Remember when Chad Ochocinco kicked in a preseason game back in August? Well, a few months later, he’s hoping to be able to do it again, this time in the Pro Bowl.

Here’s a change: An NFL player wants to play more in the Pro Bowl. While most of his fellow Pro Bowlers are begging out of the game with various minor ailments, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (notes) is volunteering to do more than just catch. He told the Associated Press Thursday that it’s his goal to do some kicking in Sunday’s NFL all-star showcase: “Yesterday was punting, today was kickoffs, tomorrow will be field goals,” Ochocinco said of his lobbying effort.

Oh man, oh man, what a game this was! Heading into this game were the underdog New York Jets, who looked to surprise the Colts again like they did 40 years ago when Joe Namath and the Jets shocked the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. It looked like from the first half. In the first quarter, both teams were punished by the strong defenses.

All season long, the refrain from analysts and fans (myself included) was, “The NFL is a passing league now, baby!” In recent weeks, though, on account of the success of the New York Jets , we had a shift back in the direction of the old maxim, “In the playoffs, you’ve got to be able to run the ball.” What just happened, though , is that the Jets came out with the same league-best rushing attack and league-best defense that had been beating everyone else. The Colts countered with their “league-worst” rushing attack, and the end result was that Peyton Manning (notes) , the best quarterback on the planet, shredded the Jets like he was making a green and white cole slaw and put the Colts in the Super Bowl.

Well, it’s down to the final four in the NFL, and after a 4-0 week last week in the divisional round, here we go with the two biggest NFL games of the season Sunday between the two #1 seeds in the conference as they try to reach the Super Bowl, New York Jets (9-7) at Indianapolis Colts (15-2) – The gritty Jets roll into Lucas Oil Stadium against a Colts team that overcame some demons last week with a divisional win over the Ravens at home. The focus is on the Jets with what they have done beating the Bengals and the Chargers, but to me, the clock is set to strike midnight here for Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan

As far as placekicking goes, the NFL playoffs have thus far been a parade of shanks, yanks, yips and dips. They’ve left you heartbroken and cost you money (and by “you,” of course, I mean “me”). If it’s seemed like the league’s kickers have been less competent than usual, it’s not your imagination.

The news today that Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis won the AP Coach of the Year award — well, that’s not something you can really argue with too much. Lewis did a near-miraculous job guiding a team with a skinflint owner, underqualified front office, and undermanned scouting staff to the AFC North title and a 6-0 division record despite the deaths of receiver Chris Henry and longtime team family member Vikki Zimmer, wife of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Cincinnati’s offense flourished with a tougher offense line despite the fact that first-round tackle Andre Smith (notes) was practically invisible due to injury and conditioning concerns

Chad Ochocino wants to use both his speed and trash-talking ability to help victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. The Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl wide receiver has challenged NFL rushing champ Chris Johnson to a foot race with the loser donating his Pro Bowl check (about $40,000) to Hatian relief efforts. The wideout told Bengals.com that he hasn’t talked to Johnson yet but doesn’t see any reason why the Tennessee Titans running back wouldn’t agree to the match.

The Broncos shocking start to the ’09 season had many so called experts and skeptical fans like me eating crow. However, after the smoke cleared this Broncos team proved to be the average at best team that most people living in reality knew they were.

The New York Jets were able to beat all odds by winning against the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend. The difference maker was the play of Mark Sanchez , who has finally come to the realization that he doesn’t have to win the game on a single play most of the time. He was able to put together a good solid offensive game and then his win was amazing.