had to go with healthy guys who can play football.”
The Jets don’t have the luxury of easing into the difficult part of their schedule, as they did a year ago. Five of their first six opponents were playoff teams in 2015, and the one that wasn’t — the Buffalo Bills — has owned the Jets in recent years. On paper, it’s tied for the seventh most difficult schedule in the NFL.
Labeling his team as “pretty healthy” on Monday, Bowles said both veteran WRs Brandon Marshall (hip) and Quincy Enunwa (head) are fine. He reserved judgment on ILB David Harris (shoulder) and OLB Jordan Jenkins (calf), saying he’ll see where they are at later in the week. Bowles still doesn’t know who his team’s starting right tackle will be when they open the season Sunday. Could it be Brent Qvale?
Maybe. Ben Ijalana? With Breno Giacomini sidelined for the next six weeks on the physically unable to perform list (back), Ijalana and Qvale are the two starting right tackles. That has been the case throughout training camp and the preseason.
Take a Closer Look at the Cincinnati at NY Jets Week 1 Lines, Expert Pick & TV Info
When: Sunday, Sept. 11, 1 PM ET
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
TV: CBS
Stream: NFL.com
Opening NFL Lines: Bengals -2.5 (41.5)
Cincinnati vs NY Jets Historic Betting Trends
The teams met in Cincinnati in Week 8 of the 2013 season and the Bengals rolled 49-9. Andy Dalton threw a career-high five TD passes, four to Marvin Jones — he’s now with Detroit. Jones was the first NFL receiver with four touchdown catches in a game since Randy Moss and Terrell Owens did it in 2007. Dalton became the first quarterback to throw for five TDs against the Jets since Dan Marino in 1988. Jets QB Geno Smith threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns before heading to the bench early in the fourth quarter.Why Bet on Cincinnati?
Dalton was having his best year before he got hurt last season. This offseason, the Bengals re-signed A.J. Green, one of the best receivers in the league; and they return a solid defensive line led by Geno Atkins, considered by many one of the best defenders in the NFL.The Bengals will be without Pro Bowl tight end Tyler Eifert for this game following ankle surgery. Eifert, who injured his ankle in the Pro Bowl in January, has not returned to the practice field since the injury. He has spent the preseason working on the rehab field with other injured players, and did more of the same during Monday’s practice. Eifert and defensive tackle Brandon Thompson, who is on PUP, were the only two players not practicing. They both worked on agility drills with trainers. Tyler Kroft, the No. 2 tight end behind Eifert, didn’t play in the preseason because of a knee injury but returned to practice on Monday. He’ll likely be taking the reps in Eifert’s place.
Right tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, who played 29 snaps in the Aug. 12 preseason opener before injuring his toe, said before Monday’s practice he expects to make his first NFL start Sunday. Since 2009, when Rey Maualuga and Michael Johnson arrived, the Bengals have gone 16-7 in the month of September. The Bengals have won eight straight games in September dating back to a season-opening loss at Chicago in 2013.
Why Bet on New York?
The Jets have a top-five defense (again), but this version will be better than last season’s because it’s faster, especially at linebacker. The defensive line is an embarrassment of riches, with three former first-round picks — Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams. The defense will keep the Jets in every game.Jets coach Todd Bowles explained the decision to cut CB Dee Milliner, the ninth pick in 2013: “The other guys were healthier. When he got a chance to play, he gave up some plays. He was banged up quite a bit. We had to go with healthy guys who can play football.”
The Jets don’t have the luxury of easing into the difficult part of their schedule, as they did a year ago. Five of their first six opponents were playoff teams in 2015, and the one that wasn’t — the Buffalo Bills — has owned the Jets in recent years. On paper, it’s tied for the seventh most difficult schedule in the NFL.
Labeling his team as “pretty healthy” on Monday, Bowles said both veteran WRs Brandon Marshall (hip) and Quincy Enunwa (head) are fine. He reserved judgment on ILB David Harris (shoulder) and OLB Jordan Jenkins (calf), saying he’ll see where they are at later in the week. Bowles still doesn’t know who his team’s starting right tackle will be when they open the season Sunday. Could it be Brent Qvale?
Maybe. Ben Ijalana? With Breno Giacomini sidelined for the next six weeks on the physically unable to perform list (back), Ijalana and Qvale are the two starting right tackles. That has been the case throughout training camp and the preseason.
