The Cincinnati Bengals seemed to be turning a new leaf as the laughing stock of the NFL who never seemed to be able to keep their players out of trouble. After the recent arrest of Rey Maualuga for reckless driving while under the influence, the team's reputation has taken a step back for keeping their players out of trouble.

It's unfair to label the Bengals as a team who can never seem to stay out of trouble with the law when it's only the inappropriate actions of certain individuals. At one point in 2007, 10 members of the team had been arrested in just a 14-month span.

With all of the arrests that have taken place since 2006, there is only one question these certain individuals should be asking themselves

Why does this keep happening?

Most people would kill to live the type of lives professional players. The NFL is made up of some players who make millions of dollars each season for playing a game they love, which allows them to live a life most of us can only dream of.

Maualuga, Leon Hall, and Chris Henry are some of the most recent names of Bengals who have run into trouble with the law. Hall—was stopped for the same DUI charge Maualuga just received.

If you're a NFL player who makes millions of dollars each season, how hard is it to call a cab or a ride home after a night of fun with friends? If you know you're going to have a few drinks after a night out on the town, be responsible and plan ahead of time.

Otherwise, you're going to end up embarrassing yourself—just like Maualuga did. Not only did he give himself a bad reputation, but the entire Bengals organization, which is unfair for the handful of players who do promote good behavior.

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Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene was named an honorary captain for Saturday’s Team USA vs. The World game, which will take place at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Fanene joins former Miami Dolphins center Dwight Stephenson and former New England Patriots running back Mosi Tatupu as honorary captains for the game consisting of some of the best high school football players from around the world.

Team USA—which is made up of USA Football’s 2010 Junior National team—will display 45 of the top high school seniors in the country. They will face off against a World team consisting of some of the best players from eight different countries from around the world. The event

Fanene was born in Pago Pago, American Samoas where three players from the World team are from—including his younger brother Aiulua. He was drafted out of Utah and has spent his entire five-year career with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals selected Fanene in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He arguably had the best season of his career in 2009, finishing with a career high 36 tackles and six sacks. He also recorded one interception that was returned 45 yards for a touchdown in Week 13 against the Detroit Lions.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese will remain with the team after he was listed as one of the possible candidates to take over the offensive coordinator position with the Chicago Bears. He will return along with defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski—two other members of the coaching staff that were questionable to return next season.

According to Bears beat writer Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune, Zampese was never offered a contract to become offensive coordinator for the team. He received permission to interview with the team January 12-13, but was given a deadline by Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, who gave his quarterbacks coach one week to make a decision on whether he would return to Cincinnati next season.

Now, he will join the Bengals for his seventh season as quarterbacks coach and look to help improve the play of Carson Palmer, who struggled for most of the 2009 season.

Zampese joined the Bengals in 2003 after spending three years with the St. Louis Rams. He has been a major reason behind the success of Palmer—who also joined Cincinnati the same year after being selected the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft.

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After finishing 26th among NFL teams in the passing game, the Cincinnati Bengals realize how important it is to address the wide receiver position during the offseason.

In a season which the running game and defense carried the way to a 10-6 record and the first 6-0 sweep of the AFC North in franchise history, the Bengals failed to stay consistent moving the ball down the field through the air—despite the amount of talent in the passing game.

A quarterback in Carson Palmer, who has proven at times in his career he can be one of the top players in the NFL at his position. One of the most dangerous wide receivers in Chad Ochocinco and the addition of Laveranues Coles—who signed with the team last March after T.J. Houshmandzadeh and the Bengals decided to part ways.

So what went wrong for the Bengals’ passing game this season?

There seemed to be a number of factors behind Cincinnati’s inability to stay consistent in the passing game. The absence of Chris Henry—who passed away in December—took away the deep threat down the field. An unacceptable high number of dropped passes by the Bengals’ wide receivers. Even Palmer can be blamed for numerous passes that were over or under thrown to his targets.

Whatever the reasons behind the struggles, the main factor is the No. 1 task in the offseason for the Bengals should be figuring out a way to improve their wide-receiving core.

With the 2010 NFL Draft quickly approaching on April 22, there are a handful of wide receivers that could become a valuable target for Carson Palmer—including Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant and Notre Dame’s Golden Tate. Both players seem like a good fit for a Cincinnati team desperate for help in the passing game.

The only question now is when the Bengals are on the clock with the 21st pick, will they select a wide receiver right away or wait until a later round?

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After a season in which the passing game finished 26th out of the 32 teams in the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals and their fans realized how much they missed T.J. Houshmandzadeh--who is now with the Seattle Seahawks.

Houshmandzadeh signed a five-year deal worth $40 million—with $15 million guaranteed—last March. Over the last couple of years, he developed into arguably one of the—if not best—top No. 2 wideouts in the NFL with Cincinnati. From 2005-08, he caught 372 passes for 4,084 yards and 32 touchdowns. The presence of Chad Ochocinco on the field allowed opposing defenders to focus more time on stopping him, allowing Houshmandzadeh a better chance at finding open areas down the field.

