Rex Ryan thinks the Jets should be the favorites to win the Super Bowl.  Me thinks that it is time for a serious dose of reality for the Rexster.

Let’s break down the game as I see it, and, no, I never played the damn game.  I just spent too many years stuffing my face while watching it and calling it a few times on radio in my previous life. 

Are you kidding me, Rex? You really think the Jets should be the favorite to win the Super Bowl?

Today, the “Coach that ate the Brooklyn Bridge” said that since his team has the #1 ranked defense and #1 ranked running game, the Jets should be favored to win the Super Bowl. Wow. This idiot has officially lost his mind.

Just because rankings have you #1 in two seperate categories, it does not mean you are the favorite, Rexy. It just means your team performed at that level over the course of the season. The playoffs are a different animal. You have to perform at a higher level.

Now, you say, how is it possible to perform at a higher level than being top ranked in defense and rushing? Simple. Put it on the field and improve your performance. Rex is too much the idiot to realize that.

Rex probably thinks that just because his team has those loftly rankings that Roger Goddell should just hand him the Lombardi Trophy without playing the games. I have a feeling that 11 other teams feel differently.

Since Sunday’s game, I have been concerned about how our beloved Who Dey would play against the big, bad Jets.

With Red the moron at the helm making billboard statements like that, I am starting to be less concerned.

In case you have not seen it, the Bengals are #9 in ESPN’s final NFL power rankings, and Don Banks at SI.com has ranked the Bengals #12 of 12 playoff contenders in terms of making a run to the Super Bowl.

Now, if you ask me, Don may just be onto somthing here. But, he does have the Jets one spot above our beloved Who Dey. If he really thinks that, shouldn’t the Jets at least be #8?

Don’t get me wrong. I am fearful of what the #1 ranked defense and #1 ranked rushing game will do to the Bengals this Saturday night.

Las Vegas has installed the Bengals as a three point favorite over the Jets. Thsi particular line is made to make people jump start “the action.” They want people to bet on this game. Well, actually, Vegas would everyone to bet on EVERY game.

My point being, one of two schools of thought are correct here. Either Banks is right, or Vegas is right. And, at this point in time, I am not sure who is right. I just know I am concerned for the game Saturday.

A few notes from the web today regarding the Bengals:
–Peter King is reporting that Mike Shanahan is nearly signed in Washington, and said that he (Peter) believes Mike Zimmer will be available. King said that the Bengals won’t pay Daniey Snyder money (well, derrr) and could basically have Zimmer if wanted. King was not sure that Shanahan wants Zimmer.
–Chad Ochocinco and Domata Peko WILL play this Saturday against the Jets. Who Dey Indy friend Tom Nelson did not practice today wtih his injured knee.
–Evidently, Marvin says the Bengals can now install “their plan” to play the Jets this week. James Walker of ESPN and his AFC North Blog reported that the locker room didn’t really think much about the stomping the Bengals took at the hands of the Jets Sunday night.

My thoughts on this: Be afraid, Bengals fans. Be very afraid. Even if the Stripers get past the Jets, and I am not convinced of that today, then they most likely get Indy at the Luke the following Saturday.

Random thoughts on the day after the Bengals sent in the practice squad and said it was the real team:
–I don’t know about you, but I think the Bengals will have serious doubts about facing the Jets again just six days after getting their collective lunch handed to them.
I know I have serious doubts.
–The injuries are beginning to mount against our beloved Stripers. At this rate, the practice squad WILL be playing in the 4th quarter of this Saturday’s playoff game.
–Calling Jerome Simpson. Jerome? Anybody?
–It is always nice to say we have a premier, top-flight quarterback in the pass-happy NFL, but Offensive “Guru” Bob Bratkowski has taken a Pro Bowl caliber QB and made him into Trent Dilfer right before our very eyes.
–Speaking of Bratkowski, has he gone from “high on the hog” as an offensive genius just 4-5 years ago to “what the hell were you thinking in calling THAT play” offensive goat this season?
–Domata Peko, we sure need you to be healthy and ready to play this Saturday.
–Anybody seen Jerome Simpson yet? Anybody?
–Marvin, it is time to break out the serious motivational material.
–Chad, please don’t punch any coaches at halftime this weekend. And, just for good measure, shut the hell up for a change! Your cousin wrote a book after one season in the NFL called, “Just Give Me the Damn Ball!” I am sure your book would be called, “Just Give Me the Damn Microphone and Attention!” Enough already, Chad. Enough.
–Will someone check the parking lot to see if Jerome Simpson is here?
–Getting into the Red Zone does not mean it is okay to relax and take three penalties backward before fumbling the football.
–Not sure if I mentioned this, but has anyone had a Jerome Simpson sighting? LAST CALL FOR JEROME SIMPSON! Get ready to play some football in the UFL next year, Jerome, assuming you can get on the field there. And, to be honest, I am not sure you can.
–I am interested to hear and read your thoughts and comments.

