Jets Destroy Bengals, Clinch Wild Card

JETS 37

BENGALS 0

What a way to open up a new calendar year!

With a win-and-they're-in playoff scenerio on the line, the Jets crushed the Cincinnati Bengals 37-0, in front a rapid and cold Jets crowd in the final game ever at Giants Stadium.

Unlike last week, where the Indianapolis Colts mailed in the game, allowing the Jets to win, the Jets earned this time around against the Bengals starters, who couldn't handle the Jets running attack, and couldn't handle their blitzing defense.

The Jets harassed quarterback Carson Palmer all night, holding the All Pro to 1 for 11 passing for zero yards. Chad Ocho Cinco, who mouthed off all week about how he would put up big numbers on Pro-Bowl corner back Darrell Revis, was held to zero catches.

Meanwhile, it was the Jets running game that broke this game wide open.

Brad Smith, who returned a 106 yard kick return for a touchdown last week in Indianapolis, took the snap from center, and ran right up the gut, past the Bengals defense for a 57 yard sprint to Cincinnati one yard line. On the next play, Thomas Jones dove into the end zone for the touchdown to give the Jets a 7-0 lead.

In the second, Smith was at it again, taking the snap from center, Smith broke free of a couple of defenders and dashed down the sideline for the touchdown to give the Jets a 17-0 lead.

The Jets closed out the quarter in style. First Jerricho Cothery scored on a reverse to give New York a 24-0 lead with 37 second to go. Then, Dwight Lowery picked off Carson Palmer's pass and dashed to the Bengals 10 to set up a Jay Feeley field goal to give New York the insurmountable 27-0 lead.

The win puts the Jets into the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Jets will travel to Cincinnati for a rematch with the Bengals on Saturday afternoon, kicking off at 4:30 on NBC.