Ever since his signing with Seattle, it appeared the main reason why Houshmandzadeh left was because of his desire for more money. However, a report by Chick Ludwig of Cincinnati.com claims Houshmanzadeh told ESPN's Doug Gottlieb his personal feelings towards the Bengals had an impact his decision to sign with another team.

Houshmandzadeh expressed his frustration towards the organization when he felt the Bengals first attempt to re-sign him was such a low offer it was offensive. By the time they came around with a better offer, it was hard to change his negative attitude towards the situation and decided to go with Seattle.

In his first season with the Seahawks, Houshmandzadeh finished with 79 receptions for 911 yards and three touchdowns. The team finished 5-11 and before firing head coach Jim Mora after just one season.

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The decision to bring back Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski has drawn mixed emotions among fans this offseason.

Despite the seventh best running game in the NFL led by Cedric Benson, the team struggled to put points on the board each week, averaging just 19.1 points per game. They also failed to stay consistent in the passing game, an area that seemed to be one of their strengths on paper.

Not only was Carson Palmer returning to full strength after missing most of 2008 with an elbow injury, but Cincinnati seemed to have an advantage at the wide receiver position. With the addition of Laveranues Coles' speed to play alongside Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, many expected Palmer to bounce back with one of the best seasons of his seven-year career.

Instead, the Bengals were forced to rely heavily on their running game, which is hard to do when playing catch-up in the NFL.

Bratkowski has been with Cincinnati since 2001 after stints with the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers. While the offense has struggled the last two years, there was a time when Bratkowski helped the Bengals finish in the top 10 in overall offense for three seasons from 2005-07.

Lately, job security as a coach in the NFL seems to be one of the most difficult things to come by. While some coaches usually receive the benefit of the doubt by earning at least two or three seasons to make an impact for their team, others have lost their job after just one disappointing season. Take a look at one happened to Jim Mora with the Seahawks—who was fired after finishing 5-11 in his first and only season as head coach.

With the rate of coaches coming and going in the NFL, why is Bratkowski still the Bengals offensive coordinator?

While Bengals' fans scratch their heads asking this question, there is one man that comes to mind who seems to be the reason behind this decision.

Mike Brown.

Ever since he stepped in for his father as owner and general manager of the Bengals, Brown has been criticized for his inability to run a successful franchise. Since taking over in 1991, Cincinnati has started a season 0-8 four times—with the last one coming in 2008.

The lack of success during Brown's tenure with the Bengals is no secret. His disappointing record of 101-190-1, along with 0-2 in the playoffs, seems to be the type of numbers that would have made an owner step down years ago. However, he has stayed loyal to his ownership with the Bengals, just as he has with his coaches and players throughout his career.

Brown has received some heavy criticism throughout his career for the loyalty shown to his coaches and players when most owners would have parted ways in his situation.

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has been with the team for seven years, yet has made the playoffs just twice and a losing record of 56-57-1 (including playoffs). With any other team in the NFL, he most likely would have been fired years ago.

Lewis is just one example of the type of loyalty Brown shows to members of his organization, no matter how rough the situation may seem. Year after year Lewis seemed to be on the hot seat as the Bengals seemed to have one of the best offenses on paper, yet continued to struggle. Lucky for him, his hot seat cooled down after Cincinnati surprised all of the doubters by finishing 6-0 in the AFC North for the first time in franchise history and claiming their first division title since 2005.

Along with Lewis, Brown has shown loyalty to players, keeping some around despite their struggles—like wide receiver Chris Henry.

Before passing away in December, Henry was the type of player who built a reputation for his inability to stay out of trouble with the law. He was arrested numerous times over between 2005-08 and was even suspended eight games in 2007 for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

Henry was waived by Brown in April 2008 following another arrest before re-signing him prior to the start of the regular season in August. Most owners would never even consider re-signing a troubled player like Henry after his troubled past.

Not Brown.

His loyalty to giving Henry another chance as a member of the Bengals was a move that seemed crazy at first, but turned out to be inspiring heading into the 2009 season. After all of the troubles in the past, Henry finally seemed to be on the correct path to turning his life around, and he was being praised among members of the media and teammates—including Palmer.

It's no secret Brown's loyalty to coaches and players can be frustrating at times, with the Bratkowski situation falling under that category.

Hopefully with the Bratkowski situation, loyalty pays off, and the Bengals can improve their offense to return near the top of the league where they were a few years ago.

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Mel Kiper of ESPN.com released his first 2010 NFL Mock Draft this week with the Cincinnati Bengals selecting Florida Gators tight end Aaron Hernandez as the 21st overall pick. Kiper believes Hernandez could be a key addition to a team in need of improvement in the passing game.

