I said the season was over for the Jets after last weekend's loss.

But the NFL has this crazy rule where they make every team play 16 games so the Jets will tackle the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday.  Both teams are struggling.  Want proof?  The Jets are riding a three-game losing streak into Week 7.  The Bengals?  They're working on a four game skid and haven't won since opening night.  The Jets defense ranks 28th in the NFL in yards allowed per game.  The Cats rank 30th in the league.  The combined record for the two teams -- 2-9.

Are you ready for some football?!!!

Actually, I am.  Hey, I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.  The two teams may be scrapping, but this game still has a chance to be a pretty good one.  At least on the offensive side of the ball.

The Bengals rank in the Top 10 in points scored per game (7th) and average nearly 285 yards passing per game.  The Black and Orange are led by their Big Three -- QB Carson Palmer and WRs Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.  But their running game has been anemic.  Their workhorse Rudi Johnson has been slowed by injuries and is averaging only 3.0 yards per rush.  Still, it will be a tough task for the Green and White's defense to keep these guys in check. 

The Jets don't boast any league leaders in offense, but they will be going up against a horrendous defense in Cincinnati.  The Bengals D gives up an average of 31 points per game and made a pedestrian Kansas City offense look like a juggernaut last Sunday.  If there was a game for Thomas Jones and Jerricho Cotchery to record their first touchdowns of the season -- this is it.

In other words, this game has the potential to be very high-scoring.

Some quick Jets-Bengals history:

The Jets lead the all-time series with a 12-6 mark and have beaten Cincinnati five straight times.  This info was courtesy of Jets Confidential.  They had a nice article in their weekly newspaper on the Jets' playoff victory in Cincinnati in January of 1983.  I was just a wee one then, but Freeman McNeil and the Jets whipped up on Ken Anderson and the Bengals 44-17 on their way to the AFC championship game against the Dolphins.  I'm not too familiar with their online content, but their weekly print is pretty good.  Check them out if you follow the Green and White.

Also, if you're looking for a Black and Orange perspective on the game check out this Bengal's site.

The Bengals have been bitten often and hard by the injury bug this season.  One particular injury of note -- middle linebacker Ahmad Brooks is out so Cincinnati will go with Gang Green's 2006 third-round bust Anthony Schlegel.  Schlegel did absolutely nothing in his one year with the Jets.  Forget about getting playing time as a linebacker, the guy couldn't even make it on special teams.  Usually a team will give a player drafted within the first three rounds some leeway, but the Jets cut Schlegel loose after only one season.  I would be shocked if the Jets didn't pound the football right up the middle on Sunday.

Which brings us to Chad Pennington.  Coach Mangini didn't pull the trigger on a quarterback change following Pennington's third straight sub-par game.  Pennington isn't the only reason the Jets are sputtering this season and I've been one of the loudest supporters for No. 10, but even I wouldn't have been shocked if Mangini decided to go with Kellen Clemens against the Bengals.  The season is spiraling downward and the Jets are going against one of the weakest defenses in the league.  I don't know if there's a "perfect time" for a team to switch to their backup quarterback, but this weekend's tilt with the Bengals seemed tailor made. 

Still, I expect Pennington to snap out of his funk on Sunday and lead the Jets offense to repeated scores against the Bengals.  Do I really believe that or am I just hoping for it?

A little bit of both.