Jets’ top-ranked running game expects big challenge from Bengals’ No. 2-ranked run defense

Jets’ running game expects tough test from Bengals

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Rex Ryan sees a lot of his own team in the Cincinnati Bengals.

A tough running offense? Check. A solid offensive line? Check. A stifling defense? Yep, check there, too.

“We’re mirror images of each other, so it’s going to be an old-fashioned, knockdown, dragout,” the New York Jets coach said Thursday. “This is going to be a man-on-man type challenge.”

The Jets are ranked No. 1 in the NFL in overall rushing, and have relied on the run more than any team in the league with their 550 attempts. They expect to stick to that game plan against the Bengals on Sunday night, despite the fact Cincinnati has the NFL’s No. 2 defense against the run.

“Watching those guys on film, they play together and they don’t ever miss tackles, that’s the big thing,” fullback Tony Richardson said. “They have a great scheme and what happens is they shut down teams’ run and teams are forced to throw the football.”

The Bengals are without playmaking rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga for the rest of the season with a broken ankle, but they have allowed just 87.7 yards rushing per game. Only two players — Cleveland’s Jerome Harrison and Kansas City’s Jamaal Charles — have rushed for 100 yards against them.

“For us, we need to stay patient and keep running,” Richardson said, “and realize we might get 1 yard here, 3 yards there or a negative run, but we’ve got to continue to stay the course.”

After all, that approach has gotten the Jets (8-7) to this point, where they’ll make the playoffs for the first time since 2006 with a win.

Ryan promised a “Ground-and-Pound” approach when he was hired as coach, and he wasn’t kidding. Behind one of the most consistent offensive lines in the league, New York is averaging 166.6 yards rushing per game. The Jets’ 2,499 yards rushing are second-most in franchise history.

“We’re an all-terrain type of offense,” right tackle Damien Woody said. “We can play anywhere. You could put us in the Sahara Desert and we can go get it in.”

Thomas Jones has led the way with 1,324 yards rushing, which ranks him fourth in the league. He’s also just 12 yards away from surpassing his career high set in 2005 with Chicago.

“It would mean a lot,” said Jones, who has been one of the NFL’s most efficient running backs over the last five years. “Obviously, being 31 and a lot of people say, ‘Hey, you’re on the decline the older you get,’ to me, I feel like I’m getting better and better each week and better and better each year.”

Jones has a career-high seven 100-yard rushing games this season, including 105 yards against Indianapolis last week. His 304 carries are 11 shy of topping his best. Not bad for a guy about whom many wondered if he’d be able to even approach last season’s success, when he led the AFC with 1,312 yards rushing.

“I think my first couple of years in Arizona, not getting that many carries, is paying off now on the back end for me physically,” said Jones, a first-round pick of the Cardinals in 2000.

The Jets are also making sure he’s not too overworked. Both Jones and Richardson have each gotten one day off from practice the last two weeks. Despite the big numbers, Jones was not selected for the Pro Bowl, although he’s a first alternate.

“I play to win a Super Bowl,” he said. “To me, that’s the ultimate goal.”

The success the Jets have had on the ground is made even more impressive by the fact the speedy and shifty Leon Washington was lost for the season after just seven games. Rookie Shonn Greene, the team’s third-round pick out of Iowa, has received more carries lately and shown signs of being a possible eventual successor to Jones.

“I’m feeling good and getting more and more comfortable with the offense and everything,” Greene said.

He had 95 yards rushing on 16 carries against the Colts, and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said Greene and Jones will likely split carries Sunday.

“We feel really good about both guys,” Schottenheimer said. “The philosophy’s been to let them both get carries and whoever’s the hot guy, goes.”

Richardson has also been a major factor in the team’s success on the ground, plowing the way for a 1,000-yard rusher for the eighth time in his career.

“He doesn’t have the stats, but that’s not what he’s about,” Greene said. “He’s an extension of our offensive line and gets us going.”

At 38 and in his 15th season, Richardson hasn’t decided on his future beyond this season — only that he wants to help the Jets run into the postseason.

“I love this football team and I’d love to be a part of it for another year or so, so we just kind of have to see what happens,” Richardson said. “A lot of those decisions are made upstairs, but I think they understand where my heart is. I want to make the playoffs.”