With the NFL Draft exactly three months away, one of the main--if not the top--areas of concern for the Bengals is Carson Palmer and the passing game. Despite an impressive 2009 campaign in which Cincinnati finished 10-6 and were crowned AFC North Champions, they struggled to stay consistent in the passing game. Many expected Palmer to flourish with weapons in Chad Ochocinco and Laveranues Coles--who signed with the team in March after T.J. Houshmandzadeh left for the Seattle Seahawks.

Instead, the Bengals struggled week after week, averaging just 180.6 yards per game through the air, finishing 26th among NFL teams.

So how much of an impact would a player like Hernandez have on the Bengals' passing game?

For starters, Hernandez was a key part in the Florida offense--especially for Tim Tebow and the passing game. He led all Gators receivers with 68 receptions, finishing 2009 with 850 yards and five touchdowns.

With the ability of a tight end to not only block, but be a threat as a wide receiver down the field, Hernandez could become a valuable target for Palmer to rely on entering next season.

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Imagine a world where Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco and Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens are playing side-by-side in 2010. As crazy as it sounds, this would still seem like an impossible duo to stop on the field, which would improve a Bengals' passing game that finished near the bottom of the NFL in 2009.

Obviously, the odds of this happening may seem the same as Ryan Leaf making a comeback and earning a starting job next season.

Then again, is it really that crazy of a scenario to think about Owens ending up in Cincinnati next season?

After his release from the Dallas Cowboys—despite having the highest touchdown total of all active players from 2006-'08 with 38—the Buffalo Bills signed Owens to a one-year deal worth $6.5 million in 2009. The plan was that his experience and threat as one of the top wide receivers in the league would improve a Bills offense that never ranked higher than 25th overall the last six seasons.

So what did their $6.5 million get from Owens this season?

The Bills finished just 6-10 with the 30th ranked offense in the NFL with Owens catching 55 receptions for 829 yards and five touchdowns—his lowest since 1999 when he was with the 49ers. He also broke the 100-yard mark just once in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars (nine receptions for 198 yards).

No, Owens shouldn't be blamed for the struggles in the Bills' offense considering the type of talent he had to work with. However, he clearly shouldn't be paid as much—if not more—than the $6.5 million he made last season.

It's no secret Owens only has a few years left in his career as a top receiving threat in the NFL. With all due respect to the Bills, they are not the team for him if he's looking to win a Super Bowl before retirement.

So why not give it a shot with a team like the Bengals?

Last season, Cincinnati contained one of the top defenses in the NFL and caused opposing offenses headaches again next season after re-signing defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. They also displayed one of the top running games led by Cedric Benson. However, the one area that needs improvement is Carson Palmer and the passing game.

The Bengals finished 26th overall in the passing game in 2009, averaging just 180.6 yards per game. Palmer and the receiving core—other than Ochocinco—failed to stay consistent all season, relying heavily on their defense and running game week after week.

Throughout his career, Owens has built a reputation as a player who can become a distraction for the teams he's played for. He deserves credit for the lack of attention he drew upon his first season playing with the Bills.

While the question of whether or not a team like the Bengals would be capable of keeping a player like Owens under control, remember this is the same type of Cincinnati team who received criticism for signing "troubled" players. Just look at how the Benson situation turned out.

Sure, the odds of Cincinnati becoming the home of Owens next season seems like a long shot, but it's still interesting to think about, isn't it?

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com.

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com.

Questions? Comments? staff@whodeybengals.com

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco will be playing at Land Shark Stadium on January 31 after he was named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster on Friday. He earns a spot on the roster after injuries to New England Patriots wide receivers Wes Welker and Randy Moss. Welker, who was originally selected, injured his knee during the final game of the regular season against the Houston Texans while Moss, the first alternate, will no longer participate due to an injury.

Ochocinco was the only consistent player in the passing game for the Bengals this season after recording 72 receptions for 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns. It was the seventh time he crossed the 1,000 yard mark in his nine-year career.

After displaying a strong running game that finished ninth in the NFL by averaging 128.5 yards per game, Cincinnati struggled with their passing game. They finished 26th and only averaged 180.6 yards per game through the air.

This is the sixth time in his career Ochocinco has been named to the Pro Bowl. The last time he played was in ’08 following the 2007 regular season in which he finished with 1,440 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He joins Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, and Brandon Marshall as the final wide receiver on the AFC roster.

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After Carson Palmer missed most of 2008 due to an elbow injury and the team finished a disappointing 4-11-1, there were few who believed the Cincinnati Bengals would be contenders in the AFC North this season. If anything, most thought they would finish 8-8 at best with the division title going to the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the AFC Championship runner up Baltimore Ravens.

Thanks to a major upgrade on defense and the emergence of a powerful running game, the Bengals proved their doubters wrong by finishing 10-6 to earn their first AFC North title since 2005. They also finished 6-0 in their division for the first time in franchise history.