No, he didn’t, and he was supposedly buried under Giants Stadium. Jets 37, Bengals 0. That’s right, the Bengals of old showed up for some nostalgic reason and allowed a rookie QB and a coach who looked like he ate the rest of his coaching staff run up the score on the Ohio River lay downs.
Now, for analysis…
No running game because of no pass protection. How many times can Dennis Roland go into motion? Why should he EVER be in motion?
The next time I see J.T. O’Fumbleton step on the field I am turning off the game. Two fumbles and an intentional grounding call. Wow. Did I just hear the chants of “Where’s Akili” eminating from the banks of the Ohio River?
The game turned sour when…Marvin decided to rest everyone of importance yet try to keep up the appearance of fielding a team. Carson played (or was that really Jordan Palmer?), Chad Ochocinco played with a hurt knee (wink, wink) and the rest of the guys who did play were not mentally there.
Be careful what you wish for, Bengals, because you have to play this Jets team in six days. They man-handled you tonight; they may just do it again in front of your home fans who had to purchase playoff tickets AND KC Chief tickets. I can hear the boos already.
Houston, we have a problem. The Texans were banking on a Bengals win to get in the playoffs. Karma is a bitch, Texans. You beat up the Bengals in Cincinnati earlier this year. Did you REALLY expect them to help you get in? Uh, no.
Here’s hoping that Marvin goes whacko on the team like he did after the preseason loss to the Rams as witnessed on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” That might be the only way to get their heads back into the next game.
Are we watching the Arizona Cardinals of last year heading into the playoffs? Probably not, but we might be watching the Cardinals of the early 90′s who never got a sniff of the playoffs. Last year’s Cardinals broke through in the playoffs and made it to the Super Bowl. The way the Bengals are playing right now, they could not make it to the Toilet Bowl.
One potental motivation for the Bengals? Rex Ryan had every intent on running up the score when he challenged a bad spot mid way through the 4th Quarter. The Jets lost possession on downs, but, Rex “I never met a Live Chicken I could not swallow in one bite” Ryan decided to challenge rather than just let the game play out. he won the challenge and then scored another touchdown. If I were Marvin Lewis, that would be just the beginning of my motivational speech in the Tuesday meeting.

A couple of notes from the first half of (ahem) action:

1) Who Dey Indy friend Tom Nelson has a hurt knee and may not return.
2) Carson Palmer is 1-10 with 1 INT.
3) Fireman Ed gets too much love from the NBC announcers.
4) Larry Johnson runs one time for 9 yards, and then he gets no more rushing attempts? What the hell?
5) The Bengals may have wanted to play the Wildkatters next week, but the way things look now, I don’t.

More after the game.

Yes, friends of the Who Dey, it is time for some PRIME TIME football! NBC decided that they had to do something to get the last division winner on Sunday Night Football so here are our beloved Bengals vs. the J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!
As for tonight’s game, here are some interesting questions:
1) How long does Marvin play the starters if New England clinches the 3rd overall seed this afternoon?
2) How long does Domato Peko play after he returns from knee surgery?
3) With a Bengals’ loss tonight, does anyone realize the J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS! would be the team to visit Paul Brown Stadium next weekend to play again?
4) Does Bob Bratkowski know how open up the playbook and have the players execute when necessary?

These questions and more will be answered in the next few hours. As for my thoughts, here’s hoping Marvin plays the starters at least until the end of three quarters.
I also hope Peko gets enough reps to knock off the rust. Who cares who we play next week? And, Bratkowski needs to realize there is a passing section to the playbook, not just the running chapters.
Enjoy the game and check back for post game analysis.

WHO DEY!

I was fortunate enough to view the making of Bengals history this weeking during the sweep of the AFC North and the Cleveland Browns in the flesh. I forgot about the singing of The National Anthem before sporting events [it's been a while] and although the singer did a great job, I couldn’t help but relive this:

Faithful.

Let us not be faithless. But, WOW, what a terrible loss. Before I get into all of that Cheesy Gordita mess from Sunday in Oakland, let’s exorcise this demon.

Listen, we can’t afford to be like any of the other Bengals blogs with snark filled disgust. Why? We don’t reap the daily benefits of living in the glorious city of Cincinnati. True, the grass is always greener, but they’ve got the good Fountain Square and fresh Skyline Chili. Not fair.

Let me set the stage for this reactionary t-shirt coming down your internet pipeline. Colts Fans in the fine establishment known as Brothers Bar & Grille, for some reason, were still loitering for the 4:15 Bengals game. As the clock winds down and the Bengals squander away this “for sure victory,” some Baltimore, err… Indianapolis Colts fans start clapping for the Raiders. Weird, right? Maybe they don’t realize that the Bengals are in the AFC North and the Raiders are in the West, while the Colts are in the South. Hardly a leg to stand on from a divisional rival standpoint. Moreover, the lowly Bengals have never truly proven themselves as a worthy opponent to the sacred Horse. So I am still confused about the Raiders alliance that they were forming. And on top of everything, we NEVER cheer against the Colts in their hometown bar that has been so gracious to us as outsiders.

So for a fake team with fake fans that couldn’t name their Quarterback before Peyton showed up, here is your gift from the Who Dey Nation.

–

Now on to Old Coach Bratowski.

I haven’t been as critical of Coach Brat on the blog as I have during the game viewings. That being said, enough is enough. You don’t start chewing clock in the 2nd quarter unless you’re up 15 touchdown [that's 105-0 for those keep score at home]. It just doesn’t make sense to eliminate entire volumes of your playbook just because you have a 14 point lead. We have a set of offensive weapons that lands in the top 3 of the NFL. We know Brat has the ability to step on throats [see Chicago game], but if he is not willing to use his weapons then Mikey should start the search for someone that will. Brian Kelly anyone? I wish. Seriously though, this team should achieve nothing less than an AFC championship game based on talent alone.  Anything less would be a waste of resources. That’s all I am going to say about that until next week.

–

Also, BIG ups to all of the new members that came out to Brothers for the game this weekend. It was great meeting you all and spending the game in the friendly confines of fellow fans! Remember IWDC trip to PBS for the Browns game this weekend!

Who Dey.