Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be taking a more in-depth look at the Bengals' 2025 opponents. The New York Jets come to Paycor Stadium in Week 8.

2024

The Jets finished 5-12 in 2024, firing head coach Robert Saleh in October after a 2-3 start. Jeff Ulbrich would become the interim head coach, and New York proceeded to finish the season 3-9 despite trading for All-Pro WR Devante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders.

New York finished in the bottom 10 in points per game (19.9) and yards per game (310.3) on offense. QB Aaron Rodgers came off an Achilles tear in 2023 to throw 28 touchdown passes, while WR Garrett Wilson cleared the 1,000-yard mark. The Jets defense had strong periods during the season, allowing the third-fewest yards per game (313.8), but they ranked 20th in points allowed (23.8 per game).

Offseason Changes

The Jets underwent a bevy of changes during the offseason, hiring former Detroit Lions' defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn as their next head coach. They also moved on from Rodgers after two seasons and brought in former Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields. Fields started six games and played in 10 in 2024 for the Steelers, going 4-2 as a starter and scoring 10 total touchdowns (five rushing, five passing). A first-round pick by Chicago in 2021, Fields reunites with Wilson, his teammate at Ohio State.

The Los Angeles Rams signed Adams in March, leaving Wilson as the team's clear top target. The Jets did draft LST TE Mason Taylor in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft and added former Georgia WR Arian Smith in the fourth round to complement a group that includes Wilson, 2024 third-round pick Malachi Corley, Allen Lazard and Josh Reynolds. New York drafted Missouri OT Armand Membou seventh overall in April as well.

New York also signed CB Brandon Stephens from the Baltimore Ravens and S Andre Cisco from the Jacksonville Jaguars and drafted CB Azareye'h Thomas from Florida State to build up their secondary around two-time Associated Press All-Pro Sauce Gardner.

Coaching Staff

Glenn became the 22nd head coach in Jets history in January. Glenn, a former safety the Jets selected in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft, coached the Lions defense for the last four years. Despite losing five starters and multiple key backups to injury, Detroit finished top 10 in takeaways (24), fifth against the run (98.4 yards allowed per game) and first in third-down conversion percentage allowed (32.4%). Glenn has 12 years of NFL coaching experience after spending 13 years as a player.

Glenn brought in Lions' passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand as the Jets' next offensive coordinator. Engstrand spent the last five years with the Lions, working under now Bears HC Ben Johnson and Lions HC Dan Campbell. Detroit finished second in passing yards (4,718) and passer rating (112.6) in 2024. Prior to being passing game coordinator, Engstrand served as tight ends coach, offensive quality control coach and an offensive assistant. He came to Detroit after a one-year stint as offensive coordinator of the XFL's DC Defenders and multiple stops at the collegiate level.

Steve Wilks will lead the New York defense. Wilks has 18 years of NFL experience, including one season as the Arizona Cardinals head coach in 2018. Most recently, Wilks was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. With Wilks at the helm, San Francisco allowed 17.5 points per game, the third-fewest in the NFL.

Series History

The Bengals and Jets have played 29 times. Most recently, Cincinnati took down the Jets in New York 27-12. The Jets haven't visited Paycor Stadium since 2019, when the Bengals defended their home turf in a 22-6 victory.

What To Watch For

Gardner and 2024 triple crown winner Ja’Marr Chase have only matched up once in their careers (the aforementioned 2022 game). Chase had six receptions and a touchdown in the contest but was held to just 29 yards.

On the other side, Stephens is used to seeing the Bengals wideouts, having played them twice a year while with the Ravens. In two games against Stephens and Baltimore last year, QB Joe Burrow threw for 820 yards and nine touchdowns.