As impressive as 6-0 in the AFC North is, nothing was more impressive for Cincinnati this season than two unfortunate events they had to overcome in the deaths of two members of the Bengals family in Vikki Zimmer and Chris Henry.

Vikki, the wife of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, passed away in October at the age of 50. She was a beloved member of the Bengals family who was well-known by the players for her famous cookies provided as a sign of appreciation for putting up with Zimmer's intensity during training camp.

Most people dealing with this type of situation would prefer to take some time off or even a leave of absence. Not Zimmer, who was on the sideline against the Baltimore Ravens three days after the passing of his wife for his team. In a game dedicated to Vicki, the Bengals came through in an emotional 17-14 win thanks to a stellar performance by the defense.

Death in general is never easy to deal with. The fact that Cincinnati had to experience the passing away of Vikki Zimmer in the middle of their season and still compete at the level they did is nothing short of phenomenal. What was even more astonishing is they not only had to deal with the death of a family member not once, but twice in the middle of the season after wide receiver Chris Henry passed away two months later.

Henry's passed away in December after suffering severe head injuries he sustained after falling from the back of a pickup truck driven by his fianc ée. The accident occurred three days before the Bengals played in an important game against the San Diego Chargers in matchup between two teams fighting for position of the No. 2 seed in the AFC. While their fourth-quarter rally fell just short in a 27-24 loss, Cincinnati still played with heavy hearts for Henry--who was on the right path of turning his life around after a troubled pass that involved numerous run ins with the law.

It's no question how much last weekend's loss to the New York Jets hurt for not only members of the Bengals, but their fans in Cincinnati. A team that made it to the postseason despite all the obstacles that stood in their way throughout the season, only to fall short of the ultimate goal of playing in Miami come February 7.

The 2009 season will provide the Bengals and their fans with memories--both good and bad--for years to come. After everything that happened this season, all they can do now is be proud of how they performed and prepare to contend in 2010.

As they enter next season as the defending AFC North Champions, the Bengals should see more believers than doubters compared to the beginning of this season.

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After Saturday's 24-14 loss to the New York Jets in the opening game of the 2010 playoffs, it's a sign of relief Cincinnati Bengals kicker Shayne Graham never received the long-term deal he desired in the offseason.

Graham missed two key field goals against the Jets that could arguably had an impact on the outcome of the game. He missed a 35-yard field goal in the third quarter that turned the momentum in the favor of the Jets who marched 75 yards down the field the following drive before Thomas Jones ran the ball in from nine yards out.

With fewer than four minutes to play in the fourth quarter and the Bengals down 10, he missed another field goal from 28 yards out that would have made it a one posession game with all three time outs remaining. How can a kicker being paid $2.48 million miss two field goals from these ranges when Graham does this for a profession?

His performance against the Jets is just a small chapter in the book of frustrations felt among Cincinnati fans towards Graham this season. Earlier in the season, he missed a 37-yard field goal against the Oakland Raiders that ended up being the difference maker in the 20-17 loss (even though it's hard to blame it on him when Andre Caldwell fumbled late in the fourth quarter). At that point in the season, he had made just 12-of-17 field goals and was kicking a career-low 70.6 percent.

Coming into the 2009 season, Graham was the team's all-time leading kicker in field goal accuracy (87.5 percent). He also held five franchise records, including highest field goal percentage in a season (91.2), most points in a season (131), field goals in a season (31), most field goals in a game (seven), and consecutive field goals made (21).

In the regular season, he finished 23-of-28 and built a streak of 11-straight field goals made entering the postseason. He seemed to overcome the previous slump from earlier in the season and seemed to be a reliable kicker if necessary.

Whoops.

Graham's inability to make two field goals from ranges that seem to be a guarantee for most kickers in this league may mean the end for him in Cincinnati. While football is a team game, it's hard for Bengals' fans not to put most of the blame on him for failing to come through when his team needed him the most. Not to mention those extra six points could have made a difference in some of the play calling made towards the end of the game.

It's been a good seven-year run for Graham in Cincinnati and it's a shame it may have to end this way.

Saturday's loss to the Jets displayed many areas the Bengals need to improve on in the offseason to bounce back as contenders next season. After the way Graham performed against New York, maybe Cincinnati will be eyeing a kicker in the upcoming NFL Draft in a few months.

As far as Graham's future, some team will most likely end up giving him a chance by signing him in the offseason if the Bengals end up releasing him. After all, Mike Vanderjagt received a second chance with the Dallas Cowboys after his release from the Indianapolis Colts, didn't he?

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco celebrates his 32nd birthday today as he squares off against the New York Jets at Paul Brown Stadium in the opening round of the 2010 playoffs.

A win over the Jets would be the perfect present to not only Ochocinco, but the Bengals, who were embarrassed by the Jets last weekend 37-0. What better ways to celebrate a birthday than helping your franchise earn their first playoff win since 1991?

