Jets eye second straight marquee win

Last Sunday's 30-27 overtime victory against the AFC East-leading Patriots clearly represents the signature win of the Jets' young season. This weekend, they'll get another chance for a statement win if they can upset the Bengals, the AFC North leaders at 5-2, in Cincinnati. Here's how the Jets (4-3) can pull it off and position themselves for a legitimate run at a postseason berth in the second half.

Good Geno

When quarterback Geno Smith struggles, the Jets have a tough time winning. That said, he's acquitted himself quite well for a rookie. Considering the Bengals are one of the better teams against the run this season (97.9 ypg, eighth in NFL), Smith will need to turn in a performance more akin to the 16-of-20, three-touchdown effort he put up in a Week 5 win against the Falcons than the 19-of-34, two-interception stinker he posted a week later in a loss to the Steelers.

Gang up on Green

Cincinnati's aerial attack is the ninth best in the league, chiefly because of the chemistry between quarterback Andy Dalton and his top target, A.J. Green. The wideout is the most targeted receiver in the NFL (78) and has caught five of Dalton's 11 touchdown passes. The task of containing him first falls upon Antonio Cromartie, but help from the rest of the secondary couldn't hurt. At least the Jets' 10th-ranked pass defense should be capable of rising to the occasion.

Fewer flags

It's time for this team to play with more discipline. No team in the league has as many penalties (64) as the Jets. Rex Ryan's group starts plenty of rookies, but if this team wants to prove it can run with the NFL's upper echelon, it must avoid shooting itself in the foot. Ironically, it was a penalty by the Patriots that aided in the Jets' latest victory. However, they might be on the wrong end of such a scenario if they can't correct this problem soon. Sunday would be a good time to start.