It’s hard to find many reasons for the Jets to be optimistic in Week 8.

Not only is New York trending downward with a bevy of key injuries and lack of offensive and defensive cohesiveness, but it’s also facing one of the best teams in the NFL right now. The Bengals boast a top-10 offense and defense through the first seven weeks of the season and sit atop the AFC North with a 5-2 record. Joe Burrow looks like a stud and the defense has yet to allow more than 25 points in a game this season.

While a win is unlikely, there are still opportunities for the Jets to progress in certain areas. A close contest would be a sign of improvement after New York allowed 54 points to the Patriots last week. There are a number of young players who have a chance to improve as well despite the tough matchup

Bengals target leaders during the 6 weeks Tee Higgins was active: Higgins - 49 Chase - 45 Boyd - 36 Mixon - 18 Uzomah - 16

Bengals RB Joe Mixon: "Today, we just weren't ready. We came out flat. They wanted it more. That's just what it was."

Another Sunday. Another Ja'Marr Chase touchdown! #RuleTheJungle @Real10jayy__ 📺: #CINvsNYJ on CBS 📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/WkHtRK4U7R

Don't think that Mike Hilton penalty fits the spirit of the rule.

Bengals DE Sam Hubbard: "It still doesn't seem real."

Bengals WR Tyler Boyd: "That's why we came here together. We take full responsibility for how we played."

Doesn't look like any wraps or braces on Mike Thomas' ankle. pic.twitter.com/3b884HDgYr

Zac Taylor not wrong when the question of the call on Hilton came up: "It shouldn't come down to those plays."

Bengals pick up the play that might change the game. Mike Hilton gets a pass deflection and Jessie Bates gathers the ball and takes it down the field. Cincinnati needed that in the worst way.

Bengals have been great all year at limiting long drives and not been great with turnovers. Exact opposite today. Germaine Pratt with second TO of the day for Cincinnati.

Trey Hendrickson doesn't just have a lot of sacks, he might lead the league in timeliness of those.

The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t offer many surprises on the inactives list for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.

Going into things, it was established that rookie running back Chris Evans would miss the contest and that wideout Auden Tate had a 50-50 chance at playing.

Here’s the official inactives list the Bengals released before kickoff:

It wasn’t any secret the Bengals entered this one much, much healthier than the rebuilding Jets, a team that will miss starting rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, among many others

Auden Tate (thigh) is inactive for the #Bengals, but defensive end Khalid Kareem is active and expected to make his season debut to add some pass-rushing depth. The other inactives are: RB Chris Evans CB Nick McCloud DE Darius Hodge DE Wyatt Ray DT Tyler Shelvin

The Bengals D gets their third turnover of the half, ripping the ball free off Crowder after a big gain. Vonn Bell with the force and recovery

Kareem will take on the role Wyatt Ray has been holding as the rotational pass rusher. In games starters played entire game that has been between 14-20% of snaps. twitter.com/jaymorrisonath…

Jackson Carman down for the #Bengals. Trey Hill in at RG