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Cincinnati Bengals

Notes: Playoff picture clearing

By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted December 28, 2009 3:25 PM ET

The playoff picture never seems to go as planned headed into the last week of the season, but the Bengals will have a clearer picture going into their last game with the Jets of what their future holds.

Heading into the final week, two AFC teams control their destiny, the Jets and Ravens.

If both teams win on Sunday, the Jets would get the fifth seed and the Ravens the sixth seed. If the Patriots beat the Texans, that would mean the Bengals would be the fourth seed and host New York in a rematch in the first week of the playoffs. If the Patriots win, it doesn't matter what the Bengals do against the Jets in the seeding race - the Patriots edge the Bengals in strength of victories.

It's something Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said the team would keep in consideration when game planning this week.

What won't go into consideration for the team's preparation is the primetime start, Lewis said.

"It's not a big deal," Lewis said on Monday. "It's out of our hands. It doesn't help our fans any. I wish it was a home game for us. But it's not. It's in the Meadowlands."

It will be the last game in the Meadowlands, the Jets are playing for a playoff spot and it could be a preview of the first-round matchup.

The game was chosen by NBC after most of Sunday's games were completed.

Lewis said he didn't think the fact the Jets must win to make the playoffs will matter to his team.

"I think we've already been it the last three weeks. I don't know that that'll affect us," Lewis said. "They've got more on their shoulders than we do. I think they have the pressure of having to win the football game to get into the playoffs, and so forth. I think our guys will be fine with it, I told them since the time we went to Minnesota it's like it's going to be the rest of the season and it's played out like that."

INJURY REPORT - Rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga will meet with another specialist about his fractured left ankle, but if reports come back as expected, his season will be finished. Lewis said the team would then make a roster move to replace Maualuga.

Other than that, the team is healthy. Defensive end Domata Peko said he's been cleared to return to full practices this week and hopes to play against the Jets. Lewis said Peko could have played against the Chiefs, but decided not to play him.

Safety Chris Crocker (ankle) is the last remaining question in the Bengals' injury concerns. He said he's not sure where he stands for the Jets game.

"I don't know, honestly I did some things today and felt really good," Crocker said on Monday. "It's up to the coaches, really, whether I go or not. They see where I am on Wednesday. I'm doing everything I can to get acclimated to running on the field again, cutting and do all the things a DB does."

PRO BOWL PICKS - The Pro Bowl rosters come out tonight at 7 p.m., and there are few Bengals that may get the nod. Among the possibilities are running back Cedric Benson and cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall.

"I haven't really been paying attention to it, but obviously it will be an honor if anyone in here gets picked," Hall said on Monday.

Joseph wasn't too optimistic about his chances, but Hall was more ambivalent.

"Possibly," Hall said when the though he or Joseph would be selected. "I'm not really sure. To be honest, I really haven't been paying attention to it. It's not really one of my deals. I just have to handle what I can handle on the field."

GOING BIG - Lewis said he's looking forward to playing against first-year Jets coach Rex Ryan, who was on the Ravens staff with Lewis.

"I think he's done a great job, he's fun to watch, he's fun to listen to," Lewis said. "Every time I see him he makes me chuckle because I remember all of our time together and so forth. So he's a man and we're going to go compete against him this week."

As for what he expects from Ryan, Lewis said: "Rex will be Rex."

What does that mean?

"Big," Lewis said with a laugh. "(He's) gonna come big. That's Rex's motto: Go big or go home. He's going to come big. So I expect my man Rex to be Rex and I would expect nothing less."

Categories: Cincinnati Bengals, Featured Stories, News

Tags: Cedric Benson, Chris Crocker, Domata Peko, Johnathan Joseph, Leon Hall, Marvin Lewis, Rex Ryan, Rey Maualuga