Boomer Esiason talks New York Jets-Cincinnati Bengals
The New York Jets are not a very good football team. Unfortunately for them, the AFC leaders are headed to East Rutherford on Halloween.
Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are 5-2 thus far into the season, tied with the Raiders, Titans, and Ravens heading into November.
Considering Cincy’s blowout victory over Baltimore last week, it’s almost as if a “letdown” is possible, and there’s one man who’s calling it out prior to the game.
Long Island native Boomer Esiason had notable stints for both squads, but ultimately, Esiason is a Bengal. Having spent ten seasons in Cincy, he racked up three Pro Bowl appearances, an All-Pro award, the 1988 NFL MVP award, and a Super Bowl appearance.
However, after the 1992 season, Esiason was traded to the Jets, where he would be reunited with his former offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet, the Jets’ head coach at the time.
In his three seasons as Jets quarterback, Esiason appeared in one Pro Bowl and threw for 49 touchdowns.
Esiason didn’t have much success with the Jets, winning only 15 games during his tenure, but after retirement, he found his way back home to New York where he currently hosts “Boomer & Gio,” a radio show on WFAN from 6-10 AM EST on weekdays.
Prior to this week’s Bengals-Jets matchup, Esiason was featured on the Bengals’ YouTube channel to preview the game.
Esiason talked highly about the five-win Bengals, noting their quick rise to the top that nobody outside of Cincinnati anticipated.
The Bengals legend exclaimed his belief that this is a “complete letdown opportunity” for the team. He also expressed his opinion that great teams do not lose to bad teams, meaning games like this one against the Jets are still important for the young Cincinnati squad as they try to prove they belong with the big dogs atop the AFC.
“Really good teams don’t lose to teams that they shouldn’t,” said Esiason. “And they play a Jets team that is where the Bengals were three years ago.”
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It’s an interesting comparison, as three seasons ago, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was taking over the reins of a young, non-contending team in the middle of a rebuild. This season, new Jets head coach Robert Saleh is, like Taylor, taking over the reins of a young, non-contending team in the middle of a rebuild.
Both teams also have young first-round picks at the quarterback position along with up-and-coming defenses.
As for this Sunday, the Jets are double-digit point underdogs at home after a 41-point loss to the Patriots. The Bengals are coming off of an impressive win over the Baltimore Ravens, meaning there might be merit to Esiason’s take that this could be a letdown game. Cincinnati also has a huge divisional matchup with the Browns looming next week.
With Mike White at quarterback, the Jets are at a serious disadvantage, so they will need any luck that can get. That includes the possibility of running into a lackadaisical Bengals team following one of the franchise’s biggest wins in recent memory.
