Slumping Bengals Need Playoff Turnaround vs. Jets

The Cincinnati Bengals intend to make it a rematch, not a replay.

Last Sunday night, with the AFC North title and a home playoff game already clinched, the Bengals were drubbed 37-0 at the New York Jets.

Saturday in Cincinnati, the Bengals host the Jets in the wild-card round of the AFC playoffs.

This is for keeps.

"We understand it's you win or you go home, and I like our guys in that situation," says Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer.

Before leaving last week's game early in the third quarter, Palmer completed one of 11 passes for no yards.

"It was one of those games that you don't let simmer," says Palmer. "You can't let it make you mad, and you can't let it frustrate you. You've just got to get past it, and we've gotten past it."

The Bengals were 6-2 at home this regular season compared to 4-4 on the road. Home field could help. They also figure to be bolstered the return of rushing leader Cedric Benson, who was rested last week after a 1,251-yard season.

Defensive tackle Domata Peko, out since early December following knee surgery, also is expected to return along with several other players held out last week.

Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco is expected to play despite a knee bruise suffered when he fell during warm-ups before the Jets game. Ochocinco played the first half against the Jets without a catch, but has been practicing this week. "We've had a lot of ups and downs all season long," says Ochocinco. "We've found way to win through tough situations."

The Bengals began their preseason as the featured team on the HBO TV series Hard Knocks.

During the regular season, the Bengals grieved the October death of Vikki Zimmer, wife of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. In December, they mourned the death of wide receiver Chris Henry.

"With the struggles, tragedies and everything this team has endured this season, this team has struggled emotionally at times," says offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth. " ... We dealt with those unfortunate situations. We need to get back to the win-or-go-home attitude. This team plays well with that attitude."

The Bengals will have to do it vs. a New York team that last week held them to five first downs and 72 total yards.

"We certainly don't go in overconfident, do we?" quips Bengals coach Marvin Lewis.

"It really doesn't matter whether you lost by one points or 30 points, or in this case, 37. I don't want to lose a game ever, but we did lose, and now it's behind us."

How much did the Bengals hold back in their game-planning for last Sunday night so as not to tip of the Jets on what to expect this week?"

"That really isn't relevant right now at all to the situation," says Lewis. "We're going to play the Jets on Saturday, and what we did or didn't do, it really doesn't matter now. This is the game. It's a playoff game. It's what we all wanted."