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Cincinnati Bengals hold off New York Jets with strong defense

Within their reach, little mistakes plague the Jets on opening day.

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It was a rough start to the 2016 National Football League season for both the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, and things will get even tougher for one of those teams in Week 2. Against the Seattle Seahawks last October, Nugent nailed a 31-yard field goal as time expired in regulation to force overtime in a game the Bengals would win, 27-24. The one incompletion was a trap that Green almost sold as a catch before it was overturned on review.

“We made a big stop there”, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “We know that, in every way”.

Fitzpatrick, who missed the entire offseason program during his weird contract standoff with upper management, followed up a quiet preseason (16-of-29 passing for 183 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions) with one of his least impressive games the Jets quarterback on Sunday, when he was just 19 of 35 for 189 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the 23-22 loss to the Bengals. He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer for sure.

Maybe there are still some true believers out there, but too many times over the years I’ve prayed for the Jets to “just make one play” to no avail. However, we now know that his troubles last season against the top receivers weren’t just related to the wrist injury that hindered his bump-and-run skills.

In the Jets’ 23-22 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Revis struggled against star receiver A.J. Bills No. 1 wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who is battling foot soreness this week, caught a career-high 11 passes for 136 yards, a large portion of which came with Revis in coverage. Against Revis, Andy Dalton was 10 for 10 when targeting Green for a passer rating of 152.1, according to NFL Network research.

“I take it on my shoulders, ” Folk said.

Everyone had to have felt great for Victor Cruz on Sunday as he grabbed the game-winning touchdown against Dallas. They game-planned a lot. They said they’ve been watching film of me all off-season. Clearly New York wanted to establish themselves as a physical, dominant defense, and allow that to carry them through the game.

Including the way that was once inconceivable.

Mike Nugent was both the hero and villain in the game going 3 for 4 in field goals. It took Andy Dalton and the whole passing game, to lead the Bengals to their first win of the season. Part of that is due to Fitz getting the ball out of his hands and maneuvering out of risky situations, but that’s more than you might have expected from this unit going up against a tough Bengals D-line. We went over it in the coaching staff meeting.

Baltimore welcomed back quarterback Joe Flacco, who missed most of the season a year ago due to injury, and he went 22-for-34 for 258 yards with a touchdown. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was 19 of 35 for 189 yards and two touchdowns – one apiece to Quincy Enunwa and Eric Decker.

Green caught 12 passes for 180 yards and that 54-yard touchdown, targeted 13 times. Fitzpatrick also had a shotgun snap bounce off his leg and had to bat down a pass that was tipped back to him by a Bengals defensive lineman. We’ve just got to tighten some things up.

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The New York Jets and Buffalo Bills square off early Thursday night at New Era Field on CBS. “It hurts and it stings to watch some of that, but you try to learn from it and get better”. “Now, we just have to go out and prove it”. We lost the game.

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