Last weekend, Ochocinco was held without a reception, ending his streak of 120 straight games with at least one catch. While he only played one half due to a knee injury he suffered during warm ups—not to mention the fact there was no reason for Cincinnati to risk the health of their starters in the second half—expect him to be aggressive towards Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, who was covering him last weekend. With Revis shutting him down and winning the first battle, it’s obvious Ochocinco would love to bounce back this week and win round two when it matters the most.

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When a player squares off against his former team for the first time or in a meaningful game, it seems to provide that extra spark to make the matchup even more interesting.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre squaring up against the Green Bay Packers in the postseason would arguably be one of the most hyped up games of all time. Even Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel facing his former teammates of the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl would draw some interest around the league.

No matter what, a player facing his former team—especially in the playoffs—makes an interesting matchup.

So why has there been no mention of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Laveranues Coles facing his former team in the New York Jets this weekend in the opening round of the 2010 playoffs?

Coles signed a four-year deal worth $28 million in the offseason to fill in the void as a No. 2 wide receiver after T.J. Houshmandzadeh left for the Seattle Seahawks. With his speed and experience as a top wideout in two stints with the Jets--not to mention two seasons with the Washington Redskins--Coles was expected to be a solid No. 2 option for Carson Palmer alongside Chad Ochocinco.

While Coles numbers have been decent in 2009, they still were still low enough to consider his first season with the Bengals a disappointment. Even though he managed to find the end zone five times, Coles receiving yards this season (514) are his lowest since his rookie season in 2000.

In the 16 games he's played in this season, Coles has been shutout twice and gone over 50 yards just three times--his best performance came against the Baltimore Ravens in Week Nine when he finished with six receptions for 72 yards.

On Saturday, Coles will face his former team when the Jets travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals for the second straight week. The only difference this time is the meaning of the game as the winner heads to the Divisional round of the playoffs while the loser begins their 2010 offseason schedule.

The Bengals have already completed their No. 1 goal this season by making the playoffs. Saturday begins a whole new season, as nothing from the last 16 weeks matters at this point. The only thing that matters from here on out is if Cincinnati can find a way to win the next four games in a row.

A strong performance Saturday and a win over his former team would be the perfect way for Bengals' fans to forget about Coles and his disappointing first season with his new team. Otherwise, the pressure will be on him heading into 2010, leaving fans reminiscing about how great of a No. 2 wide receiver Houshmandzadeh was.

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The Cincinnati Bengals knew how much of an impact the absence of rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga would have on their defense, but they didn't realize it would be this bad.

Maualuga was placed on injured reserve after he broke his ankle in the Bengals 17-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs during Week 16. The injury could not have come at a worse time for a team making their first playoff appearance in four years.

Before their 37-0 blowout loss to the New York Jets, the Bengals entered the game with the second best rushing defense in the NFL, allowing opposing teams to gain just 87.7 yards per game. They also allowed just two running backs to break the 100 yard mark all season (Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Harrison and Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles).

Maualuga finished fourth on the team before his season-ending injury with 63 tackles. He also forced three fumbles and recorded one sack. Without him in the lineup, the Bengals struggled against the Jets running attack, who ranks first in the NFL in yards per game by averaging 172.2.

New York Jets wide receiver Brad Smith finished with 97 yards on just four carries, including a 57-yard scramble in the wildcat formation—the longest run allowed by the Bengals' defense all season. Thomas Jones finished with 78 yards and two touchdowns while rookie running back Shonn Greene finished with 62 yards on the ground.

Most teams don't see a second chance against a team that embarrassed them earlier in the season. For the Bengals, they get a second chance against the Jets not even seven days following their embarrassment at Giants Stadium.

The Jets will go as far in the playoffs as their running game will take them. If the Bengals' defense can shutdown Jones and Greene while forcing rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez to throw more, the game should be much closer than it was last weekend.

Unfortunately, the Bengals will need to figure out a way of accomplishing without the presence of Maualuga.

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After a fourth-quarter rally by the Houston Texans to defeat the New England Patriots 34-27, the Cincinnati Bengals failed to take advantage of claiming the No. 3 seed in the AFC after a 37-0 loss to the New York Jets. With the win, New York clinched the No. 5 seed in the AFC and will travel to Cincinnati to take on the No. 4 Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium next Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

The loss dropped the Bengals to 10-6 on the regular season as they get set to host their first playoff game at home in four years. Here are five factors regarding Cincinnati's loss to New York.

First half domination by the Jets

After the first half of play, it was safe to say the Jets had complete control over the Bengals considering their 27-0 lead. While New York found the end zone three times and successfully kicked two field goals, Cincinnati was held to just seven yards of total offense.

For most of the season, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer has struggled to find consistency in the passing game and the matchup against the Jets was nothing different. He finished the first half just 1-of-11--his only completion to wide receiver Laveranues Coles for no gain. However, it would be unfair to place all the blame on him considering how many times his receiving core dropped passes that should have been caught.

