New York Jets Tickets

The New York Jets benefitted from playing two teams that had nothing left to play for in the final two games of the season to sneak into the playoffs as the No. 5 seed in the AFC.

The Jets took full advantage, taking down the at-the-time still undefeated Colts in Indianapolis before mandhandling the AFC North division champion Cincinnati Bengals in the season finale.

Ironically, the Jets are now faced with the task of traveling to Cincinnati to play the Bengals in the first round of the playoffs. Three of the four first-round games happen to be rematches from the final week of the season.

Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez hardly threw the ball in the Jets' season finale pasting of the Bengals, as they decided to just pound away with the running game.

The Jets have the top running game in the NFL, but Sanchez is going to have to make some plays with his arm at one point or another. In the rematch, the Bengals will stack the line of scrimmage and dare the rookie to beat them.

Joe Flacco had playoff success last year as a rookie quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, but he was much more polished and was also used to playing in the cold weather. Sanchez has problems playing in cold weather, and it's likely to be freezing in Cincinnati come gametime.

New York's defense could once again cause problems for quarterback Carson Palmer and Co., which is one area where the Jets might have an advantage on the Bengals.

Head coach Rex Ryan dials up some of the most exotic blitzes in the game and is not afraid to bring pressure from anywhere on the field. He has nothing to lose at this point considering no one expects much out of the Jets, which might make his defensive gameplan that much more dangerous.

If the Jets have any shot at beating the Bengals, they are going to need a big game out of their defense. A couple of turnovers, maybe even one for a score, would go a long way for New York's chances.

Realistically, the Jets should just be thrilled that the stars aligned perfectly for them and they were able to sneak into the playoffs. A number of teams that were left out of the playoffs had a better team than the Jets, and that's not saying much.

New York certainly has a chance to knock off the Bengals after the effort they showed agains them in the season finale, but I wouldn't count on it. It's tough beating the same team twice in a season much less two weeks in a row, and the Bengals will be ready and waiting.