EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Cincinnati Bengals have made it to the playoffs five straight years, an impressive stretch of success that should put them among the elite franchises in the AFC.Its the fact they havent won a game once theyve gotten to the postseason that has some fans hesitant to feel any satisfaction.Underrated? Perhaps. But the Bengals know theres only one way to change that perception.Thats one thing were not worried about, quarterback Andy Dalton said. For us, especially right now, our focus is the first game of the year. Thats all you can worry about is what youre doing right now. Were not worried about any of that other stuff. Were trying to do whatever we can to win this week.And that road begins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday against the New York Jets in the season opener.If theres one trend the Bengals can change immediately, its that theyve never defeated the Jets in New Jersey. Theyre 0-9 there, but despite that dismal record, coach Marvin Lewis knows how huge a victory would be in Week 1 -- no matter against whom or where it comes.It makes you 1-0, on the road, which is a good thing, said Lewis, 6-7 in openers with the Bengals. It kicks off the season in the right way. You focus on this since the schedule comes out. This is the opening game, so theres a certain importance to it. Its an opportunity to get off to a fast start.Meanwhile, the Jets havent been to the playoffs since the 2010 season, the longest postseason drought since owner Woody Johnson took over the team in 2000.Johnson declined to make a playoffs-or-bust declaration while speaking to the media this week, but the Jets certainly have their sights set on success.We dont talk about expectations that way, coach Todd Bowles said of his discussions with Johnson and the team. We know what the expectations are.And, they are?To win, Bowles said.Here are some things to know as the Bengals and Jets kick off the season:DANDY ANDY: Dalton was on his way to a possible Pro Bowl appearance last season when he broke the thumb on his passing hand in December. It shortened what had been a terrific year in which he led the AFC with a 106.3 passer rating.The Bengals quarterback is back and feeling healthy, and ready to pick up where he left off last year after 25 touchdown passes and a career-low seven interceptions.Im 100 percent, Dalton said. Im good. No setback from the thumb.FITZ MAGIC: The Jets were uncertain about their quarterback situation until the night before training camp began, when the team and Ryan Fitzpatrick ended a long contract stalemate and agreed on a one-year deal. Both Fitzpatrick and the Jets made it clear they wanted a reunion, and it only made sense after he set a franchise record with 31 touchdown passes and galvanized the locker room after then-starter Geno Smith had his jaw broken by a punch from a teammate.Brandon Marshall enjoyed a huge year with Fitzpatrick throwing to him, setting franchise marks with 109 catches and 1,502 yards receiving, and also tying the team record with 14 TD grabs.ABSENT EIFERT: It appears Dalton and the offense will be without tight end Tyler Eifert against the Jets because of an ankle injury suffered during the Pro Bowl. He was hopeful hed be ready to play, but he had surgery in May and didnt play during the preseason. Eifert, who had 52 catches for 615 yards and 13 TDs last season, will likely be replaced by H-back Ryan Hewitt and tight ends Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah.FORTE FITS: The Jets added a pass-catching presence to their backfield when they signed Matt Forte as a free agent in March. The running back, who played his first eight seasons in Chicago, is two years removed from setting an NFL record at his position with 102 catches.The 30-year-old Forte is coming off a hamstring injury that limited him for half of training camp, but appears ready to be a full contributor to Chan Gaileys offense.Great vision as a runner, really does a good job of setting his blocks up, obviously great hands, Fitzpatrick said. I just think the overall awareness and the experience that he has playing the game of football, he kind of fits right into that huddle.WHOS BLOCKING?: A spot to watch will be right tackle for the Jets, who are toying with the idea of rotating backups Ben Ijalana and Brent Qvale at the position.Starter Breno Giacomini is out for at least six weeks with a back injury, so Bowles has been waiting for Ijalana or Qvale to step up to claim the job.That could certainly have Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap, who set a franchise mark with 13 1/2 sacks last season, and defensive tackle Geno Atkins licking their chops.---AP Sports Writer Joe Kay in Cincinnati contributed.--- http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-own...hout-playoffsAP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Avalanche Jerseys 2021 . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. Colorado Avalanche Shirts .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. https://www.cheapavalanche.com/ . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. Custom Colorado Avalanche Jerseys . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Avalanche Jerseys 2020 . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. Daniel Ricciardo believes Red Bulls performance at the Belgian Grand Prix shows the team is making inroads into Mercedes dominance in Formula One.Having qualified fifth on the grid, Ricciardo took advantage of a collision between Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen and the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel to move into second place behind Nico Rosbergs Mercedes on the first lap, a position he held at the end after fending off a recovering Lewis Hamilton. Ricciardos second place finish in Belgium marked his third consecutive podium.Although the result was aided by the fact Hamilton had to fight his way through the field from 21st on the grid, the Australian reckons Red Bull is catching Mercedes.Three podiums in a row, we are definitely making inroads, Ricciardo said. It is the second race we have finished in front of one of them, of course Lewis started from the back but I think our pace wasnt too bad.I think the real start of the race was after the red flag, so I think we held our own right now..dddddddddddd Nico had a bit more pace but generally we are making inroads, which is really positive.Three good weekends -- it has been fun. Yesterday I qualified fifth but I knew we had a good race car and it proved right.Ricciardo revealed his car suffered front wing damage after picking up debris from the first-lap contact at La Source but felt he could not have gone one better and added to his one race victory at Spa from 2014.The only time I wasnt happy with the car was the first few laps before the red flag. The incident at turn one sent debris into the front wing and I had some damage so until the red flag I wasnt happy but we changed the wing during the red flag.Then the car was good. Nico had a bit more pace than us but in terms of balance we were doing all we could. I think Nico was controlling it but everything was fine. I dont think we could have done too much more. ' ' '