The Bengals struggle in not only the passing, but running game

The Bengals have built a reputation this season as a team with an ineffective passing game. Without the success of a strong ground attack led by running back Cedric Benson, Cincinnati would not be hosting the New York Jets in the opening round of the playoffs next weekend.

Palmer was replaced by backup quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan in the second half, who also struggled against the Jets' defense. He finished just 3-of-8 for 31 yards while losing two fumbles in the process.

As for the running game, head coach Marvin Lewis made the wise decision to rest Benson for next weekend and give rookie running back Bernard Scott the start. Unfortunately, he struggled against the league's No. 1 rushing defense, finishing with just 20 yards on six carries (one of his runs went for 22 yards—do the math).

The absense of Rey Maualuga on defense shows against Jets

Before their loss to the Jets, the Bengals owned the second best rushing defense in the NFL, allowing just 87.7 yards per game. In their first game without Maualuga, the defense struggled to contain the Jets' offense—especially when it came to stopping the run.

The impact of Maualuga's presence was obvious against the Jets as they relied on their running game to carry the way, just as they have all season. Overall, New York finished with 257 yards on the ground, with wide receiver Brad Smith leading the way. He finished with 97 yards on just four carries, including a 57-yard scramble after lining up in the wildcat formation.

On the season, the Jets led all teams by averaging 166.6 yards per game on the ground. With rookie running back Shonn Green filling in the void left by Leon Washington as a backup to Thomas Jones, Cincinnati will need to figure out how to stop the rushing attack next week and force quarterback Mark Sanchez to throw more.

Otherwise, the Bengals may be on their way to an early exit after an unforgettable season.

Chad Ochocinco loses his battle against Darrelle Revis

Throughout the week, Chad Ochocinco has been up to his usual trash-talking antics. His latest victim: Jets Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis.

In the one half Ochocinco played, Revis clearly won the battle this week as he shut down another star receiver while making a statement as one of the best cornerbacks in football. Not only did he hold Ochocinco out of the end zone for the first time in five weeks, but it was the first time in 124 games he failed to record a reception.

Before the game, Ochocinco tweaked his knee after slipping during warm ups and is expected to have an MRI this week. Despite the tweak, he is expected to be just fine for next weekend's rematch against the Jets.

When it comes to ball control, the Jets win—by a long shot

After the first quarter, the Bengals only drive lasted a total of 1:06. The second drive for the Jets consisted of 21 plays that lasted 11:11. Throughout the game, this was a continuing factor for New York when it came to controlling the ball.

The Jets used their powerful running game to control the clock as they dominated the time of possession 41:14 to the Bengals' 18:46, which means they held the ball for a little over 68 percent of the game. Cincinnati struggled to keep most of their drives consistent as they saw just five first downs throughout the game compared to 21 by New York.

With Benson and the rest of the starters back next week, the Bengals' offense should display a better performance against the Jets—even if they do have the top overall defense in the league.

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The Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets are one of three matchups to face each other in Week 17 and the first round of the playoffs (Eagles-Cowboys and Packers-Cardinals). The only difference for this particular matchup is the game will be played at Paul Brown Stadium instead of Giants Stadium.

With the Houston Texans scoring 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter in their 34-27 win over the New England Patriots, Cincinnati put themselves in a position to clinch the No. 3 seed in the AFC should they win over New York. Unfortunately, the Bengals failed to take advantage of the situation and were embarrassed by the Jets 37-0.

The loss keeps the Bengals right where they were entering the final week of the regular season as the No. 4 seed and will now host a re-match against the Jets next Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Despite the blowout, expect a closer game between these two teams next weekend since it will be meaningful for both teams

While the Bengals knew they could afford a loss after already clinching a playoff berth and at least one home game, this Jets team was in a different situation considering they needed a win just to get into the playoffs. Cincinnati is 7-1 at Paul Brown Stadium this season, with their last loss coming against the Texans in Week Six.

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The Houston Texans used a late-fourth quarter rally against the New England Patriots to not only keep their playoff hopes alive, but provide the Cincinnati Bengals with a chance to claim the No. 3 seed in the AFC as they enter Sunday night's matchup against the New York Jets.

Last weekend, the Bengals clinched their first AFC North title since 2005 in a 17-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. While they are guaranteed at least one home game at Paul Brown Stadium, head coach Marvin Lewis will need to decide if he wants to risk playing for a higher seed in case Cincinnati makes a deep run in the postseason.

With the loss to Houston, New England drops to 10-6, which means Cincinnati has a chance to move up to the No. 3 seed with a win over New York. A loss to the Jets would drop the Bengals to 10-6 and the No. 4 seed in the AFC behind the Patriots based on strength of victory.

