NFL Preview: Bengals vs. Jets on Turkey Day

Cincinnati Bengals (2-8) at New York Jets (8-2)

Bengals Notes:

— This game will mark the first-ever time that Cincinnati has played on Thanksgiving Day/Night. That said, it’s not the Bengals’ first time on Thursday Night Football — they are 4-2 in games played on Thursday night including a game two years ago that they lost to Pittsburgh, 27-10.

— This is the 10th time that the Bengals have had a losing streak of seven games or more. Thursday’s game begins a stretch where all but one game (Week 15 vs. Cleveland) will be against a division leader or playoff contender with the combined record being 37-23 and should they lose to the Jets, it’ll be the first time in franchise history that Cincy has gone winless in October/Novemeber in the same season.

Jets Notes:

— If the Jets want to finish atop the defensive standings like coach Rex Ryan wants them to, they’ll need to start forcing more turnovers. New York only has three takewaways in its last four games, a sharp contrast to the first six games of the season, when they had 14.

— WR Jerricho Cotchery didn’t practice Tuesday and likely won’t play Thursday, although coach Rex Ryan still hasn’t ruled him out. Sitting out the Cincinnati game would give Cotchery more time to recuperate for the crucial game at New England on Dec. 6.

Green Bay Packers (7-3) at Atlanta Falcons (7-3)

Packers Notes:

— QB Aaron Rodgers has been playing some great football as of late. He’s combined to throw seven touchdowns and no interceptions over the last two games and has posted back-to-back QB ratings of 131.5 and 141.3 against the Cowboys and Vikings, respectively.

— S Atari Bigby probably will miss most of the week, if not all of it, and thus be unlikely to play in Sunday’s game at the Atlanta Falcons because of a hamstring strain. This is a big loss for the Pack, who will need to contain the passing prowess of Falcons QB Matt Ryan, who is doing a great job of running Atlanta’s no-huddle offense.

Falcons Notes:

— Atlanta is an impressive 18-3 at the Georgia Dome since head coach Mike Smith took over. The Falcons have become one of the NFL’s best teams at home and that should play a large part in this Sunday’s game versus Green Bay.

— Lightning-quick DE John Abraham leads the Falcons with eight sacks, but has a groin injury which kept him out of Sunday’s game at St. Louis. He’s practicing this week, but keep an eye on his status as Sunday draws closer.