Remember Sunday morning, when the Bengals were the top-ranked team in the AFC standings? If you didn't know going into their matchup against the Jets, you likely picked it up from the broadcast team at some point before the final whistle. It came up constantly, as the Bengals failed to hold down a (previously) one-win Jets team that - despite the absence of starting quarterback Zach Wilson - gave the Bengals their absolute best effort of the season thus far.

This wasn't a week where the Bengals looked particularly bad in any phase of the game. Sure, they could've looked better - a few plays here and there, as is the case in any game - but this wasn't the same Jets offense that came into this game ranked near (if not at) the bottom of the league in every notable metric. It was a unit that looked highly competitive with backup quarterback Mike White calling the shots after a full week of practice as the starter.

What about the Bengals? They'll be fine - from what we've seen, this is a stumbling block on a journey to a strong record, playoff appearance, and who knows what else. They're still a good team. Games like this are just a natural part of what keeps the NFL exciting.

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Notes

Offense

  • Joe Burrow had an uncharacteristically difficult time connecting with Ja'Marr Chase, who only recorded 3 receptions for 32 yards on 9 targets. A couple of those missed connections could've been caught easily enough, but they wouldn't have made the difference in Chase having a relatively quiet game.
  • Tee Higgins, on the other hand, looked sharp today en route to his highest single-game yardage total (97) and third touchdown of the season. He hauled in a one-handed grab down the right sideline over the head of cornerback Bryce Hall late in the second quarter for a 26-yard gain, then hauled in a 54-yard pass in third quarter on a deep crossing route between the safeties. Both plays showcased the physicality and downfield playmaking ability that made Higgins a top prospect in the 2020 draft. If he and Chase show up to the same game in top form, it'll be hard for any defense to keep up with them.
  • Joe Mixon ran for a 1-yard touchdown at the top of the second quarter without much resistance, and he accounted for 58 yards through the air - including a 46-yard pass on a trick play from Tyler Boyd. Even so, Mixon's total production on the ground today consisted of 33 yards on 14 carries. That's substantially under 3 yards per carry, even excluding the touchdown on the goal line.

Defense

  • Mike White surprised everyone today by completing 37 of 45 passes for 405 yards and 3 touchdowns, including an opening act of 11 passes that all landed in the hands of their intended receiver. White wasn't slinging the ball downfield - two of the Jets' top three receivers were running backs Michael Carter and Ty Johnson - but he did an extraordinary job executing a game plan built around the tools the Jets have available. If nothing else, White likely extended his career as a backup quarterback by several years and made himself a lot of money with this outing.
  • Carter, especially, helped carry the Jets to victory today, racking up 77 yards and a touchdown on the ground and hauling in 9 of 14 targets for 95 yards through the air. Both yardage totals are season-high marks for the rookie back, as were his numbers of carries (15), receptions, and targets. He won't hear all of it, but Carter's name is going to be dropped at a furious clip this upcoming week from conversations in the national football media to those between office fantasy leagues.
  • The Bengals defense did their job early on, ending three of the Jets' first-half drives with turnovers. Jessie Bates and Germaine Pratt each recorded an interception, while Vonn Bell stole a ball from the hands of slot receiver Jamison Crowder. If the offense had scored in four plays on a drive starting from the Jets' one-yard line in the first quarter, this game would've ended differently.
  • In other statistical news, Logan Wilson had another double-digit tackle game after entering the day as one of 11 players with 60 or more total tackles. Sam Hubbard deflected two (nearly three) passes at the line of scrimmage, while Trey Hendrickson added another sack to his (now 7.5) season total.

– Andy Hammel is the Managing Editor for the Bengals at Full Press Coverage.