Down 27-13 in the fourth quarter, the Texans scored 21 straight points to hold off the Patriots 34-27 and will now await the results of the Ravens-Raiders and Broncos-Chiefs games to see what happens with their playoff fate.

As for the Bengals, their matchup against the Jets all of a sudden has the chance to become a significant game for Carson Palmer and company. The only question left for Cincinnati is whether or not playing for the No. 3 seed is worth the risk for the starters.

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The 10-5 Cincinnati Bengals head east to take on the 8-7 New York Jets in the final game of the regular season for both teams. For the Jets it’s simple; a win over the Bengals and they automatically clinch a Wild Card spot. The only question is whether or not Cincinnati will rest most of their starters.

The Bengals will most likely enter the postseason as the No. 4 seed in the AFC, unless the New England Patriots fall to the Houston Texans. If that were the case, Cincinnati has a chance to lock up the No. 3 seed with a win over New York. Otherwise, the results of the game will have no value to the Bengals other than the possibility of playing the Jets for two consecutive weeks.

Sunday’s game was pushed back to 8:20 p.m. because of the flex scheduling and will now be broadcasted on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Whether or not Cincinnati decides to rest their starters most of the game, it should be an intense matchup as New York fights for their playoff lives. Here are five questions for the Bengals as they look to finish 11-5 for the first time since 2005.

How much will the starters play for the Bengals?

Unfortunately, the decision regarding how long the starters will play for the Bengals will not be determined until the conclusion of the Patriots-Texans game. If Houston wins, Cincinnati can claim the No. 3 seed in the AFC with a win over New York Sunday night. If New England wins, they will enter the playoffs as the No. 4 seed, no matter what.

There is no reason for the Bengals to risk losing their starters for the postseason if they enter Sunday's matchup against the Jets knowing their playoff seed. The only decision Marvin Lewis will have to make is if Cincinnati does have a choice for the No. 3 seed, which team would he rather play in the first round?

The Jets rushing attack vs. the Bengals rushing defense

New York has the best rushing attack in the NFL and is averaging 166.6 yards-per-game on the ground thanks to running backs Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene. Cincinnati's defense ranks second in the NFL, allowing their opponents to average just 87.7 yards-per-game. When these two teams meet on Sunday, something will have to give.

Last weekend, Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles became only the second player this season to rush for over 100 yards against the Bengals' defense. New York may rely heavily on Jones to carry the ground game if quarterback Mark Sanchez continues to struggle, especially if Cincinnati decides to rest most of their starters.

Which Mark Sanchez will show up for the Jets?

In his first career three starts in the NFL, Sanchez led the Jets' offense to impressive wins over the Texans, Patriots, and Titans. He threw for 606 yards and four touchdowns, which was just enough thanks to a strong running game.

Since then, Sanchez has been one of the most inconsistent quarterbacks in the NFL. Over the last 11 games he's played in, Sanchez has thrown just eight touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

The Bengals know the key to stopping the Jets' offense is to shut down the running game and force Sanchez to throw more than he would like to. If they can manage to do that, Cincinnati has a good chance of eliminating New York's playoff dreams.

Cincinnati's 0-7 record at the Meadowlands and recent road woes

Whether the Bengals decide to play or rest the starters, their previous history at the Meadowlands is favored against them. They have never won in seven trips to the Meadowlands and their last win against the Jets on the road came in 1981.

After winning their first four games on the road this season, Cincinnati has dropped their last three away from Paul Brown Stadium to the Raiders, Vikings, and Chargers. If the Bengals have any chance of making a deep run in the playoffs, they will need to figure out their recent struggles on the road. The road to Miami won't be easy, especially if they have to go through Indianapolis, San Diego, or New England.

How long will Marvin Lewis let Chad Ochocinco play?

Ochocinco has already vouched how he would like to play the entire game against the Jets on Sunday night--as well as planning another touchdown celebration. The only question is how long will he play if the Bengals clinch the No. 4 seed in the AFC prior to the game?

If this is the case for the Bengals, the smart decision would be to rest their No. 1 wide receiver--especially with how much Palmer and the passing game have struggled this season. The last thing Cincinnati needs is to be without their wideout in the postseason.

Ochocinco needs just 53 yards to record his seventh 1,100 yard receiving season in his nine-year career. The only time he failed to reach the plateau was in 2008 and his rookie season in 2001.

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As 2010 begins, the Cincinnati Bengals will be starting the new decade off just right by entering the playoffs as a No. 3 or No. 4 seed and at least one home game at Paul Brown Stadium.

Over the last 10 years, the Bengals have seen just two winning seasons. In 2005, they finished the season with an 11-5 record and made the playoffs for the first time since 1990.

Cincinnati and their fans have seen some memorable games over the last decade and hope to continue this trend over the next 10 years. As a treat to ring in the new decade and celebrate New Year's Day, here are the top five most memorable games for the Bengals from the last decade.

