Looking toward Sunday ...

... I see the Bengals pulling out a 27-23 victory against the Jets. I can't believe I'm picking them, but as was the case in Kansas City, the Bengals match-up well with New York.

But if the Bengals can't win this one, I see them dropping to 1-6 with a home loss to the Steelers next week before heading to Buffalo.

The Bengals should be able to relieve some of the pressure from its pass offense by running the ball with Kenny Watson and Rudi Johnson against the Jets.

Of course, the $64,000 question remains can the Bengals slow down Thomas Jones and the Jets run game?

Observations:

-- Marvin Lewis might have done one of his best coaching jobs of the season this past week to keep left tackle Levi Jones in the fold. Lewis and Jones clash through the media, at times, but Lewis -- sensing that he could do nothing more to criticize Jones than Jones was already doing to himself -- took a softer approach. Jones appreciated it. Jones is looking for redemption. These are two intelligent, headstrong men.

-- The lack of a solid Cincinnati run game has hurt its offense more than the absence of a "third" receiver.

-- There could be a real desperation in the air Sunday afternoon. Neither the 1-4 Bengals nor the 1-5 Jets could have seen themselves in such a dire place this early in the season. The teams should come out swinging.