The Bengals sit on top of the AFC as Head Coach Zac Taylor has his team clicking on all cylinders. The 41 points the offense put up last week is the most in eight seasons, as the Bengals will look to keep that momentum going against a hungry Jets team looking for their second win.
Here are five things to know ahead of Sunday's Week 8 matchup with the New York Jets:
1. Scorching Start
The Bengals 5-2 start is the hottest they have opened up a season since going 8-0 in 2015. If Cincinnati wins on Sunday it would mark the fifth time since 1990 they have started a season 6-2 or better, making the playoffs each of those four seasons. This season, the Bengals and the Buffalo Bills are the only two teams with a top ten-scoring offense and defense. The last time the Bengals finished the season top ten in both categories was 2015, the last time they appeared in the playoffs.
2. Chase'N Ja'Marr
Ja'Marr Chase continues to rack up the hardware as the rookie was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week, Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week, and the Nickelodeon Slime Time NVP for his performance against Baltimore. The 90 Pro Football Focus receiving grade Chase put up on the Ravens is the highest receiving grade ever by a Bengals rookie receiver. He also joined A.J. Green and Chad Johnson as the only Bengals players to record 700 or more receiving yards in the first seven games of a season. And if you're thinking of covering Chase one-on-one, you might want to think again. Chase has been a terror for opposing cornerbacks, as his 400-receiving yards against man coverage leads the NFL, and is 113 more yards than any other player.
3. Joey Franchise
Through the first seven weeks, Joe Burrow has been performing like Joey Franchise. Burrow holds the longest active streak in the NFL as he has thrown two or more touchdowns in every game this season. Per Next Gen Stats, his 183-passing yards while under pressure last week against Baltimore is the most any quarterback in the NFL has thrown while under pressure, this season. Burrow was named the NFL FedEx Air Player of the Week after passing for a career high 416 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Ravens.
Take a walk down memory lane looking back at some of the best photos from the Bengals-Jets series over the years.
New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington (10) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Justin Smith (90) in the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 38-31. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Andre Caldwell (87) is upended by New York Jets safety Jim Leonhard (36) during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Auden Tate, left, catches a pass against New York Jets free safety Marcus Maye (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson (85) talks with New York Jets safety Kerry Rhodes (25) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mike Martin ( leaps for some yardage with New York Jets linebacker Kevin McArthur behind him at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on August 16, 1986.
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Laveranues Coles (11) scores a touchdown against the New York Jets in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, in Cincinnati.
QB Joe Namath looks to throw against the Bengals.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor walks across the field after a 22-6 victory over the New York Jets at Paul Brown Stadium.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (85) talks to New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) during the second quarter of an NFL football game at New Meadowlands Stadium, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010, in East Rutherford, N.J.
The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson (14) is stopped during the second quarter by the New York Jets' Abdul Salaam (74) and Marty Lyons (93) in New York on Sept. 13, 1981.
New York Jets Darrelle Revis #24 tackles Cincinnati Bengals Chris Henry #15 during a game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell (26) runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt (57) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bengals' Isaac Curtis (85) turns away from New York Jets defenders Bobby Johnson (40) and Ken Schroy (48) on his way to a touchdown in the first quarter of AFC playoff action on Sunday, Jan. 9, 1983 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The touchdown came on a pass form Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson.
New York Jets Freeman McNeil (24) looks for a way around Cincinnati Bengal defenders as Bengals Ross Browner moves in from behind for the tackle during a game in 1983.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Kenny Watson (33) is tackled by New York Jets defenders Kerry Rhodes, bottom, Victor Hobson, and Hank Poteat, right, in the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007, in Cincinnati. Watson rushed for three touchdowns and 130 yards in the Bengals 38-31 win.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Artrell Hawkins (27) breaks up a pass intended for New York Jets tight end Anthony Becht (88) on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2001, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
New York Jets wide receiver Brad Smith, center, is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph, left, and cornerback Leon Hall at an NFL football game at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010.
4. Haunting Quarterbacks
Trey Hendrickson has been an absolute nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. Hendrickson has recorded at least one sack in three straight games, the longest streak of his career, and his 36-quarterback pressures is second most in the NFL. The fifth year edge rusher is one of just three players since the start of the 2020 season to record 20 or more sacks, joining Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt and Cleveland's Myles Garrett. Hendrickson tallied 13.5 sacks last year, and his 6.5 sacks this season is currently tied for fourth most in the league.
5. No Fly Zone
The Bengals bring in a three game win streak against the Jets, outscoring them 94-37 in those three contests. In the most recent matchup at Paul Brown Stadium in 2019, Tyler Boyd and Joe Mixon each found the end zone as the Bengals defense held the Jets to field goals in a 22-6 win. It has been 11 years since the Jets last beat the Bengals, that coming in November of 2010, with Mark Sanchez under center in the Meadowlands.