Honorable Mention Sept. 16, 2007: Cincinnati Bengals 45 , Cleveland Browns 51

This game would have meant more to Cincinnati and their fans if the Bengals had actually won the game. On the positive note, at least the game was still exciting to watch.

In the second week of the 2007 regular season, the Bengals and Browns went back and fourth in scoring in what ended up being the eighth highest-scoring game in NFL history.

Carson Palmer arguably had one of the best performances of his career, finishing 33-of-50 for 401 yards and a franchise record six touchdowns. Unfortunately, Browns quarterback Derek Anderson almost performed just as well, completing 20-of-38 passes for 328 yards and five touchdowns.

5. December 18, 2005: Cincinnati Bengals 41, Detroit Lions 17

2005 was the first time in 15 years the Bengals reached the postseason. In a 41-17 win over Detroit in Week 15, Cincinnati clinched the AFC North. They would finish the year with an 11-5 record (they won over the 11-5 Pittsburgh Steelers due to a better record against divisional opponents).

They would go on lose to the Steelers in the first round of the playoffs after Palmer suffered a knee injury on the second offensive play of the game, but it was still a memorable season for the Bengals.

For so long, the fan base in Cincinnati had been waiting for a winning season and a trip to the playoffs. The win over the Lions secured both for the Bengals, which is a game that will always be remembered by fans.

4. November 16, 2008: Cincinnati Bengals 13, Philadelphia Eagles 13

Prior to the game, the 5-4 Eagles came in as heavy favorites over the 1-8 Bengals. With Palmer out most of the season due to an elbow injury, Ryan Fitzpatrick led the offense but was nowhere near as effective.

Even with all of their struggles that season, Cincinnati still managed to compete with a very talented Philadelphia squad as wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh tied a career high with 12 receptions for 149 yards and one touchdown. The defense picked off Donovan McNabb three times and forced him to fumble once in what ended up being the first tie in the NFL since 2002 between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons.

While the game ended in a tie, the Bengals had a chance to seal the win after kicker Shayne Graham missed a 47-yard field goal as time expired in overtime. For once, both set of fans were frustrated with the outcome of the game.

3. October 30, 2005: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Green Bay Packers 14

The Bengals improved to 6-2 after their win over the Packers during Week Eight of the 2005 regular season thanks to a strong performance by their defense against one of the all-time greatest quarterbacks.

Not only did the defense sack Packers quarterback Brett Favre twice, but they intercepted him five times in one of the worst games of his career. Odell Thurman and Deltha O'Neal each had two interceptions while Tory James recorded one.

The rest of the season is history as Cincinnati went on to win the AFC North title and make their first playoff appearance since 1990.

2. September 27, 2009: Cincinnati Bengals 23, Pittsburgh Steelers 20

Entering the 2009 season, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger started off his NFL career 11-0 against teams in the state of Ohio. On top of that, Pittsburgh had won their last eight games played in Cincinnati. It wasn't just the fact that both streaks came to an end in Week Three this season, but how it was done.

With the Bengals trailing 20-9 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Palmer rallied his team to score 14 points to make a statement that the defending Super Bowl Champions and the Baltimore Ravens were not the only contenders in the AFC North.

After running back Cedric Benson found the end zone on a 23-yard run, Palmer capped off the rally with a four-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Caldwell with 14 seconds left on 2nd-and-goal. Two plays prior, Palmer found running back Brian Leonard on 4th-and-10 from the Pittsburgh 15 to gain a first down thanks to a miraculous second effort.

It doesn't take rocket science to figure out how much the fans of Cincinnati love to beat Pittsburgh. Without a doubt, this was the sweetest win for the Bengals over their division rivals.

1. November 16, 2003: Cincinnati Bengals 24, Kansas City Chiefs 19

Throughout his nine-year career, Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco has built a reputation as a player who enjoys having fun by running his mouth against not only players, but teams. In 2003, he made one of the biggest—and craziest—predictions of his career.

In Week 11 of the 2003 regular season, Ochocinco made a prediction that the 5-4 Bengals would upset the 9-0 Chiefs at Paul Brown Stadium. As crazy as it sounded at the time, Ochocinco—who went by Johnson back then—and the Bengals came through in the 24-19 upset.

Ochocinco finished the day with seven receptions for 74 yards while Peter Warrick led the team with six receptions for 114 yards and one touchdown. Rudi Johnson also carried the team on the ground, rushing for 165 yards on just 22 carries.

Of course, Cincinnati would have come through without the impressive performance of their defense, who shut down Chiefs running back Priest Holmes. While he finished the regular season with 1,420 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns, Holmes was kept out of the end zone by a Bengals defense who held him to just 62 yards on 16 carries.

Even though the Bengals just missed the playoffs that season with an 8-8 record, their win over the previously undefeated Chiefs was one of the best games of the decade. For the first time in a while, the fans of Cincinnati felt confident of what their future held with new head coach Marvin Lewis.

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