The AFC playoff picture will become much clearer this weekend.  The New York Jets take on the AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals to AFC wildcard Saturday, Jan 9, 2010. On Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens head to Foxboro to take on the AFC East champion New England Patriots. Here are some pre-game insights and predictions for the AFC matchup between the Jets and the Bengals.

Jets coach Rex Ryan says the Jets should be the favorite to win the Superbowl, but not even all-time Jet Joe Namath agrees. For a first-year NFL coach those are pretty big words, especially with a rookie QB leading the team. But there could be some credence in what he says – just take a look at the NFL regular season statistics.

The Jets are ranked 1st in the total defense (1ST against the pass/8th against the rush). Offensively they are ranked 20th in total offense but 1st in Rushing and 31st in passing. Pretty impressive statistics! And remember, the Jets beat the undefeated Colts in week 16 and routed the Bengals in week 17 to get an AFC wildcard spot.

However we know the Bengals are no slouches defensively. They are ranked 4th in total defense (8th against the pass/7th against the rush). Offensively they are ranked 24th overall (9th in rushing/26th in passing).

Many of the NFL analysts say you can throw away the stats from last week’s matchup, but some are too startling too avoid:

• The Bengals had only 5 first downs in the entire game to the Jets 21
• The Bengals averaged 1.8 yards per play to the Jets 4.4
• The Bengals rushed and netted only 72 yards – the Jets 257 on the ground with a net of 320
• Starting QB Carson Palmer had 0 yards passing (1/11 with 1 interception)
• The Bengals time of possession was 18:46 minutes to the Jets 41:14

While we don’t expect another shutout by the Jets, we do expect a repeat performance by the Jets running attack. We also see Mr. Revis shutting down Ochocinco (or is it Johnson?) and the Bengals passing game.

Yes, the Bengals are playing at home but we feel the pressure is on them to win since they’ve been in the playoffs only twice since 1990 (1990, 2005 – both division championships).

The Bengals are favorite by 2 points In this AFC playoff match-up. The under/over is 34 points.

Thenflthisweek.com prediction for AFC Wildcard Saturday

Jets 28 Bengals 7

The New York Jets (8-7) pulled off something no other NFL team has been able to do in the 2009 NFL football season – they beat the Indianapolis Colts (14-1). The win gives the Jets control of their own destiny and can earn a wild-card berth with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals next week.

Before the day began, the Jets AFC playoff picture looked dim. The best case scenario was the Dolphins, Ravens and Jaguars each lose in in the early games and then take care of business in the late afternoon by beating the Colts. By evening, the best Jets playoff picture scenario happened. Maybe it was a late Christmas present from the football gods.

Others may think differently. They might attribute the Jets win to the fact that the Colts coaching staff sat QB Peyton Manning and most of the Indianapolis starters for most of the second half. Regardless, after the first quarter, the Jets stayed right with the Colts in the first half, then dominated the second.

The Jets actually got points from the offense, defense and special teams:

Jets Scoring

• Offense Thomas Jones RB 1 yard run in 3rd quarter
• Defense Marques Douglas DE 1 yard fumble return in 3rd quarter
• Special Teams Brad Smith WR 106 yard kickoff return
• Special Teams Jay Feeley (PK) 2 for 2 in field goal attempts

If you think the Jets don’t belong in the AFC playoff race consider this fact:
The Jets are the first team since the merger of the AFC and NFC (1970) to have the #1 defense and #1 rushing offense in the same season. Their win today reflects this stat . The Jets rushed for 202 yards and the Colts, 64.

Week 16 of the NFL season will clear up the AFC playoff picture.  If the Jets win, their appearance in the AFC playoffs is assured.

source: nfl.com

Going into week 15 of the 2009 NFL season, the NFC playoff picture is pretty clear. Four teams have already clinched a spot in the NFC playoffs; they are the Saints (13-1), Vikings (11-3), Cardinals (9-5) and Eagles (10-4). Three other teams are in the hunt for the final two NFC playoff spots, they include the Cowboys (9-5), Packers (9-5) and the Giants (8-6).

Here is the NFC playoff picture going into week 15 of the NFL season:

New Orleans Saints (13-1)

• Clinched the the NFC South and a first-round bye
• Clinches homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with:
  A win or tie OR
  Minnesota loss or tie

Minnesota Vikings (11-3)

• Clinched NFC North
• Clinches first-round bye with:
  A win and Philadelphia loss or tie OR
  A tie and Philadelphia loss

Arizona (9-5)

• Clinched NFC West

Philadelphia (10-4)

• Clinched a playoff spot
• Clinches NFC East with:
  A win and Dallas loss or tie OR
  A tie and Dallas loss

Green Bay Packers (9-5)

• Clinches a playoff spot with:
  A win and Giants loss or tie OR
  A win and Dallas loss OR
  A tie and Giants loss

Dallas Cowboys (9-5)

• Clinches a playoff spot with:
  win and Giants loss or tie OR
  tie and Giants loss

The New York Giants are still in the NFC playoff picture but it will take a loss by both the Packers AND Cowboys over the next three weeks in order for them to have a chance.

sources: NY Daily News, nfl.com, espn.com