Matt Forte had a big first day in NY, rushing for 96 yards and hauling in a team-high 59 through the air.
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With the Bengals retooling/hurting at the offensive skill positions, this was a game the Jets needed to win if they had any hope of improving on last season’s 10-6 mark.
24 – Road wins by Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, the most by a QB in his first five seasons since the 1970 merger.
By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
Buffalo beat NY twice last season, including in the season finale – which kept the Jets out of the playoffs.
This was the end for the Jets, the moment their Week 1 optimism turned into a gut-punch of a 23-22 loss to the Bengals.
The Bengals also exhibited some poise after Jets kicker Nick Folk booted a 23-yard field goal to give NY a 22-20 lead with 3:25 left.
Dalton threw for 366 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked a career-high 7 times by the Jets, including 2½ by Leonard Williams and two by Steve McLendon.
In addition, Nugent said the Bengals practiced their end-of-game field goal situation earlier in the week.
It was a bad showing for the future Hall of Famer.
Let’s acknowledge reality – this Jets defense has a long way to go before it can carry this team to the postseason.
The Bengals recognized that the Jets couldn’t stop Green and got him the ball as often as possible. According to Alex Kozora, the last time they did so was in 2008-when Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Jets’ quarterback, was under center. The offense stumbled in the red zone, the defense gave up big plays and kicker Nick Folk missed an extra point and had a field goal blocked.
Returning from a knee injury that ended his season last November, Flacco went 23 for 34 for 258 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown pass to newcomer Mike Wallace in the second quarter that put the Ravens ahead for good. Though he had just 31 yards on the ground against NY, his 12-yard touchdown run gave the team a 20-16 lead late in the third quarter. Brandon LaFell finished his first game in a Bengals uniform with 94 yards. Mike Nugent kicked the 47-yard game victor moments later. Folk’s 22-yard field goal with 3:23 remaining gave the Jets a 22-20 lead. Past year in a week ten matchup against the Houston Texans, Deandre Hopkins caught five passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns, one of which came on a 61 yard bomb. “I felt like that was the big difference in the game today, not taking advantage of some of those opportunities for us and settling for field goals”.
Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga led the entire team out of tunnel carrying the American flag. They’ll travel to MetLife Stadium for a date with the always-polarizing New York Jets.
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Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was an honorary captain, along with representatives from the FDNY, NYPD and PAPD and the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Tower Foundation. He made three completions of 40 yards or more and did not seem in the least bit affected by the loss of receivers Mohamed Sanu or Marvin Jones.
