The Cincinnati Bengals simply could not get the job done on Saturday against the New York Jets.  The Bengals fell to the Jets by a score of 24-14.  Coach Marvin Lewis blamed the Bengals issues on the inability to make crucial plays when they needed to.

The Bengals were outplayed by the Jets.  Carson Palmer could not match up to Jets rookie Quarterback Mark Sanchez who was 12 for 15 with 182 yards.  Carson Palmer again struggled to get the job done.   He went 18 for 36 with a 146 yards passing with a key interception.  Cedric Benson was again a bright spot for the Bengals.  Benson rushed for 169 yards in the game , and he set a new Cincinnati Bengals team rushing record in a playoff game. 

The Bengals simply could not get it done when they needed to.  The Bengals did not play like a playoff team.  From the start of the game the Bengals looked off even on the initial kickoff when Bengals Linebacker Rashad Jeanty broke his leg. 

One of the big turning points of the game was Cincinnati Bengals franchise player Shayne Graham missing two field goals that should have been made.  Graham’s inability to do his job certainly hurt the Bengals.

The Bengals were an up and down team all season long, and this game was no different.  The Bengals have a lot of decisions to make, and a lot of pieces to the puzzle they need to fix during the off season.