Time<\/strong>: 4:15 ET The Bengals are back and while they have their playoff spot locked up, they can help shape the destiny of another team that they probably don\u2019t want to see in the playoffs: the Steelers.<\/p>\n The Steelers are on the outside looking in but are favored to win in Miami this week. Beyond that, the Steelers will need some help and one of those scenarios includes the New York Jets losing.<\/p>\n For the Jets, they are in if they win. And considering these two teams may face each other in the first round of the playoffs, the Bengals might not only rest their starters but also avoid using any of their normal game plans so not to give strategy away.<\/p>\n Bengals offense versus Jets defense<\/strong><\/p>\n The Bengals could climb as high as the No. 3 seed in the AFC if they were to win and the New England Patriots would lose, but that doesn\u2019t seem to interest them too much. Considering how dominant the Patriots have been in the playoffs in recent years, one might think that the Bengals would prefer home field advantage in a potential playoff matchup with the Patriots, but they are indifferent about it.<\/p>\n The Bengals do play in the afternoon so if the Patriots lose in the morning, they might play hard for the No. 3 seed but even so, we\u2019re likely to see J.T. O\u2019Sullivan and Larry Johnson for a good half. Unless the Jets defense is completely asleep for this game, they should dominate.<\/p>\n Jets offense versus Bengals defense <\/strong><\/p>\n Normally, the Jets rushing offense against the Bengals rush defense would be a great matchup, but the Bengals are likely to lay down. One key member of the Bengals rush defense, tackle Domata Peko, has been banged up down the stretch and this could be the perfect time to get him some rest.<\/p>\n Either way, the Jets game plan will look very similar to last week\u2019s: hang around while their opponent has the starters in and bang away once the backups are in. Outlook & Pick<\/strong><\/p>\n The subtle storyline in this game is that the Bengals don\u2019t want to see the Steelers in the playoffs. For the Steelers, two of the three scenarios they have of making the playoffs include the Jets losing, so the Bengals can go a long way in keep the Steelers out by letting the Jets win.<\/p>\n The Jets will pound away on the ground and the Bengals will take the week off. That should lead to an easy win for the Jets, who won\u2019t be threatened at all in the second half.<\/p>\n
\n Venue<\/strong>: Giants Stadium
\n Bengals vs. Jets Sunday Football Lines<\/strong>
\n MoneyLine:<\/strong> Bengals+400 \/ Jets -500
\n Spread<\/strong>: Jets – 9.5
\n Over\/Under<\/strong>: 34<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe Jets will run the ball plenty in this game and keep the ball out of Mark Sanchez\u2019 hands. They\u2019ve done that for the bulk of the year and this week won\u2019t be any different.<\/p>\n