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.
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.
