Playoff Prediction Poetry-Style

It’s NFL playoff time. Today’s first wildcard game is a repeat of week 17’s contest between New York and Cincinnati. The Jets and Bengals kickoff at Paul Brown Stadium at 4:30 this afternoon. Last week, Gang Green clobbered the Tigers 37-0 at the Meadowlands. Today the Jets, quarterbacked by a rookie, look for another big game. The opening act will go the Jets’ way if they perform at their defensive best, run the football effectively and limit Mark Sanchez’s deep throws. This poem summarizes what New York needs to have happen in order to defeat Carson Palmer and the clawed Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC wildcard. I predict those things don’t happen this week and the Jets’ luck runs out in blistery Ohio.

Sanchez is still raw and mistake-prone
The line must protect and set the offensive tone
The raw rookie out of USC should slide instead of slip
Or toss short passes while keeping a strong grip
The top-ranked defense can shut down Palmer
It will help their own quarterback remain calmer
Darrelle Rivas can cover wideouts with the best
But Ochocinco will put his skills to the test
Outspoken Chad has one-third of the yards
A brutal Bengals aerial attack is in the cards
Cincy is capable of overcoming obstacles
Once Cedric Benson’s legs revitalize their roles
The Tigers failed to chew up yards last week
Their time of possession was extremely meek
The Jets will see the return of defensive Bengals
Crocker, Zimmer, Peko and Geathers at the angles
Sanchez will be pressured on the road
When the home team greets him with a heavy first playoff load
The Jets will go with Thomas Jones and Shonn Green
To power the AFC’s best running game and catch the screen
Jones has to eclipse the 100 mark for a wildcard romp
The defense needs 60 minutes of Rex Ryan’s signature pomp
A head coach with confidence to win the Superbowl
Should ignite the improbable Jets to keep Cincy’s points low
Woody and Moore must maul the AFC North champ
Gang Green special teams must pin them deep in their camp
Marvin Lewis will have his team more prepared than last Sunday
Look for the Bengals to control the pace and bounce back from disarray

Parting Points: Don’t sleep on the Packers. Look for Green Bay to make some noise in the playoffs

Song of the day- “So Amazing” by Luther Vandross